We’re excited to announce the release of our latest Development Applications Brochure, designed to showcase the powerful tools and utilities we’ve created to enhance your Opera 3 and Opera 3 SE experience.

From Stock Management Utilities to Payroll Enhancements, this brochure gives you a clear overview of solutions that streamline processes, save time, and add real value to your business operations.

Download the brochure now and discover how these applications can help you work smarter, not harder!

​Click below to view the brochure

We're excited to celebrate one year since the launch of Pegasus' latest innovation for Opera 3 SE users - the Data Connector, a powerful tool designed to revolusionise how you access, analyse and act on your business data. What a transformative year it’s been for our users!

Launched to empower businesses with smarter, faster access to their data, the Data Connector has proven itself as a vital tool for Opera 3 SE users looking to unlock deeper insights, streamline reporting, and make more informed decisions.

A Year of Smarter Data Access

The Data Connector enables secure, direct access to your Opera 3 SE data, integrating seamlessly with tools like Microsoft Power BI, Excel, and SharePoint. From finance to operations, users have been able to visualize and share data across departments — turning raw information into actionable intelligence.

How It Works

Using modern OData technology, the Data Connector offers flexible querying and a user-friendly data dictionary with pre-defined links. This makes it easy to extract and explore data — even for non-technical users.

Whether you're building dashboards, generating reports, or setting up automated alerts, the Data Connector puts powerful data tools at your fingertips.

What Our Users Have Achieved

Over the past year, businesses have used the Data Connector to:

• Create real-time dashboards for sales, stock, and financial performance
• Set up alerts for credit limits, low stock levels, and overdue balances
• Integrate bespoke development data into broader business analysis
• Leverage AI tools to uncover trends and answer complex questions

Why It Still Matters

In today’s fast-paced business environment, timely and accurate data is more important than ever. The Data Connector continues to deliver:

• Speed: Rapid access to live data
• Security: Controlled and safe data extraction
• Simplicity: Easy integration with familiar tools
• Scalability: Works with bespoke developments and evolving business needs

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate the first anniversary of the Data Connector, we’re excited about what’s next. With AI and automation becoming more central to business strategy, the Data Connector is perfectly positioned to help you stay ahead.

If you haven’t yet explored what the Data Connector can do for your business, now is the perfect time.

For more information or to arrange a demo, contact us at [email protected] or visit www.o-a-sys.co.uk.

In this White Paper by Pegasus Software, we look at how to unlock efficiency, control, and add strategic value to the procure-to-pay (P2P) process through automation. Available for Opera 3 SE.

​Procure-to-Pay (P2P) is a critical business process that combines purchasing with accounts payable (AP) and covers the end-to-end process of acquiring goods and services through to final supplier payment.

Despite its importance, many organisations continue to rely on fragmented or manual workflows, resulting in inefficiencies, human errors, long approval times, compliance risks, and higher operational costs.

​This whitepaper explores the benefits, challenges, and best practices associated with automating the entire process-to-pay (P2P) process. It highlights how automation can be used to streamline operations, improve accuracy, provide full visibility into the procurement process, strengthen supplier relationships, and generate measurable ROI 

In today’s fast-paced digital economy, organisations are under constant pressure to do more with less, working faster and smarter than ever before and the way in which businesses operate is transforming. At the heart of this transformation is the purchase-to-pay (P2P) process, a critical business function that connects procurement activities with accounts payable to ensure a seamless and efficient process.

​Within this area, the role of procurement teams has evolved significantly from buyers to strategic partners adding real business value and driving efficiency within the entire organisation.

The Evolution of Procurement in P2P
Traditionally, procurement was largely an administrative function focused on placing purchase orders, negotiating prices, and ensuring timely deliveries. But modern P2P systems, powered by automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and real-time analytics, have changed the process. Procurement teams are no longer gatekeepers of spend, they are drivers of innovation, compliance, and efficiency.

Key roles of the procurement team in modern P2P 
1. Strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management

Modern procurement teams take a strategic approach to sourcing, focusing on long-term value rather than short-term cost savings. By leveraging P2P tools, they can analyse supplier performance, evaluate risk, and build more resilient supply chains. Procurement professionals also play a key role in developing partnerships with suppliers to help secure competitive deals, quicker shipping and a wider variety of products and enhanced product quality.

