Hi All,
After some help/info.
I Run a small Biz and use Sage Instant accounts (got though biz bank account) I also keep some basic stock, which I keep track of by Excel spread sheet.
But I like to look into upgrading SAGE to 50 Accounts (though the Bank)so that I can use it's extra stock control softwear. But finding it hard to find a lot of info on it (How much I can do with it, how much time it take, how many entrys etc.)
So I like to know how the basic 50 Accounts works, what/how many inputs I need to do etc.
AT the moment When ordering something from Supplier, I fill in the Supplier info then fill in the product info if new part to me (not on system). So two entrys.
SO with Sage 50 account is it still two entrys with a new product, but an extra box/page for how many going into stock?
If it is a product on the system do I just adjust stock level or is there another entry to do? (can this be done at the supplier input stage?)
I also take it the software will automatic adjust stock level when I book/sale the product when invoicing?
I can get stock levels?
I can find out best sellers etc, (how many I sold in the past etc)To help with stock levels etc?
OR Is there another stock control softwere that worth looking at that works with sage? Or an ad hoc stand alone stock softwhere that is good.
I looking into this to [i]help save time[/i] by cutting down time of double entring the product details and having to keep updating my spead sheet when I sell stuff.
Hope that makes sense and Thank you for your help.
Rob
Someone must use sage or stock controll software 🙁
Just started using Sage 50, I think the basic option doesn't allow detailed stock control as you require. I've found certain Sage people to be very helpful in explaining what it can and can't do. Give them a call and ask to speak to one of their technical people rather than just a sales person.
Have a look at Tas Books aswell. It has good standard product reports/analysis.
OR Is there another stock control softwere that worth looking at that works with sage? Or an ad hoc stand alone stock softwhere that is good.
There are tonnes of them out there, from a few hundred quid to multi million pound offerings.
The problem is, without understanding a little more about your business, it is hard to recommend anything. How many people do you employ? How many different products do you stock? How much is your total stock holding at any one time? How often are you placing new orders with suppliers? These are just a few basic questions to give some kind of overview, many other factors need to be taken into account.
FWIW, if you're a one man band, or a small business that only one person has access to the stock spreadsheet (or only one person can write to it anyway), for the hassle it's worth implementing a stock management system, I'd stick with an excel spreadsheet for the time being, though I would look at ways of improving it to potentially reduce the number of double data entry. Excel is a VERY powerful tool that is relatively cheap as software goes. Stock management software is usually very expensive, for doing little except one specific job. Of course if your business is big enough it needs some stock management software, there's no escaping the need to buy it. You'd be amazed how many companies struggle like hell (then go bust) just in the growth phase requiring them to then implement a stock management package.
Keep things as simple as possible, double entering data can be a PITA, but if it works currently, don't screw it up!
All experience provided by someone who has worked for more than one company that went to the wall in over zealous expansion plans and failed implementation of overly complex stock management systems when a much simpler solution would have sufficed... But nobody ever listens to me... 😉
By the way, if you do want any further help on the matter, not just my anecdotal musings, my email is in my profile. Several years experience managing warehouses within small businesses here, so I like to at least think I know what I'm talking about!
Personally I would avoid Sage like the plague, it gets recommended by every accountant simply because they know it, I looked into it extensively just before the millennium then went with something else entirely, but nowadays with inter web, there are cloud solutions (light speed I seem to recall wasn't bad) and many of the web shop systems offer stock control and purchasing functionality, with the ability to spit out what you need for an audit trail, & nominal ledger.
The bike game is or was full of Epos systems that did the same, there must be bespoke Epos and Web backends that can do what you need, just don't get into Sage it's the most clumsy code heavy bloated piece of software crap known to man. Didn't even work out the correct discount level for VAT after settlement discounts last time I looked.
You may be right Derek - but for me the main reason I chose it was that it was the only thing I found which could integrate website sales directly with the accounts package and avoid the need to enter everything manually.
Thanks All I knew STW wouldn't let me down! 😀
Sam, That what I am worried about, it is maybe not as good as Sage said it be, I have talked to them a few times (other issues) and have found them VERY helpful and fixed the issue quickly, but I was finding it hard to get the full piture over the phone and like to get views from people who us it.
MBOY, Yes there is loads out there a quick good search high lights that but I found it hard to find any that worked with SAGE, I don't mind spend a few quid if needed but not hunderds (there are free ones out there)
I am a one man band so to speak, year old company but like to keep track on what sales and what doesn't and what maintenance services that I do, to see what sells well or not. I do think I could use Excel a bit better and keep it more up dated, I tend to print a copy, try and keep it up to date by hand then update to the laptop every 4/5 weeks.
Mboy I drop you an email soon, Thanks.
Derekrides, Bit late for me! I don't really to go though the hassle of changing softwere re training etc just to get some sort of stock controll.
It's al about keeping my time sitting in front of the laptop down so I can be more in the workshop getting my hands dirty 😉