For over 25 years, Southland Associates has been a leader in offering the best-value tools to manage business operations, target customers, get online and e-commerce ready, control inventory, save time, and get organized. We provide complete training and total support to use these tools to service your customers’ needs and achieve greater profits.

Southland Associates provides customized, low cost, complete end-to-end business management solutions designed to give your business the competitive edge today’s companies need to grow.

Southland Associates has affordable business management packages with the equipment, software and support your company needs to grow. We provide quality, economical, management systems to mid-size retail chains and wholesale distribution firms with sales of $2-25m. Each solution is tailored to fit your specific needs to help you manage all the components of your business more effectively.

About Southland

Southland Associates has been helping Bay Area businesses operate with greater efficiency and realize higher profits for over 25 years. Located in San Carlos, in the heart of Silicon Valley, Southland Associates has partnered with Bay Area companies and provided them with cost effective, easy to use, fully integrated business management solutions.

Southland Associates addresses the needs of mid-size retail merchants and wholesale distributions firms with business & accounting equipment and software packages to fit their specific needs. In addition to our wide range of quality products, we also offer custom programming and consulting services for your unique business requirements.

Since 1982, Southland Associates has offered personal, one-on-one service and support. We get to know you, to understand your business and help you become more productive with your time and more effective in managing your sales and growth. Once a business management package is installed, Southland Associates will thoroughly train personnel on all aspects of the system, and follow up with complete end user support.

Southland Associates provides:

• Software and Equipment Sales
• Management Consulting
• Product Technical Support
• Custom Programming
• Complete Training and End User Support

Support

Complete Training and Total Support for Peace of Mind Our goal at Southland Associates is to help you become more productive, to realize greater profits and help you grow your business. We want you to feel assured that you will get the most out of your purchase, that installation and configuration will be done with minimal disruption, and that your new business management system is up and running and ready-to-use.

Computer and Equipment Support

Southland Associates is a Hewlett Packard authorized reseller. We provide servers, desktop PCs, laptops and printers manufactured by this world leader. Because HP has outstanding field engineering support reps, Southland includes an on-site or depot repair guarantee with every HP product we sell.

The basic HP warranty can be uplifted to a multiple year support agreement with the field engineer coming to your location at any time, 7 days a week, within 4 hours of your call, to resolve a problem.

Southland also supplies equipment by other manufacturers. Most equipment has a multi-year warranty with a "spare in the air" policy.

Southland sets up your equipment, installs the operating system and business software package. Our technicians configure your equipment and software to the requirements identified during the pre-sale cycle.

Occasionally, a software package needs a small tweak. That's why Southland does custom programming. We add needed functionality to an otherwise complete package. We help you identify the change that needs to be made, write the programming specification and modify the code to your needs.

We deliver an operating and useable system tailored to your business requirements.

Complete Training Support

Southland Associates stands behind every package we sell. We are committed to offering outstanding, continuing support, before, during, and after the product sale. We are available to resolve any technical issues you encounter - from software and equipment operations, we work hard to respond to problems quickly and efficiently.

Software Training and Support

End User training is vital to the success of your new business management solution. Southland offers several alternatives to suit your needs.

Training Over the Internet

Your employees can learn a new software package or job function sitting at their desk. All they need is a PC and an Internet connection to access complete training online, at any time. Instruction is presented clearly with examples to follow for quick learning.

Software Publisher Provided Training

Software publishers such as Radiant Systems and Sage Software have training centers located in different regions of the country. You and your employees receive instruction from highly trained instructors at authorized training centers. For special situations, both Radiant and Sage will design special curriculum and send a qualified instructor to your office to train your employees.

Southland Training

Southland places self-paced training materials on our Customer Web site. Download the materials you need and work at your own pace.

To complement self paced training, Southland also provides instructor led training so that your staff can ask questions and resolve basic issues while they learn core competences. An instructor will come to your location for a half-day or full day training session. If you prefer, come to our offices for training where there will be no interruptions and your staff can concentrate on learning.

Outstanding After Sales Support

Your business needs change, unexpected situations arise or maybe somebody just plain goofed. You need help and you need it fast.

Southland offers many software and equipment support packages to serve you.

Software Publisher Support

The publisher of your software package often provides end user support, by telephone only. Support programs vary. Please ask your Southland rep for specific details.

Telephone Support

Phone support is an effective, low cost vehicle for answering questions and resolving problems. Southland phone support is available on a contractual basis. Telephone support is available in blocks of 4 hours, though you can add additional support time as needed.

Most support issues can be resolved over the phone by a support technician using remote connections to your server. For those few problems that cannot be resolved in this manner, or for those who prefer personal service, Southland provides additional support packages.

On-Site Support

A trained support technician will come to your site to resolve your issue, answer questions and get your installation back on track.

