Bond Solutions - The North's Sage CRM and Accounts Specialists

Important Information Regarding Sage Payroll

2011-03-10T16:18:00.007Z

As it is almost the end of the tax year, Sage will be sending out year end packs to Sage Payroll customers with a SageCover contract throughout March. This means that you can complete your year end and begin organising the new tax year.

When you receive the package you must install the update as soon as possible. This means that you can start processing payroll for the new tax year before year end. Ensure that you are using one of the following:

· Sage 50 Payroll 2011 v17.00
· Sage 50 Payroll 2010 v16.01, v16.03
· Sage 50 Payroll 2009 v15.04, v15.06
· Sage 50 Payroll 2008 v14.07, v14.09
· Sage 50 Payroll 2007 v13.10, v13.12
· Sage Payroll v12.13, v12.15
· Sage Payroll v11.16, v.11.18

Sage Payroll v11 will be coming to an end very soon and it will no longer be supported after 5th April 2011. If you are using this version you will not receive a year end pack but you will be able to download a year end guide on Sage’s website throughout March.

Sage Instant Payroll
Ensure that you have processed your final payroll for 2010/2011 tax year and have completed your year end. You must be using Sage Instant Payroll v11.12 or v12.00. If you need to check which version you use click on ‘tools’ then select ‘my instant payroll’.

What the Pack Contains
Each pack will contain a year end guide and a software update for 2011/2012. If there are any problems with the installation of the update you can find help at here or email support@sage.com. For technical support call 0845 111 5555 or for general customer enquiries call 0845 111 6666.

Every customer should have their packs by the end of March 25th, if you do not receive one by this date you can track dispatch .

Don’t Forget...
You must register with HM Revenue & Customs for the PAYE Online for Employers service. You can register by clicking here by selecting ‘Do It Online’ section click ‘Register’.

DISCOUNTED UPGRADES FOR ACT! v2007 USERS

2011-02-04T15:59:00.001Z

Sage has announced that ACT! v2007 will no longer be supported from 31^st March 2011. This means that those using the product will not be able to add additional users, upgrade or purchase Sage Cover for their software.

We are currently offering a 20% discount on upgrades from ACT! 2007 to ACT! 2011. This offer will finish on 31st March 2011.

ACT! 2011 includes a range of new features and functions. Full details of the product can be found here.

If you would like to upgrade or purchase ACT! 2011 please call 0191 516 6882 or email sales@bond-solutions.com and quote code 'V27' when placing your order.

MOVEMBER IS FINALLY FINISHED….

2010-12-02T13:04:00.005Z

And we’re pleased to announce that our MD, Derek, has finally had a shave! Movember is a charity event where men are encouraged not to shave for a full month to raise money for The Prostate Cancer Charity. Derek decided to take part in the event and managed to raise £185 for the charity. His group raised over £1500 for this great cause.

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who donated to the event. If you would like to support the event, you can still donate by clicking here.

Here's an image of Derek during Movember:

We have lots more exciting charity events planned for 2011 and will be announcing further details soon. Thank you for all of your support over the past year!

Thank you Twitter - The 21st Century Community

2010-10-31T08:57:00.018Z

I have now been tweeting since March 2009 and this article is my 3000th tweet. I wanted to make this a bit of a milestone and decided to write an article about what Twitter has done for me personally and my company. I wanted to pay tribute to all the "Tweeters" who have helped, inspired, worked with us, made us laugh and generally enjoy reading their tweets. I have grouped all these people together in a Twitter list and I would encourage everyone to follow these people and companies.

Twitter and Social Media sites in general are indeed the 21st Century community, it is essentially the equivalent of popping next door and asking for the proverbial cup of sugar and having a chat, that happened many years ago. I must admit I always find it quite funny when people say "why don't you just go and speak to people, there is no need to use Social Networking", that is exactly what people are doing on Social Networking sites, so it may not be physically in person but I am sure people mocked at the invention of the telephone as well!! If you need help with anything you can get it on Twitter from the most unlikely sources, from buying and sourcing a new product, through personal and family relationships and even business advice, its all there. Of course it is only another method of communication and face to face, telephone and email et al all have their place too.

So I mentioned I wanted to pay tribute to some people who have helped or inspired me or simply made me laugh, here goes, for the shortened version just go to my Twitter List.

Who inspired me first

The first person that got me involved in Twitter properly was @glenfeechan, he told me how easy it was to use and update on a regular basis and that the content just flows once you get into it, very true Glen, thanks for that. I was very fortunate that I met someone shortly after that who defined and continues to influence the digital strategy I adopted. She has a fantastic understanding of what is still a very new communications media and that person was @jerri_murtagh and her company @echo23_news.

Good Organisations to Follow

There are a number of companies we admire and follow their tweets regularly, these include @cellsolne who always have good stuff to say and share our own philosophy on Social Media. Other friendly organisations to follow are @leadtransformit, @houghtonint, @gurooltd, @entforum, @girl_geeks, @northeastbic, @1Daylater, @sageuk, @kurodragon, @quay2media @winningsales, @centreforebus, @better_studio, @souterconsults, @sunsoftcity, @b2fanimation, @engleby, @sunderlandsmile and @genicoach. These are just a few of my favourites but the list could go on and on.

Fund Raising

Another great advantage of Twitter is the opportunity to help raise money for charity and we have taken part in Byte Night and I was also part of the Twimmers team earlier this year with @marketingGeni, @easbynow, @canny_lass and @angelfysh. I have also decided to take part in #Movember starting tomorrow, inspired by @easbynow and @christianceriso.

Friends online and offline

These are some of the people I have met through Twitter or know in "the real world" and have grown to know more on Twitter. Again the list is not exhaustive just a snapshot, @thinkfreer, @redboatphoto, @patsyj, @1daveymo, @olivejm, @paul_1daylater, @TunstallM, @ian_farrar, @fari_, @hello_from_U, @oodavid and @_stuartlynn.

I have only been able to include a few names in this article, so sorry if youy have not been mentioned. There are a few more in my Twitter List and there are about 3000 more in my full Following List.

So to anyone who is considering setting up a Twitter account either personally or for business, I would encourage you to do it and take part in the 21st Century community.

Bond Pool Tournament

2010-10-26T16:53:00.013+01:00

Here at Bond Solutions, we’re all currently competing in a pool tournament!

To make this competition a bit more interesting we’ve decided that whoever sinks to the bottom of our league table should complete an eating challenge, as voted for by you!

League table as at 30th November

ACT! 2011 HAS ARRIVED

2010-09-21T13:17:00.003+01:00

ACT! 2O11 is now available and, as always, includes a series of new features to improve your experience of using the software.

Sage has improved the initial start up procedure by simplifying the database creation and making it easier than ever to export data from Excel directly into ACT!. There is also now the option to customise the layout of ACT!, meaning it can be adapted to fit your individual preference.

ACT! 2O11 can now synchronise seamlessly with Outlook which allows your calendar and contacts to be exchanged directly between the two programmes. It also now incorporates the function to automate and customise processes, which includes the option to set prompts to contact a customer, schedule calls for other staff members and automate targeted e-marketing campaigns.

