Utilize Plc is proud to announce that we have recently become an accredited Living Wage Employer. We are thrilled to join a community of over 7,000 employers in the UK who believe in paying their employees a fair wage.

The Living Wage is an independently calculated hourly rate of pay that is based on the cost of living in the UK. It is higher than the government’s minimum wage and is designed to ensure that workers can earn enough money to live comfortably and support themselves and their families.

We believe that all workers should be paid a wage that allows them to live with dignity, and by becoming a Living Wage Employer, we are demonstrating our commitment to treating our employees fairly and ethically.

At Utilize, our employees are our greatest asset, working hard every day to deliver the best possible service to our clients. By paying the Living Wage, we are not only recognising their hard work and commitment, but we are also helping to create a more sustainable and equitable economy.

Becoming a Living Wage Employer endorses our commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of our employees, clients, and community, and we believe that paying a fair wage is an important step in achieving that goal.

We hope that other companies will follow our lead and make the commitment to pay their employees a wage that allows them to live in comfort and security. Together, we can create a more just and equitable society for everyone.

Learn more about our values

Every business has unique circumstances and requirements, and there are many reasons why businesses may choose to upgrade from Sage 50 to a different accounting software. We advise conducting a thorough analysis of your current and future business needs before making any decisions about upgrading your accounting software.

So, what are the key questions you need to be asking?

1. Web Portals: In today’s fast-paced business environment, remote access to accounting information is becoming increasingly important. Does your business need access to accounting information while on the go? Then you may need to upgrade to a solution that offers remote access.

2. Scalability: As your business grows, you may need a more scalable accounting software solution that can accommodate larger amounts of data, users, or transactions.

3. API Integration: If your business needs to integrate its accounting software with other business software applications, you may need to upgrade to a solution that offers better integration capabilities.

4. Need for advanced features: Has your business outgrown the basic features of Sage 50, and do you need more advanced features that can handle increasing complexity, such as more extensive reporting, inventory tracking, or multi-currency support.

5. Support and maintenance: If your business is experiencing frequent issues or requires technical support, it may need to upgrade to a solution that offers better support and maintenance options.

Ultimately, the decision to upgrade from Sage 50 depends on the unique needs and circumstances of each business. Asking the right questions will enable you to make an informed and future-proofed decision.

At Utilize we work to gain a deep understanding of your business processes and needs, and we have the Sage expertise and experience to advise you on the right solution for your business. Why not talk to one of our Sage Consultants today about your next steps.

Register for our upcoming Sage Webinar

Interested to learn about 4 reasons on why to upgrade? Click here

Checkout our latest case study: 

Utilize Sage Development Team save time and resources with a new Purchase Transaction Authorisation for our client Vegetarian Express

 

Learn more about our Finance offerings

Cloud-based services and their benefits are undeniable, and businesses are increasingly turning to Microsoft 365 and its suite of tools when moving to the Cloud. Offering data storage, email services and productivity tools, it’s no surprise Microsoft 365 users feel as though their data is safe and secure. However, if a third-party backup is not in place, the risk of losing all your data is still a real possibility. 

Microsoft 365 will only guarantee 90% of your data for as little as 30 days, consequently, even Microsoft themselves recommend regular backups in their service agreement. 

There are multiple ways in which you could lose your data including, accidental deletion or Cybercriminals encrypting or deleting data, ensuring you have it backed up is vital to protecting your business and your clients.  

We have introduced M365 Cloud Backup to meet this critical need for Cloud-based protection. With M365 Cloud Backup you gain a flexible and simple solution for the protection, management, and recovery of your Microsoft 365 data. It can quickly recover a file, folder or all account data easily in its original format. It ensures your business data is protected, encrypted and made available through an intuitive, web-based interface. 

M365 Cloud Backup enables you to deliver better service, improve efficiency, and simplify the backup and data protection process.  

Why not talk to us today about how M365 Cloud Backup can help you.

Learn more about M365 Cloud Backup

In today’s digital era, businesses rely heavily on storing and processing data, making it a valuable asset. However, this data is at risk of being compromised and falling into the hands of cybercriminals. Online criminal marketplaces like Genesis Market offer a platform for the sale of stolen data, such as login credentials, IP addresses, and sensitive information, to other criminals who have malicious intentions.

Genesis Market, for instance, has been known to sell sensitive information for as little as £0.80, providing easy access to valuable data like banking and social media accounts. Cybercriminals can use this data to perpetrate various fraudulent activities, causing significant harm to individuals and businesses alike.

Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and other international bodies, have launched numerous operations against such online criminal marketplaces, such as ‘Operation Cookie Monster.’ The aim of these operations is to end the illicit sale and laundering of stolen data. These efforts have resulted in hundreds of searches and arrests worldwide.

It is crucial for businesses to protect their data from cyber threats by investing in cybersecurity measures, such as firewalls, anti-virus software, and regular software updates. Employers should also educate employees on safe online practices and implement strict password policies to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information. By taking these precautions, businesses can protect their data and prevent malicious attacks from cybercriminals.

