SAP ACQUIRES PRAXIS, WILL FOLD CRM INTO BUSINESS ONE: SAP AG has acquired Praxis Software Solutions and will integrate the company's Web-based CRM and e-commerce capabilities into SAP Business One, which targets small and midsized companies. Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed. Minneapolis-based Praxis, a private software company, had previously been a Business One partner.Last year, SAP acquired start-up iLytix Systems, which specializes in reporting and budgeting tools, and promptly incorporated those features into Business One. Business One is itself the result of the 2002 acquisition of TopManage. The product, which offers companies a set $3,750-per-named-user fee for enterprise resource planning and accounting functions, competes with offerings from Microsoft Business Solutions and Sage Software.
SAP said that the transaction continues its strategy of targeted, fill-in acquisitions that add functionality to its broad solution portfolio, while continuing to grow its business organically. Praxis has more than 100 customers using its software. Its flagship products include integrated e-commerce package NetPoint Commerce and online CRM package NetPoint Focus.
"The new e-commerce and CRM capabilities will enable SAP Business One to outdistance other offerings by providing even greater visibility and integration across the entire business," said SAP senior vice president of solution management Gadi Shamia, in a statement.
SAGE RELEASES NEW TIMESLIPS: Sage Software has announced the availability of the new release of its time and billing program, Timeslips by Sage 2007. Timeslips has targeted service-based professionals, such as accountants and lawyers, for more than 20 years. The latest version includes redesigned navigation and several new and improved features throughout bill creation, and allows users easier access to data.
"With this release, we continue to fine-tune Timeslips to be even more user-friendly, with easier access to the tasks and data that help service professionals better manage their day-to-day operations," said the general manager of Sage's Small Business Accounting Solutions, Connie Certusi.
Some of these new features include enhanced spelling and grammar check; the creation of slips by e-mail; a bill cover page; scheduled back-up; and slip approvals and notes. Improvements have also been made to the Navigator menus, as well as to Timeslips Today, a customizable dashboard. The link for QuickBooks has also been improved with client and customer link reports, a log for data transfers, and user notifications of transfer issues.
Timeslips by Sage 2007 is priced for single users at $450, while the five-user version is available for $800, and the 10-user version is priced at $1,450.
RSM MCGLADREY SIGNS CONSULTING PACT: National CPA firm RSM McGladrey has partnered in a consulting agreement with supply-chain software provider Warehouse Management Solutions, allowing the firm to expand its supply chain services to include transportation and logistics, warehouse management, software implementation, project management, business process improvement and RFID compliance. Terms were not disclosed. "We will be able to work seamlessly with WMSI's consultants on joint client projects, enabling us to better serve the operational and technology consulting needs of our clients," said Stan Mork, national director of information technology consulting at RSM McGladrey.
PAISLEY ROLLS OUT UPGRADED VERSION OF FOCUS: Paisley Consulting, a provider of business accountability software, has unveiled a new version of its flagship Focus software line for Sarbanes-Oxley 404 and 302 compliance. The upgrade features include an enhanced graphical user interface with a menu bar function, widened tree views and document views, and upgraded fonts and colors. In addition, the enhanced version also provides the capability to define and configure the drop-down fields, allowing organizations to personalize the field values based on specific definitions.
The new version of the software also includes additional audit trail functions. It is free of charge for current customers who are active with their annual support contracts. Current customers can initiate the upgrade process by calling their account manager. For further information, go to www.paisleyconsulting.com.