In most cases, the information stored in an ACT! database is confidential and you may not want everything to be seen by all staff within your organisation. With this in mind Sage has enhanced ACT!’s security settings, which allows the system’s administrator to define restricted areas and specific user security settings, ensuring that only specified users can see certain information.

Although we love the new features, our favourite addition has to be the mobile integration function, something which is new to ACT! 2011. Available for use with a range of phone handsets, you can now have access to your ACT! database wherever you are. This includes the function to see contacts, calendars, notes and history - perfect for those times when you’re out of the office.

ACT! 2011 still includes our favourite functionality from ACT! 2010, including e-marketing and social networking.

E-marketing provides a cost-effective way to communicate with customers, suppliers and potential leads, and ACT! includes an inbuilt e-marketing tool which allows you to communicate with your customers at the click of a button.

The communications can be pulled together in a short space of time and link to anywhere on your website.

They allow you to promote your business, including any special offers, news or events, to an unlimited amount of people easily and conveniently. The e-marketing tool will translate your results and evaluate your campaign for you, giving a detailed insight into what your customers are interested in, which links they opened and how many times they have viewed the email.

The e-marketing function also allows you to send out surveys to your contacts, with all of the returned data coming straight back into ACT! in an easy-to-view format.

Each marketing campaign will be tailored to your needs and all are basic and simple to set up. You can take a drip marketing approach and even set your emails to send on specific dates and times.

The social networking function was initially launched in ACT! 2010 and provides an innovative way for you to communicate with your customers on a range of different levels and platforms.

ACT! 2O11 links to popular methods of social networking, making it easier to communicate with your customers and encourage a two-way communication, thus helping you understand what your customer wants and how you can deliver this.

When viewing your contact, there is a new tab that shows links to their social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace, helping you discover more about your contacts and what they are up to.

If you would like further information about ACT! 2O11 and its new features, you can contact our sales team at sales@bond-solutions.com or call 0191 516 6882 to speak to an advisor.

We're Moving...

2010-07-02T12:11:00.004+01:00

We are excited to announce that we are moving offices in August. Please see our press release below:

BOND IS FIRST THROUGH DOOR AT NEW SOFTWARE CENTRE
A state-of-the-art business location, crafted specifically to nurture software companies as part of the Sunderland Software City initiative, has welcomed its first tenant 2 months prior to its official opening in August.

The new Jupiter Centre at the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) aims to offer the ultimate location for software companies to locate and grow, with a choice of thirteen offices ranging in size from 32- 121 square metres.

The centre’s first tenant, Bond Solutions, specialises in technology-based customer relationship management (CRM) and finance solutions, and support services for SMEs.

Upon hearing of the new development, managing director Derek Curtis was immediately drawn to the location as a base to further grow Bond alongside existing offices in Manchester.

Derek Curtis said: "It is important to me that Bond Solutions’ home is in line with the overall aims and directions of the business: we are ambitious and forward-thinking, and always aim to leave an impression. The outline that the Jupiter Centre already carves on the River Wear matches this perfectly. It’s something not just for the present, but beyond this and into the future."

While its foundations rest in the refurbishment of a former conferencing centre at the BIC, The Jupiter Centre has been constructed to offer the highest technical specification currently available. Tenants will be able to choose from offices with balconies, additional annexes, mezzanine floors, and spiral staircases. There centre will also offer two meeting areas, complete with free WiFi and refreshment areas.

David Howell, director of operations at the North East BIC, said: “Whilst it will be an ideal home for burgeoning software companies to further their growth, The Jupiter Centre is also a major element of the larger infrastructure strategy of the Sunderland Software City project. It will offer a perfect location in terms of both technical specification and support services for software companies in the region.”

Bernie Callaghan, chief executive at Sunderland Software City, said: “A huge part of Sunderland Software City’s work is persuading leading software companies to make our region their home. World class, cutting-edge accommodation is a huge attraction to businesses of all sizes and that’s exactly what the Jupiter Centre offers.

“Bond Solutions are well known to us, and we’re delighted that they want to be part of the Jupiter Centre.”

IS SAGE 200 RIGHT FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

2010-06-28T13:59:00.002+01:00

We have noticed a rise in the amount of customers who are looking to migrate from Sage 50 to Sage 200.

Sage 200 helps businesses with a turnover from around £1m+ to co-ordinate their full business through both customer-facing and back-end modules. Made up of Sage 200 CRM and Sage 200 Financials, the product provides a complete solution to the management of a company’s processes.

The migration is generally due to the business outgrowing the Sage 50 package and requiring a more complex accounts and CRM package. There are a number of issues which have been identified as key indicators that a company should be looking at a more diverse package.

These indicators include: the software struggling with high volumes of data, repeated corruption, files locking and reports taking a long time to run. Although there are short term solutions to these issues, migration to Sage 200 can save businesses both time and resources by making these processes more effective.

Sage 200 provides a tailored, managed solution for businesses which have outgrown Sage 50. This solutions will help to resolve the issues outlined below:
• Limitations whilst reporting
• Issues with data segmentation and analysis
• With Sage 200 you have the ability to manage multiple stock locations and suppliers as well as tracking batches of stock and serial numbers

If you would like to discuss Sage 50 or the benefits of migrating to Sage 200 please contact us. Our packages are tailored for each individual customer and our sales team would be happy to help you find the product that best fits your needs.

NOT LONG TO GO UNTIL THE BIG MATCH….

2010-06-23T09:19:00.001+01:00

The Bond team is busy gearing up for the big game this afternoon and will be leaving the office at 2.30pm to cheer England on in their biggest match yet.

We will still have limited access to our emails, so are able to pick up any urgent enquiries. We hope you will be joining us in cheering the team on. COME ON ENGLAND!!!

Changes to our Telephone Number

2010-06-22T09:24:00.007+01:00

The 08700 number is currently unavailable, until notified otherwise please use 0191 516 6882.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

NEW SOFTWARE HELPS STAFF BLOW THE WHISTLE

2010-06-17T13:00:00.000+01:00

We have recently been working with Safecall to develop a bespoke system to help them streamline their business processes. Please see our press release regarding the project below:

A Sunderland-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) company has developed a bespoke software system for one of the UK’s leading whistleblowing companies.

Bond Solutions, which is based in the Business and Innovation Centre (BIC), has worked with Safecall to develop a system that allows its customers to log in and view the progress of their case online.

Safecall, which is also based in the BIC, was established by Graham Long in 1999 and specialises in the reporting of workplace concerns. It provides an independent outsourced whistleblowing service to a range of major public and private sector organisations. The service allows employees to securely report problems in the workplace, meaning employers are able to address issues at an early stage.

The system that Bond Solutions developed provides both employees and client investigators with a unique account where they can log in and see specific information about their case and its progress.

Each account has specific permissions, meaning that only certain information can be viewed by each user. The program also features a range of reporting mechanisms, meaning Safecall is able to provide detailed logs to clients on what concerns have been reported and their progress.

The bespoke system was developed from Sage CRM, one of the market’s leading Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, which is a web-based application that manages organisations’ relationships with customers. The product was developed by the technical team at Bond Solutions, who worked closely with Safecall to establish their needs and what program could be developed to meet their requirements.

