Release Notes. May Version 138

Transcription

1 Release Notes May 2016 Version 138

2 Listings: Different users profiles can be given access to different reports, enabling access only to reports they want/need to see. Reducing information overload has helped streamline processes and improve throughput. Mike Bendoraitis - Nectar Imports Favourite Features Contact Management: Makes it quicker to find out which member of staff called the customer last and when and what was discussed so nothing is duplicated. Can schedule call backs so nothing is forgotten Sophie Primett - Small Beer Ltd Stock Control ERP We have found the Merlin ERP system to be a major benefit to our business. It frees up the purchasing departments time, improving productivity and saving money for the company. Having a system can be easily customised to our individual needs is also an advantage that we would now be lost without William Martin - Mayflower Washroom Solutions Did you know? Changes to Merlin Support In an effort to improve the service provided by our Support Department, November 2015 saw the launch of a new three tier priority process for all Support Calls that are being transferred from Support to another department. Priority Level 1 An issue which hugely compromises your ability to conduct business, and a workaround is not available. Time frame for response: Within 24 hours Examples: Business Critical Processes, Server Down, No being received, Web Services not accepting orders. Priority Level 2 An issue which is not as critical but has a negative impact on your business, and a workaround may be available. Time frame for response: 2-5 Working Days Examples: Advice on Importing, BACS Set Up, Printer Down, but others working, Single User problems, Cannot edit a stock record. Priority Level 3 These are non critical issues, that whilst problematic are not business critical. Time frame for response: 5-10 Working Days Examples: Report running 2 minutes slower than previously. 2

3 Featured Featured Document Management Module At the Customer Days held during October 2015, Merlin s new Document Management Module was unveiled, allowing for directly integrated storage of key Sales and Purchase Order Documents. There have since been various improvements and we are pleased to announce that Document Management is now available as an additional module: Create a filing system to suit your specific requirements Reduce document storage costs Fast, accurate retrieval in seconds Remove the need for expensive third party add-ons Flexibility designed to fit your business processes: - Scan individual purchase invoices at time of posting - Barcode Document Labels for batch scanning - Attached saved documents by browsing - Drag & Drop your s. File Sales Order Documents e.g.: - Customer Purchase Orders - Customer Order Confirmation Signatures - Customer s and Attachments - Picking Lists - Export Documentation. File Purchase Order Documents e.g.: - Supplier Order Confirmations - Original Internal Documents - Supplier Delivery Notes - Supplier Purchase Invoices - Import Documentation. 3

4 Highlights Highlights New How We Can Help There is now an additional avenue to contact the Merlin Team via a new How we can help hyperlink under the Help menu, which provides direct access to a new page on the website should any Questions, Concerns, Feedback or Technical Issues arise. Prospect Maintenance A new option to specify the currency type in Prospect Maintenance has been introduced to aid quicker conversion between prospect and customer records. How To Guides A hyperlink to the How To Guides is now available within Merlin to allow easy access for users when completing a new task or using a new feature. BACS A new option has been introduced to alleviate the requirement for development work when configuring a new BACS output. Applications for Android A new option is available in Sales Order Entry to hide prices when the Trade Counter Signature Capture Application is in use. Fixed Listings Maintenance A selection list has been reintroduced into the Listings Maintenance screen to allow entries to be quickly selected for editing. Changed Dictionary There is now the option to switch the Merlin dictionary off. Delivery Van Routing A change to Route Planner will now highlight historical records that have not been locked and allow them to be moved to an appropriate date. Third Party Carrier Integration Palletways is now available as an additional Third Party Carrier option. 4

5 Contents Contents Page No. Module 6 Sales Order Processing Merlin Business Software Ltd Chatsworth House Millennium Way Chesterfield, S41 8ND Sales Enquiries: Technical support: Editors: Stephen Adamson - Marketing Executive Laura Wright - Customer Service Representative sadamson@merlinbusinesssoftware.com lwright@merlinbusinesssoftware.com Please contact either Stephen or Laura for queries, or alterations to the distribution list for the Release Notes. 9 Stock Management 11 Sales Ledger 12 System Administration 16 Contact Management 17 Delivery Van Routing 20 Applications for Android 21 Document Management 25 Production Module 27 Adflex Module 28 Listings Maintenance Release Notes Version 138 Welcome to Merlin Version 138, the latest edition of our bi-annual gold build software release. This update will contain information on all developments made since our last update. Please read through this document to see how these changes could benefit you. 5

