Sage 100

Which integrated shipping solution do you guys currently prefer? Has SmartLinc gotten anymore affordable? Is StarShip still preferred, even though new clients can't get BOI? Backstory: I've got someone who has been satisfied with ShipGear for a long time due to it's minimal footprint and low maintenance, but operations are expanding to include 3 locations (separate UPS accounts). V-Tech says StarShip will be cheaper than 3 copies of ShipGear, but I want to make sure we are looking at all angles.

I don't know your customer's situation but I like using the normal UPS software and then purchase Shipping Integration from DSD. Very simple and straightforward. http://www.dsdinc.com/enhancement/sosi-shipping-integration/. The UPS and FedEx software does the import from MAS and handles the shipment but Shipping Integration handles the writing back of the tracking and freight and other information into MAS.

We've sold one SmartLinc and probably won't do another. Support has been pretty awful, it doesn't play well with other add-ons, and the 'future improvements' that were promised in 3 months are still not present after 2 years. I've always had great luck with StarShip, and my customers tend to love it, so I'm Team StarShip once again.

Starship is our standard referral, because of their consistency of offerings and support plus our consultants know the product.

Ditto @JohnHoyt comments and I'll add that my life got a lot easier (with no customer push back) when I just let V-technologies do their portion of the upgrade. They charge a reasonable fee and there are enough undocumented configuration quirks that it makes sense to outsource the Starship upgrade. To date have not had a customer complain about paying V-Tech additional for the UG services.

As good consultants, we don't rubber stamp solutions, but point out the reasons we work with a solution, such as StarShip, and the advantages and benefits. After that, it's up to the customer. In most cases, the customer understands why it may be to their advantage to agree with our recommendation. In my experience, almost every time the customer finds something that is not a mainstream solution, there are problems, and we also warn them about that.

@KathrynForadori Can you explain about new clients can't get ""BOI""? We have existing clients still using both versions of StarShip for integration into Sales Orders. One is the original method with the button in shipping data entry, the other is originating the order from within SS on the shipping workstation. In both instances data is written back to SO. We agree with @WayneSchulz statement about letting V-Tech do the configuration.

Team StarShip here too. They bundle either StarShip Link (Shipping Data Entry and Rate Quote in Sales Order Entry) or BOI (StarShip UI) in original purchase. If you need both, you'll need to buy.

On the not so favorable endorsement of Starship, my client was a long time user of ShipGear but they too needed the more robust solution of Starship. They were using EDI and needed a higher level of ASN functionality. Client purchased Starship just over a year ago the functionality they were promised has not been delivered. Getting closer, but they are not there yet.

Jeff, specifically, what ASN functionality is missing? I too hit a wall with V-Tech trying to make it work well with True Commerce.

This is all I know. Like many here, I let Starship and True Commerce (High Jump) do their thing directly with the client. I only get involved when there is a specific Sage item or when Starship needs a fire lit under their keister. In this case, I had to invoice the client for the a High Jump enhancement so that Starship could send ASN information back to Sage and High Jump. Below is what was on HJ's invoice to me. THIS IS AN XML ASN INTEGRATION. STARSHIP WILL CREATE AN ASN XML FILE THAT WILL BE IMPORTED INTO TRANSACTION MANAGER. SUPPORT PICK AND PACK AND STANDARD ASN'S. CONSOLIDATED ASN'S ARE NOT SUPPORTED.

For full blown, StarShip. It works with True Commerce. We also like Faye's when requirements are simple - passing of ship to addresses to FedEx and UPS and getting tracking numbers back. Works well. https://fayebsg.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Enhancement-The-UPS-and-FEDEX-Integrator-for-Sage-100-ERP-1-1.pdf

@alanniergarth There was a time when Sage had recently given StarShip the boot as endorsed partner and V-Tech was not selling BOI, only Link, because Sage was contesting ownership of the fully integrated code. I wasn't aware that sorted out in such a way that folks have a choice again.