Friday, December 18, 2020

End of Year Tax Planning? - Automate and Save Time.

 

MDS Tax options now offer a new choice


Taxes are a business reality for some and a non-issue for others but as the government needs more money it's going to have to come from somewhere. Amazon is charging tax now and in all likelihood they will start taxing your business in some way soon. The good news is that MDS has you covered and here are a few options for tax setup and maintenance within the MDS systems. 


TSH is proud to announce support for the AvaTax engine from avalara . All your tax liability is entered online and each product can be mapped to a specific unspsc code or taxable class (available on their site/spreadsheet). Then each time an order is place a website call is made to calculate the tax. The website allows options for customer specific exemptions and they map to geo codes based upon the shipping address,  not zip codes so they are  more accurate. They also offer the ability to file your taxes for you with the correct forms for state/local etc Note: There is an added cost from TSH as well on ongoing monthly fees for this service

     

Taxrates.com – Our simplest option,  login to the website and download a spreadsheet of all zip codes you have a tax nexus in. You can them upload into MDS  this will create the tax jurisdictions. Then when setting up customers just key in the zip code to get the correct tax rate, Update as often as needed check with your accountant.

      Alternate Option  – Taxrates.com with overrides for specific product classes in certain zip codes or jurisdictions. This allows you to flag certain product classes as non taxable in certain jurisdictions. however it does require you to setup additional product classes. There is some added time to review your products and segregate.




        Salestax.com/Esalestax.com  – This is our most comprehensive method. All your tax liability is entered online and each product can be mapped to a specific unspsc code or taxable class (available on their site/spreadsheet). Then each time an order is place a website call is made to calculate the tax. The website allows options for customer specific exemptions and they map to geo codes based upon the shipping address,  not zip codes so they are  more accurate. They also offer the ability to file your taxes for you with the correct forms for state/local etc Note: There is an added cost from TSH as well on ongoing monthly fees for this service.




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 11, 2020

Punchout - Moving EDI into Real Time

Everyone talks about the benefits of EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) and how it makes it so much easier to send data between different systems. We can debate the merits and costs and see what makes sense, But often many people overlook a major issue with the current EDI model. 

 Because it was based on an offline model all of EDI is based on files and responses. So the concept is you send me a file I send you a message saying I got your file and then I respond with any issues and or status updates. In todays real time world, that just doesn't always work. And while EDI is here to stay at least for a while, Today we wanted to introduce to you another alternative that offers similar functionality with a number of added benefits. The biggest being it allows for real time interactivity.

Punchout Catalogs - Why is Mike Tyson Involved in Purchasing? 

Punchout catalogs are websites that are maintained by a procurement vendor, In this model that would be you. These websites are typically based on your eCommerce site (RemoteNet)  and list the products offered and their associated prices. To create requisitions from these catalogs, agency customers “punchout” to the website from within the Buyer application (Lawson, Peoplesoft, MediClick , SAP etc)  choose the items to purchase, and “punch in” the appropriate information to their requisition before the order is submitted. The Mike Tyson tie in is for a select few who remember the video game. He doesn't really have anything to do with it. 

 

Benefits of Using Punchout Catalogs:

Reduced Data Entry Errors icon

Reduced Data Entry Errors: Using a catalog makes purchasing easier for agency customers and vendors by pre-populating information (e.g., accounting) on the requisition.

Up-To-Date Information icon

Up-To-Date Information: Catalog pricing is regularly  reviewed and updated by Purchasing Dept to confirm that agency customers are receiving the most recent state term pricing.

eCommerce-like Shopping Experience icon

eCommerce-like Shopping Experience: Catalogs simplify the buying process by letting customers conduct product searches and comparisons

Simplified and Centralized Purchasing icon

Simplified and Centralized Purchasing: By accessing catalogs in their own applications, agency customers can easily view state term pricing. Since all catalogs are centralized in one application, it also promotes purchasing consolidation and improved spend management visibility for your clients.

Improved Productivity icon

Improved Productivity: Using automated approval flows, customers can enhance productivity with reduced cycle times. Auto-populated fields also provide time savings.