Consulting and Custom Support

Support packages can be combined or customized to address any issues. Southland is committed to customer satisfaction.

We supply HP servers and desktops for greatest reliability, and HP's field engineering staff is available whenever there are problems.

We custom modify software packages to resolve your unique requirements. Southland only sells a limited number of software solutions and therefore can be an expert in all of them. We'll get an answer and resolve your issue fast.

Our Products

Southland Associates wants you to feel confident that your purchase meets your needs for the best value. To achieve this, we will help you identify your unique requirements. Then recommend the appropriate equipment and software to economically solve your business issues.

Southland has a portfolio of quality products so you’re not locked in to a single vendor solution at a single price point. We offer a range of easy-to-use business management packages that fit your budget and requirements, and we can modify any system to your specific needs.

Occasionally, a software package fails to address a critical business issue. Southland offers custom programming when needed to add functionality to an otherwise complete package.

Systems are assembled to achieve the greatest function within specific business environments. The chart below shows which system work best in each area.

CounterPoint by Radiant Systems

CounterPoint is a suite of solutions used by multi location retailers and wholesale distribution businesses.

CounterPoint SQL Enterprise - advanced programming brings business and sales management tools to shape SQL Enterprise to the way you run your business. Change screens and reports to display and collect the information you require. Use touch screen for fast processing of customers at the POS check out line. Write purchase orders, print labels, transfer information to your accounting system.

CounterPoint V7 - one of the original computer point of sale systems with 20 years of development and refinement. V7 is available on the Windows and LINUX platform so companies may match their business management system with their present IT infrastructure. Package options and built in features give the greatest value for the money to companies with diverse needs.

CPOnline brings cost effective e-commerce to SQL Enterprise and V7 users. Easy to set up store front is managed from the CounterPoint system. Changes to CounterPoint change the eStore as well. Store front customization to your exact needs is available.

CPGateway - 2-second debit/credit card authorization for SQL Enterprise and V7.

SQL Express and - CounterPoint V7 Starter Edition - most of the features of the standard distribution at a lower cost. Smaller businesses acquire CounterPoint features and functions with an easy upgrade path.

Passport Business Systems

Passport Business Systems products are targeted at manufacturers, wholesale distributors and general accounting (legacy accounting) users.

The Legacy Accounting packages include:

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Payable

Payroll

General Ledger

Checkbook Reconciliation

Professional Time & Billing

Each legacy package operates independently to manage a specific aspect of the company’s operation. The packages integrate through the general ledger and checkbook reconciliation to give a complete picture of the company's financial position.

The Wholesale Distribution packages include:

Inventory Control

Customer Order Entry

Purchase Order

Sales Analysis

Job Cost

The distribution packages add advanced functions to the Legacy modules. For example, Customer Order Entry requires Accounts Receivable and Inventory Control. When combined, the Wholesale distribution packages provide a complete solution for the distributor.

The Passport Legacy and Distribution products benefit from 25 years of product development as they are derived from the Real World/Microsoft Classic programs. Passport has updated the programs to incorporate the latest programming technology while maintaining stability and strong audit trail capabilities.

The Manufacturing Management packages include:

Inventory Management

Product Definition

Master Scheduling & MRP

Custom Order Processing

Purchase Order Processing

Capacity Planning

Shop Floor Control

Manufacturing Job Costing

The Manufacturing packages enable the small to medium sized manufacturer to monitor production progress, track product costs and plan for the future. Hooked into the Legacy products, the company has complete business management, financial reporting and total control.

MAS90/MAS200 by Sage Software

Recommended by more CPAs than any other application in its class, Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200 ERP products offer a broad selection of integrated business management and accounting solutions. This mid-market leader is designed for businesses with 10 to 500 employees and $1 million to $100 million in annual revenue. The products offer customers a combination of high-performance processing, breadth of functionality, flexibility, and ease of use.

Both Sage MAS 90 and 200 offer full-featured accounting, manufacturing, and distribution functionality. They come standard with Business Insights, an executive information system that shows managers where they can be more profitable with a quick snapshot of a company’s financial data. With 25 modules to choose from, Sage MAS 90 and 200 are comprehensive products that allow customers to tailor a system to meet the growing needs of their businesses. Customers can add integrated e-commerce, HRMS, and CRM solutions as well as the accounting, distribution, and manufacturing solutions.

Sage MAS 90 is a LAN-based system that operates on Windows servers. Sage MAS 200 offers client-server solutions that run on the Windows and SQL Server environments. Thin-client architecture in Sage MAS 200 delivers excellent performance for customers with multiple locations and personnel who work in the field. A straightforward upgrade path from Sage MAS 90 to Sage MAS 200 allows customers to consistently retain the same flexible, stable and reliable functionality as their businesses evolve, eliminating the need to re-train or convert data.

