Sage 100

Customer is considering Scanco and Scanforce warehouse automation. They were looking on the Sage web site and discovered a pdf on the Sage 100 bar code module. the pdf mentions that transfers, physical inv, Po receiving, etc can be accomplished using a RF handheld device. the customer wants to know why he should buy a third party solution id the bar code module will do the same tasks. Has anyone used the Sage 100 bar code module with RF handhelds? How's the UI? What are the limitations? Thoughts and advice please.

I was under the impression in the ""old days"" that you still had to buy something from Scanco (used to be your only choice) with the programming on the handheld. That may have changed, but the Sage portion just did the updating part, not the scanning and downloading part.

That's what I thought too Beth. I don't get it. See attached pdf downloaded from the Sage site.

I agree with Beth. Sage has always done a poor job of marketing the Bar Code Module. It is very misleading. I would give Scanforce the nod over Scanco.

@MichaelPruet I used to use Scanco before the existence of ScanForce and in recent years have been using Scanforce. However, Scanco has upped their game recently... with multi platform compatibility... android, ios and windows. Scanforce has a nice product but they ony support windows and they need more help in tech support / customer service. Why do you prefer Scanforce to Scanco?

@DougHiggs - Within the group, Scanco has a horrible reputation for service and support. They have burned a lot of bridges over the years. When Scanforce appeared, they were responsive with a decent product. I think you described the situation perfectly with the tech support / customer service comment. We have plenty of issues with Sage and don't need the additional burden of a third party product bringing their baggage to the table.

I think the bar code module is just a conduit for passing the information back and forth to the hand held units. You ""could"" use VI to do the heavy lifting, but do you have enough hair to pull out??? Someone correct me if I am wrong.

@JeffSchwenk LOL... No, I can't pull any hair out... trying to conserve the little I have left. the 2nd sentence from the Bar Code pdf: ""Increase your shipping and receiving staff's data collection using cradle-style or radio-frequency handheld devices."" I have never seen anyone use an RF device with Sage Bar Code without either Scanforce or Scanco. Does it work? Is there any installation and setup doc from Sage on hor to configure an RF device? is RF hardware listed on the compatibility matrix?

I had someone using the bar code module 10 years ago and at that time, Scanco's handhelds would verify that the item you scanned was on the sales order you were trying to ship, and ditto the item was on the PO, etc, so it was more than just data collection.

I was told that Sage requires ""all barcode"" vendors to require a Sage Bar Code license. I was told they could get it to work, but Sage wants the module royalty. We have been extremely happy with Scanforce.

Thanks Scott. The question I still have is: Can you do a warehouse transfer, PO receipt, physical inventory, SO shipping JUST using the Sage bar Code module WITHOUT Scanforce or Scanco using RF handhelds? According to the Sage web site pdf it CAN be done! I would like to know if anyone has ever seen this or is Sage blowing the proverbial smoke up our chimneys.

I'm pretty sure the answer to that is no - I tried digging into this many years back and the answer I came back with was that it's an interface tool only to Scanforce, Scanco, or some other master developer's app.

Solutions are abundant depending on complexity of what you are trying to do. Purchase a good handheld device from us or a slew of sellers ($800 - $2200), pay $125 per hour for roughly 3 hours to program, purchase the Sage Bar Code module, double or triple the price and you have a bar code solution. What is nice is that you can have several programs on the same device so that it works just as well for shipping and receiving as it does for say physical count and saves the cost of multiple devices. It certainly will not replace Radio Beacon or the like but will suffice for most of the Sage 100 MAS 90 customers. No annual maintenance except for what you may charge. And for critical processes, you almost always sell a backup in case a device breaks and needs repairs. Attached is a link to a crude video that sold 4 devices at $2000 each to minimize shipping the wrong parts. It matched what was supposed to ship with what was being shipped and gave a Go/No Go. It also is used for physical count-just as an example. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s40n7rjjq8r820n/rSSUMR0rTy

@HaroldWestover I have a client with a 25 user Scanforce system all using Motorola 9190s in the warehouse. This isn't my first rodeo... I just have an issue with the pdf on the Sage site.... I called Sage and talked with 3 different people in tech support about this.... nobody knows the answer and apparently I have ticked off just about everyone in the tech support dept so I doubt I will ever get to the bottom of this. Sales makes the pdf but the rest of the company has no idea how it works.

@HaroldWestover Your solution is a great idea! For users that want some bar coding / RF capabilities, this is a good, inexpensive solution. Thanks for the info.

Update pertaining to the statement ("" Increase your shipping and receiving staff's data collection using cradle-style or radio-frequency handheld devices."") on the Bar Code PDF on the Sage web site .. Email from Rick Nicolai in Sage tech support: ""Yes, you can purchase handheld barcode scanners separately, but those scanners will not come programmed. They will likely be missing oUser Screens and prompts for specific Sage 100 Transactions (Purchase Orders, Sales Orders, Inventory transactions etc) oEnforce business rules for Sage 100 Transactions oProduce the proper file format to import transactions into Sage 100"" Great. Buy Sage bar code module and some RF handhelds. Now all you need to do is write some code to get it to work. That's a fantastic solution! Sage needs to specify in the marketing material that you need some middle-ware such as Scanforce or Scanco to make the solution work.

Was Scanco once the Sage 100 endorsed solution for warehouse automation? Am I dreaming this? I don't see an endorsed warehouse automation solution on the SAGE 100 price list.

ICS solution does not require the Bar Code module. Don't know how Sage could require that, since it originally was required only for the Scanco solution when they were the only game in town. The Bar Code module at this point is just another $2K investment that should be unnecessary. I also imagine there are numerous non-MD custom solutions out there that just work without Bar Code.

@JohnHoyt What does ICS stand for? Is that a Sage developer?

@DougHiggs http://www.innovativeconsultingservices.net/

Thanks.

@JeffSchwenk have you used Innovative ? Better or easier that ACS Multi BIn? Inventory is kept in MAS?

No, just ACS....