2.Policy compliance

Procurement teams manage organisational spend policies and in a P2P environment, they work closely with IT and finance to build rule-based workflows that enforce compliance automatically. Whether it’s ensuring purchases go through approved vendors or that invoice approvals follow appropriate hierarchies, procurement ensures policy compliance.

3. Data-driven decision making

With modern P2P platforms offering robust analytics dashboards, procurement can move beyond intuition to data-driven decision making. From identifying maverick spend to forecasting supplier risk or demand trends, procurement professionals play a central role in unlocking insights that support the wider business and its goals. 

4. User experience

The modern P2P process has moved beyond efficiency and has also streamlined the process and designed intuitive experiences for end users. A successful P2P environment empowers employees to purchase what they need, compliantly and quickly, while keeping the procurement function in control.

5. Driving digital transformation

Procurement teams are on the frontline of digital transformation driving growth and efficiency. From e-sourcing tools to AI-based contract management and robotic process automation (RPA) in invoicing, procurement drives the adoption of cutting-edge technologies that reduce costs and enhance value.

Conclusion
The role of procurement has evolved significantly in recent years and in a modern P2P environment it goes far beyond purchasing. It is a strategic function that bridges operations, finance, compliance, and technology with automation at its core. As organisations continue to evolve, procurement teams will play a pivotal role in shaping efficient, resilient, and agile business processes.

Investing in procurement capabilities, both in terms of people and platforms, is no longer optional, it’s a competitive necessity.
To learn more about purchase-to-payment software at Pegasus please contact us today to discuss your requirements and see our cutting edge solution in action.

Opera 3 Server Edition is the largest addition to the Oper 3 family. Built on the solida foundation of Microsoft SQL Server, Opera 3 SE gives you the familiar look and feel of Opera 3 with the added power, security and reliability of a SQL Server database. 

Pegasus Software’s Stuart Anderson looks at how a converged approach to AP Automation and Purchase Order Processing is expediting cashflow and elevating productivity for organisations. 

Accounts Payable (AP) Automation is seeing a lot of attention currently, as software providers deliver new features and functionality, and AI influences capabilities and potential. 

Using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and AI to recognise key information from invoices, patterns and match these appropriately, AP Automation expedites payment processing and instils best practice across a range of core accounting areas. The addition of Purchase Order Processing (POP) completes the process, aligning payments with invoices in the most efficient way for optimum speed and visibility. 

Eliminating the nine-day PO cycle 
Given that Purchase Orders can take up to nine days to process within large organisations, automation of this fundamental accounting process is a no brainer.

Delayed payments and ambiguity around their specific status can cause frustration and impact relationships with suppliers. In a world where efficiency is king, a slow or inconsistent approach to payments can impact reputation and even threaten core service provision.   

​Formed through a combination of key technologies to form an end-to-end process, AP Automation with Purchase Order Processing (POP) expedites cashflow. It does this through alleviating a number of challenges traditionally associated with payment processing, including:

Boosting efficiency 
AP has traditionally been a heavily manual process for good reason. One of the last bastions of the digital transformation of the office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), it is complex. Invoices come through in different formats at different times, and matching this to an equally inconsistent, paper-based PO system is a recipe for a sluggish process. Using a combination of OCR and a data lake to sift and present invoices in a consistent format, AP Automation removes this complexity. 

Removing manual entries 
Going hand in hand with efficiency, a convoluted mis-matched approach to aligning payments to POs and expediting the processing of them, can result in losses. Assigning the wrong payment or subjecting suppliers to long waits beyond payment terms while errors are rectified won’t pass muster in 2025. Through having all documents in one place, reconciliation is easy.

Strengthening supplier relationships 
Through consolidating all data on a single, central platform, live statuses can be accessed at any point to update vendors and ensure prompt payment in accordance with terms. Removing ambiguity means that frustrations are reduced and stronger, more longer-term relationships formed. 

