NEWSLETTER QUICK LINKS
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Bennett/Porter News
Fall is here in the Pacific Northwest, and it is the perfect time to tighten things up before year end. In this Autumn edition, you will find what matters now: highlights from Acumatica 2025 R2, a clear reminder on the order for closing Sage 100 modules, practical expense management tips from People Savvy HCM, and a last call on Windows 10 end of support. Our goal is simple. Help you finish the year clean, confident, and ready for what is next.
At Bennett/Porter, “People Inspiring Solutions” is more than just a tagline – it’s the guiding light behind everything we do. Our personable approach and exceptional customer service make us the ideal partner for your business, providing tailored digital solutions for your enterprise, HR, and IT needs.
Acumatica News
Acumatica 2025 R2: Smarter, Faster, and More Adaptable Than Ever
Acumatica has officially launched its 2025 R2 release—and it’s packed with meaningful updates that directly benefit growing mid-market businesses. This latest release isn’t just about incremental change. It’s a signal of where modern ERP is headed: personalized, AI-accelerated, and built for industry-specific results.
Here’s what’s new in 2025 R2:
🔹 A New, Fully Customizable Interface:
Acumatica’s modernized UI is now available for all users. Designed with real customer feedback, the new interface allows for personalized fields, tabs, and layouts—ensuring teams can work the way that works best for them.
🔹 AI Automations Without the Complexity:
Introduced at Acumatica Summit earlier this year, the new AI Studio enables non-technical users to create automated workflows powered by large language models (LLMs). These workflows can now be configured with no code and trigger key actions like updating records or initiating repetitive tasks, freeing teams to focus on higher-value work.
🔹 Powerful Industry Edition Enhancements:
- Construction: A new Project 360 Dashboard improves real-time project visibility and collaboration.
- Distribution: New Order Orchestration and AI-powered product recommendations increase speed, sales, and satisfaction.
- Manufacturing: Better scheduling views and traceability tools help eliminate bottlenecks and boost quality.
- All Editions: A new vendor payments automation feature saves time, reduces errors, and improves financial control.
Ali Jani, Acumatica’s Chief Product Officer, called the update “a leap forward in our mission to help businesses operate and grow with more confidence, adaptability, and intelligence.” We couldn’t agree more.
Explore what’s possible with 2025 R2 → CONTACT US!
Sage 100 News
Don’t Forget to Close Your Sage 100 Modules
With December looming in front of us, and with so many of our clients having a fiscal year end of December 31st, we thought it would be a good idea to remind you the order for closing your Sage 100 modules. (And even if your fiscal year doesn’t end in December, it is a good reminder for everyone!) In particular, if you have not yet closed last year’s activity in your Sage 100 software (or the year before either!), it is a good idea to do so before January 2026 arrives. Sage does have the ability to calculate the Balance Sheet Retained Earnings account for at least 2 years without closing the General Ledger. But after those two years? Sage can be a little unhappy about having to calculate and carry that Retained Earnings balance over 3 years.
Sage has published an article letting everyone know about the order that should be followed when closing the modules of Sage 100. Basically, any module that is written to another module (such as Purchase Order, which writes to Accounts Payable, or Sales Order which writes to Accounts Receivable) should be closed first. Not all modules have a Year End Closing – Bank Reconciliation, Bill of Materials, Work Order, Requirements Planning, Return Merchandise Authorization – have no Year End Closing process.
Sage recommends the order of closing Sage 100 modules for year end is as follows:
- Purchase Order Processing
- Sales Order Processing
- Production Management
- Inventory
- Payroll
- Accounts Receivable
- Accounts Payable
- Job Cost
- General Ledger
The order for closing modules for month end is the same as the above, with Payroll being an exception. Payroll is closed quarterly, and while you can indeed process payrolls for the new quarter without closing the old quarter, if you use Direct Deposit the Year-To-Date totals on the check stubs for the Direct Deposit may not be correct. (We found this out the hard way when processing a January payroll without closing the prior quarter – the YTD Direct Deposit numbers were incorrect on the stubs.)
There are a couple of caveats to the list above, one of which is to make sure you have a backup of your data before you perform any Period End or Year End Close. As silly as it seems, we’ve had clients who have had power outages during the close, and that really messes with the integrity of the close. Always make sure you have a backup of your data before you close! Note that if we’re hosting your Sage 100 on our Bennett/Porter Coud, we’ve got you covered with frequent, automated backups designed to keep your information safe and accessible. You won’t need to manage your own backups – unless you’d like an extra copy for your own historical records. With us, your data’s security and continuity are always a priority.
Second, you will want to make sure all of the registers are updated before you perform the close. (We can’t tell you how many times we’ve seen unposted Daily Transaction Registers we have found in the General Ledger that prevent folks from tying out the Accounts Payable or Accounts Receivable Aged Invoice reports to the General Ledger.)
If you have 3rd Party Enhancements installed, you might want to contact us to see if the Enhancement is going to affect your closing. Second, you will want to make sure all of the registers are updated before you perform the close. (We can’t tell you how many times we’ve seen unposted Daily Transaction Registers we have found in the General Ledger that prevent folks from tying out the Accounts Payable or Accounts Receivable Aged Invoice reports to the General Ledger.)
As always if you have questions about any closing procedures for Sage 100, please do not hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help!
People Savvy HCM News
Expense Management Has Layers
There is a popular misconception that expense management is simply the act paying employees back. In truth, expense management is the process of tracking, controlling, and analyzing a company’s expenses to ensure they align with its financial goals and policies. It involves several key activities:
- Recording expenses: Capturing all business-related expenses, such as travel, office supplies, and utilities
- Expense reporting: Employees submit expense reports detailing their expenditures for reimbursement
- Approval workflow: Managers review and approve expense reports to ensure they comply with company policies
- Reimbursement: Approved expenses are reimbursed to employees
- Analysis and reporting: Regularly reviewing expense data to identify trends, control costs, and make informed financial decisions
As you can see, true expense management is a multi-step, multi-layered process. But that doesn’t mean it has to be complex! By implementing an effective expense management system – such as the one integrated into People Savvy HCM – you can create a more efficient, transparent, and supportive work environment that enables your employees to be more productive and focused on their primary tasks.
Want to learn more about how an expense management system might benefit your business? Check out our blog post with the Top Five Tips to Optimize Expense Management for Small Businesses.
Want to learn more about People Savvy HCM and everything it can do for you? Visit benpor.com/hr-software to explore more.
BP/IT News
Windows 10 End of Life Deadline is Almost Here!
October 14th is almost here, and with it the end of support for Windows 10 and all previous versions of Microsoft Exchange Server. The good news is that we’ll finally shut up about it; the bad news is that a lot of people are way behind on this deadline.
The market share of Windows 10 is still nearly 40% as of August. This is unprecedented and will definitely incentivize those bad actors in cyberspace to heavily target Windows 10 as soon as it goes out of support because it will be a massive target that won’t get patched. If you’re still running Windows 10 on machines after October 14th, you’re basically putting up a giant neon sign saying “HACK US!”
If you’re not ready to upgrade or replace your machines yet—whether that’s because legacy software won’t let you, budget won’t allow it, or you just don’t have the time—there IS another option! Your friendly local IT experts on our BP/IT team can help you get Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates. These can be purchased in 1-year, 2-year, or 3-year durations (with costs escalating every year). One year of breathing room and peace of mind is available for roughly $65/machine—far less than ransomware recovery!
Not sure what to do still? We’re here to help. Reach out for your free tech consultation and let us help you and your team figure out the best route for your company and your needs.
Contact us today to discuss your options and secure your IT future as Windows 10 support comes to an end. Let Bennett/Porter help you make the best decision for your business continuity and growth. We are committed to making your transition seamless and protecting your business from potential security risks associated with outdated systems.