How can you remain safe?

As the threat of cyberattacks continues to grow, businesses need to be vigilant in protecting their valuable data. Utilize offers additional Managed Security resources to help keep your business safe and secure. Our team of Cybersecurity Experts can help identify potential vulnerabilities and provide proactive measures to ensure your data remains protected.

In addition to our Managed Security services, Utilize offers on-demand video content to help educate businesses about the dark web and staying secure. Our video content covers a range of topics, including how cybercriminals operate, common attack methods, and ways to safeguard your business against cyber threats.

Why not view our on-demand Dark Web Webinar for tips on how to keep your business secure.

Learn about Managed Security

Ultimately, the value of a lost call depends on your business’s specific circumstances and priorities. Calculating an accurate value for lost sales depends on several factors, such as the nature of your business, the type of calls you typically receive, and the potential value of each call.  

If your business relies heavily on phone calls for sales, customer service, or support, then a lost call could mean a missed opportunity to generate revenue or retain a customer. If for example your business missed just three calls each week, equating to 156 potential lost sales each year, the lost opportunities become apparent.  

For example 

• In hospitality, 25% of calls get missed. With a restaurant meal for two people costing on average £74, this adds up to a lot of missed revenue. 
• In recruitment, a sector which relies heavily on telephone engagement to capture new candidates and new employers, recruitment agencies are missing 21% of calls. Think of all that lost commission! 
• In the motor trade, car dealerships miss 15% of calls. With the average car in the UK costing £38,000 that’s a lot of missed order revenue – and pull-through revenue from servicing, too. 

• In the property sector, estate agency fees on a UK property sale average £4,025 – yet agents are missing 7% of inbound calls. 
•  For franchisees, the cost of a missed call can range between £400 and £43,600, depending on the services you provide. 

 Equally the reputational damage caused if you are unable to respond to existing customers’ needs in a timely and satisfactory manner, can be detrimental to ongoing and future revenue streams. 

It’s therefore advisable to have a reliable phone system in place that can help you manage your calls effectively and minimize the chances of missing important calls. Onboarding a platform such as Akixi, allows you to view and track live call reporting, providing a real-time summary for your business.  

One of the most impactful reports that Akixi offers is the ability to recapture all your lost callers by tracking them and your returned missed calls in a live view. The platform will provide a list of received calls over a selected period of time which is generated in a colour-coded system to help you navigate their status.

 

As demonstrated in the example above, missed calls will highlight in red so you can see what calls need actions placed against them. When a member of your team returns the call, or if the customer calls back and gets through, the row will turn green and eventually drop off the report. You can also use the built-in call controls to respond to missed calls directly from the report.

Why not talk to us today about how Akixi can ensure your business never misses another valuable call.

Want a more hands on approach with Akixi? Why not join our informative Akixi Webinar and discover more.

Learn more about Akixi

Sage 200c is a complete business management solution that offers a wide range of features, including financial management, sales and purchase management, project accounting, and inventory management. This makes it a powerful tool for businesses that need to manage their operations efficiently.

Sage 200c continues to be a great solution because of its comprehensive functionality, scalability, Cloud compatible, data security, and customisation capabilities.

Scalability: Sage 200c is scalable and can grow with the business. As the business expands, SMEs can add more users and modules to the system to meet their evolving needs.

Cloud-based technology: Sage 200c is compatible with Cloud solutions such as Office 365 and therefore enables you to manage your business on the move. This is particularly beneficial for businesses that have remote workers or multiple locations.

Data security: Sage 200c provides robust security features to protect sensitive business data. This ensures that organisations can operate with confidence, knowing that their data is secure.  

Customisation: Sage 200c can be customised to meet specific business needs. This allows them to tailor the solution to their business processes, rather than having to change their processes to fit the software.

For example, Sage 200c allows users to customise the software by adding and removing fields, setting up new workflows, and creating custom reports. Users can also create their own dashboards and views to give them a real-time view of their business data.

In addition, Sage 200c integrates with other software solutions and applications, making it possible to extend the system’s capabilities beyond the standard feature set. This means that businesses can create bespoke solutions that are tailored to their specific business needs.

Overall, Sage 200c is a powerful and versatile ERP system that can help businesses manage their operations more effectively, allowing them to focus on their core business activities and drive growth and profitability.

Our award-winning Team delivers Sage 200c support, implementation, consulting and development. Why not talk to us about how we can help your business with Integration for Sage 200 third-party apps and e-commerce websites to achieve a fully customised solution for your business.

Checkout our latest case study: 

Utilize Sage Development Team save time and resources with a new Purchase Transaction Authorisation for our client Vegetarian Express 

 

Learn more about our Finance offerings

Career Ready Programme

Utilize is proud to help nurture the next generation of working talent. Recently, three members of staff have partnered with the Career Ready Mentorship programme to become volunteer mentors.

The Career Ready programme is designed to connect students with working people and workplaces, helping them to develop their understanding of careers and the typical professional skills needed to succeed in employment. Each student is paired with a mentor from a local business who is participating in the programme. Students and mentors are matched based on interests and goals to aid in quickly building a rapport.

