Sage 100

Kind of a newbie question. Just got this screen shot from a client trying to do a package track. From the image, I'd guess it has something to do with the old bestsoftwareinc.com domain. Does anybody know if this URL can be changed?

Sounds like it is related to the Community post below. To paraphrase BL's response, crap happens and then it just goes away.

Are you saying there is no way to do a package track anymore? Wouldn't all clients be up in arms?

No, 4.4

Is this an older version?

It appears the screen might have had a customizer change. Is it possible that the package track from the old version was brought through because of this? Can somebody see what the URL is for a newer version package track?

You should be able to see on their system by running *esc then running the screen.

I still get services.bestsoftwareinc.com

Are you getting the same error she is, or does it look like it's at least trying to track the package?

@DawnAnastasi What does *esc do? Force the next screen launched to not run any customized versions?

Yes if you go to File --> Run and put in *esc then OK, when you run screens none of the screen customizations will load, which is helpful for troubleshooting without having to delete the customizations.

I have a client who had had a similar problem with tracking packages through MAS and we ended up using a script to go to the UPS site directly.

I have a client who had had a similar problem with tracking packages through MAS and we ended up using a script to go to the UPS site directly.

@MarkChinsky - services.bestsoftwareinc.com is an old Sage web service used today even in 4.4 for URL redirection to a 3rd party provider. The Package Track button, MapQuest button in Customer Maint, some other places use this. E.g. When you hit Package Track button in MAS, it sends the tracking number to the web service as a token. The service redirects to iShip and sends the tracking number in the URL. Same idea in Cust Maint with the MapQuest button but does additional formatting first (stripping of spaces, etc). So services.bestsoftwareinc.com is a common portal for the MAS 90/200 features that use it. It might be used in MAS 500 too. So in the end client's error occurred simply the Sage web service was down at the time (your client wasn't the only one). I'm sure somebody called into Support then somebody in Sage IT rebooted the server and it was all good again. I don't believe there are any guarantees of up time or any proactive emails sent on planned down time. Like @bertowud I always create my own buttons that go directly to the carrier's site.

This is the link that I was referring to. BL says that it goes down on occasion and then comes back to life. http://community.sagemas.com/t5/Technical-and-Installation/Package-Tracking/m-p/53234#M7250

Yup it does. It's an old server and has to rebooted from time to time - ODBC driver memory leaks I suspect. Got the call in Support every once in a while. To workaround until reboot goto https://iship.com/trackit/track.aspx and paste in the tracking number.

@AlnoorCassim @MarkChinsky And the ""promised land"" of Sage North America is ""Connected Services"" .. admittedly this is a very small example but will Sage really pull off making Connected Services both reliable and profitable? I mean we can't even get accurate renewals from Sage for customers -- after how many years of them ""doing better"" ... It all has the feel of a very big smoke and mirrors show.

IMHO I don't think they would consider accurate client care renewals and this redirection stuff above part of the master Connected Services initiative because that would be fixing existing services on existing platforms. They are more likely to continue focusing on offering new Services as a bundle of additional stuff as that is more ""exciting"" and profitable. At Insights they will point to 09 and 10 roll-outs such as the Sage One ""accounting solutions"" in UK, Germany's online backup service, the Payroll eServices in Europe, all of these where many customers were new to Sage. Then whatever was done in North America for Act! and SLX, and of course SPS. They'll make the point that there was business partner involvement and opportunity in all of these and with pending MAS ERP Services. I haven't heard of partner specific benefit Services being a part of this other than the Atlas (SAP) service portals and whatever else related is coming out. Internally as far as CRM goes (both for Sales and Support) I know that Irvine, CA campus (where MAS 90 and 500 live mostly) has not yet transitioned to Atlas. Hmm prolly they are waiting for that to fix issues like accuracy and communications of renewals while in the meantime the outsourced CAM team will keeping ask you ""bro help me out here"".

Looks like they rebooted the package track server. Its now working for the client

Sage One has significant problems overseas. I believe they actually had to shut it down for security reasons. I'm also dubious about some of their claimed SaaS wins since for a while they trotted around Billing Boss as a great example of SaaS -- that is until you ask the (a) How much do you charge (A: Nothing) and (b) When a user outgrows Billing Boss what is their upgrade path for migrating data (A: None). I mean really some of the press that Sage gets is just re-writing what Sage says with little or no additional analysis...