Supporting sustainability 
Through removing, or at the very least significantly reducing the reams of paper associated with traditional Accounts Payable processing, there are obvious environmental wins. It’s not unusual for is to see companies with numerous filing cabinets filled with paper, all of which can be eliminated through adopting a digital approach. In some cases, companies have been able to reduce overheads through the associated downshift in office space requirements. 

Instilling scale 
As organisations expand and grow, either organically or via acquisitions, manual processes can really buckle with the additional inevitable workloads.

Having centralised cash flow, data and financial reporting in one place means that adding new entities or additional customers/suppliers can be undertaken in a standardised way, using established process flows. 

A seamless approach Opera 3 SE’s AP Automation capabilities leverage Purchase Order Processing for a truly seamless approach to optimising cashflow, ringfencing supplier relationships and instilling best practice.

To find out more contact us today to see it in action.

The role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has evolved dramatically over the past few decades, expanding well beyond traditional finance and accounting responsibilities; CFO’s are now seen as strategic partners responsible for shaping strategic direction and driving efficiency. In turn, rising costs and increasingly challenging environments have squeezed profit margins and added tremendous financial pressure to businesses of all sizes. Something must change.

In comes automation! In recent years automation has emerged as one of the most powerful tools a business can adopt. Once reserved for large corporations with deep pockets, automation technology is now accessible to businesses of all sizes, even the smallest and it’s proving to be a major cost saver across industries.

What is automation?
At its core, automation eliminates repetitive, manual tasks that once ate up hours of employee time. Whether it's processing invoices, managing customer support tickets, data entry or updating inventory levels, businesses can now streamline workflows with software bots and machine learning algorithms. Finance automation is increasing efficiency, saving time and eliminating bottlenecks and pressure points.

By reducing the need for human intervention in routine operations, companies are slashing labour costs considerably – a study by PwC discovered that businesses in the finance sector are saving 30-40% time using automation. But it’s not about replacing people, it’s about allowing teams to focus on higher-value, strategic work and areas that can add value to the business. That shift translates into not only savings but also increased innovation and growth.

Real-world savings in action
Many business functions can now be automated to deliver noticeable savings and benefits. How does it work? Artificial intelligence is used within automation software to trigger specific actions with the result streamlining workflows and processes.

Let’s explore some areas that automation is adding value:

Here are a few areas where automation is directly contributing to cost reduction:

Accounts payable (AP)
AP is an area notorious for labour intensive, costly and time-consuming tasks. There are many benefits to automating this function to such as quicker invoice payments to strengthen supplier relationships and redeem early payment discounts as opposed to late payment penalties. Did you know it can cost anywhere between £4 and £25 to manually approve one invoice but with automation the cost can be lowered to as little as £1?

Procurement 
Automation can streamline procurement workflows and drive efficient processes when buying goods and services to provide a maximum level of control and visibility. Indirect costs can mount up if not managed carefully which can spiral and cost businesses significant amounts of money.

Reporting
Business Intelligence is an area that automation can make a real difference as automation can pull real-time information from across your system to compile an accurate and in-depth analysis, as opposed to an out-dated, unreliable jumble of data. Automation can then populate reports at the click of a button to produce actionable insights to drive data-driven decision making based on accuracy not guesswork. Poor decision making can cost a business thousands so it’s essential to get it right first time, your success depends on it!

Small investments, big returns
Automation doesn’t always mean massive infrastructure overhauls. Many tools today integrate seamlessly with existing ERP systems, such as Opera 3 SE. Cloud-based platforms offer flexible pricing, allowing even small businesses to start small and scale as needed.

What makes automation especially attractive is the quick return on investment. According to a recent study by McKinsey, companies that implemented automation in core processes reported an average cost reduction of 20% within the first year.

It’s about smarter, not harder
In today’s hyper-competitive market with rising costs and tight profit margins, businesses can’t afford inefficiencies. Automation offers a clear path to reducing costs, increasing accuracy, saving time and driving the kind of efficiency that will drive the business forward, whether you work in a large corporation or a small enterprise.

​Automation isn’t just a future trend—it’s a present-day necessity for any business looking to stay lean, agile, and profitable and offers many benefits to those who adopt it.

To learn more about the automation opportunities offered by Pegasus with our leading ERP solution Opera 3 SE, please contact us today.

