Advantage Computing Systems : eVantage

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May 2008

Reuters Professional Publishing Goes Live on Advantage
ACS is pleased to welcome Reuters Professional Publishing (formerly Thomson Financial) to the Advantage community. Reuters Professional Publishing is the fifth UK client to implement Advantage, beginning live operations in the first quarter of 2008.

With a portfolio of market-leading titles and online services, Reuters Professional Publishing provides authoritative and unbiased market intelligence to investment banking and private equity professionals throughout the world. Additionally, Reuters Professional Publishing runs events across the globe, including roundtables, conferences and awards dinners.
Read on...

Advantage Ahead of the Trend
Dan Heffernan
Vice President, Sales & Marketing

Last year, my family and I made our seventh move for Advantage Computing Systems. This was a move from beautiful, warm Alabama to beautiful, cold Michigan. Since Cecilia, my wife, was born and raised in a tropical country, you can imagine that this last move was met with something that could best be described as, well, “less-than-enthusiastic.” Let’s just leave it there.

After a 16-year absence from my home state, I’d forgotten how quickly winter becomes summer. Just two weeks ago as I write this it was snowing. Now, there are leaves on many of the trees and it’s been in the 70s for several days. Of course, it will probably snow again tonight.
Read on...

Evelyn Acton:
Energy & Enthusiasm to Spare
There’s no such thing as a stranger to Evelyn Acton. Once she meets you, she adds you to her wide circle of friends, both business and personal. She doesn’t stand on ceremony but will do everything within her power to serve her clients, all in a professional -- yet warm and personal -- way.

Her clients appreciate her efforts. Neal Hawkins of Oakstone is one of Ev’s fans. “Ev is one of my very favorite Advantage people,” he says. “She's always willing to take extra time to resolve an issue. Evelyn is great, in that she manages to not make me feel stupid when I do something stupid and the answer is really easy.”
Read on...

An Update From Engineering
Dick Hile
Vice President, Software Research & Development

An auto mechanic had a famous heart surgeon’s car in his shop and took the opportunity for a little friendly banter. “You know, Doc, cars are a lot more complicated than they used to be, what with embedded chips, GPS systems, anti-emission devices and all the rest. In fact, I’m sure my job is every bit as difficult as yours and yet you’ve got the fancy house and country club membership. What gives?” The surgeon nodded as he paid, agreeing that he wouldn’t have a clue how to fix his own car. As he was leaving the shop he turned back. “There is one little difference, though. You mechanics get to turn off the engine while you work.”

While software development is, thankfully, not a life or death issue, the engineering staff at ACS is acutely aware that both the publishing and computer industries are subject to fast-paced, unrelenting change. Whether we think of broad trends in technology or day-to-day operational challenges, we see a diminished tolerance for downtime or delay coupled with rising expectations for 24x7 service. Both computers and organizations are held to ever rising standards. Let me highlight several initiatives under way here at ACS to build a product and an organization that is available whenever you need us.
Read on...

Fresh from the Drawing Board:
Highlights of 2008R2

2008r2 is full of new features and functionality. Here is a sampling of the great things you’ll find in Advantage 8R2, available in early June.

Click here to read more highlights on these topics:

Multiple credit card and/or direct debit clearing vendors
Access Management and Billing (AMB) uploads
Separate "transaction only" tables
Contact Management (CRM) uploads
Entering PRO returns at SVCDAT/PRO

Understanding Non-Inventory Items
Molly Mathe
Advantage allows you to have a PRO item that is actually a service item (or a non-inventory item). This allows you to add the item on PRO orders, but you do not need to keep warehouse quantities for the item.
Read on...

Quick Search Icons
Searching for a customer, publication information, a product, customer notes or promotions is easier than ever. It is NOT necessary to route to SVCDAT/CTM to search for your customer or to CIRPUB to look for information about your publication. Simply use the Icon (or the associated hot key) to access the appropriate search dialog box.
Read on...

Webinars Offer Something For Everyone
Advantage is packed full of features, and even those with years of Advantage experience can find something new to learn. Advantage Webinars are a cost-efficient option to bring new features and topics to you in a convenient and effective format.

Upcoming Webinars:
5/14 - Duplicate Consolidation
5/29 - Reports & Jobstreams
6/6 - CRM (Contact Management)

Read on...
Note: You will need to know your client log-in ID and password to access this webpage. Contact the Support Center for assistance.

Here are some of your ACS friends gathering in front of the office building during a fire drill. Or maybe we were waiting for the bus. No, wait, we were seeing who could spot the first robin of Spring. Anyway, we were outside and it was cold!
Click on image to enlarge

AdvantagePoint
Have you visited the all-new Advantage Support blog? AdvantagePoint is your online resource for announcements, technical tips, and industry news. Visit AdvantagePoint today!
Note: You will need to know your client log-in ID and password to access this webpage. Contact the Support Center for assistance.

Advantage
Computing Systems
3850 Ranchero Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 USA

Editor: Cindy Morphew
734.327.3651
+44 (0) 207 071 5730
Fax 734.327.3620
cmorp@advantagecs.com

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