Caletech News & Events

NEWS

24/09/09 - Major VAT changes in January 2010

From 1st January 2010, a large number of legislative changes are being introduced which have the potential to impact your business.

These changes are:

EC Sales List
The format, frequency and deadlines for submission are all changing.

Trading services with the EU
If you buy and sell a level of services with other EU countries, then new VAT rules come into effect from 1st January. Your software will need updating to cater for these new requirements.

VAT rate
From the 1st January, the VAT rate reverts back to 17.5%. All invoices raised on or after this date, must use the new VAT rate.

It is important that all our accounts users begin planning for this as soon as possible. Please click here for more information and to register your interest with us.

24/09/09 - New Dashboard Application released

The Access Dashboard is a real-time management information console that communicates key business activities, such as targets, performance levels, movements and trends, in a high visual format. Entirely web based, this tool draws information from a single or multiple data sources, enabling graphical monitoring of key metrics, from corporate level right down to the individual. Highly flexible, this functionality is the simplest way to deploy business intelligence to any user in any business, regardless of industry or size. Please contact Caletech for more information.

24/09/09 - New iPhone application for Focalpoint SE

An iPhone application is now available from the online iPhone app store for use with Focalpoint SE. The app currently provides the ability for timesheets and expense claims to be approved, and to run and view Crystal Reports via the iPhone, which can also be emailed as PDF files. Forthcoming releases will add to this functionality. More information is available here.

23/04/09 - Access Acquires Cash Flow Solution

Access Accounting has acquired the IP for Rugged Logic’s 4CAST cash flow forecasting solution, for an undisclosed sum. The two companies had been working in partnership prior to the acquisition. The solution is already a fully-integrated module within the Access Accounting business and finance portfolio.

John Beech, managing director for Access Accounting, commented, “We will be offering service and support to all existing customers of Rugged Logic, many of whom have already integrated with the award-winning Access Dimensions and FocalPoint solutions. This extension to the Access Accounting range is particularly relevant at a time when businesses - large and small - are shining the spotlight on cash flow and forecasting in general. It complements perfectly the enhanced Credit Control module which we launched last year.”

The Rugged Logic solution is the only ICAEW approved cash flow forecasting package in the UK and was shortlisted in the Accountancy Age Awards for Mid-tier Software Package of the Year. This new generation of cash flow forecasting software combines historic data, business drivers, and forward assumptions about the business, providing a detailed and accurate picture for future planning.

“What If” scenarios can be modelled instantly and compared on screen, invaluable at board level where decisions can be made in real-time based on guaranteed data integrity, no matter how complex the business model. Instant roll-forward and roll-back features allow seamless updating of forecasting models, saving days each month. Company-specific business drivers can be incorporated into the model which provides projected Profit & Loss and Balance Sheets, making this a forecasting system which extends well beyond cash flow.

25/11/08 - UK VAT Rate change from 17.5% to 15%

The UK Government has announced that the standard rate of VAT will be reduced from 17.5% to 15%. This change comes into effect on Monday 1st December 2008 and will run for 13 months.

Access have produced PDF factsheets for Dimensions/Dimensions Lite and Horizons/Foundations XP users which include detailed guidance on how to implement the VAT rate change, and how to deal with transactions that span the VAT rate change date.

The factsheets can be downloaded here.

27/02/08 - Access Accounting releases practical solution for measuring carbon emissions

Business software house Access Accounting has today unveiled new functionality from its Access Dimensions accounting package that provides the first truly practical solution for organisations looking to measure their carbon footprint. The launch took place at London’s Softworld Exhibition and was attended by Tim Yeo, MP, Chairman of the Commons Environmental Audit Committee.

The combination of Access Dimensions and figures from DEFRA and the Carbon Trust enables organisations to account for their carbon emissions as part of normal day-to-day operations. It adds no cost or complexity, making the figures as easy to access as financial reports.

John Beech, Managing Director for Access Accounting, commented, "There is a growing financial and moral imperative to reduce carbon emissions. Increasingly taxes are being levied on high carbon emitting business activities, so the ability to manage them down makes financial sense. There are softer benefits to reducing carbon emissions too. Companies are more attractive to their multi-national customers, employees and the communities in which they operate. The challenge has always been where to start. The answer is measurement; after all you can’t manage what you can’t measure."