Featuring a range of built-in customization options, both Sage MAS 90 and 200 can be quickly and easily modified to meet customer-specific requirements. Our nationwide network of business partners offers hundreds of off-the-shelf, industry-specific enhancements designed to help customers make the most of their software investments.

BusinessWorks by Sage Software

Sage BusinessWorks Accounting bridges the gap between off-the-shelf, entry-level products and complex high-end systems. Its modular design is ideally suited for growth-oriented small and midsized businesses that require more muscle than basic bookkeeping software. Customers are typically companies with five to 50 employees and $500,000 to $5 million in annual revenue. As intuitive as it is flexible and functional, Sage BusinessWorks is a winning blend of customer requested features and the latest industry advancements.

Leverage the power of the Internet with new e-business capabilities. Keep management on the pulse of your company so on-the-spot decisions are knowledge based. Give your sales force the tools they need to shorten the sales cycle and help close more business by e-mailing forms such as quotes and sales orders. Experience the heightened efficiency of optimizing your core business processes. Utilize the Job Cost and expanded Payroll modules to better manage your resources and aid cash flow. Capitalize on system-wide enhancements including improved search capabilities, shortcuts, and checklists. Get the insights and operational capabilities you need to succeed.

Sage BusinessWorks is a full-featured system that provides exceptional power and flexibility at a fraction of the price of other modular accounting software packages. With 11 fully integrated modules, it is easy to learn and is consistently ranked favorably for its ease of use in customer surveys. Sage BusinessWorks has the intelligence, the power, and the insights to help put your company on the fast track to success.

Sage BusinessWorks Modules

• System Manager
• General Ledger
• Cash Management
• Accounts Payable
• Accounts Receivable
• Order Entry
• Inventory Control and Purchasing
• Payroll
• Job Cost
• Custom Office
• Sage BusinessWorks ACT! Link

Partners

Southland Associates constantly seeks best of breed in all product categories. Listed here are our principal partners. These partners require their dealers to maintain training and competency standards before they allow that dealer to sell their products. Southland staff maintains these certifications.

Hewlett Packard - HP is the leading, worldwide manufacturer of personal computers and servers. They are famous for their laser printers and inkjet printers. Hewlett Packard is the second largest manufacturer of networking equipment in the world. HP's known for their award-winning support. They back their products with the second largest field engineering staff in the world. HP servers carry an on-site hardware support warranty. Should your company require it, HP will guarantee to resolve any server hardware issue within 6 hours.

Radiant Systems - Founded in 1985, Radiant Systems provides complete solutions for the hospitality, petrol and convenience stores, and cinema industries. Radiant's point-of-sale, self-service kiosk, and back-office software packages lead the industry in driving toplline growth and improving bottom-line performance. Headquartered in Atlanta, Radiant has deployed its solutions in more than 50,000 sites worldwide.

Sage Software supports more than 2.4 million customers, and provides business management software and services to small and medium-size businesses. The parent company, Sage Group, plc, is a world-leading supplier of accounting and business management software with 13,000 employees in operations worldwide. Applications cover a full range of business requirements including accounting, customer relationship management, and the specialized needs of the construction, distribution, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit, and real estate industries.

Transaction Printer Group (TPG) is dedicated to delivering specialized hardware and software solutions. TPG's printers, mechanisms, and software can be found in many applications such as Retail/POS, Self-Service, Banking, Hospitality, and Gaming/Lottery markets. Southland Associates supplies Ithaca receipt printers and Cognitive bar code label printers.

Unitech America Inc. has been focusing on automatic data collection products and services to enhance productivity and efficiency for the past twenty years. They manufacture a full range of information-capture products including barcode scanners, magnetic card readers, portable and fixed terminals, and a variety of keyboard products.

Case Studies

	AN-JAN Feed & Pet Supply is a mid-sized wholesaler that distributes pet products to Northern California pet supply retailers. Customer orders were shipped with incorrect items and quantities. CounterPoint Pick/Verify resolved the problem. Click on the logo for complete case study.
	KAUFER’S RELIGIOUS SUPPLY is a mid-size retailer and distributor of religious supplies. The company's retail operation was struggling with a computer system designed for wholesalers. Switching to CounterPoint streamlined the retail business while raising wholesale and mail order processing productivity. Click on the logo for complete case study.
	SCHURRA’S CANDY FACTORY is a niche retailer of sweets and confections. They wanted to sell their products on the Internet but didn't have a large budget for eStore development. The CounterPoint web store front CPOnLine got Schurra's personalized e-commerce site up quickly and at low cost. Click on the logo for complete case study.
	GOLDEN GATE EQUIPMENT are leading wholesale distributors of construction equipment and supplies in the Bay Area. Physical counts required the company to close down from a week to complete the activity. Handheld scanners linked to CounterPoint Physical Count reduced the task to a single day. Click on the logo for complete case study.