Agency Customer Preference icon

Agency Customer Preference:  Customers prefer catalogs (both line item and punchout) over manually entering requisitions in the system.

 

eInvoicing

eInvoicing icon

Punchout Also allows vendors to invoice the for payment electronically. Benefits to eInvoicing include the following:

  • Reduced paper flow and associated costs;
  • Reduced payment cycle time; and
  • Improved data accuracy.

Ready to Play Punchout? 


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 4, 2020

License Verification just got a lot easier...

VERIFICATION CHECKS WITH GREATER FREQUENCY AND EFFICIENCY

As the DSCSA requires you to Check with your trading partner directly to confirm they are authorized, or for manufacturers and repackagers, check FDA’s drug establishment registration database for registration. For wholesale distributors, third-party logistic providers and dispensers, you can check with your respective state authority to confirm licensure.

But we all know the time and effort around collecting 

and keeping this information update to date 





Forget about the manual, time-consuming searches of multiple state and federal data sources.

Through License Verify™, the same license information will be instantly verified and available through a single, comprehensive database.

Legisym’s new License Verify™ is a comprehensive service for verifying pharmaceutical licensing across the nation. While the initial release is designed for performing state and federal license verifications, Legisym expects expansion to include a number of other government, local, and national database registry license types based on the needs of the industry. Our goal at Legisym, is to provide the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain with affordable and effective regulatory compliance services and solutions. The License Verify™ early sign up will give clients early access to our new license verification services and the opportunity to provide valuable input for a better experience and solution.




To learn more about partnership opportunities with Legisym and TSH Contact us today.


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 27, 2020

Advertising Credits - 5 ways to grow during the pandemic

As every penny counts when it comes to your business , we offer you yet another way save some money , and potentially create and additional revenue stream.   

70.9 percent
In 2019, advertising accounted for the majority of Google's total revenue, which amounted to a total of 160.74 billion U.S. dollars. In the most recent fiscal period, advertising revenue through Google Sites made up 70.9 percent of the company's revenues. 
Ok so you are not google, and I get that but if they can make 160 billion , we can likely make something and every little bit helps.  The secret weapon here.... Vendor Purchase Discounts or Credits. 

Remotenet Advertising Banners


Using our latest updates for the Remotenet web engine you now have extended options for banner advertisements.  These banners allow you to have specific targeted information about what is on the page or the products a customer is viewing and allow them to click on a banner to be brought to a special template of products, or an external link such as a vendor’s or partners website for more information.


The difference between you and google here , is that you don't have to get paid per click and your partners likely already have rebates and chargebacks they own you money on. This means they can take advantage of advertising and marketing credits with little or no added costs. And this can translate into both savings and shared revenue for both partners. "Its a Win-Win!!" 


Here is an example of a marketing emails your team can send out to potential product partners. 

 Advertise with Our Company!

The Opportunity to Sell Your Brand

· Exposure to targeted groups of online ordering customers on log in.

· A spot on our website Advertisements page.

· Increased awareness of your products and offerings.

The Price $xx/mo., $xx/qtr., or $xxxx/yr.

· Equal share time slot on rotating banner with other advertisers or dedicated option.

· Vendor advertisers can pay with a Purchase Discount to our account.


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. 

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Smarter Shipping - 5 ways to grow during the pandemic

5 ways to grow during the pandemic. As shipping becomes a larger part of the cost of doing business, and margins keep shrinking. We are always on the lookout for new ways for you to save on your shipping costs. To that end, we would like to introduce Intelligent Audit Shipping Solutions. 

Intelligent Audit is a leading logistics technology provider focused on reducing transportation costs       
through automated freight audit and recovery across  all transportation modes, business intelligence analytics, and spend optimization solutions. 
                                                                       
In short it is a technology solution that provides insights to help companies ship smarter and audits your existing contracts to help you find pricing and billing discrepancies..  
As with any integration , it's important for the partners to be able to effectively communicate, as such the MDS-Nx System can now create a standard integration file with Intelligent Audit to allow our clients the ability to audit their shipping costs , make sure that all contracted prices are begin charged and make suggestions for optimizing freight and shipping solutions. 
     
