EDITOR'S NOTE:
Every quarter has its theme. This one is compliance catching people off guard. The ACH fraud monitoring requirement in June is the kind of change that looks administrative on the surface — but it isn't. It requires real process work, and most teams we talk to haven't started yet.
We're also paying close attention to the 64-bit shift in Sage 100 2026. On paper it's a routine upgrade. In practice, it's the kind of change that surfaces integration compatibility issues at the worst possible time — right when you're trying to go live. Our advice: don't wait until April to start your compatibility audit.
The Sage 100 AI tools are genuinely interesting this cycle, but I'd temper expectations. The Help Agent is useful for quick lookups; it's not a replacement for knowing your system. Worth trying, not worth over-investing in yet.
— Cherie Powell
COMPLIANCE ALERT - ACTION REQUIRED
ACH Rule Changes in 2026: Two Deadlines
Nacha — the organization that governs the U.S. ACH network — has two sets of requirements taking effect this year. One is administrative. The other has real teeth and requires process changes before June.
The fraud monitoring requirement isn't just a checkbox. It means reviewing your internal controls and being able to show you're actively watching for risk signals.
— Joseph Powell
Phase 1 (Effective March 20, 2026): New Description Requirements
Two specific updates are required:
- Payroll transactions must include the word “PAYROLL” in the Company Entry Description field
- Web-initiated ACH payments (WEB SEC code) must include the word “PURCHASE”
These updates apply to:
- Employee payroll
- 1099 contractor payments
- Online ACH transactions
In Sage 100, these changes are addressed in:
- ACH Maintenance
- Direct Deposit Maintenance
If your system hasn't been updated recently, you may not be compliant.
Phase 2 (Effective June 19, 2026): Fraud Monitoring Requirements
This is the more significant change.
Businesses will be required to implement risk-based processes to detect and prevent fraudulent ACH transactions before submission.
This includes monitoring for:
- Unusual transaction amounts (large or very small)
- Micro-transactions used to test account access
- New or changed bank account information
- Activity that doesn’t match normal patterns
In practical terms, this may mean reviewing your internal processes, adding approval controls, and documenting how you monitor and prevent fraud.
If you use Sage 100 for ACH payments and haven’t reviewed your setup recently, now is a good time to take a closer look.
Read Nacha's full guidance
👉 Have questions or want help reviewing your full ACH Setup? Contact Us
PRODUCT UPDATE
️What's New in Sage 100
A new AI help tool is live in early release, a reporting webinar is coming up, and the 2026 version is right around the corner — with one change worth planning for now.
INTEGRATION & AUTOMATION
New Connectors & API Access
Demand for system connectivity keeps growing. Two things worth knowing about if your team deals with accounts payable or needs to connect Sage 100 to other platforms.
🏢 Events & Community
Manufacturer’s Resource Center – Automation & Manufacturing Technology Show
We’ll be exhibiting at the upcoming Automation & Manufacturing Technology Show on April 15. If you're a manufacturer in southeastern PA, we hope to see you there!
👉 Check it out and register here
90 Minds – Meeting of the Minds
We recently attended and sponsored the annual Meeting of the Minds event hosted by the 90 Minds community.
It’s always a valuable opportunity to collaborate with other Sage partners, share ideas, and stay aligned on how we can better support our customers.
Sage Future Conference (April 28–30, 2026)
Sage Future is coming to San Francisco this April, bringing together customers, partners, and industry experts for:
- Product-focused sessions
- Insights into AI and ERP trends
- Networking opportunities
Final Thought
As systems continue to evolve, the biggest gains aren’t just coming from new features—they’re coming from better visibility, smarter automation, and stronger integration across your business.
If you’re starting to think about what’s next, whether that’s optimizing Sage 100 or exploring newer options, we’re always happy to share what we’re seeing and help you evaluate the right path forward.
Have questions about any of these updates or how they apply to your system?
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