Make It A Safe Return To Work!

As many businesses begin to prepare their workplaces for the return of employees, it’s critical that social-distancing and safety measures are implemented to ensure the safety of your workforce. With life being different to what we’ve ever known, it may be difficult to determine how exactly your business can facilitate employees returning safely.

– The Profile Team

PAYROLL UPDATE – Furlough Assistance Reports

Pegasus has released two new reports for Opera 3 Payroll users to help with managing the Job Retention Scheme.

The first is a report to calculate furlough payments for your employees (his report will only calculate employees that have been furloughed for the whole pay period). The second is a report on the furlough payments that can export the data to Excel and then be uploaded to the HMRC portal.

The reports are being distributed as a download rather than an upgrade for ease – you can find a link to download by clicking below:

www.profile.co.uk/payroll

To complete the download, enter your name and company in the boxes then,when prompted, you will require the following username and password
Username: software
Password: 1Erawtfos02

You can also find further information and instructions in our Job Retention Scheme Assistance Report Help Guide at the bottom of our Opera 3 tab on our Payroll page.

– The Profile Team

Mailchimp Integration For Opera 3 CRM

Email marketing is an excellent way of marketing your business cost-effectively, whilst being a great way of communicating with clients and potential customers all over the world in a professional and concise tone. But how do you get your contacts, be it your customers, suppliers or prospects, to a suitable email engine without having to maintain two databases?

Opera 3 CRM now integrates with the highly renowned email marketing platform, Mailchimp.

Opera 3 CRM users will now be able to transfer their contacts to their Mailchimp audience whilst also having the ability to filter selective contacts, to include them in outgoing marketing campaigns. Users will be able to search for individual contacts or groups, enabling them to create tailored marketing campaigns to specific targeted audiences.

Call us now on 08000 195 101, email sales@profile.co.uk or contact your Account Manager today to see how Profile can assist with your email marketing.

– The Profile Team

Mailchimp Integration For Pegasus Opera 3 CRM

Unleash the marketing power of Mailchimp and Opera 3 CRM. Transfer Opera CRM contacts to your Mailchimp audience and selectively tag contacts for targeted inclusion in marketing campaigns.

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Protecting Your Business And Users Online

With the current unprecedented situation we find ourselves in, our businesses are relying on home and remote working more than ever. Will this become the “new normal”? How do we protect our business and users whilst they are all working elsewhere?

It’s critical to understand that a potential cyber-attack could lead to anything from mild inconvenience by disabling you from your devices, to severe consequences like harming your network or opening up client data. Without Anti-Virus Software, Spam-Filtering and Web-Filtering Software in place, these could prove fatal for any organisation.

Here at Profile, we’ve compiled our 4 top tips to share with your users for identifying the warning signs of a cyber- attack, to help protect you and your organisation online:

• Beware of online requests for personal information – don’t ever share.
• Check for legitimate email addresses/links – they may not be who they say they are.
• Watch out for spelling/grammatical mistakes – often a sure sign of a fake email.
• Avoid all contact that requests you to take instant action – check everything before doing! And definitely don’t open any attachments or links if you’re at all unsure.

As you are aware, IT security is crucial to keeping your business’ assets and reputation safe and secure. Profile offers and implements market-leading Anti-Virus Software, Spam-Filtering and Web-Filtering Software.

ESET Endpoint Protection is key to protecting your business from infections which can find their way onto your system through the network or users, and from harmful files that could come from downloads, email attachments or disguised as legitimate software. Whilst Symantec Solutions offer critical protection for every laptop, desktop and server in your business.

Make sure you have the right levels of protection to keep your system safer by making it harder for a threat to penetrate it.

Call us now on 08000 195 101, email sales@profile.co.uk or contact your Account Manager today to see how Profile can protect your business online.

– The Profile Team

Empower Your Workforce

A growing number of businesses are using mobile software to give employees the opportunity to work remotely to fulfil their roles wherever they are. The availability of such software allows staff members to stay productive, even when they are not working from the office, whilst offering them accessibility to the resources they require ensuring they don’t lose valuable time.