 


Don't leave money on the table, as this technology can help you save on existing costs with no operational changes, and can possibly help you find better solutions logistics and shipping. 
                                 

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 13, 2020

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater...

Meaning of 'Don't Throw the Baby Out With the Bathwater'

 

The phrase to throw the baby out with the bathwater means to discard something valuable along with other things that are undesirable.

It is a loan translation from the German phrase das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten, literally to empty out the child with the bath, first recorded in 1512. For example, in German Literature, translated from the German of Wolfgang Menzel1. By C. C. Felton2 (Boston, Massachusetts – 1840).

Often when looking at enterprise software, we want to go with the latest and greatest technology , sometimes are the expense of our existing infrastructure and client base. 

How many of you use the fax every day? Interestingly enough we hear disturbing rumors that over 20 years since the birth of the commercial Internet, fax machines remain in wide use in the economy. 

Image result for fax machine meme
According to CBinsights 
Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev said most traditional stock brokerages “still run on paper and fax machines.” 

And get this 

The worst offender appears to be the US health care industry. Surveys show a majority of medical communication, including sharing of patient data, still happens by fax. 


Related image


Might the use of fax machines be positively correlated with an industry’s lack of innovation?
or Is this just an American thing like writing checks?

While we may not understand fully this somewhat old school approach,  we at TSH still have your covered. 






The MDS-Nx System is specifically tailored to the needs of the health care community.  So it is no surprise, We offer an integrated fax option for all your documents and customer communications.  Better yet when using our Cloud based software there is just one low monthly fee including all faxing, emails etc. and no usage based pricing so you can have as many clients and orders and product as you like. 

So while we do encourage you to drop the fax , we don't look down on it. 
on the contrary , whatever your needs,  we provide.. 


So keep on faxing, we got this.. 

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 6, 2020

Clarity through Communication

Our belief is that Better Communication leads Better Cash Flow and Simplified Clarity , to facilitate better communication web based tools have made that payment process much more streamlined and efficient.


Utilizing the MDS-Nx System you now have access to 5 new Remote net Portals. Each portal is a piece of the Remote net Ecosystem and allows for different tools to communicate more effectively. 


Today we highlight the MDS-Nx Vendor Portal 

The MDS-Nx Vendor Portal allows you to give the tools to your vendors to see how they are doing with your company in terms of sales, check the status of pending purchase orders , and review open invoices that have been paid or are awaiting payment. 

I also allow them to see how you paid off each invoice. Lastly for those who want it – vendors can submit invoices for purchase orders that are outstanding and they will go into the EDI 810 processing system allowing you to review and approve the charges then pay them. 

Once a vendor is ready to be paid, you can utilize the MDS-Nx AP transfer subsystem to pay them via a credit card or ACH payment. For either process they would receive an email confirmation. Alternately if a check is sent they can be emailed the stubs and a copy of the remittance. 


By allowing your vendors visibility into what is selling, what is open on the payables side and what has not been delivered, you can remove the back and forth communication,  and provide them real time information. By knowing which of their products is selling or not  selling. This allows local manufacturer reps to understand the sales profile of your company and suggest similar or complimentary product as well as where there might be some problems selling certain product lines. More than just Ecommerce these portals enable better and faster communication 24/7 via the internet.  Remotenet Vendor Portal
Ready for True Clarity?  

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 30, 2020

Ways to grow your business during the pandemic (CardKnox Gateway)

Regardless of how you feel about our postal services, they have had to shoulder a larger load due to the pandemic. Shipping services like UPS, Fedex etc. have also felt the heavier load and that translates into higher costs for shipping product slower deliveries and higher costs to service your customers. So how can we do our part to reduce the load on the USPS? 

We are exploring some new ways to grow your business in the pandemic by leveraging some new technology. 

Like many businesses, TSH has moved to a telecommuting model and will no longer have the ability to receive and process physical payments on a daily basis. Consequently, we are transitioning  to accepting only digital payment forms including ACH, Wire, and credit card payments. It would seem that is the direction many companies are moving in, and we would encourage you to do so as well. 

Todays message is about Electronic Payments 

TSH is now proud to announce our latest Electronic Payment Partner.