Utilize Managing Director – Guy Hocking, Head of Client Services – Mike Smith and Myself (Internal Marketing & Communications Manager) have recently completed a volunteer onboarding programme including a DBS check to become mentors. Our responsibility as mentors is to help young adults achieve goals and grow their skillset over the year as they prepare to enter the working world post education. The programme is driven by seven ‘Skills for Career Success’, each element of the programme references these skills and students are required to rate their progress on these over twelve months.

The skills are:

• Adaptability
• Creativity
• Communication & Networking
• Managing my career
• Managing myself
• Problem-solving
• Teamwork

To kick off the 2023 programme, Guy, Mike, and I took part in an icebreaker session hosted at the student’s school. In the session, Lynette Brathwaite recapped on what students and mentors should expect by taking part in this programme, in terms of setting boundaries, expectations and key points on how to make the student-mentor relationship a success. Then after a team building exercise, we got to spend some time with our mentees, introducing ourselves and getting to know each other.

It was a great afternoon meeting lots of students and listening to their goals and aspirations, and to gain a greater understanding of what these young adults want to achieve in life.

Moving forward, it’s up to us to schedule monthly, face-to-face meetings with our mentees. During these meetings, we will set realistic targets to aid their transition from education to employment and help to give them the best start to their (hopefully long and successful!) careers.  In addition to meeting at their school or local coffee shop, the students will have the opportunity to visit our office in Basildon and experience the day-to-day running and interactions of the workplace.

Anyone can become a mentor, and I would highly recommend Career Ready’s programme to businesses and individuals who are invested or interested in nurturing the next generation of co-workers to successfully transition into the workplace.

I’d like to wish all volunteer mentors, and mentees, every success for the year ahead!

To find out how you and your workplace could help in a variety of ways check out their website: Career Ready Post 16 Programme – Career Ready

Learn more about our Careers

In today’s fast-paced business environment, technology plays a critical role in ensuring business continuity, and any IT downtime can lead to significant losses for organizations. 

It’s important for a business to carefully consider its IT requirements and the potential impact of downtime or delays before entering into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with their IT provider. 

SLA response times refer to how quickly your IT provider responds to a technical issue raised via phone, email or other methods. Defining acceptable response and resolution times is one of the targets your business should judge the performance of your IT support provider on. 

As pretty much every modern business relies heavily on IT systems and infrastructure to operate, a traditional 4-hour response time SLA may not be sufficient. In this case, any downtime or delay in service restoration can have a significant impact on business operations and revenue. For example, if an e-commerce website experiences downtime of even a few minutes, it could result in lost sales and a negative impact on customer experience and satisfaction. 

Depending on your industry, downtime can also impact your compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, particularly if the downtime affects data privacy or security. 

In addition, if the business operates in a highly competitive industry where customers expect fast and reliable service, a 4-hour SLA is undoubtedly inadequate. A slower response time could lead to customers switching to competitors, who offer better and faster service. 

Increasingly, modern businesses are seeking a more reactive SLA with a shorter response time to ensure that their business can meet operational and customer service needs. 

A one-hour IT service level agreement ensures a quicker response time and resolution of issues. Additionally, a shorter SLA time demonstrates a higher level of commitment to customer service and satisfaction, which can improve the overall reputation of your organization. 

Why not talk to us today about upgrading to a one-hour SLA? 

Learn more about our IT Support

Are you starting your year with the correct technologies to ensure your business achieves its goals?

Every year Sage moves its oldest version to ‘end of support’ meaning that it is no longer supported by updates or receiving security patches. They will then move the second oldest version into ‘extended support’ to indicate that soon this will also be no longer supported. With outdated or unsupported systems in place, your business could be vulnerable. It is vital that you check to see what version of Sage 200 your business is running and to consider upgrading if you are affected by these changes.

By upgrading to the latest version of Sage 200, you will gain access to the updates that Sage implements to improve its software and services. Knowledge gained from both Sage customer feedback and new technologies are just some of the factors that drive these upgrades.

You can find out what version of Sage you are running by opening settings within Sage and select ‘About Sage 200’ where your version number will be displayed. Once you find the version you are running, use our helpful guide below which indicates how your Sage 200 status is affected:

If you’re running the green version, then no further action is required. Amber means that you need to start planning your Sage 200 upgrade and if you are operating in the red, you should call our Sage support team to discuss your options.

Upgrading your Sage 200 can sometimes be a long process, if for example, you have customised software or integrations with third-party apps. Preparing early in advance of scheduled upgrades which may affect your status is always advisable. At Utilize, our team of experts have the knowledge and experience needed to implement a smooth and seamless upgrade. We will work with your business to schedule the upgrade around a time that avoids any interference with your daily business tasks for a seamless transfer.

To discuss the support status of your current Sage 200 version, or if you have any other questions regarding upgrading your software, send us an email today by clicking here.

Learn more about Sage