Safecall’s chief executive Graham Long said: "The system that Bond Solutions developed has allowed us to provide our customers with an efficient program where they can manage all concerns raised. There are lots of regulations and legalities to be adhered to when dealing with sensitive issues like this and the system provides prompts to ensure that the correct procedure is followed throughout the investigation process. This has proved to be a fantastic resource for our customers.

"I was not aware that a CRM product could be adapted to meet our specific needs, however it has proved to be very effective and has given both Safecall and our customers improved accuracy and control."

Derek Curtis, managing director of Bond Solutions said: “This is a fantastic example of how CRM software can be adapted into a full working solution to suit any business. The software will allow Safecall to provide added value to its customers as they are now able to manage their processes electronically."

CRM On Your BlackBerry

2010-05-10T16:45:00.006+01:00

It’s that time of year again – our new mobile phones have arrived! This year we have opted for BlackBerrys and are now busy installing SalesLogix Mobile, an exciting new application that we have recently launched.

As specialists in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, one of our best selling products is Sage SalesLogix – a system that we currently use in-house. We have recently started selling a new application which allows SalesLogix to be accessed directly from a BlackBerry handset, meaning that staff can access account details and update customer notes etc direct from their mobile phone.

We have so far sold this product to several of our customers and the Bond staff are now looking to enjoy the same benefits.

This application is just one of a number of business programmes that are being released to BlackBerry users and we are constantly looking to source new applications that complement our products.

Being able to update your customer details easily and conveniently whilst on the go is of huge benefit to staff, as well as ensuring your CRM database is constantly up-to-date.

With this in mind, we have decided to upgrade the company phones to BlackBerrys to enable our staff to update SalesLogix in real time.

We will post full information on the BlackBerry application soon, however, if this is something you would be interested in utilising for your business, please call 0870 043 4303 or email sales@bond-solutions.com for further information.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SWIMATHON SUPPORT

2010-04-19T16:53:00.006+01:00

We are pleased to announce that the Twimmers successfully completed the world's largest swim last Friday.

The team, which consisted of our managing director Derek Curtis, Heather Baxter of GENI, Mark Easby of Better Brand Agency, Lisa Forster of Angelfysh and Marianne Whitfield of Cobweb, raised over £1100 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who sponsored and supported us - and of course the Twimmers team. We would also like to thank Paul Keating of Redboat Photography who took our PR shots.

We plan to participate in further fundraising events throughout the year and will post information about this soon.

Thanks again for all of your support and well done to Derek and the team for completing the swim!

There is still time to sponsor us here.

TWITTER HELPS BUSINESS OWNERS MAKE A SPLASH

2010-04-12T13:16:00.006+01:00

Our managing director Derek Curtis is participating in a swimathon on Friday with a team he met on social networking site Twitter. Our recent press release is below:

Five local business owners are participating in the world’s biggest swim after meeting through social networking site Twitter.

The team, which consists of Heather Baxter of GENI, Derek Curtis of Bond Solutions, Mark Easby of Better Brand Agency, Lisa Forster of Angelfysh and Marianne Whitfield of Cobweb, will be swimming 5,000 metres on April 16 to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The group, whose businesses are all based in the North East, met on Twitter and decided to take part in the Swimathon at Sunderland Aquatic Centre. The swim will take approximately three hours to complete and the team, aptly named the Twimmers, is hoping to raise over £1,000 for the charity.

Derek Curtis said: “We all use Twitter for business purposes and we had been talking for a while previous to agreeing to do the Swimathon. We were all discussing getting fit and when the idea of participating in the event was mentioned we all jumped at the chance.

“It just shows how social media is bringing businesses together and can provide a great platform for businesses to network with others in the region. I’m really looking forward to the challenge and of course raising money for this great cause.”

Twitter is now one of the UK’s leading social networking sites with over 58 million members. It is a microblogging site where users can interact and post ‘tweets’ of up to 140 characters.

Heather added: “It’s amazing how many contacts I have made since joining Twitter last year. Since agreeing to do the Swimathon I have met several members of the team to discuss potential business opportunities. Although the Swimathon will be a challenge, I am excited to take part and hope we will exceed our fundraising target.”

The team’s sponsorship page can be found at: http://my.artezglobal.com/TeamPage.aspx?teamID=33848&langPref=en-CA.

LEGISLATION CHANGES FOR SAGE 200 USERS

2010-03-29T16:08:00.003+01:00

From April 1, companies with a turnover of more than £100,000 will have to submit their VAT returns electronically under new HMRC legislation changes. This will affect customers who are currently using the Sage 200 Suite.

The new version of Sage 200 2010 incorporates a link to the HMRC gateway which will allow users to submit and pay their VAT return online – ensuring companies comply with this legislation. We expect Sage 200 2010 to launch in June and will ensure you are kept up-to-date with details of its release. In the meantime customers who are required to submit their initial returns can do so on the HMRC gateway.

If you would like to be kept updated with the latest features of Sage 200 2010 and its launch date, please sign up to our e-newsletter by filling in your details on the box to the right of the page.

BOND’S FIRST FUNDRAISING EVENT OF 2010

2010-03-01T15:17:00.004Z

Our first charity activity of 2010 is nearly here. Our managing director Derek Curtis is part of a team that was formed on Twitter to do a Swimathon on 16th April.

The team, aptly named the Twimmers, will swim 5000 metres in the ‘The World’s largest swimming fundraising event’. Further details about the event can be found here.

Consisting of Heather Baxter of GENI, Mark Easby of Better Brand Agency, Lisa Forster of Angelfysh and Marianne Whitfield of Cobweb, the team will aim to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Following on from the success of Byte Night last year, each member of the Bond team will be participating in an event to raise money for their nominated charity. Further information will follow soon.

To sponsor Derek click here.

NEW FEATURES OF ACT! 2010

2010-01-19T09:29:00.001Z

ACT! provides a fantastic platform for businesses to manage their contacts and business processes and ACT! 2010 includes some brand new features.

Sage has embraced the changes in the way we communicate and for the first time, has incorporated features such as e-marketing and social networking into ACT! to position it at the forefront of Customer Relationship Management.

In addition to this, processes such as Sales and Marketing have been revamped and the programme has received a facelift – although its renowned usability remains the same and more user-friendly than ever before.

ACT! helps businesses manage the way they communicate with leads, customers and suppliers and, as well as being a database, it is a tool which measures your business performance. The new version of ACT! has evolved to help streamline all of these processes even more.

We have pulled together a list of our favourite business processes that ACT! 2010 can improve. Please contact us if you would like any further information or a demo of the product.

Sales Process

When dealing with the sales process it is important to know where your business stands at any given time and there are several new features in ACT! 2010 that can streamline this even more.

ACT! 2010 features a new sales tracking functionality which will revolutionise the way you manage your sales process - from your initial contact, through to the final stage of each sale.

You can now customise your dashboard to show the information that is important to you and your business, as well as generating a series of reports bespoke to your specifications – something that has not been possible before.

We are often asked if there is an easy way of generating reports through ACT! and we are pleased to announce that there are 13 new reports included in the new version to allow you to monitor your organisation’s performance closely. This includes sales process by stage, closed and won opportunities, sales totals and analysis.