Cardknox, a new payment gateway integration for The Systems House. Cardknox currently supports many unique features to avoid credit card processing frustrations, and includes a wide range of advanced features to greatly simplify your day-to-day procedures.


  • Easily Process both Partial and Unlinked Credits with no additional paperwork

  • Automatic Account Updater Tool to Reduce Card-On-File Declines

  • ACH Processing Supported for decreased rates and increased dispute protection

The quick and simple switch to Cardknox will also provide you with a host of other features, including:

  • Data Tokenization & Secure Storage of Payment Information

  • Ability to process Quick Sale transactions

  • Intelligent Routing for Optimized Rates 

  • Expedited Amex Funding - even with Amex Direct accounts

  • Avoid Rate Downgrades with Capture Optimizer 

  • Recurring Payment Scheduling

  • Built in 3-D Secure Technology 

  • EMV Capability for Card Present Payments

  • Simplified PCI Compliance

  • White Glove Customer Support


Make the move toward reduced overhead costs and improved operations, and get access to Cardknox’s customer service teams for hands-on support with all things payments.


To learn more about Cardknox or to get started, please visit https://www.cardknox.com/partners/the-systems-house or click below.

Click Here


If you have any further questions about the Cardknox integration just give us a call.


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.

Monday, October 26, 2020

Well what do we do now? FDA Enforcement Update

 

Pharma Information Update

Stay on top of the latest requirements

As many of you may be getting questions or have concerns about your compliance and changing rules to the DSCSA and Pharma specific issues, we are offering our pharma update webinar and blast emails. 

Well it's been a year - how have things changed?  Not Much it would seem... 

THEN
November 2019: FDA Announces Enforcement Discretion Guidance for DSCSA Verification Requirement
FDA has announced that, given concerns expressed by stakeholders and to minimize possible disruptions in the pharmaceutical distribution supply chain, it does not intend to act against wholesale distributors who do not, prior to November 27, 2020, verify a product identifier before distributing a returned product as required under the DSCSA. 

NOW

October 2020: FDA Announcement Regarding Certain Wholesale Distributor and Dispenser Verification Requirements Under DSCSA

Today, the Food and Drug Administration announced a final guidance regarding enforcement of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) requirements for wholesale distributor verification of saleable returned products and dispenser verification of the product identifier for suspect and illegitimate product.

  • FDA does not intend to take action against wholesale distributors who do not, prior to November 27, 2023, verify a product identifier prior to further distributing returned product as required under the DSCSA. This provides wholesale distributors three additional years to comply with this requirement.
  • FDA also does not intend to take action against dispensers who do not, prior to November 27, 2023, verify the product identifier for suspect or illegitimate product in the dispenser’s possession or control. This provides dispensers three additional years to comply with this requirement.

Please contact drugtrackandtrace@fda.hhs.gov with questions about this announcement.


Having said that, We still need to address the issue, we just have a little more time.

So to all our clients or potential clients facing a growing list of vendors telling them how they need a solution right now, you have some breathing room. And perhaps some time to properly evaluate your best path forward. 

If an integrated solution from a trusted source seems like it might be a better option, feel free to join our mailing list, or reach out to us for a discussion on how to make sure your systems are compliant and Future Proof, with a software partner dedicated to your industry. 


Subscribe to our list

Pharma Email Blast

Monthly Features
Addl blasts as needed
Dates TBA


$200

No charge as part of  maintenance

SIGN UP NOW

Pharma Webinars

Coming Soon
1-2 hrs
Dates TBA

$300

No charge as part of maintenance

SIGN UP NOW
Feel free to suggest topics or email sales@tshinc.com
Please sign up so we can reserve your spots today.

Friday, October 23, 2020

4 Tips for Tapping Into B2B Buyer Emotions


Did you know that for B2B buyers, personal value actually has 2x the impact of business value? 
         
At some point, we’ve all made emotional impulse purchases. A candy bar in the checkout line at the grocery store, a fancy new putter at the golf store, or a flashy red sports car with the gas mileage of a three-ton semi-truck — whatever the item, very rarely do we actually need these things.

