@Profile October 2018 - Be afraid, be very afraid
Welcome to the spooky October edition of our quarterly @Profile newsletter! In this ultra scary update we'll be reminding you that you're running out of time to react to the upcoming Making Tax Digital changes, telling you some scary stories and how you can ensure that they don't happen to your business, letting you know how you can make your network more secure so you don't get any unwanted visitors when you least expect them, introducing you to Managing Director Amanda Sabatini and helping you get on top of your money... enjoy!
The Tax Man is coming for you
If you haven't been reading our emails and blogs over the last year then now is the time to be scared of Making Tax Digital! The changes come in to effect in April 2019 and you must be ready to submit your first VAT return via supported software by then. If you're using Opera II, then you already know that won't be possible and you must be planning to upgrade to Opera 3. Unless you move to Opera 3 before April 2019 you will be unable to submit your VAT returns nor your FPS and this will have very serious implications for your whole business. If you've been pushing the looming legislative changes to the back of your mind then now is the time to start paying serious attention.
If you're using Pegasus Opera 3 then you should be aware that the functionality to submit your VAT already exists in the software, but you're running out of time to book any training, demonstrations or data table clearing that you may need. Every single one of our Opera 3 customers will be requiring the same training and you do not want to be left behind when the legislative changes come in to effect, so you can't leave it too late. Call your Account Manager, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us on 08000 195101 to discuss what we can offer.
In the mean time, please check out HMRC's VAT notice for more details.
It's time to face your fears
Everyone is scared of something, and businesses can have a lot to fear. How can you be sure you're not wasting man hours with unecessary work and manual processing? what if you're missing out on important new functionality? What if your software is no longer supported, or is reaching the end of its life like Opera 2? Recently we've seen how drastic changes in legislation can cause businesses to panic and realise their old software just won't cut it anymore. It's time to face your fears head on!
Pegasus Opera 3 SQL SE is the latest ERP release from Pegasus Software. Opera 3 SQL SE offers the latest functionality from Opera 3 but with the added power that comes with an SQL database. The ability to schedule tasks to run in the background or outside of busy hours alleviates any worries about wasted man hours, and as it is the latest version of Opera 3 you can be sure that it will be getting the latest functionality, legislative changes and security updates so you can futureproof your business.
To discover more about Pegasus Opera 3 SQL SE visit our website, contact your Account Manager or call us on 08000 195101.
Things that go bump in the night
It's probably a silly question, but do you close and lock your front door at night? Do you turn on your security alarm before you leave the office for the day too? Nobody wants unwanted visitors in their home, so they take precautions. Why aren't you doing the same for the sensitive information on your business network?
There are many weak points in a network, all it takes is an old and weak firewall, or a malicious email finding its way into the inbox of an unsuspecting colleague, Or even something as simple as an outdated antivirus solution. We've got some important suggestions and tips that you can do to make sure your network is protected.
The best place to start with protecting your business is a physical firewall, as by the time software firewalls that exist on your server/PC detect a threat, it's already on your system, hardware firewalls turn threats away at the door. No matter how good your defences are nobody can account for user error or accidents. Email attachments, files from the internet and even harmless looking downloads could have computer viruses and malware hidden away inside them and once they've been let through the door they can quickly spread. Having the latest and best email monitoring & antivirus software and ensuring it is up to date is imperative to keeping yourself and your business safe. Our Hardware Solutions homepage is a great place to find our recommended solutions for any of your business infrastructure needs.
If you are at all worried about your current protection or have recently felt the effects of lacklustre solutions, speak to your Account Manager or call us on 01442 236311 to book a free of charge hardware audit. Our team of Profile engineers are fully equipped to identify and suggest the best ways to fix weak points in your defences.
Meet the Team: Amanda Sabatini - Managing Director
Once again it's time to meet a member of our Profile team and find out a bit about them! This time - Amanda Sabatini. Despite being the MD, Amanda's not actually as scary as the rest of this newsletter and neither is her message: We're here for you!
Amanda has worked at Profile for 17 years and has been the MD for the last 5 of them. Amanda has recently been shortlisted for the Hertfordshire Business Person of the year which is a fantastic achievement, so I decided to sit down with her and get a little insight in to her mind to share with our customers.
What is your greatest achievement since working at Profile?
I love working at Profile – I wouldn’t have spent 17 years here if I didn’t - and working my way up through “the ranks” to MD has been a great achievement. However I think the best thing has been the team we have built, many of who have been here almost as long as I have, and that we all continue to achieve such high standards together. Pegasus Partner of the Year again!
If you could give any piece of advice to all of our customers, what would it be?
We’re your Partner and have a wealth of experience across a wide range of industries so don't be scared to get in touch with us about anything to do with your business systems, be it asking about industry best practice, picking our brains about “The Cloud” or how to make the most out of your systems. If you don’t ask, you don’t get to take advantage of our experience
What's one thing that you think Profile does better than anyone else?
Listening to our customers to understand what they need rather than just telling them what we think they need. That way, we can actually provide the solution that our customers need!
Finally, what scares you the most?
Heights. I don’t like heights.
Put a stop to your financial fears
Are you up at night, afraid of not knowing where your money is? The most important thing to keep any business running smoothly is money, without it you can't pay your suppliers, your employees or keep the lights on. It's therefore very important to keep track of where your money is coming from, and Credit Manager in Opera 3 is here to help.
Credit Manager puts credit control and debt management into one centralised module in Opera 3, it allows you to easily see who owes you money and how much each customer owes you, which can assist you with fighting your fears and reducing your debt. To find out more, visit our Credit Management homepage and speak to your Account Manager.
-The Profile Team