6 Sales Order Processing SOP/182 HHT Picking Sales Order Processing If set, this Control Code will force the Hand Held Terminal (HHT) Applications to pick by lot bin numbers regardless of how SOP/134 (Allocate from Prime Bin/Live Bins) is setup. SOP/184 SOP Weekend Days SOP/184: Once activated, this Control Code will automatically exclude specific days of the week from due date calculations. 6

7 Sales Order Processing SOP/185 Duplicate Customer Order Days When an order number is added to order details, this Control Code will force a search of historic invoices for the number of days set and highlight any duplications. The setup can be completed through the adjustment of the Order Number Required box (in Customer Maintenance, under the Options tab) to Unique Order Number Required. SOP/186 Duplicate Customer Order Password This Control Code can be set to hold the password to override SOP/185 should an order need to be processed despite duplications. Templates for Quotes It is now possible to personalise s which are being sent out alongside quotes, providing a document layout (doclayout) is setup and SOP/122 is not active. 7

8 Sales Order Processing Stock Visibility and Auto Inter-branch Transfers Merlin is now capable of allowing stock visibility across depots in Sales Order Entry and expanding the visibility with a further routine to create auto inter-branch transfers. If this is a routine you would like to consider, please contact your Account Manager for further information as detailed setup is required. Counter Login: User Profiles The existing Control Code (SOP/71) for counter users will now apply each user s profiles and Control Codes as they log into Sales Order Entry. 8

9 Stock Maintenance Stock Maintenance Retaining User Fields It is now possible to retain user fields when creating a new part using details of an existing part. This can be implemented via Setup > Stock Control >Stock Fields by selecting stkuser in the Table drop down box and choosing the applicable fields. 9

10 Stock Maintenance Once the applicable fields have been selected, when creating a new Stock part, providing the choice has been made to retain the fields, the appropriate user fields will be automatically populated, and available under the Special tab > User Fields. 10

11 Sales Ledger Sales Ledger Sales/71 - Cash Account Nominal Code This Control Code will allow the storage of the nominal code for sales of goods on cash accounts. New Supplier and Customer Specific Nominal Codes for Total Posting A new Nominal Code field has been introduced in both Customer Maintenance (under the Options tab) and Supplier Maintenance (under the Special tab). When an invoice is raised, if a Nominal Code has been entered into this field, the standard Nominal Code outlined in the Creditors/Debtors (SL/6 and PL/6) Control Codes will be overridden and the total will be posted to the code outlined in the field. Please note that these accounts must be considered when balancing the Aged Debtors and Creditors accounts to the controls at month end. 11

12 System Administration System/20 - Dictionary Online System Administration This Control Code will provide the option to switch the Merlin dictionary off. How To Guides A hyperlink to the How To Guides is now available under the Help tab to allow easy access for users when completing a new task or using a new feature. 12

13 System Administration BACS Output It is now possible to configure a BACS output through Merlin, without the previously required development, by using BACS Maintenance, held under the Setup Menu. BACS maintenance allows the entry of an SQL statement to extract the payment data into a text file for submission by your bank. Whilst no further development work should be necessary, please contact your Account Manager for a quote should assistance with writing an appropriate SQL statement be required. 13

14 System Administration How We Can Help There is now an additional avenue to contact the Merlin Team via a new How we can help hyperlink under the Help menu, which provides direct access to a new page on the website should any Questions, Concerns, Feedback or Technical Issues arise. Company Maintenance Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme Data Company maintenance has been enhanced to hold the AWRS (Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme) URN (Unique Registration Number) required for wholesalers of duty paid alcohol by the HMRC from January This information can then be used on printed documentation, as necessary. 14

15 Contact Management Contact Management Prospect Maintenance Currency Types A new option to specify the currency type in Prospect Maintenance has been introduced to aid quicker conversion between prospect and customer records. 15

16 Delivery/Van Routing Delivery/Van Routing Routing/23 - Allow Override of Day and Route in SOP Where as it was previously only possible to assign an order to a route based on the specific days outlined in Customer Maintenance, using Control Code Routing/23 it is now possible to choose any available route. In the example above, the route specified in Customer Maintenance is Route 2 on a Tuesday. 16

