Sage North America has upgraded its Peachtree accounting software line with new customer management, business analytics, workflow, security and other features.

The software includes a customer management center with customizable dashboard views of customer information and the ability to export data to Microsoft Excel or an Adobe PDF file.

“Now instead of being tied to one panel of information, you can set up a virtually unlimited number of tabs that are specific to what you do on a day-to-day basis,” said product marketing manager Chris Claude.

Also new to Peachtree is business analytics capability, provided in partnership with business intelligence software developer iLumen. The feature helps small businesses benchmark their performance compared with others in their industry, and other small businesses overall.

“You can run it at a geographic-specific level, in Atlanta for example or nationally, and look at different types of financial comparisons,” said Claude. “You can see where you’re performing above par or below par.”

The top of the line is Peachtree Quantum Accountants Edition. Quantum 2010 includes new workflow features for orders and other items. “You can create your own workflow directly within the product itself, and you can create it on all the key areas, whether it’s vendor purchases, checks or credit memos,” said Claude. “You can create multiple steps within each of these areas to keep a tab on whatever is moving through your business at any time.”

Security improvements include a user login manager that gives the administrator the ability to log out all the users simultaneously if an upgrade needs to be done. Administrators can set passwords to expire in four weeks’ time, and they can schedule automated backups.

Peachtree Quantum 2010 will accommodate up to 40 users, whereas the 2009 version maxed out at 30. Sage has also upgraded the inventory features, including the ability to set up a default serialized assembly for an inventory part, and search on criteria such as brand names for inventory items.

The software can now store emergency contact information for employees and sales reps, as well as their immigration status. Sage has also created a Peachtree Resource Center that provides information on services such as links to the Sage Accountants Network.

For more information, visit www.peachtree.com.