Online Classroom Training Sessions

09 November 2021 connies
Red Wing Software has converted our in-person CenterPoint Classroom Training to an online format for 2021. Online Classroom Training sessions offer the same curriculum as the live Classroom Training seminars. The format has been altered to better suit online learning. Hours are limited to four hours per day and run from two to four consecutive business days (depending on the course). Attendees join a scheduled Online Classroom Training session with other Red Wing Software users. Sessions are presented by an experienced Red Wing Software instructor. Online Classroom Training is the most comprehensive way to learn how to use CenterPoint.
You can view and register for all available sessions by clicking here or click one of the individual session links below.
CenterPoint Payroll
  November 16 and 17, 2021
9:00 am – 1:00 pm CST
Price: $150.00
Note: This training is a two-part 8-hour live online session held on consecutive days for a total cost of $150.00 (4 hours/$75.00 for each part) and will be limited to 20 participants.
CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture
  November 30, December 1, 7, and 8, 2021
9:00 am – 1:00 pm CST
Price: $300.00
Note: This training is a four-part 16-hour live online session held on two sets of consecutive days for a total cost of $300.00 (4 hours/$75.00 for each part) and will be limited to 20 participants.

CenterPoint Version 16.4 Release

04 November 2021 StephanieE Customer Information
We are excited to introduce the release of CenterPoint Accounting and CenterPoint Payroll version 16.4. This update is currently being rolled out. If you have not received the update yet, it will be available to you soon. In addition to the functionality listed below, there are numerous other changes incorporated into version 16.4, which were based on customer feedback.
CenterPoint version 16.4 has several notable enhancements that will make the product easier to use and more efficient. See the links below to view all new changes.
• CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture:
◦ Program Speed Improvements: CenterPoint Version 16.4 includes program speed improvements focusing on memory optimization for transaction entry screens, budgets, financial analysis, and physical inventory counts.
◦ Reporting Updates: Additional columns, filters, and date selections have been added to many reports throughout the accounting program, based on customer feedback, to refine the reporting capabilities of CenterPoint. Having the additional columns and filters can make it easier to promptly provide exactly the information you or others are seeking on a report.
◦ Ease of Use: Many ease of use features have been added that will make day-to-day operation in the program more efficient. For example, payments can now be edited within an ACH File (before the ACH payment has been made). You no longer need to delete and re-enter all payments within the file when editing an ACH payment, making the process much easier.
◦ Attachments (Advanced A/R Module): CenterPoint now supports scanning and/or attaching files or documentation to sales items. Attach things like assembly instructions, operating instructions, item guides, or anything pertaining to the item’s documentation. Using the new attachments feature within Sales Items can clarify details for internal staff and customers seeking more information about an item.
To view the entire list of enhancements for CenterPoint Accounting for Agriculture version 16.4, please click here.
• CenterPoint Accounting:
◦ Program Speed Improvements: CenterPoint Version 16.4 includes program speed improvements focusing on memory optimization for transaction entry screens, budgets, financial analysis, and physical inventory counts.
◦ Reporting Updates: Additional columns, filters, and date selections have been added to many reports throughout the accounting program, based on customer feedback, to refine the reporting capabilities of CenterPoint. Having the additional columns and filters can make it easier to promptly provide exactly the information you or others are seeking on a report.
◦ Ease of Use: Many ease of use features have been added that will make day-to-day operation in the program more efficient. For example, payments can now be edited within an ACH File (before the ACH payment has been made). You no longer need to delete and re-enter all payments within the file when editing an ACH payment, making the process much easier.
◦ Attachments: CenterPoint now supports scanning and/or attaching files or documentation to sales items. Attach things like assembly instructions, operating instructions, item guides, or anything pertaining to the item’s documentation. Using the new attachments feature within Sales Items can clarify details for internal staff and customers seeking more information about an item.
To view the entire list of enhancements for CenterPoint Accounting version 16.4, please click here.
• CenterPoint Fund Accounting:
◦ Program Speed Improvements: CenterPoint Version 16.4 includes program speed improvements focusing on memory optimization for transaction entry screens, budgets, financial analysis, and more.
• Reporting Updates: Additional columns, filters, and date selections have been added to many reports throughout the accounting program, based on customer feedback, to refine the reporting capabilities of CenterPoint. Having the additional columns and filters can make it easier to promptly provide exactly the information you or others are seeking on a report.
◦ Ease of Use: Many ease of use features have been added that will make day-to-day operation in the program more efficient. For example, payments can now be edited within an ACH File (before the ACH payment has been made). You no longer need to delete and re-enter all payments within the file when editing an ACH payment, making the process much easier.
◦ Attachments (Advanced A/R Module): CenterPoint now supports scanning and/or attaching files or documentation to sales items. Attach things like assembly instructions, operating instructions, item guides, or anything pertaining to the item’s documentation. Using the new attachments feature within Sales Items can clarify details for internal staff and customers seeking more information about an item.
To view the entire list of enhancements for CenterPoint Fund Accounting version 16.4, please click here.
• CenterPoint Payroll:
◦ Program Speed Improvements: CenterPoint Payroll Version 16.4 includes program speed improvements. For example, the synchronization function between the CenterPoint Time Clock and CenterPoint Payroll has been improved and can now be completed more efficiently.
◦ Reporting Updates: Additional columns, filters, and date selections have been added to many reports throughout the payroll program, based on customer feedback, to refine the reporting capabilities of CenterPoint. Having the additional columns and filters can make it easier to promptly provide exactly the information you or others are seeking on a report. 
◦ Ease of Use: Many ease of use features have been added that will make day-to-day operation in the program more efficient. For example: Specific warning messages can now be suppressed on the setup of employees, making the maintenance of employees more straightforward. New columns and filters have been added to Pay Employees and Employee Maintenance to define how you want to view and work with data. In the Employee Mass Update Wizard, all inactive earnings have been filtered out, an option to update the home address has been added, and the ability to update the federal tax reporting fields and flat tax amounts and percentages has been added.  
To view the entire list of enhancements for CenterPoint Payroll version 16.4, please click here.
If you have any questions, please contact our Technical Support center, or email: support@redwingsoftware.com.