Since 1996, Access Dimensions has served mid-market organisations with real-time information aimed at helping them make better business decisions. The carbon emission functionality will bring clarity to managers looking to understand which business activities are generating the most carbon and so make informed decisions on strategies to reduce them.

Access Accounting is offering the new accounting for carbon emissions functionality within the latest version of its Access Dimensions software at no extra charge. The initiative was part of the company’s ongoing strategy to help reduce business complexity and extend the reach of its solutions.

John Beech explains: "When we looked at the means by which customers could easily and cost effectively measure carbon emissions, it was clear there was a lack of practical tools out there. It soon became apparent that the existing infrastructure of Access Dimensions offered a perfect solution, as it already held most of the data necessary to calculate the carbon footprint. All that was needed was for our development teams to incorporate the DEFRA and Carbon Trust figures to close the loop on measurement. As with all great ideas, it sounds far simpler than it was."

31/01/08 - Caletech International Access Roadshows 2008

During February and March 2008 Caletech will be running a series of Access Roadshows. In past years we have run a single large event at the likes of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and Hampden Park, and for 2008 we have decided to take the show on the road in order to reach as many Access users and prospects as possible.

The events are being held in the following locations:

6th February - Stirling, University

7th Feburary - Inverness, The Green House

26th February - Edinburgh, Royal Highland Centre

27th February - Aberdeen, Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre

18th March - Glasgow, Audi Conference & Events Centre

31st March - Houston, USA, Opus

An additional Roadshow will be held in Dundee during May. If you would like to attend any of these events please contact us.

22/11/07 - Access Dimensions is 'Software of the Year' for the second year running

The readers of Construction Computing magazine have once again voted Access Accounting’s flagship business software, Access Dimensions, as ‘Construction Accounting Software of the Year’. The accolade was awarded yesterday at the Construction Computing Awards 2007, held at the Novotel Euston in London.

Mark Fermor, key accounts manager for Access Accounting, commented, “We’re delighted to win the award – thank you to everyone who voted for us. As the UK’s largest independent business and accounting software house in the mid-market, we’re proud to receive overwhelming support from our customers for Access Dimensions.

“At Access, we recognise that the construction industry relies heavily on IT to stay ahead of changing technologies and processes. Our strength lies in the ability to produce solutions that are flexible enough to meet exact business requirements and that can integrate seamlessly with industry-specific solutions.

“We have dedicated product teams who work tirelessly to enhance our software solutions and provide new offerings. Last year, we released our Access CIS module to comply with the legislative changes within the Construction Industry Scheme, allowing contractors to address legislative issues without a subsequent change to their existing accounts system. The further release of a web-enabled CIS module this year – which allows users to enter information remotely – was designed with the specific working practices of the construction industry in mind.”

The award finalists were announced in September, when the readers of Construction Computing chose their favourite products and companies. Access Dimensions was shortlisted alongside six other contenders.

The Construction Computing Awards provides industry-wide recognition for individual and corporate achievement, rewarding the technology, tools and solutions for the effective design, construction, maintenance and modification of commercial buildings, residential and social housing and civil engineering projects of all sizes.

12/10/07 - Customers boost Access Accounting to second 2007 award win

Access Accounting has clinched its second award this year, once again voted for by its customers. The business and accounting software house, the only independent in the running, won the ‘Mid-range Accounting Software’ category in the Sift Media Business Software Satisfaction Awards 2007 for its flagship Access Dimensions solution, beating Microsoft, Infor, Iris, Exchequer and Pegasus to the title. Earlier this year the company was also named 'Financial Software Provider of the Year' in the Real FD/CBI FDs' Excellence Awards.

AccountingWEB invited customers to rate their satisfaction with their accounting software against four criteria – value for money, ease of use, functionality and reliability - for which Access Dimensions consistently received the highest scores.

John Beech, managing director for Access Accounting, collected the accolade at Tuesday night’s award ceremony, held at The Brewery in London. He commented, “As the UK’s largest independent business and accounting software house in the mid-market, we’re highly delighted that customers have shown their overwhelming support for Access Dimensions, bringing us closer to our vision to provide the software that every user will positively recommend.

“I believe this success lies not only with the quality of our software, but also with our valued team at Access and our dedicated dealer channel, who develop and support the solutions at all levels. They are the very heart of the business and it’s their passion and commitment that has enabled us to receive this award, which is the highest form of recognition a company can achieve.”