Purchase orders (POs) are a fundamental part of procurement and financial operations for businesses of all sizes. They provide a structured way to request, approve, and track purchases, ensuring that goods and services are acquired with the correct approval and oversight. But while the concept of a PO is straightforward, the reality of processing them is often anything but.

From manual errors to approval bottlenecks, inefficient PO processes can create significant operational headaches for businesses. Let’s dive into the common challenges businesses face in PO processing and explore strategies to address them.

1. Manual data entry and human error
One of the most common issues with PO processing is the reliance on manual data entry and with manual data entry comes a high risk of human error. A recent survey revealed that more than 27% of finance professionals claim data is input incorrectly in their company. Whether it's inputting PO details into spreadsheets or copying data between systems, every manual step increases the risk of typing errors, incorrect pricing, or mismatched vendor information which can lead to inaccurate records, delays and supplier disputes.

Solution: Invest in automated PO systems that integrate with your ERP or accounting software. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and data validation tools can also reduce the chance of errors. OCR automatically coverts text into a machine-readable format.

2. Inefficient approval workflows
It can take large companies up to 9 days to manually approve a PO as approvals often involve multiple stakeholders, from department heads to finance managers, and can get stuck in inboxes or routed to the wrong person leading to costly delays, damaged supplier relationships and missed deadlines. 

Solution: The good news is, you can speed up PO approval times by 75-80% by implementing clear processes and digital automated approval workflows with role-based permissions and automated notifications. 

3. Lack of visibility
Once a PO has been submitted it can get lost in the system so the employee who submitted it can often struggle to track it and have no clear visibility into the status of the PO and whether it’s been approved or fulfilled. This can often result in overrun budgets, duplicate orders and difficulty in reconciling invoices.

Solution: Use centralised procurement software with dashboards and status updates offer real-time tracking from PO creation to receipt of goods giving full visibility into the entire process.

4. Non-compliance with procurement policies
When employees bypass formal PO processes known as “maverick spending” (unapproved spending) it undermines procurement controls and can lead to lack of budget control and unexpected costs, internal compliance issues and poor supplier performance and ability to obtain better deals.

Solution: Training staff on procurement policies and enforcing the use of POs through policy is pivotal here. You can do this by making the PO process as simple and easily accessible as possible and fostering a culture of good practice within your company. 

5. Poor Supplier Communication
Even with the very best internal PO processes, sometimes communication with suppliers can be the sticking point. Miscommunication around PO details, delivery dates, or pricing can result in wrong or late deliveries and strained relationships.

Solution: Establishing a clear, consistent communication channel from the start with suppliers is critical. Share POs electronically and confirm receipt and acceptance and choose your suppliers carefully.

Conclusion
While purchase orders are essential to the procurement process, they often come with operational challenges such as those outlined above. The good news is most PO-related difficulties can be mitigated with robust automated software, employee training and having clear policies in place. 

By addressing these common issues proactively head-on, companies can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and build stronger supplier relationships to make the procurement process run smoothly.

We are delighted that we will soon be bringing Purchase Order Processing to our popular Accounts Payable (AP) automation feature with Opera 3 SE. To register your interest and to be among the first to hear the release information, please get in touch today.

The Opera 3 SE Data Connector enables fast, decure and direct access to your data from Opera 3 SE and integrate it with business tools such as Microsoft Power BI, Excel and SharePoint enabling you to get even more insight into your business.

In this video, we’ll introduce you to the powerful new Data Connector for Opera 3 SE—a fast, secure, and user-friendly solution that unlocks direct access to your Opera 3 SE data.

Whether you're building dashboards in Power BI, generating reports in Excel, or integrating with SharePoint, the Data Connector empowers you to transform raw data into actionable insights.

​We’ll walk you through how it works, what it can be used for, and how it enables smarter decision-making with AI-driven alerts and analytics. Let’s explore how you can take your data analysis to the next level!

In this week’s episode of Biz Connect, Steve Walker, Chairman of Walker Construction, and Bruce Kidd, Operational Director of O-A-SYS (Operational Accounting Systems).