17 Delivery/Van Routing Once Control Code Routing/23 has been activated, using the Route button in Customer Details during a Sales Order, users will be able to change the suggested routed date as appropriate. Merlin will then warn users that this date falls outside of the customers usual requirements. Once confirmed, the order will then align itself to the correct date in the Route Planner. 17

18 Delivery/Van Routing Routing/24 - Prevent Removal of Orders Once Complete When an order has been routed and despatched, if this Control Code is activated, users will only be able to move the order to a future date and will no longer be able to move the order into the pending orders section. Routing/10 - Read Only Historical Routing This Control Code, whilst still preventing the movement of despatched orders, has been adjusted to identify any unlocked historical orders, allowing for movement to a future date. This can be achieved by firstly highlighting the route code in red, and subsequently, once the highlighted route is clicked on, directing you to the applicable unlocked historical order. Please contact your Account Manager for further information and details of the costs associated with the Delivery/Van Routing Module. 18

19 Applications for Android Applications for Android Trade Counter Signature Capture Application Price Concealment The option to conceal pricing has been included in Sales Order Entry to work alongside Trade Counter Signature Capture Application to ensure that sensitive information is hidden should your tablet screen be in a position where other customers have visibility. This can be setup through Setup > Sales Order Processing > Till Maintenance by applying details of the User s Windows login, and the Android Devices IP address. 19

20 Document Management Document Management Merlin s new Document Management Module allows for directly integrated storage of key Sales and Purchase Order Documents: Create A filing system to suit specific requirements Reduce document storage costs Fast, accurate retrieval in seconds Remove the need for expensive third party add-ons 20

21 Document Management Flexibility designed to fit your business processes: - Scan individual purchase invoices at time of posting - Barcode Document Labels for batch scanning - Attached saved documents by browsing - Drag & Drop your s. 21

22 Document Management File Sales Order Documents e.g.: - Customer Purchase Orders - Customer Order Confirmation Signatures - Customer s and Attachments - Picking Lists - Export Documentation. 22

23 Document Management File Purchase Order Documents e.g.: - Supplier Order Confirmations - Original Internal Documents - Supplier Delivery Notes - Supplier Purchase Invoices - Import Documentation. Main Improvement: Prior to Version 138 there was an issue with recalling documentation, caused by there being two methods of uploading documentation, resulting in the possibility of two different folders for each document type. To overcome this issue, a mapping SQL tab has now been added so that when a document is scanned, a query will run in the background which will move the document to the correct folder. Please contact your Account Manager for further information and details of the costs associated with the Document Management Module. 23

24 Production Module Production Module Production/21 Backflush Material Components If activated, when the final operation of a Works Order is complete, this Control Code will create a back flush through the job, automatically completing all previous operations based on the quantity booked in the final operation. Please note that using this option can force material stock quantities to go negative, regardless of the negative stock option. Production/24 Calculate Time from Last Sequence To enhance Production/21, if Production/24 is activated, the start and end time of the Works Order will be automatically calculated based on the standard times. Production/22 Auto Receipt into Stock Bin When this Control Code is enabled, produced stock will be automatically receipted into the assigned stock bin. Production/23 Auto Issue from Stock Bin When enabled, this Control Code will force material stock to be automatically issued from the stock bin. Please Note that using this option can force negative material stock quantities, irrespective of negative stock settings. 24

25 Production Module Production/25 GRN Number This Control Code, when activated, will prompt users for an additional GRN number during completion of the last operation in Shop Floor Update. This GRN number will then be appended to the works order number on the stock history record. Please contact your Account Manager for further information and details of the costs associated with the Production Module. 25

26 Adflex Module Adflex Module An enhancement has been made to the Adflex Live Report to allow users with multiple accounts to select the account they wish to view. Please contact your Account Manager for further information and details of the costs associated with the Adflex Module. 26

27 Listings Listings Maintenance A selection list has been reintroduced into the Listings Maintenance screen to allow entries to be quickly selected for editing. 27

28 Chatsworth House Millennium Way, Chesterfield, S41 8ND Sales Enquiries: Technical support: