CMS - Sage Abra HRMS - Employee Management Software

Friday, August 29, 2008

CMS Announces Fall Sage Abra Promotion

CMS would like to announce a special Sage Abra promotion for Fall 2008. Any business purchasing two or more Abra modules between September 1st and October 31st 2008 will receive an iPod Shuffle courtesy of CMS.

To learn more about Sage Abra HRMS's capabilities and our promotion please click here. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us at 860-678-4401.

Labels: CMS, Customer Promotion, iPod Shuffle, Sage Software, Sage Abra HRMS, Sage Abra Payroll

Monday, August 04, 2008

Sage Abra HRMS 8.4 Expands Payroll

Sage Abra HRMS 8.4 Expands Payroll Functionality to Further Support the Needs of Specific Industries

New Veteran Reporting Capabilities, Online Recruitment Enhancements Also Included in Version 8.4

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, Aug 04, 2008 (MARKET WIRE) -- Sage Software announced today the launch of Sage Abra HRMS 8.4, the latest version of the company's Microsoft (R) SQL Server-based human resource management system for mid-sized businesses and organizations in North America.

The new U.S. payroll module includes expanded capabilities, like support for step rates and variable pay plans, to further support the payroll processing needs of U.S.-based businesses and organizations in such specific industries and categories as unions, manufacturing, government, and others. New veteran tracking capabilities help government agencies hiring veterans as federal contractors to comply with new reporting requirements, while new online recruitment functionality can help employers fill open positions more quickly.

"We continue to listen to our customers to ensure we are making the most relevant improvements," said Karl Grass, senior vice president and general manager for Employer Solutions at Sage Software. "The new Sage Abra Payroll module delivers enhanced payroll functionality for key markets, including union shops, manufacturing, government, education, and sales organizations. And, we continue to offer multiple database support, so users can choose the platform that works best for them."

With the addition of U.S. payroll, Sage Abra HRMS 8.4 now delivers a feature-rich, yet affordable, integrated HR/payroll system for U.S. organizations requiring or preferring an application that supports the Microsoft SQL Server database platform.

Payroll Processing

The new Sage Abra Payroll (U.S.) 8.4 module includes:

user-controlled HR/payroll data sharing
added functionality for accruals, shift differentials, and overtime calculations
support for variable pay plans, such as sales commissions, draws, and piece-rate production
support for step rates; and
an extended set of pay frequencies.

These enhancements support the payroll processing needs of businesses and organizations in manufacturing, services, retail, wholesale, financial, transportation, high-tech, government, education, construction, and agriculture.

Veteran Reporting

As a result of changes instituted by the Department of Labor's (DOL) agencies, Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA), Jobs for Veterans, and The Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), Sage Abra HRMS includes new functionality for the tracking of veteran reporting categories to accommodate the required annual reporting for federal contractors on or after December 1, 2003. A new VETS-100A form implements certain provisions of the Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA) and raises the VETS-100 reporting threshold from $25,000 to $100,000. Veteran reporting categories were also revised to match JVA changes.

Online Recruiting

Sage Abra's online recruiting module, Sage Abra eRecruiter, can help companies fill open positions faster. Sage Abra eRecruiter now identify applicants who do or do not meet job requirements, and filter EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) reports using "meet/does not meet" job requirement flags. New Veteran categories added to an applicant profile, and new Veterans category responses, now automatically transfer to Sage Abra HR at hire.

Sage Abra delivers tightly integrated functionality across HR, payroll, benefits, training, and attendance, with rich reporting and analysis, and a Web workforce portal with employee self-service, company communications, benefits enrollment, recruitment and more. The product line features support for multiple databases, with versions 8.x of Sage Abra HRMS supporting Microsoft SQL Server, and versions 7.x of Sage Abra Suite supporting Visual FoxPro. Customers also have the option to run Sage Abra HRMS or Sage Abra Suite either as a turn-key hardware/software solution or in a hosted environment.

Sage Abra HRMS 8.4 is available now from authorized Sage Software business partners. For more information about Sage Abra HRMS, please visit www.sageabra.com or call 800-424-9392.

About Sage Software

Sage Software supports the needs, challenges and dreams of nearly 2.9 million small and medium-sized business customers in North America through easy-to-use, scalable and customizable software and services. Our products support accounting, operations, customer relationship management, human resources, time tracking, merchant services and the specialized needs of the construction, distribution, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit and real estate industries. Sage Software is a subsidiary of The Sage Group plc, a leading global supplier of business management software and services to small and medium-sized businesses. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989. Sage Group now has 5.7 million customers and employs over 14,800 people worldwide. For more information, please visit the web site at www.cmshris.com or call (800) 517-9099.

For more detailed information about Abra Payroll please click here for our Abra Payroll Feature Sheet (PDF format).

CMS is a Sage Software Select certified Business Partner, providing Sage Abra HRMS software solutions to the North East. CMS has been providing Sage Abra HRMS (Human Resource Management Systems), Recruiting, Payroll, Benefits Enrollment, Training, Time and Attendance, Employee Self Service, solutions since 1997. Call CMS Today For a Free Assessment of Your HR & Payroll Software Needs at 1-800-517-9099.

Labels: Sage Software, Sage Abra eRecruiter, Sage Abra HRMS, Sage Abra Payroll

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Sage Abra HRMS Webcasts August - September

Learn more about our Sage Software products and how they can benefit your organization. Register now for our free, live webcasts, or view a recorded webcast at your own convenience.

To register for any of these webcasts listed below please visit the link provided, or call Linzi at 860-678-4401.

Introduction to Sage Abra HRMS (non-customer)
Learn how Sage Abra HRMS can solve your HR and payroll challenges with integrated solutions including HR, payroll, benefits, training, recruiting, and compliance.
August 5, 2008, 2 pm - 3 pm
August 19, 2008, 2 pm - 3 pm
Please click here to register

Sage Abra for MAS 500 Customers
See how integrating Sage MAS 500 with Sage Abra HRMS, the industry-leading integrated software solution for HR and payroll management, will improve your HR and payroll efficiencies by keeping your HR and ERP all in one place.
August 6, 2008, 2 pm - 3 pm
Please click here to register

Learn what's new in the upcoming Sage Abra release... v7.7
Sage Software is pleased to introduce Sage Abra Suite v7.7 - the latest version of Sage Abra HRMS. All Sage Abra customers are invited to attend this Webcast to learn about the exciting new features and enhancements included with the software, the upgrade process, and resources for assistance.
August 7, 2008, 2pm - 3 pm
August 12, 2008, 2pm - 3 pm
August 19, 2008, 2pm - 3 pm
Please click here to register

Enhance your HR solution... with Sage Abra Payroll (Sage Abra HR customers)
Attend this Webcast and learn how to have all of your HR and payroll information in one place. With seamless integration, you can add Sage Abra Payroll and/or Sage Payroll Services - Abra Edition to your existing Sage Abra HR solution.
August 11, 2008, 2pm - 3 pm
August 26, 2008, 2pm - 3 pm
Please click here to register

Enhance your payroll solution... with Sage Abra HR (Sage Abra Payroll customers)
Learn how you can enhance your Sage Abra Payroll software with comprehensive, fully- integrated HR and benefits solutions.
August 13, 2008, 2pm - 3 pm
Please click here to register

Sage Payroll PayCard - Flexible Electronic Payroll for All Employees
Offer your employees a cost-effective and secure way to receive their paycheck electronically, with the Sage Payroll PayCard. Find out how easy it is to enroll and start offering your employees a new payroll benefit immediately!
August 14, 2 pm - 3 pm
August 28, 2008, 2 pm - 3 pm
September 11, 2008, 2 pm - 3 pm
September 25, 2008, 2 pm - 3 pm
Please click here to register

For Sage Abra HRMS - Benefits & ESS for Sage Abra (current customers)
Attend this Webcast and explore how to give your employees ownership of their personal information and benefits enrollment. We'll show you how Sage Abra ESS and Benefits Solutions can automate your company's business processes.
August 14, 2008, 2pm - 3 pm
Please click here to register

Sage Abra for Sage FAS Customers
See how easy it is with Sage Abra HRMS to reduce benefits costs, eliminate redundant data entry, and easily produce accurate and on-time payrolls. Best of all, it's from a name you can trust- Sage Software!
August 21, 2008, 2 pm - 3 pm
Please click here to register

Sage Lattes-Lunch-n-Learn - Sarbanes Oxley and Its Impact on Payroll Controls
Attend this free, educational Webcast, presented in partnership with the American Payroll Association (APA), and learn the new payroll compliance requirements. Complete the survey at the end of the Webcast to receive a free Starbucks Card loaded with $5.
September 3, 2008, 2pm - 3 pm
Please click here to register

Sage Abra for Sage MIP Fund Accounting Customers
Sage Abra is the industry-leading HR management solution from the makers of your Sage MIP Fund Accounting software. Attend this Webcast and explore how Sage Abra HRMS can help your company to reduce benefits costs, eliminate redundant data entry, and easily produce reports.
September 10, 2008, 2pm - 3 pm
Please click here to register

To register for any of these webcasts listed above please visit the link provided, or call Linzi at 860-678-4401 if you have any trouble registering.

Labels: HR Software, Payroll Software, Sage Software, Sage Abra HRMS, Sage Abra Payroll

Friday, March 14, 2008

Free Abra Payroll 1st Quarter Close Class Wednesday

CMS is hosting an Abra Payroll Quarter End Closing class on Wednesday, March 19th at 9:00 am - 10:30 am.

CMS will bring Abra Payroll users through the Quarter End Closing Procedures. This informative 90 minute session will help answer your questions and walk you through the process flow:

Consisting of:

Printing Standard Reports for Balancing
Analyzing Reports
Abra Quarter Close Procedures
Run Quarter End Reports

Date and Time:
Wednesday, March 19th at 9:00 am - 10:30 am.

To register for this class please email lstrong@cmshris.com or call Linzi at 860-678-4401.

Labels: Sage Abra Payroll, Training

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Upcoming Webinars for Sage Abra HRMS

Payroll and Tax Compliance Solutions
Evaluating your Options there is no "one size fits all" solution to your payroll management needs. Whether you want the control of in-house software, or the convenience of outsourcing, you need to make informed decisions on what best suits your company's needs. You need "payroll your way."
November 21, 2007, 2 pm - 3 pm
December 13, 2007, 2 pm - 3 pm
Click here to register.

Sage Abra eRecruiter -Online Recruiting for HR Departments (non-customer)
Abra eRecruiter is the only solution designed specifically to meet the needs of busy HR departments or recruiting specialists. It's easy to use, has low technical requirements, and has the flexibility to meet the needs of each company.
November 14, 2007, 2 pm - 3 pm
December 11, 2007, 2 pm - 3 pm
Click here to register.

Sage Abra - The Power of Abra Workforce Connections (non-customer)
See how Abra Workforce Connections can lower costs, reduce administrative time and overhead, and ensure accurate benefits, attendance, payroll and HR information.
November 1, 2007, 2 pm - 3 pm
November 15, 2007, 2 pm - 3 pm
December 12, 2007, 2 pm - 3 pm
Click here to register.

Enhance your payroll solution. with Sage Abra HR (Sage Abra Payroll customers)
Learn how you can enhance your Sage Abra Payroll software with comprehensive, fully- integrated HR and benefits solutions.
November 15, 2007, 2 pm - 3 pm
Click here to register.

Sage Abra HRMS - Go paperless with Sage Abra's online solutions
This Webcast will demo Sage Abra's online solutions, including Abra ESS, Abra eRecruiter and Abra Benefits Enrollment modules. Learn how to go paperless with Sage Abra solutions.
November 13, 2007, 2 pm - 3 pm
December 18, 2007, 2 pm - 3 pm
Click here to register.

Enhance your HR solution with Sage Abra Payroll
(Sage Abra HR customers)
Attend this Webcast and learn of to have all of your HR and payroll information in one place. With seamlessly integrate, you can add Sage Abra Payroll and/or Sage Payroll Services - Abra Edition to your existing Sage Abra HR solution.
November 19, 2007, 2 pm - 3 pm
Click here to register.

Sage Software Lattes-Lunch-n-Learn - "Employee Self-Service: Your Keys to Employee Engagement and Retention"
Attend this free educational Webcast and learn how to refine your corporate culture through employee-driven concepts. Complete the survey at the end of the Webcast to receive a free $5 coffee gift card from America’s leading coffee shop.
January 16, 2008, 2 pm - 3 pm
Click here to register.

If you have any questions or are having trouble registering, please call us toll-free at 1-800-517-9099 or email bkelly (at) cmshris.com.

Labels: Sage Software, Sage Abra eRecruiter, Sage Abra HRMS, Sage Abra Payroll

Friday, August 31, 2007

Sage Abra Payroll Rated 4.5 By CPA Technology Advisor

From the Sept. 2007 Review of Payroll Systems

The Abra Payroll program is part of Sage Software’s Sage Abra HRMS, a comprehensive human resource management system that includes advanced capabilities for handling corporate payroll, online benefits enrollment, employee education, performance reviews, and online recruiting, in addition to ensuring compliance with various government compliance issues such as EEO regulations, FMLA, OSHA, COBRA and HIPAA. The system offers integration with most mid-market accounting and ERP systems, while broad reporting and analysis tools are also included. The program can be used either in-house by an organization or used by an accounting professional to manage the payroll, HR and benefits of multiple clients. The payroll module includes support for an unlimited number of companies, subsidiaries, departments and employees, with direct deposit included, as well as self-service payroll and HR functions for employees, electronic and mag media filing and payment options, and support for all 50 states (a Canadian version is also available). The payroll system is network-ready, with pricing dependent upon the number of employees. Of note, Sage Software is a Platinum sponsor for the 12th annual National Payroll Week 2007, which will be September 3-7.

EASE-OF-USE/DATA ENTRY – 4 Stars
Company selection is performed from the primary Sage Abra HRMS program, which opens into the Activity Center, a console that provides links to the primary functions of the suite, including Human Resources, Payroll, Attendance, Training and System management utilities. A pull-down menu across the top offers access to additional functions. Within Abra Payroll, the system groups tasks into categories for Actions, Processes, Reports, Rules, Details and Query. The system includes a variety of Wizards for initial setup of company, staff and other data, including setting default deduction types and pay rates. Additionally, customizable “action” screens guide users through many payroll processes.

After initial setup, specific data-entry functions such as entering employee timesheet information or processing replacement checks are performed on tabbed screens that provide intuitive entry fields that can be customized to meet the company’s needs. Links can also be created from the main menu to allow users to jump immediately to tasks they perform most frequently. Employee selection lists are provided in a spreadsheet format for simplified sorting and filtering, with the ability to enter or edit time, rate, benefits, labor allocations, withholding and deduction information across several employees from a single screen, after which the system makes all calculations when the payroll is run. A simple gross-up calculator is also available to see results prior to processing. Salaried employees’ data is automatically computed and requires only review before processing unless benefits-related data needs to be changed or other edits are necessary.

The program’s core HR features are also accessible through the main Activity Center, which results in a comprehensive, yet user-friendly system. Program users would benefit from formal training in order to take advantage of the system’s more advanced features and workflow management functions.

FEATURES – 5 Stars
In addition to offering unlimited voluntary and involuntary deductions; unlimited direct deposit accounts; any number of pay types; and support for salaried, tipped, commissioned or piece-work employees, the Abra Payroll module supports any number of companies and employees/payees with the ability to manage up to five organizational levels within each payer company, such as geographic location, departments, cost centers or projects. The system automatically performs all calculations when payrolls are run and routes information into print-ready versions of forms 1099, W-2, W-3 and 1096, as well as preparing ACH files for direct deposit. Sage Abra’s deduction capabilities support most traditional items, including workers’ comp., 401(k), savings, garnishments, cafeteria plans and union dues, and allow customized addition of any others. The system also provides for management of benefit accruals that are tied to hours, time periods or other methods.

Liability accounts are maintained within the program, are linked back to the company’s GL and offer the ability to make electronic payment of withholdings to all entities that allow EFT remittances. More than 2,000 local, state and federal tax jurisdictions are supported. Sage Software also offers an optional hands-off payroll tax filing service through Sage Compliance Services. Sage Abra includes exceptional analysis tools that allow the user to drilldown to specific data and review salary, turnover and performance issues. The program provides strong security options that can limit user access to (or prohibit user access to) certain companies, departments, program functions, specific data fields and individual employees (like company executives). Organizer and Scheduler utilities also provide workflow assistance, notifying users and management when payroll tasks need to be completed or if review processes are pending.

One feature that stands out for products at this level is the optional Abra ESS (Employee Self Service) add-on, which provides a secure online portal that allows employees to view and print pay stubs and W-2s, make electronic changes to their W-4s, and review their payroll histories, including pay, withholding, deductions, bonuses, commissions, and voluntary and matching contributions. This can relieve a lot of the headaches that HR departments face, even small ones.

REPORTING CAPABILITIES – 5 Stars
Abra can produce 1099, W-2, W-3, 1096 and 940 forms, and 941 and 943 worksheets, and supports more than 2,000 local, state and federal taxing jurisdictions. Abra Payroll includes Crystal Reports, which enables users to customize over 100 standard reports, including pre-close reports of employee deductions, earnings, taxes, quarterly tax and wage file reports, gross-to-net detail reports, leave status reports and many others. With MICR printing capability, all paychecks and direct deposit advices can be printed to plain stock or preformatted form paper, and all reports can be viewed on-screen prior to printing. Users can run trial payroll runs as often as needed prior to final payroll processing.

INTEGRATION/IMPORT & EXPORT – 4 Stars
Since Abra Payroll is part of the robust Sage Abra HRMS suite, it offers complete integration with HR and other modules. It also has the ability to share data with most major accounting packages, not through direct integration but via an ASCII and Excel import and export function. The system can also generate reports into ASCII and Excel.

RELATIVE VALUE – 4.5 Stars
Abra Payroll provides extensive support for any number of companies, employees, pay and deduction types, direct deposit accounts, filing support, analysis tools, and reporting. The system also boasts a wonderful employee self-service option. As part of the larger Sage Abra HRMS suite, it also offers exceptional benefits management and regulatory compliance functionality. The system is not for small clients or for professionals who manage several small clients. It is best suited to managing the payroll and HR needs of mid-sized businesses (50+ employees), especially those in jurisdictions with more stringent government management and more complex compliance issues. Program and rate updates are included in the annual support cost of the program and are automatically updated by the system.