Steve Walker shares the remarkable journey of Walker Construction, a family-owned firm that has grown and evolved over six decades, with its 60th anniversary just around the corner in 2024. He delves into the company’s rich history, his personal career progression from a school leaver to the chairman, and the vital role the firm plays in the community through the Walker Trust’s philanthropic efforts. Steve also highlights the company's commitment to sustainability and how Walker Construction embodies the values of a modern, socially responsible business.

Meanwhile, Bruce Kidd offers invaluable insights into how businesses can drastically enhance their efficiency and productivity. By dissecting everyday business processes and identifying opportunities for automation and integration, companies can optimise information management, freeing up valuable human resources for more strategic tasks. Bruce emphasises the importance of looking inward to drive change, especially as the UK faces a significant productivity gap—up to 20% behind key continental partners like France and Germany. He urges business owners to rethink their operations to help bridge this gap and remain competitive on the global stage.

​Tune in to hear more from Steve and Bruce, and gain practical advice on how to modernise your business while celebrating the legacies that shape our communities. 

In today's fast-paced business landscape, staying ahead of the competition requires not just ingenuity but the right tools. At o-a-sys, we specialise in providing customised software solutions from renowned providers such as Pegasus Software, EazyStock and PODFather. Our mission is to develop these robust platforms to meet the unique needs of your business, ensuring efficiency and growth.

Customisation: The Key to Success
Every business is unique, and so are its requirements. Our software offerings are designed to be flexible, allowing us to tailor them to fit your specific operational demands. Whether it's streamlining your inventory management with EazyStock, optimising your integration with Pegasus Software, or enhancing your delivery schedules with PODFather, our team ensures that the software works for you, not the other way around.

Inspiration from the Past
As we think about innovation and customisation, it's worth reflecting on the wisdom of those who have shaped the business world. Here are some inspirational quotes that resonate with our commitment to excellence and tailored solutions:

Henry Ford: "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success."
Peter Drucker: "The best way to predict the future is to create it."
Steve Jobs: "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."

These visionaries remind us that success is not just about having the right tools but also about how we use them. By customising our software to suit your business needs, we help you create a future where your business can thrive.

Test Your Knowledge
We believe in continuous learning and growth. To engage your minds and inspire you further, we've prepared a quiz about famous business quotes. Test your knowledge and see how well you know the insights of the greatest business minds.

Take the Business Quotes Quiz here : https://zurl.co/MaWp

Share Your Score and Join the Conversation
After completing the quiz, come back and share your score in the comments section below. You have one week to participate and join the conversation. Let's see who among us is the most inspired by the words of the business greats!

At o-a-sys, we are more than just a software provider. We are your partners in achieving business excellence. Contact us today to learn how we can help you tailor our software solutions to your unique needs and set your business on the path to success.

#Pegasus #EazyStock #PODFather #Quiz 

We are pleased to announce the release of Pegasus P11d Organiser 2024.2.1 for 23/24 and 24/25.

Listed below are the main changes in the 2024.2.1 release of the Pegasus P11d Organiser.

HMRC (HM Revenue & Customs) Compliance

• P11D Facsimile form based on HMRC template for 2023-2024.
  
• P11D(b) Facsimile form based on HMRC template for 2023-2024.
  
• HMRC 2024-25 P46(car) Facsimile form.
  
• HMRC 2023-24 P11D and P11D(b) FBI submission routines.
  
• HMRC 2024-25 P46(car) FBI submission routines.
  

Legislative changes

In use for the 2023-24 tax year:

• The company car fuel multiplier increased from £25,300 to £27,800.
  
• Lookup tables for NEDC and WLTP rates updated for appropriate percentages and now harmonised).
  
• Locked the Appropriate Percentages for vehicles with no approved CO2 value - 37% for over 2000cc vehicles,35% for 1401cc-2000cc and 24% for 1400cc and below for Type A and F (4% supplement applies for Diesel cars up to the cap of 37%).
  
• Van benefit charge increased from £3,600 to £3,960.
  
• Van fuel benefit charge increased from £688 to £757.
  
• Advisory Fuel Rates for company car mileage set (effective dates June/September/December 2023 and March2024).
  
• Updated VAT fuel scale charges to add rates from 1 May 2023 to 30 April 2024.
  
• Retained van and van fuel benefit changes for zero emission vehicles - 100% of standard van benefit charge.
  