This can help you more accurately target your prospects and provide your customers with a better service, as well as discovering the strengths and weaknesses within your sales process.

E-Marketing

E-marketing provides a cost-effective way to communicate with customers, suppliers and potential leads, and ACT! 2010 now includes an e-marketing tool which allows you to communicate with your customers at the click of a button.

The communications can be pulled together in a short space of time and link to anywhere on your website.

They allow you to promote your business, including any special offers, news or events, to an unlimited amount of people easily and conveniently. The new link with ACT! 2010, means that it will translate your results and evaluate your campaign for you.

It displays which contacts have opened your email, exactly what links they have clicked on and how many times they have viewed each page. You can manage all costs for the campaign and also generate reports to evaluate the effectiveness of each individual marketing activity.

The e-marketing function also allows you to send out surveys to your customers, with all of the returned data coming straight back into ACT! in an easy to view format.

Each marketing campaign will be tailored to your needs and all are basic and simple to set up. You can take a drip marketing approach and even set your emails to send on specific dates and times.

Social Networking

Social networking is an innovative way for you to communicate with your customers on a range of different levels and platforms.

Sage has embraced these changes and ACT! 2010 now links to popular methods of social networking, making it easier to communicate with your customers and encourage a two-way communication – thus helping you understand what your customer wants and how you can deliver this.

When viewing your contact, there is a new tab which includes links to their social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace, helping you discover more about your contacts and what they are up to.

Twitter is an effective tool that, if updated on a regular basis, can allow you to engage with your audience and ensure that they remember who you are.

Bond has developed a link from ACT! to Twitter, and for a limited time we are offering this tab free to everyone who purchases ACT! 2010.

If you would like to see how we are using Twitter to communicate more effectively, please visit www.twitter.com/bondsolutions.

Customisation

ACT! 2010 can be customised and adapted to fit your business needs and processes.
You are now able to add more additional fields, customise products and services specific to your business, track activities and personalise the full look of your software.

There is an easy access button allowing you to search your database more conveniently and from each screen, instead of having to navigate back to the home screen each time.

INTERESTED...

Please get in touch and one of our sales team will be happy to help. Call us on 0870 043 4303 or email sales@bond-solutions.com for further information.

BOND ANNOUNCES GROWTH PLANS FOR 2010

2010-01-11T16:58:00.009Z

We have recently celebrated our eight birthday with the announcement of growth plans for 2010. Please see our press release below:

BUSINESS software specialists Bond Solutions is celebrating its eighth birthday with the announcement of growth plans for 2010.

The Sunderland-based company, which specialises in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and accounts software, will launch its own range of products next year and expand its team.

The business currently specialises in all aspects of Sage software: offering services such as sales, development, training, installation and support on all Sage products. Its technical team has also been working on a range of add-on products that will complement its CRM and accounts packages.

The first product is a software package that links with a digital pen and will automatically update customers' central CRM system via their mobile phone.

Used with paper that's embedded with a digital pattern, the pens capture handwriting and transform it into pen strokes which are imported directly into the CRM system in minutes. Bespoke forms can be developed and an exact copy of these forms are saved against the relevant contact on the system. This also allows the paper copy to be kept and stored if required.

The software has been in development for the past year and is expected to launch in February.

Bond Solutions' managing director Derek Curtis said: "I am delighted to be launching our own range of add-on products and I'm confident that the software will be well received.

"It provides an excellent solution to any business that requires an electronic copy of written forms or documents and the link to the CRM system means information can be updated in real time whilst on site with customers."

Following the acquisition of a Manchester base in 2008, Bond Solutions is also looking to expand its team in the North East and also the North West in early 2010.

Mr Curtis continued: "So far this year we have recruited three new staff and are now looking to expand our team at both offices thanks to some new account wins.

"It's fantastic to be celebrating our eighth anniversary, and our team - most of which have been with us for many years - have been influential to Bond's success.

"Customer service is key to what we do and eight years in business is a testament to our staff's dedication and hard work."

CHANGES TO THE VAT RATE FOR SAGE ACCOUNTS

2010-01-05T10:03:00.001Z

On the 1st January 2010 the VAT rate returned to 17.5%. Those who are currently using Sage Accounts packages – such as Sage 50 and Sage 200 – will need to adjust their VAT settings to ensure that their invoicing and accounts remain correct.

The new VAT rate will apply to all VAT registered businesses for any takings or invoices raised on or after 1 January 2010.

For information on how to adjust your settings, please click on the relevant link below:

Click here for Sage 200 & MMS - How to account for the increase in the standard rate of VAT

Click here for Line 100 - How to account for the increase in the standard rate of VAT

Click here for Sage 200 POS (Point of Sale) - How to account for the increase in the standard rate of VAT

Click here for Sage 50 Construct & Sage 50 Accounts - How to account for the increase in the standard rate of VAT

Click here for Sage 200 Construct & Sage 200 - How to account for the increase in the standard rate of VAT

Click here for Sage 50 Construct & Line 100 - How to account for the increase in the standard rate of VAT

Click here for Sage 50 Manufacturing - How to account for the increase in the standard rate of VAT

Click here for Sage 50 Accounts - How to account for the increase in the standard rate of VAT.

Click here for Sage 50 Accounts (Cash Accounting) - How to account for the increase in the standard rate of VAT.

Click here for Sage 200 Manufacturing & Sage 200 - How to account for the increase in the standard rate of VAT

For further information regarding our accounts packages, please contact us on 0870 043 4303 or email sales@bond-solutions.com.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM BOND

2009-12-18T10:23:00.001Z

Bond Solutions would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and we hope you have a fantastic time over the Christmas period.

Our offices will close on Christmas Eve at 12pm and will reopen on Monday January 4th 2010. If you have any urgent queries, please email us at support@bond-solutions.com and someone will respond to your query.

We would like to thank all of our customers and associates for your support in 2009 and we look forward to working with you in 2010.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

The Bond Team

OUR PART IN THE REAL INNOVATORS CAMPAIGN

2009-12-17T11:13:00.000Z

Our managing director, Derek Curtis, is part of Business Link's Real Innovators campaign. As part of the campaign, Derek was asked to participate in a video case study about utilising social media.

Please click here to visit the Real Innovators site and watch the video.

FREE 60 DAY TRIAL OF OUR E-MARKETING TOOL

2009-12-11T14:38:00.006Z

As the popularity of digital marketing rises we have seen an increased demand for our e-marketing tool Swiftpage. As well as being more cost-effective than a printed newsletter, e-newsletters can provide you with feedback and a wide range of information to help make your marketing activity more targeted.

Swiftpage links with Sage Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and also runs as a standalone product.

It provides a convenient and effective way to communicate with your customers and direct them to areas of your website that you think they will find useful. It also offers a survey function where all results can be viewed online and imported directly into your CRM system.

As a web-based tool, you simply log in to your account and create templates or surveys through its easy-to-use template editor. The e-newsletter can be saved or sent immediately, straight from the program. You can add links to your website or other webpages that you feel may be of interest to your recipients. To ensure that your server or email system is not slowed down, Swiftpage sends your email from its own dedicated server.

