Friday, December 12, 2014

I learned by watching it on youtube..

FREE web based training videos to now available on our Support Web Site


Often when faced with a daily challenge , I will tell people to just google it , but more and more I am finding that people learn from video in a much more common and simple fashion. 
We wanted to give customers an easy and exciting new way to learn the MDS system. 
And a result we have released a set of training video's specifically tailored to the questions our customer have asked us. 

If you follow TED Talks you might enjoy this one, 

http://www.ted.com/talks/daphne_koller_what_we_re_learning_from_online_education?language=en

But really the point in that video allow you to learn at your own pace , and while it's not interactive and responsive (yet) 
it does allow you to save time and money and you don't have to remember everything anymore..


Traditional training methods are still available via our Training Department but more and more clients are taking advantage of self paced web based training classes to familiarize themselves with the myriad of features within the MDS system. 



Want a specialized set of video's done for your company? Contact us today.. 



The Systems House, Inc. (TSH), formed in 1979, is a company with a long standing reputation for outstanding customer service. With in excess of 250 installed MDS clients throughout the United States and Canada, TSH is widely recognized as one of the premiere suppliers of software and computer solutions for the Distribution marketplace. TSH has made a corporate commitment to distribution, which assures our customers that the latest in technology innovation, so critical to their success in the complex and fast changing world of distribution, will be available when needed.



For more information on TSH or MDS call The Systems House, Inc. at 1-800- MDS-5556. Or send a message to sales@tshinc.com
Click here and tell us how we can help you with your business solutions.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Where is my package now?

 



The Systems House, Inc. announces the release of an


Interactive Online Shipping Integration Kit  


for the MDS Suite of Products


In keeping with the fraud prevention theme of the month, we have expanded our proof of delivery options to allow you to better track and identify where your packages are heading. 
As more and more providers move to a home health based model and take advantage of shipping to nurses in the field or to patients directly. It is increasingly more important to  have real-time access to proof of delivery and signature information.  With our latest updates this information is at your fingertips.. 
 
 Shipping Integration is Simple and Easy

Shipping integration is an important part of any ERP system. TSH has extended our use of the MDS Web Services framework to integrate both FedEx and UPS's online XML API's. What this means for TSH customers is the ability to do utilize their current FedEx and UPS accounts within the MDS system. Providing your business with the most accurate shipping calculations available. The FedEx and UPS Online (API) tools are now integrated into the MDS system utilizing the latest XML and SOAP internet based technology. The simplified online interface allows for a number of capabilities:
  • Rates & Service Selection XML, version 1.0.
  • Signature Tracking XML, version 1.0.
  • File Download for Quantum View XML, version 1.0.
  • Address Validation XML, version 1.0.
  • Tracking XML, version 1.0.
  • Time in Transit XML, version 1.0.
  • Tracking HTML, version 3.0.

Integrated Proof of Delivery and Tracking

Save time and effort by verifying delivery before your customer calls looking for their package.
The MDS POD (Proof of Delivery) Module utilizes the Integration toolkit to check each package for a proof of delivery. for when available a PDF including signature capture with the delivery information is made available to the MDS system. With two simple clicks the MDS system can not only track the package to the destination it will also provide a proof of delivery allowing you to know the packages arrived safely and prevent any billing disputes.
With end-to-end solutions developed and supported by UPS and Fedex and integrated seamlessly into your MDS system, you can relax and feel confident that your customer service department is on top of delivery and package tracking information.


For more information about our Fedex and UPS Integration Kit
Call The Systems House, Inc. at 1-800- MDS-5556.
Or send a message to sales@tshinc.com


About TSH
The Systems House, Inc. (TSH), formed in 1979, is a company with a long standing reputation for outstanding customer service. With in excess of 250 installed MDS clients throughout the United States and Canada, TSH is widely recognized as one of the premiere suppliers of software and computer solutions for the Distribution marketplace. TSH has made a corporate commitment to distribution, which assures our customers that the latest in technology innovation, so critical to their success in the complex and fast changing world of distribution, will be available when needed.

For more information on TSH or MDS call The Systems House, Inc. at 1-800- MDS-5556. Or send a message to sales@tshinc.com
Click here and tell us how we can help you with your business solutions.

Friday, November 28, 2014

PCI-DSS isn't about your cable service.

If you search the internet for DSS, you might find out that 


DSS, Digital Satellite System, is a huge improvement over all

 

types of Cable TV.