• Returned the Class 1A rate to the HMRC figure of 13.80%.
  

In readiness for the 2024/25 tax year:

• The company car fuel multiplier remains the same at £27,800.
  
• Van benefit charge remained the same at £3,960.
  
• Van fuel benefit charge remained the same at £757.
  
• Van and van fuel benefit changes for zero emission vehicles - these attract no or zero charge.
  
• Updated tables to allow calculation of 2024-25 car benefit charge (where NEDC and WLTP rates remain harmonised).
  
• Preparation for updated VAT fuel scale charges to add rates from 1 May 2024 to 30 April 2025 (when available). 

Software Enhancements

• Facility to hide employers that are closed/not used.
• ​Startup check for PAYE references that have no Government Gateway credentials entered.
• Remapped function keys and keyboard shortcuts for various features.
• ​Added the ability to email FBI submission XML to a specific address.
• Enhanced functionality to use a cover letter designed and saved in Word (onsite only) or PDF (hosted).
• Ability to perform mail merge functionality on email text.
• Removal of 'direct to print', reports are now sent to a PDF on a local browser to simplify printer handling.
• Added ability to import days unavailable into Section L.
• Removed 50 car per employee limit for FBI/P46(car) submissions.
• Removed 10 loan per employee limit for FBI submission.
• Updated NI number validation in line with HMRC guidance.
• Upgraded compatibility for PDF driver to Amyuni 6.5.
• General Bug fixes -
  • Clean-up of various typos and spelling errors.
  • Resolved a number of minor navigation related issues.
  • Ensured compatibility with both Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 11 24H2.

Please find below the guides available for the following:
Payroll Upgrade Checklist Guide
Legislative & Software Changes
Rates and Bands for NI, PAYE and Stat. Payments

Today, 6‌‌‌ ‌‌March 2024, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, made his Spring Budget and set out the government’s plans to bring forward a series of reforms to ensure the tax system is simple, fair, keeps pace with economic developments, and supports public finances. One of the tax measures relevant to you as an employer was on National Insurance contributions.

The government has announced a cut to the main rate of Class 1 employee NICs from 10% to 8% from 6‌‌‌ ‌‌April 2024. Taxes for the self-employed will also be cut by a further 2 pence on top of the 1 pence cut to 8% announced at Autumn Statement. This means that from April 2024 the main rate of Class 4 NICs for the self-employed will now be reduced from 9% to 6%. 

We ask that you take steps now to start work with your payroll software provider, and where applicable IT delivery partners, to get ready to implement the change to Class 1 employee NICs that comes into effect from 6‌‌‌ ‌‌April 2024.

HMRC’s Basic PAYE Tools product will be updated to reflect this latest change. 

Another measure the government announced was on the High Income Child Benefit Charge, and an increase to the threshold to £60,000 from 6‌‌‌ ‌‌April 2024, with a taper up to £80,000. The charge will be 1% of the Child Benefit for every £200 of income that exceeds £60,000 and will equal the payment for income that exceeds £80,000.

Your employees may be interested in claiming Child Benefit or restarting Child Benefit payments if they have previously opted out. The charge is tapered, so if they, or their partner, earns between £60,000 and £80,000 it can still be worth their while financially to claim. Claims for Child Benefit can be made in the HMRC app or online and are automatically backdated for 3‌‌‌ ‌‌months, or the date of birth of the child if later.

New guidance on the charge has been published today and you may wish to share this with your employees.

Further information on both the NICs and High Income Child Benefit Charge measures can be found on GOV‌‌‌.UK.

Information on all of the measures announced can also be found on GOV‌‌‌.UK. 

For an overview of all the tax legislation and rates announced, read the Overview of tax legislation and rates (OOTLAR).

HM Revenue and Customs

Exciting news! On November 29th, we hosted a stellar launch for AP Automation to our esteemed Pegasus Opera 3 customers. The dynamic duo, yourself, and the incredible Steve Power from Pegasus, steered us through a journey of innovation and efficiency. 
Now, presenting the recording of this groundbreaking event, capturing insights, discussions, and the spirit of collaboration. Buckle up for a replay that's bound to redefine the future of our financial processes!