If you are using Swiftpage with a CRM system such as ACT!, Sage CRM or SalesLogix you are able to create target groups of contacts who you would like to receive the e-newsletter. It can then be sent through your software at the click of a button. This can prove extremely useful when targeting specific groups of people – for example, all customers who have purchased one particular product. A copy of the email will also be logged against their contact so you can see exactly who has received each communication.

Once your newsletter has been distributed you are able to see exactly who has opened it, what links they have clicked on and how many times they have viewed it. This can provide you with invaluable information into exactly what each individual is interested in. Swiftpage will generate a ‘hotlist’ which contains information about the recipients who have shown the most interest in each area of the newsletter - so you know who’s most likely to purchase your products.

Swiftpage also offers the option to add a box to your website to capture customer information which can then be imported into an Excel document or straight into your CRM system. This can be used to capture those looking for further information, a company catalogue or any other data.

Communication is key to any marketing campaign and this cost-effective software can help you promote your company and its key messages, as well as providing your customers with special offers or general news from your company. It ensures that you are always at the forefront of your customers’ minds and that they are reminded regularly about your products or services.

We are now offering a copywriting service if you would be interested in having a full bespoke newsletter created for you by our dedicated copywriting team. Please contact Bond directly about this service by calling 0870 043 4303 or emailing sales@bond-solutions.com.

We are offering a free, no-obligation, 60 day trial of Swiftpage if you would like to try this out for yourself. Please contact us or click here for further information.

Welcome to Bond Solutions

2009-11-26T15:21:00.005Z

We are constantly looking to improve the information available to customers and friends of Bond Solutions. We are therefore currently in the process of developing a new website which is expected to launch soon.

In the meantime however, please browse our blog for all of the latest news and information from Bond. Just click on the articles on the right, or click here to go to the latest article.

Our LinkedIn page.

Bond News

Alternatively, if you wish to contact the Bond team, please call 0191 516 6882 or email info@bond-solutions.com.

SAGE ACCOUNTS OFFERS FOR NOVEMBER

2009-11-17T10:11:00.000Z

Following the news that Microsoft will no longer be distributing Office Accounting in the UK from today, we are offering several discounts on Sage Accounts software throughout the month of November.

If you are currently using Microsoft Office Accounting you will qualify for a trade-in discount of 30% off Sage Accounts. Those who are not using any accounts packages will receive 10% off for this month only.

Sage Accounts is suitable for SMEs of any size and can streamline your business processes and provide you with up-to-date customer information. It incorporates a range of essential processes and we have picked out our top features and how they can benefit your business.

Billing, Payments and Finance
· Invoice production allowing you to manage supplier and customer payments and streamline the full process.
· The creation and management of sales orders, quotations, invoices and purchase orders which can be posted or sent electronically to the customer.
· Credit control facilities, including debt management, which make you aware of exactly when you should be paid and where debts lie within your business. This enables you to ensure you are paid on time and manage your payments correctly.

Project Management
· Project management control which allows you to see the costs and resources associated with a project through accurate analysis and the production of reports.
· A fully integrated stock management system with a stocktake function that links to your sales and purchase orders to ensure you have an accurate view of where your business is at each moment.
· There is also a fixed asset module which will allows you to clearly record, value and manage the depreciation of assets within your business.

Reports
· There are a series of reports that can display information such as aged debtors and creditors, profit and loss and balance sheets and reporting on stock and project profitability. You are also able to customise these reports at any time to display the information that is key to your business and its performance.

Integration
Sage Accounts links with a range of add-on applications as well as other Sage products such as ACT! and Payroll.

It also integrates with Excel so you can create reports within the programme as well as exporting data directly to Excel.

There are a series of packages available depending on the size and function of your business. These packages begin with Sage 50 Accounts – aimed at companies with less than 2 users, and span up to Sage 50 Accounts Professional – aimed at companies who require up to 10 users’ access the accounts system.

In addition to the accounts product, we also offer training, installation and support to ensure that you get the most out of your accounts programme.

As mentioned, this is only a brief overview of what Sage Accounts can do for your business so please contact our sales team if you would like any further information. The discount is applicable until the end of November and please quote ‘bondblog’ when ordering to ensure you receive this.

E: info@bond-solutions.com T: 0870 043 4303

THE PROS AND CONS OF BEING AN INTERNATIONAL RESELLER

2009-10-26T10:37:00.005Z

We did a presentation for Sunderland Software City about the pros and cons of trading internationally and we thought we would share our thoughts.

As a reseller of several international products such as Scribe and Swiftpage, we have found working with suppliers abroad can provide a mutually beneficial relationship – as long as you get it right.

Firstly, you need to establish your reasons for reselling the product. Our decision was based on the fact that the products complemented our range of software and we knew they would provide added value to our customers. The products allow us to provide our customers with everything they need without having to use different suppliers.

We have two key international partners (IPs) - one based in the USA and one based in India. Due to time differences we generally communicate via email as this is the most convenient method. Email works best for both parties, making the process a lot smoother in all aspects.

One thing we have noticed is the significant differences in the ways which they do business. For example, our US supplier is very commercially driven and focussed on targets and sales. Our Indian partner however, is very customer service orientated and will have a query or problem turned around within 24 hours in most cases. The point we are trying to make is know the culture of the country you will be working to grasp how they work and if this works for your business. We found this really helped us to know what to expect from the relationship. Other important factors to consider are annual holidays, working patterns, time differences and most importantly support back-up from the vendor.

The legal issues surrounding contracts for the partnership can sometimes be tricky and it is worth getting a solicitor involved if you think there could be any issues with legislation. A few key areas we had to consider were: which country’s legislation would apply, who would own the software licences and also who would provide the support for the software we were selling.

The financial agreement may be different if doing business abroad. Most companies operate on 30-day payment terms which we found didn’t apply when dealing with international partners. We were often asked to provide payment upfront by methods such as a credit card or wire transfer. Obviously this may affect your own payment terms for your customers and you need to build that into the relationship with your customers.

In summary, we have found working with international partners a very worthwhile and mutually-beneficial experience although, as with everything in business, it is important to fully understand the up and downsides of working with suppliers abroad.

International partners can allow you to access market-leading products that your competitors may not have, provide an all-round better service for your customers and add value to their existing software implementation. However, remember you have to establish long-distance relationships with these IPs and legislation and finance can also be problematic.

We have done it and found it a benefit to our business, but make sure you know what you are getting yourself into.

BOND BACKS CHRIS IN THE ECHO’S PORTFOLIO AWARDS

2009-10-14T16:09:00.004+01:00

We would like to wish our software support engineer Chris Bunyan good luck in the Sunderland Echo Portfolio Awards tomorrow evening.

Chris, who celebrates his sixth anniversary with Bond Solutions this month, is a finalist in the Employee of the Year category at the awards ceremony taking place at the Stadium of Light.

Chris works directly with our customers to resolve any queries they have with their software, as well as visiting them on-site to install new systems and ensure that they work correctly with their current operations.

As the initial point of contact for our technical team Chris was instrumental in our success in the Sage Circle of Excellence Award - an award based on independent research into how many of our customers would be prepared to recommend us to others.

Having won the award three times, we are currently ranked second in the UK out of over 2,000 Business Partners - something that would not have been possible without Chris’ expertise and first-class customer service skills.

