Which Release Do I Need to Use?

Exact Globe customers with the English legislation must ultimately update to product update 417SP9 or 416SP17 before they need to do their first VAT Return for the VAT period starting on or after 1 April 2019.

Will these changes be made available in older releases?

These changes will not be made available in the older product updates or service packs.

Are there any Technical Requirements?

The following are the technical requirements that must be set up before the service can be successfully used:

• JAVA_HOME environment has been installed.
• You have access to the Internet,
• The TLS1.2 protocol has been enabled,
• The base URL for production APIs is: https://api.service.hmrc.gov.uk,
• The recommended redirect URI for installed applications is: http://localhost, and using the port 3017
• You have the rights to create files in the directory that has been defined at the Export Directory field in the Company data settings screen.

What Set-up is required?

Before the functionality can be used for the first time, ensure the following:

• You have signed up to the MTD service via the HMRC website,
• You know your user ID and password to the Government Gateway,
• The authorization credentials setting has been defined,
• The directory must be defined at the Export Directory field in the Company data settings screen

What if I have a Non-GBP Database?

It was previously understood that if you had a non GBP database then this was allowed within the software, however all VAT reporting would then have to be done manually as the standard VAT Overviews in Exact would give the figures in Euro’s but the VAT Return to be sent to the HMRC must be done in GBP. This previously wasn’t an issue as the figures could be calculated in a
report/spreadsheet and then manually entered into the HMRC Online system.

With MTD now being mandatory this manual intervention of figures to the HMRC is no longer allowed as per the HMRC’s rules which are “VAT-registered businesses with a taxable turnover above the VAT threshold are now required to use the Making Tax Digital service to keep records digitally and use software to submit their VAT Returns”

Therefore, all customers with a EURO database will now have 3 options:

1. Create a new database within Exact Globe with a base currency of GBP and complete all transactions in this database.
2. Create a new database within Exact Globe with a base currency of GBP and then import into this database a journal with the VAT figures and then use our MTD API, this would mean an import either every month or quarter depending on their VAT Reporting. We would recommend a consultant help them with this import of figures.
3. Use a bridging software, there are various bridging software suppliers some of which provide free software and some of which they will have to pay to use. We can make NO recommendations on bridging software suppliers.

It should be noted about bridging software –

Under the MTD ruling you are allowed to use more than one product to keep records, however if you use more than one product to keep your digital records, you’ll need to digitally link them  together.

For bridging software, a soft landing period will be introduced (April 2019-April 2020) during which an amount of leniency exists regarding the digital transfer of data, however full digital links between the products must be in place 31 March 2020, unless the HMRC has informed them that they are in the deferral group. If they are in the deferral group, then they have until the 30
September 2020.

What if I need to do a Group VAT?

At the moment we have no possibility to do a Group VAT Return within Exact Globe and although the deadline for MTD in a Group VAT environment is postponed until the VAT period starting on or after 1st October 2019 it does mean that the customers will need to have a workaround in place in case they plan to join earlier.

There is a document that describes the suggested workaround, however to fully meet the MTD requirements then there may be a need to have some consultancy in order to create the XML export file that will need to be created from the Excel spreadsheet, although there will be some leniency until September 2020 in regards to the digital links being in place. If you would like a copy of the document, please contact the support department.

Has the naming convention for assigning VAT Periods changed from previous releases?

Yes, in previous releases the naming convention was period based, even if you were reporting on a quarterly basis, as this was needed for the old XML format.

Why is there now a specific naming convention for the VAT Return Period?

As part of the HMRC’s Making Tax Digital initiative the HMRC has given each VRN (VAT Registration Number) their own unique VAT Period ID.  This unique period ID is ascertained as part of the MTD submission and included within the file.  In order to make sure that the VAT transactions correspond to the same VAT period ID, a naming convention was identified that could be validated by the software prior to the creation of the file.

Please note that if you log into your VAT account within the HMRC website you will not see the VAT Period ID that we use within the software.

This is the same naming convention that we use within other legislations.

Please see release note 28.932.004 for specific details on the naming convention.

