vtechnologies | Schulz Consulting

Starship Link 2.0 Announced

February 28, 2012 by Wayne Schulz

V-Technologies, the creator of the popular Sage 100 ERP Starship Shipping Solution have announced the availability of their Starship Shipping Link 2.0.

2/28/2012

Dear Valued Partner:

With all of the news surrounding shipping solutions lately, I just wanted to reach out to provide a quick update on StarShip. The shipping solution you have grown to know and trust continues to provide workflow flexibility with two Sage 100 interfaces. We have recently released a new iteration of the StarShip Link, version 2.0, which works with Sage 100 version 4.5. With StarShip Link 2.0, we added many of the features we built into the BOI interface in Shipping Data Entry so a customer could stay with their current workflow AND still have field customization, etc.

StarShip Link 2.0 will give you all the features of the previous interface PLUS several enhancements:
• Line item integration – retrieves item info to further automate international and LTL shipments
• Field mapping optimization – an easy-to-use interface provides access to modify the default set of field maps and translations
• Access to user-defined fields provide unmatched flexibility for personalizing the interface
• Electronic scale integration allows you to weigh the package while in Shipping Data Entry for more efficient package handling
• Coming Soon – access to the StarShip dashboard from Package Summary Tracking gives you instant access to tracking info across carriers and modes (parcel/LTL)
V-Technologies will continue to support the BOI interface. A few reasons to consider the BOI interface:
• Customer is running versions 4.1 – 4.4 and wishes to have field maps/customizations
• Customer wishes to ship MAS orders outside of Shipping Data Entry (i.e. shipment initiated in StarShip)
• Customer would like to ship against multiple orders (consolidate into 1 shipment)
• Customer requires shipments associated to customers or invoices
I also want to make sure you are aware of our ShipGear product. ShipGear is an industry standard for providing ERP integration for UPS WorldShip and FedEx Ship Manager. We consider ShipGear more of an entry-level solution because it supports the carrier provided software which is single carrier. This is a great option for the customer who ships primarily 1 carrier or may not be quite ready for a full, multi-carrier solution. ShipGear is one of the few software applications available via the UPS Customer Technology Program where UPS will pay for the license! Our Sage 100 interface is a relative new comer to this product so we’re still educating our Sage partners. With that, I invite you to join us for a ShipGear webinar

. We are also hosting weekly StarShip sessions, feel free to join us to learn more about the StarShip Link 2.0.

Thanks,
Caroline

Caroline Walsh
Director, Sales & Marketing
800-462-4016 x213
cwalsh@vtechnologies.com

Starship Link 2.0 for Sage 100 ERP (Formerly Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200)

February 17, 2012 by Wayne Schulz

Yesterday one of my customers was upgrading their Starship software to the latest version (12) and they received this updated regarding both the versions that the latest Starship works with and the capabilities of the Starship Link 2.0.

Recall that V-Technologies ceased acting as an Endorsed Partner for Sage just about a year ago when they sent a Valentine to users dated 2/14/11 that they’d be marketing their solution solo.

This latest info from V-Technologies does not contain any information they’ve yet to announce – though I think it’s a nice reminder that Starship Link 2.0 (which we believe is being developed by Sage partner SWK Technologies) is still available for those using Starship.

Here’s the update from V-Technologies:

StarShip v12 is compatible with v4.3 and 4.5. I am also providing some information regarding v4.5 below.
We have a new StarShip Link 2.0 that has many enhancements over the older StarShip Link that is available for Sage MAS 90/200 v4.5. We also have our BOI Direct Interface for MAS v4.5.
1. BOI – this is our direct interface that accesses the shipping data from outside of Shipping Data Entry and is available for $500.00.

2. StarShip Link 2.0 – this is our new interface that provides the same workflow as what you are familiar with now with the original StarShip Link and is available at no extra cost. In addition, we’ve enhanced the interface to include the following:

Line item integration – retrieves item info to further automate international and LTL shipments
Field mapping optimization – an easy-to-use interface provides access to modify the default set of field maps and translations
Access to user-defined fields – from within this utility
Scale integration from Shipping Data Entry

Our Install service is $695, covers the server and 2 workstations. Prior to the install, you will need to fill out documentation, and faxed it back to 866-478-4922. Once payment is received and documents, a Technical Team member will contact you and go over any additional questions, and set this appointment.

via: 90 Minds Consulting Group – Starship Link 2.0

VTEchnologies Terminates Sage – Sage Terminates Starship Link

February 14, 2011 by Wayne Schulz

You may have previously heard that Sage and V-Technologies would no longer have an OEM relationship where Sage resold the popular V-Technologies Starship software.

In an email blast sent out today, Caroline Walsh, the Direct or Sales and Marketing for V-Technologies shares that Sage will stop offering a Starship Link starting with version 4.5 of Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200.