However in keeping with our security theme and fraud prevention idea's this week we are discussing the PCI-DSS, and how it relates to you as a supply chain member. Not all about how to get the best cable service at the best price. Possibly next post, Sorry... 

About the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS):
 
 
The PCI DSS, a set of comprehensive requirements for enhancing payment account data security, was developed by the founding payment brands of the PCI Security Standards Council, including American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc. Inc. International, to help facilitate the broad adoption of consistent data security measures on a global basis.
The PCI DSS is a multifaceted security standard that includes requirements for security management, policies, procedures, network architecture, software design and other critical protective measures. This comprehensive standard is intended to help organizations proactively protect customer account data.
The PCI Security Standards Council will enhance the PCI DSS as needed to ensure that the standard includes any new or modified requirements necessary to mitigate emerging payment security risks, while continuing to foster wide-scale adoption.
Ongoing development of the standard will provide for feedback from the Advisory Board and other participating organizations. All key stakeholders are encouraged to provide input, during the creation and review of proposed additions or modifications to the PCI DSS.
The core of the PCI DSS is a group of principles and accompanying requirements, around which the specific elements of the DSS are organized:

Build and Maintain a Secure Network
Requirement 1: Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data
Requirement 2: Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters
Protect Cardholder Data
Requirement 3: Protect stored cardholder data
Requirement 4: Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks
Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program
Requirement 5: Use and regularly update anti-virus software
Requirement 6: Develop and maintain secure systems and applications
Implement Strong Access Control Measures
Requirement 7: Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know
Requirement 8: Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access
Requirement 9: Restrict physical access to cardholder data
Regularly Monitor and Test Networks
Requirement 10: Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data
Requirement 11: Regularly test security systems and processes
Maintain an Information Security Policy
Requirement 12: Maintain a policy that addresses information security


The Systems House Promotes the PCI-DSS standard as the best method for securing your credit card data.

Now MDS Allows you to Become PCI-DSS compliant
Requirement 3: Protect stored cardholder data

By masking of All Credit Cards using XXXXX-1234
and eliminate storing of Pin Numbers

Requirement 4: Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks

Using SSL Technology the MDS Systems secures all data over the network and allows for SSH or S/Telnet (secure)Access to MDS via the WinMDS Interface

Requirement 6: Develop and maintain secure systems and applications
MDS is a fully secured system with extensive audit capabilities

Requirement 7: Restrict access to cardholder data by business need-to-know Requirement
MDS Allows both user and process level security for all logins.
TSH remains committed to providing the best in customer service and support for our client base.

With responsive solutions and a large technical staff backing them up this is just one more example of the industry leading technology and solutions that are the core of Supply Chain Management for the Real World.

The Systems House, Inc. (TSH), formed in 1979, is a company with a long standing reputation for outstanding customer service. With in excess of 250 installed MDS clients throughout the United States and Canada, TSH is widely recognized as one of the premiere suppliers of software and computer solutions for the Distribution marketplace. TSH has made a corporate commitment to distribution, which assures our customers that the latest in technology innovation, so critical to their success in the complex and fast changing world of distribution, will be available when needed.


For more information on TSH or MDS call The Systems House, Inc. at 1-800- MDS-5556. Or send a message to sales@tshinc.com
Click here and tell us how we can help you with your business solutions.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Doing your part to fight fraud...


Most of us might think, that is the other guy's problem. But as a member of the supply chain it's important to remember that getting paid properly is a pretty important item. To that end this week we are advising customers to start taking advantage of existing options in the MDS system to help combat fraud. 


Once such option is our bank positive pay subsystem.
What is Positive Pay?
Positive Pay is an automated fraud detection tool offered by the Cash Management Department of most banks. In its simplest form, it is a service that matches the account number, check number and dollar amount of each check presented for payment against a list of checks previously authorized and issued by the company. All three components of the check must match exactly or it will not pay.
 
MDS Allows for Positive Pay in three Ways:
• File Creation
Each bank has its own unique file format which MDS has built in templates for.


• File Transmittal
MDS will create the file and allow you to transmit the file via email, web upload or FTP


• Research The MDS Detail Check Inquiry will allow you to see who was paid on each check and email verification to the bank if requested.
 
TSH remains committed to providing the best in customer service and support for our client base.

With responsive solutions and a large technical staff backing them up this is just one more example of the industry leading technology and solutions that are the core of Supply Chain Management for the Real World.

The Systems House, Inc. (TSH), formed in 1979, is a company with a long standing reputation for outstanding customer service. With in excess of 250 installed MDS clients throughout the United States and Canada, TSH is widely recognized as one of the premiere suppliers of software and computer solutions for the Distribution marketplace. TSH has made a corporate commitment to distribution, which assures our customers that the latest in technology innovation, so critical to their success in the complex and fast changing world of distribution, will be available when needed.


