SBT | Lefkowitz Systems Inc

Converting your SBT/ACCPAC/Sage Pro data to Spire.

I choose a serious topic this month: data conversion. If you upgrade your old SBT, ACCPAC or Sage Pro software, you will want to convert your data. All of my Spire upgraders want their old data converted to Spire. But exactly what data can I convert, how does the conversion work and what will data conversion cost? Important questions. I answer them here.

Your data is valuable. But just how valuable is it?

Your old data is extremely valuable, far more valuable than the old software in which it lives. Your data include your customers, inventory, vendors, open receivable and payables, your G/L […]

Matt Lefkowitz2021-12-07T00:48:58-08:00December 7th, 2021|Accounting Systems, Sage Pro, SBT, SBT VisionPoint, Spire|

Do Not Buy Spire!

I really like Spire Systems for most SBT, ACCPAC Pro and Sage Pro ERP upgraders, but not for all. This month’s email/blog lists a few of the kinds of businesses for which Spire is not a suitable solution.

Not-for-profit entities.

Not for profit organizations require fund accounting, a method of tracking sources and uses of funds. Spire sort-of does this in the Job Cost module (Spire has a Job Cost module), but I do not recommend it for NFPs. There are many, good fund accounting systems designed for NFPs. If you run a not-for-profit, buy something […]

Matt Lefkowitz2021-06-11T22:17:57-07:00June 11th, 2021|Accounting Systems, Sage Pro, SBT, SBT VisionPoint, Spire|

Rent or Own? Accounting software and Spire for SBT.

Another in an occasional series on Spire for SBT VisionPoint, SBT Pro Series, ACCPAC Pro and Sage Pro ERP users.

When you bought your SBT (or ACCPAC or Sage Pro), perhaps back in the 20^th Century, you owned it, “it” being a perpetual user license. This license entitled you to an SBT server installation forever. And that was a good thing because now, fifteen or more years later, you still run SBT (or ACCPAC or Sage Pro) and you remain in compliance with your license. SBT is long gone. You are still here.

Today, if you want to acquire new accounting software, there is a second way: you can rent […]

Matt Lefkowitz2019-10-18T20:52:01-07:00April 15th, 2019|Accounting Systems, ACCPAC, Sage Pro, SBT, SBT VisionPoint, Spire|

When ERPs Attack! How to avoid ERP Failure.

(Another in an occasion series of Lefkowitz Systems emails about Spire for users of SBT, ACCPAC and Sage Pro).

Some ERP implementation projects fail, and some fail spectacularly. Google “ERP failure” and you will find many horror stories. I have seen a few in my career. What follows describes the real risks of an ERP project and steps you can take to avoid failure. And what does this have to do with Spire? If you upgrade to Spire (or any other ERP), you are embarking on an ERP project.

Implementing a new ERP is a difficult process. The job is done once a […]

Matt Lefkowitz2018-10-06T01:35:03-07:00October 6th, 2018|Accounting Systems, ACCPAC, Sage Pro, SBT, SBT VisionPoint, Spire|

Spire for SBT Users – The Little Things Are Not So Little

Spire for SBT, ACCPAC and Sage Pro Users – The Small Things Are Not So Small

Twice a week, give or take, I get a call or email from an SBT (or ACCPAC Pro or Sage Pro) user asking for “a small thing.”

“I need longer inventory descriptions. And they need to print on bids, orders, invoices and purchase orders. Can you do this?”
“I sell to customers overseas and need an extra address line.”
“My supplier sends me new prices each quarter in an Excel sheet. I want to update my costs and prices and I do not want to key them in […]

Chesa Keane2018-03-10T00:46:40-08:00March 7th, 2018|ACCPAC, Sage Pro, SBT, Spire|

What does Spire Cost to Upgrade Pro version

Spire for SBT Pro, ACCPAC Pro and Sage Pro ERP – What does it cost?

I have promoted Spire Systems to you, my SBT Pro Series, ACCPAC Pro and Sage Pro ERP clients, in a series of emails and phone calls as a suitable upgrade. Some of you are interested. Those who are ask, “Matt, how much does Spire cost?”

In enterprise software sales school, we are taught to deflect this question towards a discussion of value so that, when the price is finally revealed (deep in the sales cycle), the “value proposition” overwhelms the sticker shock. This approach never made sense to me. My view […]

Chesa Keane2018-03-10T00:55:51-08:00November 8th, 2017|ACCPAC, Sage Pro, SBT, Spire|

Spire for SBT, ACCPAC and Sage Pro Users

Why Upgrade to Spire? Inventory profits (and losses)

I made my reputation in the SBT world with two related add-on products: Auto PO and SO-2-PO. Never heard of them? Pity. Both improve inventory management and boost profits. If inventory is a big part of your business, read on. If not, I look forward to ‘seeing’ you again soon.

Many of my clients spend far too much time managing inventory and do a poor job of it. The result? Lost profits. For these clients, the fastest way to stop the bleeding is to increase inventory turns. And the best way to do that is to let […]

Chesa Keane2018-03-10T00:58:07-08:00October 16th, 2017|ACCPAC, Sage Pro, SBT, Spire|

Spire for SBT Pro Series, ACCPAC Pro and Sage Pro ERP Users

Running old SBT Pro Series?

This information is for those who run old SBT Pro Series (or ACCPAC Pro or Sage Pro ERP) accounting software and are a current or former client of Lefkowitz Systems. Your SBT/ACCPAC/Sage Pro still runs well on current Windows computers and, with your SBT source code license, you can add features as required. For most of you, this is good enough and I will support you and your SBT system indefinitely (if that is what you want). But for others, this is not enough. If you want something newer and better, please keep reading.

Three years ago, if an SBT Pro client asked me for […]

Chesa Keane2018-03-10T00:53:51-08:00July 11th, 2017|ACCPAC, SBT, Spire|