Instead it seems that V-Technologies will develop a link using Sage’s pseudo programming scripting language – Business Objects Interfact (BOI).

They also mention that they’re actively seeking out a developer to create a link between Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 and their Starship product.

What Does This All Mean?

Should you abandon ship and switch to another shipping package?

I don’t think solely based on this change in the relationship. V-Technologies has been doing a fine job for the last several years handling virtually all of their upgrades outside of Sage.

If you’re looking for a new shipping solution and you use multiple carriers – Starship is still the more mature choice for most users.

Starship Freight: Web demo scheduled for February 25, 2009 at 1pm EST

January 21, 2009 by Wayne Schulz

Do you need a Bill of Lading solution for your Sage MAS 90 or MAS 200 accounting software? How about one that will integrate directly to your Sage MAS 90 and 200 Sales Order data?

Meet Starship Freight.

No … we’re not talking about the rock group.

This is the Starship software program from V-Technologies that integrates rather seamlessly with MAS 90 and MAS 200 (version 4.1 or higher required for Starship Freight).

Learn how V-Technologies newest product, Starship Freight, can help you ship via LTL common carrier and generate all the require paperwork including the most common Bill of Lading formats and even pallet labels.

This one hour demonstration will feature:

10 minute maximum background (I hate PowerPoints and don’t allow more than 10 minutes of them on any of my web seminars)
40 minutes of live demonstration showing the product in action and integrated to Sage MAS 90 and 200.
Caroline Walsh from V-Technologies will be presenting and I will host the Q&A as well as ask several questions of my own.

The session is free – open to all – and lasts about an hour with time left at the end for your questions and Caroline’s answers.

To enroll – follow this link.

For more information on Starship Freight – visit V-Technologies

Starship freight offers MAS 90 and MAS 200 users an option for Bill of Lading and multiple order shipments

January 21, 2009 by Wayne Schulz

Starship Freight is a new module ($3,500 – single user / $700 add’l user / $2,500 five user) for Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 that provides for shipments that utilize LTL trucking common carriers.

One of the unique things about Starship Freight is that the software now replaces the Shipping Data Entry for nearly all activities (packing lists are still printed in the Shipping Data Entry module).

You may combine multiple Sales Orders into one shipment and then place that shipment within separate pallets and automatically notify the carrier that your order is ready for pickup.

Here are some rough notes that I took during an hour long demonstration that was just hosted for one of my clients by V-Technologies.

Starship Freight

Targeted users are those with large, palletized freight

Starship vs Starship Freight Differences

– Initiate shipping from Starship Freight and not MAS90 Shipping Data Entry
– line item detail from Sales Order (for bill of lading)
– pick pack functionality (optional)
– print BOL and Pallet Labels
– Uses Microsoft SQL 2005
– Server/Seat licensing separate from MAS 90 / MAS 200 (previously the licensing was unlimited)

Tip: Starship 10.1 combines parcel and freight (hoping for year end 2009) — unsure on timing of final release but seems more like it will be in the first half of 2010. (Standard disclaimers about projected shipping dates apply)

Three carriers currently supported (more to be added as other carriers have API availability)

Freightquote.com
– 3pl – muli-carrier
– Electronically tender & book (don’t have to call the carrier for pickup)
– Shipment visibility (tracking) – only for freightquote.com shipments you’ve selected

Yellow
– Generate PRO #
– Electronically tender & book
– Shipment visibility

SMC3 – coming soon
– must license the tarrifs (additional cost)
–

There is no rating engine built in

– one of the rating methods is freightquote.com for rating.
– freightquote will load negotiated rates as well as freightquote negotiated rates
– service of freightquote is free if you select their rates (at least sometime)
– there is a possible monthly fee if you don’t use the freightquote rate — there’s a salesperson who is assigned to your account
– Note: Sounds like freightquote.com takes a piece of your freight and if you don’t use them then they can charge you a fee
–

Requires MAS 90 or MAS 200 4.1 or higher

– Can ship against orders (takes place of shipping data entry) and you can do multiple orders to place onto one shipment
– Most people start at Sales Order
– Shows “related orders” by looking at the ship to address of other open orders
–

Potential Issue/Concern:

Can’t look up the rate ahead of time to quote the customer on freight — rating of the carrier is not required.

If you load up negotiated rates – then freightquote.com carrier rates are not displayed (even if lower)

Freight write back can be turned off if you quote the customer the freight in advance.

SLP Pricing:

Starship Freight – $3,500

Includes:
– 1 seat
– server

User Pricing (additional)

– $700/seat for an additional single user
– 5 seats $2,500 – concurrent licensing (NOT named)

Link: Starship Freight Product Page – V-Technologies

What Does This All Mean?

Starship Freight

Starship vs Starship Freight Differences

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