Bond Solutions’ managing director Derek Curtis said: “When we saw the Employee of the Year category in the Sunderland Echo Portfolio Awards we knew we had to put an entry in for Chris as he has had a major impact on the success of Bond Solutions.

“We are delighted that he is a finalist in the category and the full team is behind him 100%. We are looking forward to cheering him on tomorrow night at the awards ceremony.”

WE DID IT...

2009-10-06T10:13:00.005+01:00

The Byte Night board would like to say a huge thank you to those who made the first official North East Byte Night a success.

The wind and rain did not deter the 40 members of the business community who had agreed to give up their beds in aid of Action for Children and we hope everyone involved enjoyed the night.

We raised in excess of £10,000, which was down to the fantastic support we received from the business community - the final figure will be announced soon.

We are already busy planning Byte Night 2010 and hope you will spread the word and help us build on this year’s success – as well as joining us again next year!

Paul Keating of Redboat Photography kindly donated his time to Byte Night - please click here to view all of the photographs he took on the night.

Again, we would like to say a huge thank you to all of those involved in the event and we really hope you will support us next year.

If you would like to get involved in Byte Night 2010, please email bytenight@bond-solutions.com and we will send you details of the event as soon as a date is confirmed.

Twas on a regular Friday night

2009-10-02T12:44:00.001+01:00

A great poem about Byte Night by Jayne Temple

Twas on a regular Friday night
The Team at Bond took on a delight
Sleeping Rough was their game
Action for Children was their aim

Thermals, Gloves, Wrap up Warm
Weather Warnings it's gonna storm
Might be an idea to grab a Curry
To make the night go in a Hurry

If it doesn't, all's not lost
Your collective brave efforts are the cost
For your doing this for a wonderful cause
But don't go for a dip or break any laws!!

We Really do wish you well
Hope the night has some stories to tell
Watch out Newcastle here you go
Bond Solutions in the charity flow

xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx

Dedicated to My Brother Nick & His Colleagues

Jill Halfpenny Sends Her Words of Support

2009-09-23T16:57:00.002+01:00

Jill Halfpenny has sent her words of support to those giving up their beds on October 2 as part of Byte Night.

Jill said: "Byte Night is a fantastic idea for a truly great cause. Please support it in any way you can and if you know of anyone who will be giving up their bed for a night then please sponsor them and show your support. Thank you so much."

To sponsor the Bond Solutions team and help raise money for Action for Children please click here.

If you would like to get involved in Byte Night please register at www.bytenight.org.uk/.

Not Long To Go

2009-09-23T11:01:00.010+01:00

It's only 9 days until the Bond Solutions team will spend a night sleeping rough in aid of Action for Children and we are all looking forward to the challenge.

As October 2 quickly approaches, we are pleased to announce that former ITV anchorwoman Kim Inglis will be hosting North East Byte Night 2009. Kim has been in the media spotlight for the past 15 years and we would like to thank her for supporting the first official Byte Night to be held in the region.

For those who are unable to sleep out, tickets are now on sale for the evening event - with 100% of the ticket price going directly to Action for Children. Tickets cost just £10 and include an evening meal, two drinks and admission to the evening’s entertainment - which will feature performances by two up-and-coming singers and a quiz.

We are pleased to announce that Codeworks Connect is sponsoring North East Byte Night and several members of the team will be volunteering on the night, bringing with them games consoles which will be available for use throughout the evening.

Heather Baxter of GENI is making special Byte Night cupcakes which will be on sale and, speaking from personal experience, are definitely not to be missed. Thank you also to Laura Maddison of Altitude Recruitment who has also donated a box of cupcakes to our raffle.

Byte Night will be a fantastic event in which the business community can come together and raise money for a fantastic cause.

To book your tickets for Byte Night, please email bytenight@bond-solutions.com.

To sign up for Byte Night please visit http://www.bytenight.org.uk/.

We look forward to seeing you there and raising money to help young people in the North East.

Well Done Jules!

2009-09-14T13:23:00.024+01:00

Congratulations to Julie for completing her skydive on Saturday in aid of Action for Children.

As promised the pictures have arrived!

The weather was fantastic and the team celebrated her safe descent with a BBQ – the pilot even flew the plane over the garden as promised.

Thank you to all of those who sponsored Julie making us 37% closer to reaching our target. This is fantastic and very much appreciated.

We are now looking ahead to Byte Night on October 2, where all of the team will be sleeping rough for one night to experience what it is like to be homeless.

We are hoping this will allow us to reach our £3,000 fundraising target and make a big difference to young people across the region.

Action for Children has helped over 19,000 children in the North East over the past year and it relies on support from the business community to continue its work.

If you would like to get involved in Byte Night please click here and please also visit our JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/bond-solutions if you are able to sponsor us and help change the lives of children across the country.

Click here for more pictures of Julie’s jump.

JULIE TAKES THE PLUNGE

2009-09-10T10:57:00.006+01:00

We hope you will all join us in wishing our financial controller Julie Curtis good luck for her skydive on Saturday.

The jump, taking place at Peterlee Airfield, is in aid of Bond’s chosen charity Action for Children whom we have pledged to raise £3,000 for this year.

As a foster carer, Julie is passionate about helping young people and she is hoping to raise a substantial amount of money for the Charity - which has helped over 19,000 young people in the region over the past year.

Fostering Solutions, whom Julie and husband Derek foster through, has kindly paid the cost for the jump, meaning all sponsorship money raised will be donated directly to Action for Children.

We have so far raised 15% of our target following the Coast to Coast cycle which our technical director Peter Clark did with three friends last month, so we still have a way to go before reaching our goal.

The Bond team will also be sleeping rough for one night on October 2 as part of Byte Night North East.

If you would like to sponsor Julie in her jump please visit our JustGiving page at www.justgiving.co.uk/bond-solutions. For further information about Action for Children please click here.

Photographs of Julie doing her jump will follow next week!

Pedalling Towards Our Target

2009-08-19T14:06:00.010+01:00

Congratulations to Peter, Dominic, Jonathan and Darren for completing the Coast to Coast cycle. The guys had a great time and managed to raise £435 for Action for Children.

We are now looking ahead to our financial controller Julie’s 10,000ft skydive on September 12 at Peterlee Airfield.

We are continuing to work towards our £3,000 fundraising target and hope to exceed this amount and we would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported us so far.

The Bond team is working hard to recruit members to Byte Night and raise as much money for Action for Children as possible. So far numbers for Byte Night are up 100 per cent on last year which is fantastic. We are continuing to urge businesses across the region to sign up and help change the lives of young people across North East in just one night.

If you would like further information on Byte Night please visit http://www.bytenight.org.uk/ or email us at bytenight@bond-solutions.com. If you would be able to help us reach our £3,000 fundraising target, please also visit our Justgiving page www.justgiving.co.uk/bond-solutions/.

Don’t let postal strikes affect your business

2009-08-07T10:50:00.003+01:00

As the threat of postal strikes continues, businesses are trying to reduce the disruption to their services as much as possible. Our new business software add-on allows businesses to streamline their processes and not be affected by strikes, or other factors, relating to the delivery of important documents via post.