The awards were supported by the Business Application Software Developers Association (BASDA), which represents almost 200 of the world's leading business software suppliers. Working with governments and policy-making groups in the UK, Europe and worldwide, BASDA is widely acknowledged as the voice of the business software industry.

The Sift Media Business Software Satisfaction Awards were established in 2006 to reward high standards from software application providers serving UK businesses. This year the Awards have grown considerably, including 19 categories across accounting and finance, human resources, training, CRM, and customer management.

29/05/07 - Access Accounting first to market with reverse charge VAT upgrade

Award-winning business and accounting software house, Access Accounting, is the first vendor to release a reverse charge VAT upgrade in readiness for the new legislation which will be introduced on June 1st. VAT-registered businesses that buy or sell computer chips or mobile phones will have to apply the new rules to business transactions over £5,000.

Pip Trowles, product manager for Access Accounting, commented, "We were originally ready to release this new upgrade last year, but the legislation has been repeatedly delayed. In addition, there were some fundamental changes made to both the scope and the rules for applying reverse charge VAT which we have now taken into account. We have been working through BASDA to iron out the interpretation of some of these complexities.

"This legislation has been pushed through with very little notice and is a radical change to the way businesses deal with VAT. We are immensely proud of our development team who have worked hard to implement these software changes for the benefit of our users. I’m delighted that our customers will have the necessary tools available to cope with this demanding new legislation," she continued.

18/04/07 - Customers vote Access Accounting 'Financial Software Provider of the Year' in Real FD/CBI FDs' Excellence Awards

Access Accounting has been named ‘Financial Software Provider of the Year’ by its customers in the Real FD magazine's annual Satisfaction Survey. The prestigious accolade was presented at the Real FD/CBI FDs’ Excellence Awards, held at The Dorchester in London on Tuesday 17th April. Access Accounting was the only independent company to reach the shortlist and beat off competition from 11 other providers to clinch the award, including SAP, Microsoft, Sage, Exchequer and Pegasus.

Real FD invited financial directors to rate their satisfaction with the quality of their core financials system and the level of support provided by the vendor. One FD commented, “Integration has been the key to our success in transforming the finance department. Access technology has really helped me to do this in a relatively painless way.”

Access Accounting was praised by FDs for the software’s ease of use and flexibility as well as the quality of the company’s customer support and reseller channel. Large clients highlighted the professionalism of the implementation process, with Real FD proclaiming Access Accounting to be an all-round winner. The software house was also highly commended last year, when once again it was praised for its superior level of customer care.

28/02/07 - Dimensions Workshops

During March 2007 Caletech are running a series of Dimensions Workshops throughout Scotland.

These free events are open to all and are designed to provide an overview of the Dimensions range for prospective new Access users and existing Access Horizons or Foundations XP users who may be interested in upgrading to Dimensions Lite or full Dimensions. The Workshops are being held at the following locations:

Aberdeen Thistle Hotel - 13th March 2007

Edinburgh Hilton Hotel - 16th March 2007

Glasgow Crowne Plaza Hotel - 22nd March 2007

Dundee Caletech National Training Centre - 23rd March 2007

Each event runs from 10am to 12pm and a buffet lunch will be provided for attendees.

30/01/07 - Microsoft Windows Vista compatibility

Access are happy to report that their applications are all fully functional with the latest version of Microsoft Windows - Vista.

Access had been testing their core applications in preparation for the launch of Vista. There are some minor issues, (mostly caused by the increased security embedded within Vista) and some cosmetic issues on some products, which will be addressed within the next update releases.

Please note that the MSDE version of Microsoft SQL Server does not operate under Vista. SQL Server 2005 Express can be used as an alternative.

23/11/06 - Construction Computing readers vote Access Dimensions 'Software Product of the Year'

The readers of Construction Computing have voted Access Accounting’s flagship business and accounting software, Access Dimensions, as ‘Software Product of the Year’. The accolade was awarded last night at The Construction Computing Awards 2006, held at the Russell Hotel in London.

Tony Barrow, sales director for Access Accounting, commented, “We’re delighted to win the award – thank you to everyone who voted for us. At Access we recognise that the construction industry relies heavily on flexible software solutions that meet their exact business requirements and offers seamless integration with many industry-specific solutions.

