I’m writing this with the Day 1 Keynote music still ringing in my ears. Wow – what a presentation. Acumatica 2020 R1 is going to have a lot of exciting new features (as always) but this felt special in some way. Maybe it’s because this is the first Summit since EQT Partners acquired Acumatica in the middle of last year, or because Acumatica has since built some very exciting new strategic partnerships (BDO Digital and the developers of BatchMaster among them), or maybe it’s just because this is the biggest crowd ever, with over 2,500 attendees.
More likely, it’s a combination of it all. Jon Roskill (CEO of Acumatica) began the day by saying that there are so many new feature upgrades in Acumatica 2020 R1 that he had to cut demos just to save time. However, just to whet your appetite, I’ve listed three exciting new features here.
- Acumatica Payroll
By far, the largest audience applause break for an announced change was the addition of native, fully-integrated Payroll functionality in Acumatica. This is huge. It is particularly interesting to those in the Construction space, because the module supports Certified Construction and Union payouts (ensuring all the rules and regulations that govern construction workers’ pay are followed – without any unnecessary steps). The addition of Payroll is something that has been a hot topic, and we’re excited to see it!
- Enhanced Expense Reporting in Acumatica Using AI
One of the big initiatives that extends beyond 2020, but is beginning to take shape today, is the addition of AI and machine learning into Acumatica. There was a short practical demo that showed the mobile app’s ability to scan a receipt, then instantly connect to the proper G/L account with all the requisite fields filled in to create an expense claim. It couldn’t have been any faster, and the gasps from the audience tell you all you need to know about the impressiveness of this feature.
- Huge Upgrades to Acumatica Manufacturing Edition
One big announcement that surprised (and delighted) the crowd was Acumatica’s recent acquisition of JAAS Systems. Over 25% of Acumatica’s customer base is in construction, and getting the full benefit of the JAAS team of developers will accelerate the growth of the module tremendously. And, since Crestwood just won the Manufacturing Excellence Award, we’re especially excited to see all the new changes.
There was a lot that I didn’t cover, and still more to be revealed. Acumatica Summit is off to a great start. Be sure to follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date!
