When OGsys decided to develop a new dashboard application, the first people we wanted to consult with were experts in the industry. So, we set up focus groups with our very own clients. The sessions helped us quickly zero in on what real, everyday users are looking for – instead of what developers think they might want.

OGsys clients say they want a dashboard application that allows them to keep track of critical information impacting their company’s success at a moment’s glance. It should have the ease and accessibility of an iPad and the horsepower of a Porsche. Overall, it should give our clients the freedom to accelerate answers no matter where they are – on the road, in the office, at home or even on the golf course.

Our team of world-class developers are now hard at work on OGdash. The new mobile app should be available in the fall. Stay tuned!

Microsoft is continuing to improve security and this now includes removing the ability to run macros like the ones in these excel reports.  As a part of our new OGdash product design, we are working on a solution for report distribution to people without OGsql access.

In the mean time, we do have a workaround for running these reports.  If the reports are mainly used by OGsql users, we can also provide you an estimate to move these reports inside the OGsql Custom Excel Reporting menu where they will not be impacted by the Microsoft patches.

If you are having trouble with your Excel macro based reports, please contact support@ogsys.com.  Please include “Macro Based Report Problem” in the subject line.

We’ve dedicated a forum discussion to this topic on our online forum where clients can list suggestions.  Let us know what would help you accelerate answers on a dashboard.  Your feedback will help us develop a winning product. We expect to release OGdash in Fall 2012.

OGsys wants to remind all existing clients who are still using the OGwin platform that we will no longer be making updates to that software after March 31, 2012.  We’ve been actively encouraging all clients to upgrade to our superior system and new industry standard, OGsql, for the past six months.  Nearly 500 of our clients are already using OGsql and many more are in the scheduling and active conversion process right now. The overwhelming response has been very positive.

So, what does this mean for clients who stay with OGwin?  After March 31, 2012, we will no longer update that product, however we will still continue to provide phone support.  Many have asked what this means for 1099s.  We’ve already posted this year’s 1099 updates on our site.

It’s important to note there will be no 1099 updates for 2013 or any other program changes.  If you are an OGwin client and you’re interested in scheduling your upgrade, please contact us immediately.

Key industry experts and governmental regulators will cover subjects ranging from alternative energy to trends in corporate financing.  They’ll offer insight into recent tax, accounting, international and legal issues, provide hands-on technical training and industry best practices you can put to to work immediately.  It’s a great opportunity for you to network with the best and brightest, PLUS you can interact with the PDI experts.  The delivery method is 100% online, allowing the flexibility for Participants to log in from multiple locations, and all webcasts are archived. One subscription costs a flat fee of $2500, and this covers 10 Participants, per event.

For more information, click here.

Thailand Flooding - Courtesy eweek.com

Due to the flooding in Thailand, technology suppliers like HP and Dell are reducing or delaying shipments.  Typically OGsys clients can order new hard drives and storage and expect delivery in a week.  Right now, shipments are taking as long as 30 to 45 days.

Our world-class OGsys support team is monitoring the situation and instructing clients accordingly.  We are encouraging clients, especially those who are scheduling to upgrade from OGwin to OGsql to plan additional time for the conversion process.

The following links to industry articles and blog posts provide additional background.

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Data-Storage/Thailand-Flooding-Could-Impact-Global-HDD-Production-Until-Spring-2012-371193/

http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2012/01/05/it-global-spending-forecast-cut/

http://www.skynews.com.au/tech/article.aspx?id=698620&vId

We will continue to update clients as this situation progresses.

WEBINARS: In addition to videos, we’ll also be hosting webinar training sessions throughout the year.  Clients can weigh in on the topics of our webinars on our online forum.

DEVELOPMENT: OGsys has built a reputation on innovation and development.  In 2012, we’ll be working on a new dashboard application that will allow clients to customize their user experience.  We’ll also be focusing on more innovative ways to improve our reporting options.

If you have suggestions or comments, please start or join a discussion on our online forum.  2012 is all about helping you accelerate answers!

Aurora Oil & Gas Team in Perth Australia

OGsys international consultant Ted Frank just wrapped up a week in Perth Australia training clients at Aurora Oil & Gas on how to accelerate answers with OGsql.

Aurora is an interesting client because their properties are located primarily in the Eagle Ford shale play in South Texas, they are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and their headquarters are in Perth.  They are an international client in the truest sense.  They have been setting up their Houston office for the last few months with support from Todd Graves & Co.  They are using Abletek to host OGsql so the system can be accessed by Houston and Perth offices together.

Ted’s role was to train the Perth office in how to use OGsql so they can perform all the management and financial reporting requirements they must meet as a listed company.  As he went through the training, Ted said he heard a consistent theme from the Aurora employees who were learning OGsql.  ”They kept saying, ‘this will save me so much time compared to the way we had to do it before.’  I hear this all the time from my other international clients and it’s really nice to know how much we’re helping them.”

New Excel Reports

• Revenue Missing Checks Report
• Revenue Distribution Report
• For SOX Users – Master Maintenance User ID History Report

Reports

• Ability to Model Property Format Columns after existing column in same report
• New Uploads for Financial Formats (Line, Column and Property)
• Can now ignore Owner or Vendor Minimums in Revenue and Accounts Payable Check Print Maintenance
• New Option 20 – if enabled, user can elect to copy changes to accounts to all companies for same account
• Owner Maintenance – New fields for Encryption Type and Port to allow for a broader range of SMTP servers
• Vendor Maintenance – Added expanded method for creating vendor terms.  User may now indicate a number of days or a specified day in a number of months based on the date of the invoice
• Name and address fields for vendors and owners and Company name field increase to 45 characters

For more information of the OGsql 1.53 upgrade, visit the OGsys Client Forum now.

Ted Frank, our international OGsys consultant, is based in Jakarta.  Ted ensures that our clients overseas receive the same world-class service we’re known for in the United States.

Several of our clients in the U.S. and Canada also take advantage of our multi-currency functionality when dealing with their clients and affiliates abroad.  For more information on our multi-currency options, please contact Tara Lockhart.