“We have dedicated product teams who work tirelessly to enhance our software solutions and provide new offerings. We recently released a stand-alone module, Access CIS System, to comply with the forthcoming changes to the Construction Industry Scheme rules, which the government is set to introduce in April 2007. This solution allows contractors to address the new legislation without even needing to change their existing accounts system.”

The award finalists were announced in September, when the readers of Construction Computing chose their favourite products and companies. Access Accounting was shortlisted alongside eight other contenders.

The Construction Computing Awards provides industry-wide recognition for individual and corporate achievement, rewarding the technology, tools and solutions for the effective design, construction, maintenance and modification of commercial buildings, residential and social housing and civil engineering projects of all sizes.

02/11/06 - Access Accounting urges businesses to prepare now for changes to Construction Industry Scheme

Access is urging businesses to start preparing now for the changes to the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS), which the Government is set to introduce in April 2007. The company, which has recently launched the Access CIS System to allow contractors to start preparing their records, says many businesses are still unaware of the full implications of the legislation.

Kevin Misselbrook, customer services director for Access Accounting, commented, “It is critical that businesses fully understand the new CIS rules and make adequate preparation for the changes such as ensuring the present accounting and payroll software is up-to-date and that staff are trained to deal with the new scheme.”

To help businesses understand how the new legislation will affect them, Access Accounting is offering a free copy of the recently published white paper from the Business Application Software Developers Association (BASDA).

The Access CIS System, which sits alongside the company’s HM Revenue & Customs accredited Access Payroll solution, takes account of all known changes to the legislation so that records can be prepared immediately.

19/10/06 - Dimensions Online - Access has announced the launch of its hosted solution, Dimensions Online, at the Softworld Accounting and Finance Exhibition in Birmingham.

Dimensions Online offers a totally flexible business solution for organisations that require a virtual office environment. The service allows remote workers, such as sales teams and home-based employees, to gain secure, fully-protected access to the flagship software solution, Access Dimensions, via the internet. Providing complete infrastructure support, the service also offers secure backup of data and disaster recovery, enabling organisations to concentrate on their core business.

John Beech, managing director for Access Accounting, commented, “Dimensions Online breaks down the barriers of a physical working environment whilst retaining all the benefits of Access Dimensions. This offers businesses greater freedom to operate in the way that best suits them. Wherever an individual is in the world, they can access the system to carry out their tasks – whether they require real-time, accurate business information for making decisions on the move, need to input data directly into the system, or require access to Microsoft Office. This service is part of our commitment to ensure our solutions continue to fit the needs of the businesses we serve. “The solution can also be made available to an organisation’s auditors or accountants, helping them to make transaction entries and give the best advice based on up-to-date information,” he continued.

Dimensions Online removes the need to have the software installed on in-house servers, or the individual machines of remote staff, avoiding the overhead of maintaining the systems infrastructure and upgrades. It also provides the same high-level security used by the banking community throughout the world so businesses can be confident that their data will remain totally secure.

17/10/06 - Access Accounting partners with Commidea to offer credit card payment facilities

Access has partnered with Commidea to offer credit card processing facilities to users of its award-winning Access Dimensions solution. Commidea has joined Access Accounting’s Alliance Integrator programme to link its online card payment systems, ICP and WinTi, with the accounting system’s Credit Card Processor module.

Stephen Wiggett, alliance partner manager for Access Accounting, commented, “Commidea’s card payment processing software will allow our users to minimise the amount of time spent processing transactions as funds can be collected from within Access Dimensions before orders are despatched.”

Access Accounting and Commidea will provide an integrated solution, suitable for mail order companies and e-commerce environments. ICP and WinTi have received certification for credit and debit card processing from all major UK merchant service providers regardless of whether or not the cardholder is present.

“We are delighted to be working with Access Accounting, and believe that the combined order processing and card processing system will take the hard work out of fulfilling orders. It will also make it much easier for companies running a variety of sales operations to utilise the same payment system,” said Simon Wilding, managing director for Commidea.

01/10/06 - Caletech International - we are proud to announce that from 1st October 2006 Access Accounting (Scotland) Ltd will become Caletech International Ltd.

We are making this change in order to more closely represent the nature and direction of our company growth, as we continue to trade in an increasingly global marketplace. Having grown our client base over the last 15 years nationally throughout Scotland, the period since 1999 has seen it expand further within the UK and overseas, and we are currently supporting Access clients in England, Europe, North America, the Gulf states and Australasia.