Besides that, you can of course also look at your workflow, calendar and opportunties, see which customers are nearby you, view SSRS reports (linked via your preferences in Synergy) and view details of customers, requests, documents or colleagues!

• Exact Integrator
• Shop Floor Control Integration
• Exact Word Merge Integrator
• Exact CMDM
• Exchange Synchronization
• Exact Service Management

As a replacement for these integration solutions we introduce ELIS, or Exact Lightweight Integration Server. This platform offers replacements for the old integration updates, as mentioned above. ELIS ensures central and proactive logging and is more stable than its predecessors. The introduction of ELIS does not have any implications for the integration via ASImport or XML. If you are already using ELIS you do not have to switch. If you are not using ELIS already, please contact our support department or your Exact partner.

How do I know if I am using one of the old integration solutions?

If you are currently using an old integration solution you will get a notification of this with product update 415. Click here for the release note of this product update for Exact Globe and here for the release note of Exact Synergy. If an older version is in use, so product 414 or earlier, no notification will be received.

The use of Exact CMDM, Exact Service Management and Exact Shop Floor Control can easily be found in your license. When in doubt we advise you to contact our support department or your Exact partner.

The use of Exact Integrator, Exact Word Merge Integrator and Exchange Synchronization cannot be found in your license. If you are not sure if you are using one of these solutions, please contact our support department or your Exact partner.

For more information please visit https://www.exact.com/global/integration-update/

With this new version, it will be much nicer to view pictures in the timeline. It is now also possible to edit or delete a post in your timeline (if appropriate) from the mobile app. We also further improved the handling of push notifications as for some situations this did not work correctly.

You can download the Exact Synergy app via iTunes or Google Play Store or Windows Store.

• Exact Integrator
• Shop Floor Control Integration
• Exact Word Merge Integrator
• Exact CMDM
• Exchange Synchronization
• Exact Service Management

As a replacement for these integration solutions we introduce ELIS, or Exact Lightweight Integration Server. This platform offers replacements for the old integration updates, as mentioned above. ELIS ensures central and proactive logging and is more stable than its predecessors. The introduction of ELIS does not have any implications for the integration via ASImport or XML. If you are already using ELIS you do not have to switch. If you are not using ELIS already, please contact our support department or your Exact partner.

How do I know if I am using one of the old integration solutions?

If you are currently using an old integration solution you will get a notification of this with product update 415. Click here for the release note of this product update for Exact Globe and here for the release note of Exact Synergy. If an older version is in use, so product 414 or earlier, no notification will be received.

The use of Exact CMDM, Exact Service Management and Exact Shop Floor Control can easily be found in your license. When in doubt we advise you to contact our support department or your Exact partner.

The use of Exact Integrator, Exact Word Merge Integrator and Exchange Synchronization cannot be found in your license. If you are not sure if you are using one of these solutions, please contact our support department or your Exact partner.

For more information please visit https://www.exact.com/global/integration-update/

• Exact Integrator
• Shop Floor Control Integration
• Exact Word Merge Integrator
• Exact CMDM
• Exchange Synchronization
• Exact Service Management

As a replacement for these integration solutions we introduce ELIS, or Exact Lightweight Integration Server. This platform offers replacements for the old integration updates, as mentioned above. ELIS ensures central and proactive logging and is more stable than its predecessors. The introduction of ELIS does not have any implications for the integration via ASImport or XML. If you are already using ELIS you do not have to switch. If you are not using ELIS already, please contact our support department or your Exact partner.

How do I know if I am using one of the old integration solutions?

If you are currently using an old integration solution you will get a notification of this with product update 415. Click here for the release note of this product update for Exact Globe and here for the release note of Exact Synergy. If an older version is in use, so product 414 or earlier, no notification will be received.

The use of Exact CMDM, Exact Service Management and Exact Shop Floor Control can easily be found in your license. When in doubt we advise you to contact our support department or your Exact partner.

The use of Exact Integrator, Exact Word Merge Integrator and Exchange Synchronization cannot be found in your license. If you are not sure if you are using one of these solutions, please contact our support department or your Exact partner.