Priority ERP offers a vast portfolio of ready-to-use Mobile Apps for your staff working in the field. These apps empower employees with all Priority ERP functions and information from wherever they are. The wide array of apps available varies from Mobile Sales Forces, to the Warehouse App, Purchase Requisitions and all the way to an Employee Attendance App. These apps can benefit employees who are in the field, in meetings off-site, working on-site or in different locations etc.

On top of the ready-to-use apps included in Priority ERP, the functionality to create your own mobile app that fits your business’ unique needs and workflow is included. Although the ready-to-use apps may fit most of your requirements, due to specialised processes, you may need to create your own using the Mobile App Generator. Businesses can create their own app without needing IT support whilst also integrating directly into Priority ERP.

Call us now on 08000 195 101 or email sales@profile.co.uk today to see how Profile can help your business plan for the future.

– The Profile Team

Keep Your Business Mobile!

Keeping your business solution up-to-date is critical to the future success of your company. Mobile working has become a key feature of business continuity. Profile offers the latest technologies to ensure your organisation is prepared for evolving times.

Hosted Services & The Cloud

Being able to access your ERP Solution from anywhere, anytime and any device is essential in a world which is becoming increasingly more mobile. A Hosted Network will allow you to do just that, whilst also developing increased security and performance.

Pegasus Business Cloud enables access to a complete business solution from anywhere and you can rest assured that your financial and business operations will run smoothly without the added cost of purchasing or maintaining network hardware, software or data storage. Another key feature to Pegasus Business Cloud is being able to share information across your business, due to your software being hosted in the Cloud, facilitating your workforce to be able to work from anywhere. It’s simple to use and offers a way to modernise your business very quickly, whilst being cost-effective due to no large initial investment, just a monthly operational subscription.

Pegasus Web Xchange

Pegasus Web Xchange empowers your employees with the ability to work on the go with its enhanced features.

• Pegasus Mobile Sales can become an invaluable tool for your business by enabling your sales team to be able to operate whilst they’re on the road. The sales-person can showcase products to the customer, see stock availability, take the order, include special customer prices and send it securely back to the office to be authorised, ultimately shortening turnaround times and ensuring you get the deal signed on the spot.
• Payroll Self-Service is another feature which enables employees remote access to their personal data, pension information, holiday entitlement, payslips and P60s. Not only does this improve efficiency from its 24/7 access, it also reduces HR costs.

Call us now on 08000 195 101, email sales@profile.co.uk or contact your Account Manager today to see how Profile can help your business plan for the future.

– The Profile Team

Coronavirus – Furlough Information

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has set out a package of temporary and targeted measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. This includes support to employers to enable them to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis. Designated affected employees are known as ‘furloughed workers’.

Proccessing Furlough Workers In Opera

Whilst there has been no specific guidance from HMRC as to how to process such employees, you may wish to consider creating a new payment profile(s) or group(s) for furloughed workers using the reports available to help identify the furloughed values.

The latest HMRC guidance about this scheme and other initiatives can be found by following this Link.

In addition HMRC have provided an informative webinar covering the following topics;

• The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
• Refunding Eligible Statutory Sick Pay Costs
• Furloughed Employees

Please follow the Link.

Help And Support If Your Business Has Been Affected By Coronavirus (COVID-19)

HMRC have provided additional information for help & support if your business is affected by coronovirus (COVID-19). Please follow the Link.

If you require any further assistance, please contact us on 08000 195101 or email info@profile.co.uk

– The Profile Team

ERP doesn’t need to be tied to a desk!

The last few weeks of evolving change has been a clear indicator of the importance of mobile working to business continuity. For many, the transfer to working remotely has left a clear indicator of how essential being able to work on the go has become for many businesses. ERP doesn’t need to be tied to a desk. Read on to see some of the Solutions Profile can offer to keep your business on the move.

Mobile Sales via Pegasus Web Xchange

Pegasus Mobile Sales can become an invaluable tool for your business by enabling your sales team to be able to operate whilst they’re on the road. The sales-person can showcase products to the customer, see stock availability, take the order, include special customer prices and send it securely back to the office to be authorised, ultimately shortening turnaround times and ensuring you get the deal signed on the spot.

Pegasus Mobile Sales is designed to work even if there’s no internet connection using cached data. Meaning that information on orders placed is stored on the mobile device right up until a network connection is found, facilitating your business further to run smoothly on the go in all conditions.