Bond specialises in Spindle software which allows businesses to distribute crucial documents such as invoices and purchase orders via email and fax. This can not only reduce costs on postage and stationery, but also save valuable time and resources as the system will automatically generate and address each document to the relevant recipient.

Any literature will be electronically archived into nominated folders which can also save printing costs and storage space. It can also add any relevant information such as terms and conditions, and seasonal or promotional messages to your documents.

Spindle can link with most accounts packages, including Sage 50, Sage Line 100, Sage 200, Microsoft NAV, Microsoft GP, Microsoft Sharepoint and Microsoft Office. It can also archive documents to ACT!, Sage CRM and Sage SalesLogix.

If you would like further information, or a demonstration of how Spindle can help your business, please contact Bond on 0870 043 4303 or sales@bond-solutions.com.

BOND CONTINUES TO BUCK THE RECRUITMENT TREND

2009-08-04T13:14:00.004+01:00

Business solutions specialist Bond continues to buck the recruitment trend with the appointment of a marketing executive.

Jerri Murtagh, 22, has a degree in Public Relations and joins Bond from a Newcastle-based communications agency. She also works in the press office at Newcastle United Football Club on a matchday.

Jerri, who is the third addition to the Bond team this year, will be responsible for helping to devise and implement the company’s marketing and communications strategy, and manage customer relations.

Bond provides and develops a range of business management software solutions, such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and accounts packages, and is currently ranked second in the UK in the Circle of Excellence - an award established by Sage four years ago to recognise Business Partners who provide outstanding customer service.

Speaking of her new role Jerri said: “I am very excited about my new role with Bond and all of the staff have been very welcoming.

“My aim will be to build on Bond’s current reputation and ensure that customers and businesses are kept up to date with the latest news and developments within the company. I think my previous experience will really benefit me in my new role and I am keen to help Bond establish its long-term goals.”

Bond’s managing director Derek Curtis said: “I am very keen to ensure that current and potential customers are kept up to date with all of our company information and appointing Jerri will allow us to do this.

“Being ranked second in the Circle of Excellence Awards is a huge honour and I believe that Jerri’s appointment will help us to enhance our customer service and take us a step closer to winning the award. The Circle of Excellence has never been won by a North East company and winning this would really help put the region on the map.”

Bond to raise £3,000 for Action for Children

2009-08-03T14:18:00.004+01:00

The staff at Bond have pledged to raise £3,000 for charity in the next three months.

Our staff will all be undertaking a range of activities where all of the money raised will be donated to Action for Children.

Technical director Peter Clark will be cycling the Coast 2 Coast (C2C) route with three friends on August 7. The journey, which begins at Whitehaven and ends in Sunderland, spans over 140 miles and will take two days to complete.

Peter said: “I thought that the C2C would be a great way to raise money for the charity, although I am a little worried as I haven’t cycled anywhere near this distance before. I’m very excited and think it will be a great challenge, although I’m not looking forward to sharing a dormitory with the other guys.

“I think it is really important for businesses to support charities and give something back to the community and hopefully we exceed our fundraising target. Action for Children play an active part in our community and it is vital that businesses support them.”

In addition to this, our financial controller Julie Curtis will be participating in a 10,000ft skydive at Peterlee Airfield on September 12.

Julie said: “I wanted to challenge myself and do something a bit different and the idea of skydiving seemed great as it is something I would never have considered doing.

“Although I am nervous, the jump is for a fantastic cause and will be a once in a lifetime experience so I am really looking forward to it.”

Bond is also participating in Byte Night this year where our staff will sleep outside for a night to experience what it is like to be homeless. As well as raising as much money as possible, we are also hoping to raise awareness of the good work that the charity does within the local community.

Bond’s managing director Derek Curtis said: “We think Byte Night is a great way to raise money for Action for Children and when they approached us to help organise the event we jumped at the chance.

“I think Byte Night is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to understand exactly what some young people in the region go through and why Action for Children’s work is so important. They have a huge presence in the North East and they need local businesses to get involved and support their projects.

“As we are on the board for the event, we aim to get as many volunteers on board and make sure that Byte Night a huge success.”

If you would like to help us reach our target, please visit our Justgiving page at http://www.justgiving.com/bond-solutions/.

My Time at Bond Solutions

2009-07-13T15:09:00.007+01:00

My name is Emma Curtis and I attend Bedale High School, North Yorkshire. Last week I had great time at Bond Solutions where I was studying for my work experience. The team were really friendly and made me feel extremely welcome. I was paired with Jerri Murtagh the Marketing Executive, who helped me to overcome my shyness as she was so interesting and patient, teaching me lots about the Public Relations industry.

Jerri was busy finishing the e-newsletter, and during the morning I enjoyed watching her make the final few tweaks to the interactive newsletter, which had links to all their social networking sites including Twitter and Facebook. In the afternoon we were working on computer software called SalesLogix. At first the software seemed complex and difficult to use, but after some guidance from Jerri I began to understand it, and I even filled in a page of opportunities.

On the second day of my visit I watched Jerri send out the e-newsletter. We checked that all the contacts had proper names, before sending it out to over 1100 contacts. Once sent we could look at really cool software and see who had opened our emails and clicked on the links. This enabled the Bond team to see how successful they had been, and ultimately how effective the e-newsletter is.

My two days were extremely enjoyable and I would like to say thank you to Derek and all his staff for making me feel welcome. I feel I gained a lot of experience about working in an office environment and how important it is for you to have a nice atmosphere in the workplace.

The Importance of Customer Service

2009-07-02T12:15:00.005+01:00

As a Business Partner to Sage we are required to work to a high standard of customer service, however we strive to ensure that we exceed our customers’ expectations.

Good customer service is vital to any successful business and I believe that both the before and aftercare service are as important as each other.

One of my biggest pet hates is companies who, once they have my money, switch off and suddenly become extremely unhelpful– I’m sure that everyone has similar experiences and this is definitely not the way I like to do business.

When I established Bond eight years ago, providing an efficient customer service was at the forefront of my mind and I have passed this ethos down to all of my staff.

From a customer’s perspective, working with a Business Partner can bring with it many benefits, as well as allowing local businesses to support each other through the tough time the economy is currently experiencing.

We can offer our customers the personal touch. We take time to understand their business and make sure that there is always a consistent team working on each account.

When we are asked to do a business solution consultation, our main priority is finding out what product best suits each individual business. We want to streamline our customers’ business processes and selling them a product which is not viable for their company means that we are not doing our job properly.

In addition to this, we are occasionally able to pass significant discounts onto our customers which are not always available through Sage themselves. This allows us to ensure that our prices always remain competitive and of course keep our customers happy.

Our team is fully committed to providing customers with a service that we believe is second to none. This has been recognised by Sage as we are currently ranked second in the UK out of over 2,500 other companies in the Sage Circle of Excellence Awards. The award is based on independent research into how many of our customers would be prepared to recommend our services to others and we are very grateful for their support.

The award only allows 15 businesses in each year and we are always very conscious of building on this success.

Our service doesn’t stop after we have installed or trained users on our products. We offer support on everything that we supply to ensure that our customers always have somewhere to turn to if they should experience any problems with their products.