For more information please visit https://www.exact.com/global/integration-update/

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As of product update 257 of Exact Synergy Enterprise ELIS follows the release cycle of Exact Globe and Exact Synergy Enterprise and has therefore also become dependent on the used product update of Exact Globe and Exact Synergy Enterprise. Therefore below support matrix is applicable as of now.

Support matrix

If an version of ELIS is used which is not compatible with the used product update of Exact Globe and\or the used product update of Exact Synergy Enterprise, the integration solution will not work.

A new version of ELIS can be installed from the CAB folder of your Exact Synergy Enterprise installation folder or via the management console of ELIS. The version installation file for ELIS from the Exact Synergy Enterprise installation folder will always follow the product update of Exact Synergy Enterprise. Via the ELIS management console you can decide which version of ELIS to download and install and via this method you have to make sure you install the version that is compatible with your Exact Globe product update and\or your Exact Synergy Enterprise product update.

Microsoft stops the support for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 in April 2016. For the next product updates 412 and 257 (expected in the third quarter of 2016), we will still support Microsoft SQL Server 2005. As of product update 413 and 258 (expected in the first quarter of 2017) we will stop supporting Microsoft SQL Server 2005.

We expect to support Microsoft SQL Server 2016 from the first product updates of Exact Globe and Exact Synergy Enterprise after Microsoft SQL Server 2016 will be released.

Please see below an overview of changes and implications per product line. Should you need additional information regarding Microsoft SQL Server lifecycle policy, please refer to the Microsoft website.

Exact Globe
As of Exact Globe product update 413 and higher we will stop supporting Microsoft SQL Server 2005, so you are advised to upgrade your Microsoft SQL Server before updating Exact Globe. When updating to Exact Globe product update 413 or higher, a warning will be shown that Exact Globe doesn’t support Microsoft SQL Server 2005.

Please be advised to always backup your Exact companies (databases) before updating.

Exact Synergy
As of Exact Synergy product update 413 and higher we will stop supporting Microsoft SQL Server 2005, so you are advised to upgrade your Microsoft SQL Server in advance before updating Exact Synergy.

Please note that Exact Synergy does not support Microsoft SQL Server 2012 or newer.

Please be advised to always backup your Exact administrations (databases) before updating.

Exact Synergy Enterprise
As of Exact Synergy Enterprise product update 258 and higher we will stop supporting Microsoft SQL Server 2005, so you are advised to upgrade your Microsoft SQL Server in advance before updating Exact Synergy Enterprise.

Please be advised to always backup your Exact administrations (databases) before updating.

Upgrading

If you participate in the Microsoft Software Assurance program, you are entitled to upgrade your Microsoft SQL Server free of charge. Please check Microsoft website for more information. If you use the Express edition of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 you can download the Express Edition of Microsoft SQL Server 2008/2008R2/2012/2014 free of charge. For more information about installing Microsoft SQL Server, see document 25.091.921 on our customer portal.

The Exact Synergy app now also has the same look and feel as the other apps you can use with Exact Synergy Enterprise. It also offers some additional functionality compared to the previous version:

• secure your app with a PIN code via the settings
• receive a notification when a new request gets into your workflow
• integrate Twitter into your accounts
• see recently read requests and search for other requests
• see recently read documents and search for other documents
• see more information related to your colleagues
  and much more!

Note: As a result, only users of Exact Synergy Enterprise PU 252 or higher will be able to use this app. So users that have Exact Synergy (Classic) or Exact Synergy Enterprise with a lower version than PU 252, will not be able to use the Exact Synergy app anymore once it is upgraded to the new version. Therefore, a new app is now available in the store, especially for the users of Exact Synergy (Classic) and Exact Synergy Enterprise (PU 251 or lower): the Exact Synergy Classic app! This app offers the same functionality as the (current) Exact Synergy app. Note that this app can NOT be used by users of Exact Synergy Enterprise with PU 252 or higher. You can download the Exact Synergy Classic app via iTunes or Google Play Store.