Priority Mobile Apps

Priority offers several ready-to-use apps that will enable your staff access to Priority functions and information wherever they are, perfect for those who operate in the field. Priority’s versatility within its portfolio of apps means that field sales reps to technicians to the delivery team, all have the ability to use certain functions whilst they work on the move. Priority’s Mobile App Generator also enables organisations to create custom apps to cover some of your business’ unique needs that off-the-shelf apps might not be able to. It’s that easy to create custom apps, you won’t have to involve your IT Support or Development Team either.

Call us now on 08000 195 101, email sales@profile.co.uk or contact your Account Manager today to see how Profile can help your business plan for the future.

– The Profile Team

Business Continuity: We’re here to help

As we all continue to strive through these rapidly changing times, Profile is here to support and help you in any way we can. Its essential businesses have clarity of their finances to ensure vital decisions can be made with confidence and ensure they continue to trade through the current situation.

Profile offers a variety of Solutions to offer your organisation the reporting tools it requires. Opera 3 Credit Management Module is a cashflow management tool which consolidates all the information required for effective credit control. It will give you the visibility to prioritise which debtors to call/act upon to help you manage your outstanding debts, helping you get paid faster, boost your cashflow and improve your overall financial position.

Another great financial reporting tool is Pegasus XRL, creating live links to your financial data it can provide a holistic view of your organisation’s position. Pegasus XRL allows Microsoft Excel to dynamically link to Opera 3 meaning you’re able to produce accurate reports, which automatically refresh with the latest information which could prove critical to your organisation’s reactions to the ever-changing situation. Our report writing services mean we can provide you with the tools to quickly analyse your income/expenditure and help manage your cashflow.

Lastly, if you are experiencing any difficulties through staff shortages due to illness or self-isolation, please get in touch to discuss how we could help with your day-to-day accounts processing or running your payroll for you.

The Profile team continues to do all we can to safeguard our customers as well as our employees, so please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any assistance to safeguard your organisation through this challenging period.

Call us now on 08000 195 101, email sales@profile.co.uk or contact your Account Manager today to see how Profile can help you.

– The Profile Team

Need Help To Work Remotely?

As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to create a global impact on communities and families around the world, Profile acknowledges this is a difficult time for all of us. The health and wellbeing of our employees and customers remains our priority, and we are committed to supporting you and your business as we all go through this quickly evolving situation.

Many businesses are implementing several precautions to keep their organisations and their employees safe. Following Government guidelines, companies are being advised to work remotely wherever possible to reduce unnecessary contact.

So how can Profile help? With no-one being able to determine how long employees will need to be able to work remotely, Profile can offer various Hardware Solutions to ensure your business is well equipped through this time. We are able to provide an array of options such as remote desktop servers, laptops, printers, broadband connections etc to facilitate your business continuing to operate wherever possible. On top of this, Profile can also help support your staff in getting set up for working from home.

Call us now on 08000 195 101 or email sales@profile.co.uk to find out more about how Profile can help you through this difficult period and build your business contingency plan.

– The Profile Team

Coronavirus – Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

Following announcements in the recent Budget, The Department for Work and Pensions is making temporary arrangements to support those impacted by coronavirus.

One of those arrangements is that employees who cannot work due to the coronavirus and are eligible for Statutory Sick Pay will get SSP from day one, rather than from the fourth day of their illness. This also applies to those people who are self-isolating in line with government advice to prevent its spread. This measure applies retrospectively from 13 March 2020.

Employers are also urged to use their discretion about what evidence, if any, they ask for. If employees need to provide evidence to their employer that they need to stay at home due to the coronavirus, they will be able to get it from the NHS 111 Online instead of having to get a fit note from their doctor.

Employers with fewer than 250 employees will be able to reclaim Statutory Sick Pay for employees unable to work because of coronavirus. This refund will be for up to two weeks per employee. How this refund will be made is not yet known.

To pay the three SSP waiting days in Opera 3 we recommend you create a new payment profile and select the SSP payment profile type. This will ensure the total SSP year to date values are correct.

Finally, you will need to manually calculate the value to pay and enter this against the payment profile in the employee’s Pay and Deductions screen.

Please note: The weekly allowance for SSP will increase from £94.25 to £95.85 on 6 April 2020.

– The Profile Team