We are very passionate about our customers and we are always looking to utilise our resources to ensure that they are kept informed. We will be launching a new website, regularly updating our blog and sending out monthly e-newsletters to ensure they are informed of the latest industry and product news.

With this in mind we are always keen to hear any comments on how you think we are doing and what we could improve so please do get in touch! Please also follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin for the latest news and special offers.

Test Drive Sage software

2009-04-29T13:55:00.004+01:00

We now have an online "Test Drive" facility available for you to try out Sage products for free simply follow this link and follow the instructions to test drive ACT!, Sage 50 Accounts, Sage 50 Forecasting, Sage 50 Payroll, Sage Instant Accounts and Sage Start up.

What price customer service?

2009-03-30T18:12:00.000+01:00

It seems that lately everyone is busy but when I speak to customers, suppliers, friends etc its always the same thing busy chasing existing business Its true that everyone is looking for a bargain at the moment and who can blame them, there's never been a better time to buy something whether its a car, furniture, TV or indeed software or services which my own company provides. Prices are coming down in all areas. I had a discussion last week with the provider of our insurances and he said that he is twice as busy as last year providing quotes for people. In that industry the rise of price comparison sites have meant that people are shopping simply on price now and not considering the customer service angle at all. Personally as far as possible I prefer to do business with someone I know and trust and can call on if there is a problem. Usually I find that because I know and trust them, there rarely is a problem! Wonder if there is a connection there? Is our culture now so obsessed by price and trying to get things as cheaply as possible? I hope not, I still seek good customer service and want to be looked after by my suppliers. I want to know that when times are tough they are there to help out. For that I am willing to pay a little extra, but not too much!

A customer of ours in the waste industry has seen the price of waste paper, plastics etc drop dramatically in recent months and that is partly due to the influx of new companies to the market and the price has subsequently dropped. I read yesterday that some waste companies are going under because of this. Now there's nothing wrong with good old fashioned competition and new companies coming into an established market is a good thing. As those companies coming in have a low or no cost base they can keep their prices low. However there is no substitute for experience and often you have to pay for that experience. For example if I was purchasing a flight across the Atlantic I would much rather pay extra for a provider who has done it many times before than someone who set up last month - no matter what price! As business people we are inherently risk takers but that's a risk too far!

Finally, making the customer experience as pleasurable as possible is very important. Make it as easy as possible to work with you and to buy from you so that people return as often as possible. Offer as many touch points as possible, face to face, phone, web site, blog, facebook etc the list is endless these days.

So service and experience are very important in my book buts that's not to say that you can charge what you want. Keep your prices reasonable and concentrate on service and experience and I believe that you will win more often than not!

Using CRM to your advantage in a recession - Part Two

2009-03-03T21:27:00.000Z

A common misconception is that CRM is a sales & marketing tool, if used correctly it is a Business management tool and can provide some precious information on the future shape of the business. This second post on using CRM in a recession focusses on maximising the implementation of a new system

Plan your implementation. You wouldn’t set off on a long journey in the car without knowing you had fuel and oil, the tyres are inflated and most importantly where you are going. Similarly you should not set off on an important software implementation without knowing where you are going and what you are going to need to get there, hardware, people, connectivity etc. It’s a fact that starting off with the end goal in mind does pay dividends. So make sure you have defined your KPI’s you need from the system and monitor them.

People & Processes. All too often people think that CRM is about technology, the reality is nothing could be further from the truth as it is people who will make it work but the same people will hide behind the technology when things are not going so well! Correctly implemented CRM technology should make their job easier but take care that they are not bogged down by over complicated processes which the technology will only exaggerate. Keep it simple and make the technology work around their daily processes and it will be accepted by good people.

Financing. Explore the options available to you to finance the system. Clearly you will want to gain Return on Investment as soon as possible so consider leasing the software and services you are going to need from the vendor. Perhaps there is a rental model available which suits your business, known as Software as a Service (SaaS), whilst this does not suit everyone it may suit your own business model.

Choose your Vendor carefully. A common misconception is to build a bespoke system from scratch. However the larger vendors now have over 20 years experience in building and developing CRM systems, so use that experience. In most cases it will be possible to customise their systems to varying degrees so you can still bespoke the part of the system that you need to. There really is no need to re-invent the wheel. Pick a vendor with a track record and where CRM is a key focus of their business, not “something they also do”.

Choose your partner carefully. It is rare that companies have the in house skills to implement a CRM system themselves and at some stage will need outside help from an expert. That help may just be around training or may include full implementation assistance. This has a cost which can typically be 2 or even 3 times the cost of the software so you need to make sure you are working with a reliable partner who takes the time to understand your requirements. Ask for references, look at their past history, don’t just look at sales awards, that just means they have sold a lot of software but how many of their customers are loyal and satisfied?

Close the loop. For a full experience consider closing the loop and going for a full system where the CRM system integrates with the Finance system so that you have one view of your customer. Typically any business will have enquiries which turn in to quotes which hopefully turn into orders which are then fulfilled and invoiced and the money is collected. A system which can manage that process will pay dividends.

Using CRM to your advantage in a recession - Part One

2009-02-09T12:14:00.000Z

As someone who’s been involved in customer relationship management for a good few years now, I’ve always had businesses approach me on how they can improve theirs without breaking the bank.

It seems that everyone knows that keeping healthy relationships with customers and clients is imperative, but not many are too savvy on the best way to go about it.

Even more worrying is that there are companies about with CRM systems in place, yet are not utilising the technology properly. How can we look after our most important assets – the customers who ensure we stick around during this tough economic climate – while remaining cost effective, and more crucially, not targeting the wrong people.

These are my top tips on how to make your CRM work for you:

Fact – it's much easier to sell to existing customers than find new ones. They trusted to buy from you before so, in theory, should again. If you have a database of previous customers, it makes sense that sending a message to them about new services or products or additional products, has the potential to deliver some great sales. The key is in getting that message out as simply and as cost effectively as possible. See Email Marketing.

Build your database to your advantage. One of the key benefits of a CRM system is that it holds data on your existing customers. You would expect any basic CRM system to hold at least name, address and email, but where a good CRM system comes into its own is by holding information bespoke to your company. For instance, type of product bought, version number bought, type of product not bought. In this example it would consequently be easy to find the customer who had bought “product x, version number xx”. However, perhaps more importantly, it would be possible to find all the customers who had bought “product x” but not “product y”, or all the customers who had bought “product x, version xx” and now should upgrade to “product x, version xxx”. So give some thought to the structure of your database to make segmenting it easier in the future.

Make sure it's kept up-to-date. Don’t make it the responsibility of one person to keep it up-to-date – it's everyone's responsibility. So many times when speaking to companies I hear: “Our database person has not updated the database yet”. Your CRM system should be easy to update and everyone should be encouraged to update it, even incentivised to do so. Your database is probably your most valuable asset and why shouldn’t your employees be encouraged to look after it.

Use your CRM system to send out newsletters or regular messages. It's important that your customers know you are still there and sending out regular messages will help to self cleanse the data in your database. You will be surprised how many responses you get, give it a try!

Derek

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2009-01-01T15:56:00.000Z

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What should our loser eat?
	A chocolate covered scorpion
	A Spoonful of cinnamon
	A chilli
	4 Mars bar ice creams