Director Norman Tough comments "As Caletech International we will be able to reach into new overseas markets and grow further in locations we already have existing clients, particularly the USA where our expertise in the oil and gas industry has been particularly strong. Of course Scotland continues to be a major market for us and we look forward to continued expansion here nationally".

08/05/06 - Access Launches Integrated CRM - Access Accounting has extended its range of business solutions with the launch of Access Integrated CRM. The system encompasses all the benefits of a standalone solution while providing total integration with award-winning financial package, Access Dimensions.

Access Integrated CRM – which removes the need to re-key information – allows companies to manage their customer and prospect database, marketing campaigns and sales and pipeline opportunities with considerable ease.

Designed using the industry-standard Microsoft SQL Server database, the scalable solution offers unlimited data storage without losing processing speed. The open architecture approach also allows complete real-time interaction with even the most specialised software, avoiding synchronisation issues and making importing and exporting data effortless. Two-way integration between Access Integrated CRM and Microsoft Office enables staff to work in either application and for both systems to be updated simultaneously.

“This solution offers excellent time-saving benefits, resulting in less administration and more time for staff to convert prospects into customers as well as maintaining a smooth company-wide communication with existing customers,” said Emma Sinton, Access Integrated CRM Product Manager.

“Creating sustained and profitable growth is important to any organisation and having the opportunity to manage and respond to opportunities at the right time is imperative in today's competitive business environment,” she continued.

Offering all the tools expected from such a solution, including role-based configurability, the centralised database allows information to be easily shared within the company for fast response times to customer enquiries.

Targeted and automated marketing campaigns can be easily planned, implemented and tracked, allowing complete control over the reporting and analysis of activity whilst the sales and pipeline management function provides access to valuable information on likely future sales. Access Integrated CRM combines an effective pipeline management solution – providing in-depth performance reports – with full smart tag views of customer information, allowing current performance and forecasting to be easily monitored during every stage of the sales cycle.

Download the PDF CRM brochure

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15/03/06 - New Dimensions Manufacturing module -Manufacturing companies will find controlling their production operations both easier and more efficient with the recently launched Dimensions Manufacturing solution from award-winning developer, Access Accounting Ltd.

Dimensions Manufacturing, which is built using open-architecture and Microsoft SQL Server technology, will significantly extend the functionality of the flagship accounting and business package Dimensions, to accommodate the in-depth processes and tight deadlines required by manufacturing operations.

“The aim is to put businesses in full control through an integrated manufacturing and finance system. This means that information will only need to be entered the once, significantly reducing wasted time and effort re-keying data,” said Pip Trowles, Dimensions Manufacturing Product Manager for Access Accounting.

“Access to relevant and accurate real-time information enables companies to see at a glance whether parts are available and take immediate action if they are not. What's more with advanced business intelligence reporting the decision making process is made much easier,” she continued.

Full visibility of the entire production process, from the original sales order to the finished goods warehouse, allows the status of all orders to be known at any point in time. The software makes it easy and flexible to create works orders when required – using either the Works Order Creation Wizard or creating them automatically at the time of entering a sales order – taking account of alternative items, Bill of Material variations and free Work in Progress. Business procedures can be created so that only orders where all components are available are released to the factory floor, helping to maintain a low work-in-progress inventory and shortening manufacturing lead times. The software also allows multiple routes around the factory to be defined to rebalance the workload across the factory floor and eliminate bottlenecks and hold-ups in production.

Dimensions Manufacturing provides the perfect solution for companies in which the manufacturing process is of low to medium complexity, but where volumes are significant and prioritisation is a key activity. This extends the functionality already available in the award-winning Dimensions accounting solution, which offers assembly functions together with integrated time sheets and project costing.

For companies who have processes with a high level of complexity, Supply Chain Manufacturing – developed by sister company Access Supply Chain – provides comprehensive industry-specific functionality including MRPII, ERP, Advanced Batch Traceability and complex stock control. With its scaleable modular structure, excellent functionality and extreme flexibility, Supply Chain Manufacturing combines all the advantages of a standard packaged offering with the fit of a bespoke solution. It has limitless potential for integration and can be deployed with complete confidence in every part of your organisation.

Download the PDF Manufacturing brochure

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