Behind the Scenes - September 2021

11 October 2021 rpalm Behind the Scenes
• Ashley’s (Accounting Software Support Specialist) daughter, Paytin, started 9th grade.
• Katrina (Customer Service Representative), her husband, Josh, and friends, surprised their daughters by meeting at the Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City, KS! The look on their faces was priceless.
• Julie (Implementation Consultant) and her family climbed Mt. Bierstadt in Colorado. Pictured are sons Jackson and Joey relaxing after the climb.
• Allison (Customer Service Representative) and best friend, Mollie, having some fun at another great friend’s wedding over Labor Day.
• Cori (Quality Assurance Analyst) and Ryan (Graphic Designer) just purchased a new home. They can't wait to make it their own.

Notes from the President

05 October 2021 khilton Notes from the President

Ken Hilton - President Red Wing Software

October may seem like a strange time to talk about budgeting for your business, but any time of year is a good time to review how your business is tracking against your projections. At Red Wing Software, we’ve already started the planning process for 2022. Whether it’s planning for next year or comparing this year’s results to what you were planning, looking at your actual numbers compared to your business plan for the year should be something that happens regularly.
To illustrate, I’ll use a couple of Red Wing Software examples of why this is important. Each manager of their respective department is responsible for creating their budget for the coming year. Of course, not only are expenses projected, but revenue is also part of the budget. For example, each Sales Representative puts together the sales goals they expect to achieve monthly, and how they expect to achieve those goals. Sales numbers are then measured throughout the year daily, so we are aware of how we are performing compared to our projections. If sales numbers are not what we expected (either lower or higher), it is important to know the reasons and react quickly to any discrepancy. Of course, if sales numbers are higher than we expected, we want to know why and keep making decisions that ensure continued success.
On the expense side, you obviously want to make sure you are not spending money that was not budgeted without a serious look into why these expenses were increased. Also, and this may sound strange at first, you want to make sure you are spending all the budgeted money unless there is a good reason for not spending it. For instance, our Marketing Manager budgets to spend a certain amount on very specific items; whether it’s advertising, trade shows, web presence, travel, or other things, it is important to stick to this plan. If marketing dollars are not spent as planned, the result could very well be a decrease in revenue. It can be a delicate balancing act.
We are fortunate at Red Wing Software to have seasoned, experienced managers and staff who are very good at planning for their respective departments. Our revenue and expense numbers are typically within two percent of their projections. I believe with practice, discipline, and timely analysis, most businesses can be equally accurate in their planning process.