For more information on TSH or MDS call The Systems House, Inc. at 1-800- MDS-5556. Or send a message to sales@tshinc.com
Click here and tell us how we can help you with your business solutions.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Emergency Medical Services supply usage is at an all time high.

Emergency Medical Services supply usage is at an all time high. Is your business focused on this exploding market?

There is a growing use of EMS as a “front door” to health care in the United States. People who need to go to a doctor, but do not have a primary care physician, are using an ambulance to get into the medical care system.

Increasingly, in both rural and urban settings, EMS is taking the place of the local doctor. With the growing number of uninsured patients and the continuing trend of a shortage of primary care providers this usage will
only increase. In addition terrorism, natural disasters and disease outbreaks are in the media everyday. As a result, ambulances are more and more the primary method of emergency care.

Want more information? - Click Here for a product data sheet 

As a Health care Supply Chain Member have you focused on this growing marketplace?
With MDS-EMS, you have the tools to address the needs of this growing marketplace!

And once you capture the client, you become the primary (if not sole) provider of all supplies and drugs used by the entire EMS system.

How to capitalize on this Market opportunity?

City/County EMS Departments - Funded though tax dollars, government systems are often more costly to administer; every aspect of the business must be cost effective and efficient. However, quite often they are substantially
understaffed or lack the needed resources and technology.

Volunteer Fire/EMS/Rescue Squads -
Typically run using local dollars and donations as well as personal time, these organizations don’t have the supply chain expertise or knowledge to run an efficient low cost operation.

Private Ambulance Providers - This business relies heavily on their ability to maintain cash flow and minimize expenses. After labor, supplies are their single largest ongoing expense. However, hiring an employee simply to maintain and record inventory is an expense that just isn’t needed.

You become the EMS Departments Supply chain organization.

MDS-EMS manages all aspects of the inventory requirements of an EMS organization..

With MDS-EMS the EMS organization can manage the important business of saving lives. Your company will handle the supplies,logistics and replenishment.

MDS-EMS is available as a standalone product or as a component of MDS - The Master Distribution System.

For more information on TSH or MDS call The Systems House, Inc. at 1-800- MDS-5556. Or send a message to sales@tshinc.com
Click here and tell us how we can help you with your business solutions.

Friday, October 31, 2014

Should your data be a balance sheet asset?



Technology today, particularly big data and analytics, are changing roles throughout the enterprise, whether it's the CIO constantly faced with decisions about technology, or supply chain members that can make the sales marketing function more data-driven and efficient, everyone is being affected. Even the CFO role is not immune. 
The CFO doesn't really have to be a technologist, but they have to understand how the power of technology can help them do their job. The pressures on the CFO are not terribly different than they've always been, but the data driven connectivity of our world and the rate of change adds to it. They need to be able to react to change quickly with speed and flexibility.
At the recent Bloomberg CFO Summit this week on the topic:
"Dealing with New Technology and Building a Business Case for It."

They outlined that the CFO is focused on reducing costs, speed (especially improved time to value) and flexibility — all achieved in a secure way. Technology, particularly cloud computing and analytics, is the key to improving in all three areas. Sales Managers, on the other hand, focus more on revenue-generating projects in the analytics space. For instance, they might want to pursue behavioral analytics that give them a 360-degree view of each customer.
Based upon the fact that all these operational area need that data the question was asked.. 
Should your data be a balance sheet asset?

Assuming your data will drive new businesses. How do you value it accurately?
Here are some possible examples of that valuation. Data about customers creates opportunities for the business. That data about customers should to be a central focus of the organization and the sales leaders. 
  • What do we know about our customers? 
  • How can we expand our information about our customers? 
  • How can we monetize that data? 

That monetization really amounts to a valuation of that data.
Companies are becoming inherently differentiated based on their ability to leverage their data. Those organizations better able to glean automated, real-time insights from their data will have a serious competitive advantage over their rivals.

Need help figuring our the value of your data? - One solution might be to use the well known customer stratification model , already available in the latest version of the MDS-Nx Software Suite
This model allows you to classify customers based upon patterns in your data 
and helps you make decisions on where to focus your sales efforts. 

For more information on TSH or MDS call The Systems House, Inc. at 1-800- MDS-5556. Or send a message to sales@tshinc.com
Click here and tell us how we can help you with your business solutions.