Yet, while frivolous, we’re able to justify those purchases because they don’t often cause financial ruin. 
For growing B2B companies in the market for new business solutions, however, the same can’t really be said. After all, purchasing those products and services often requires navigating a complex buying process, and choosing the right solution can sometimes make or break the business.  With so much riding on that decision, there’s no room for emotional, impulse decision-making, right?

Or maybe there is.

According to a new whitepaper from Google, when it comes to making purchasing decisions,
 the personal value a B2B solution offers has twice the impact of the business value it provides. 

In other words, B2B customers do become emotionally attached to the brands they work with — more so, in fact, than their B2C counterparts.

With that said, does this mean you’re going about your B2B marketing all wrong? let's take a closer look. 


 Appeal to the Elephant, Not Just the Rider

One of the best  analogies as it relates to the importance of appealing to both the rational and emotional sides of B2B buyers is the metaphor of “winning the elephant and the rider,” which originated from the works of social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, and bestselling authors Chip and Dan Heath.

Elephant and the Rider - Behavioral Change - YouTube

If you look at a man riding an elephant, you might presume that because the rider is holding the reins that he’s in control — that’s the rational side in all of us. But forgetting about the influence of the elephant — the emotional, visceral, and almost automatic force that actually performs the action — is a mistake.
“While the rider and the elephant, the rational and emotional, won’t necessarily be in constant, open conflict, there’s also no guarantee that the two will agree,” Schmidt explains. “This is where we maybe know what we should do, but we don’t necessarily do it. And that’s where the analogy is very powerful. You have a very small rider and a very big elephant. And if the two disagree, who’s your money on?”

 Address Buyers’ Fears

Think for a moment about the potential risk any of us are willing to take as B2C consumers. If you’re buying an iPad, it might do all of things you want and your spouse might disagree with the need to purchase it, but the relative risk is pretty low.
As executives, however, the risk of making a large investment in software or technology — say, a CRM solution — is significantly higher. It could be a multi-million dollar purchase and that’s a potentially career or business-altering decision.
Understanding Buyer Fear“If we don’t think about what it takes to overcome that risk from a personal, emotional perspective, then we’re missing where we as marketers should really be focusing,” Schmidt says. “Ultimately, if you don’t overcome buyers’ fears and you fail to address those risks, then you can pull on the reins all day and the elephant still won’t go anywhere.”

 Highlight Personal Benefits, Not Just Business Benefits


Going back to the  whitepaper, it’s important to remember that personal value has twice the impact on a B2B purchase that business value does.
Accordingly, marketers have been successful at proving business value to their prospects and customers over the last few years. That value can be demonstrated through statistical or financial analysis, or easily enumerated via tools like an ROI calculator. But as the study shows, B2B buying decisions are about much more than dollars and cents.Benefits of a Personal Development Plan: Quick Read Overview
Personal value matters, and those attributes include the emotions we’ve already talked about, including aspects of confidence, excitement, and happiness,
 like whether their product might make the buyer more popular with their team, or whether it will allow the buyer to be viewed as a stronger, more successful leader.”

 Tie Value Back to the Bigger Picture

When Xerox wanted to communicate to teachers the fundamental role that color plays in helping children learn, the company personalized its core insight for that audience by emphasizing the impact having more engaged, exciting students could have on teacher motivation and performance. Xerox even created a video that served as a case study of that impact.
Using Meditation to See the Bigger Picture - About Meditation
“We found that it was an impressive example of not just how Xerox delivers business value to its buyers, but also how it really nails the value that we all care about from an education perspective — successful outcomes for individual students, their ability to learn, and what that means for the teachers,”

“It’s a really powerful way to package the emotional and the rational connections together and deliver a much more impactful message.”


All too often, businesses focus exclusively on sources of business value as their basis for differentiation. And while that business case will remain important, Schmidt argues that marketers must stop ignoring the potentially enormous opportunity that appealing to personal value presents. “That’s where we see a great opportunity for marketers to expand where they seek opportunities for differentiation,” 

 “It’s quite clear that B2B buyers are emotional purchasers, and if you’re not tailoring your marketing to that accordingly, you’re missing a huge opportunity to really resonate with your buyers.”

Are You Doing Enough to Emotionally Connect with Buyers? 

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.