https://syscon-inc.com/ Weekly construction technology tips, Sage 100 Contractor and Acumatica guidance, cybersecurity advisories, Cathy’s book reviews, and contractor client stories from Syscon, Inc. en-us Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:42:46 GMT https://syscon-inc.com/blog/flawsome-a-new-perspective/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/flawsome-a-new-perspective/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:42:46 GMT Construction Tech & ERP It’s interesting… Many of our clients are reaching decade-milestones in their businesses. One company just celebrated 90 years! We’re watching a new generation of leadership stepping into new roles, bringing new ideas,… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/shiny-new-gadget-of-the-month-motion-activated-place-anywhere-lights/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/shiny-new-gadget-of-the-month-motion-activated-place-anywhere-lights/ Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:34:59 GMT Construction Tech & ERP The first picture I saw for this gadget is the one above, on a set of stairs. The lights are easy to install with peel-off adhesive that you can mount anywhere, without cords, plugs, or the help of an electrician. The… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-make-collaboration-easier-in-word/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-make-collaboration-easier-in-word/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:22:22 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Working on a Word document with other people? A few simple features can make sharing and collaborating much easier. In this Tips & Tricks video, Chris walks through some helpful Microsoft Word features for working… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/irs-changes-electronic-transactions/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/irs-changes-electronic-transactions/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:06:58 GMT Construction Tech & ERP There are quite a few articles on this topic and our CPA has brought it up a couple of times, as well. There was an Executive Order ‘Modernizing Payments to and From America’s Bank Account’ all related to the IRS moving… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-meet-agent-mode-in-microsoft-word/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-meet-agent-mode-in-microsoft-word/ Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:08:09 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Microsoft Word’s new Agent Mode brings a more interactive and conversational experience to document creation and editing. In this week’s Tips & Tricks video, Chris Wendt demonstrates how Agent Mode and Microsoft 365… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/bad-actors-and-outlook-invites/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/bad-actors-and-outlook-invites/ Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:25:48 GMT Construction Tech & ERP We’ve seen an uptick in phishing through calendar invitations in Outlook. The bad actors know people are becoming more cautious about the email they receive (but keep those reminders front and center!), so they’re… https://syscon-inc.com/announce/fast-company-best-workplaces-for-innovators-2026/ https://syscon-inc.com/announce/fast-company-best-workplaces-for-innovators-2026/ Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT Syscon News Syscon has been named to Fast Company’s 2026 Best Workplaces for Innovators list in two categories — AI, Automation, and Machine Learning Excellence and North America! https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-teams-part-7-share-your-screen-without-the-surprises/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-teams-part-7-share-your-screen-without-the-surprises/ Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:34:15 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Screen sharing is one of the most-used features in Microsoft Teams, but a few simple settings can make it even better. In this video, Chris shows how to manage notifications while presenting so unexpected pop-ups don’t… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/advanced-security-an-update/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/advanced-security-an-update/ Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:23:36 GMT Construction Tech & ERP The way we secure businesses has fundamentally changed. Not long ago, security strategies focused on protecting the network—firewalls, on-premise servers, and tightly controlled office environments, often referred to as… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-teams-part-6-better-audio-for-better-meetings/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-teams-part-6-better-audio-for-better-meetings/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 20:46:18 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Background noise and audio problems can quickly disrupt a meeting, but Microsoft Teams includes tools to help. In Part 6 of our Teams Tips & Tricks series, Chris demonstrates how to use Background Noise Reduction, take… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-teams-part-5-discover-shared-files-and-storylines/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-teams-part-5-discover-shared-files-and-storylines/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 20:40:54 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Did you know your Teams chats include tools that make it easier to find shared content and stay connected with coworkers? In Part 5 of our Teams Tips & Tricks series, Chris highlights the Shared and Storyline tabs in… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/thinking-of-replacing-s100c/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/thinking-of-replacing-s100c/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 20:25:46 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Several months ago, we ran a three-part introduction to Acumatica Construction, a cloud-based ERP. We started with “What is Acumatica?” and moved to the special features that make it Construction-friendly, then the cool… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/a-story-for-you/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/a-story-for-you/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 20:17:51 GMT Construction Tech & ERP This summer, we rolled out our Advanced Security tool to all our Managed clients, those with Managed laptops and desktops. This is also available for non-managed clients, of course, and we highly recommend it! That… https://syscon-inc.com/book/book-review-unbreakable-sole/ https://syscon-inc.com/book/book-review-unbreakable-sole/ Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:18:52 GMT Cathy's Book Reviews This book came highly recommended by Darren Hardy, so I ordered it. Missy is on Darren’s A Team, so when she shared her book for his feedback, he was more than happy to read it through. Darren said he was truly moved,… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-turn-conversations-into-action/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-turn-conversations-into-action/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 20:20:24 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Learn how to quickly review documents shared with you in Teams chats, create Planner tasks directly from conversations, and keep important chats front and center by opening them in a separate window. These simple… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/ai-is-not-perfect/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/ai-is-not-perfect/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 19:02:47 GMT Construction Tech & ERP With the arrival of the World Wide Web, people could look things up online and they would treat them as if they were facts found in an encyclopedia! If it was right there on the web, it had to be true! We all know that… https://syscon-inc.com/announce/inc-5000-three-years-in-a-row-2026/ https://syscon-inc.com/announce/inc-5000-three-years-in-a-row-2026/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:00:00 GMT Syscon News For the third consecutive year (2024, 2025, and 2026), Syscon has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America — right in our 40th anniversary year! https://syscon-inc.com/book/book-review-the-cost-of-my-faith/ https://syscon-inc.com/book/book-review-the-cost-of-my-faith/ Tue, 11 Aug 2026 20:41:01 GMT Cathy's Book Reviews Do you have a moment when you made a comment, a decision, that changed your life forever? For Jack Phillips, he found himself with an opportunity to give in, but he recognized the bigger issues at stake, not just for… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-teams-part-3-small-features-big-impact/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-teams-part-3-small-features-big-impact/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:40:32 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Ready to become a Teams power user? In this Tips & Tricks: Teams Part 3 clip, we highlight four quick features that can improve the way you collaborate. Discover how to mute chat notifications, flag urgent messages,… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/s100c-add-on-tools/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/s100c-add-on-tools/ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:31:21 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Many of our clients use Departments in Sage 100 Contractor, as do we, and several of you are adding them in 2026. This is a great way to pull financials for specific departments to track profitability on those jobs or… https://syscon-inc.com/client-stories/capitol-construction-services-inc/ https://syscon-inc.com/client-stories/capitol-construction-services-inc/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:51:25 GMT Client Story Brad Goad, Controller Started in 1998 with Terry Clark and John Robinson, their partnership was primarily focused on Tenant Improvement. Their clients were often in a mall, a store closed, a new one moves in, and they… https://syscon-inc.com/newsletters/august-2026/ https://syscon-inc.com/newsletters/august-2026/ Sat, 01 Aug 2026 16:58:04 GMT Syscon U Monthly We’re headed to Denver Colorado (actually Aurora)! This year’s August State of the Company celebrates our 40th year in business, so the whole team will travel to Denver for this year’s presentation and celebration https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-teams-chats-and-channels/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-teams-chats-and-channels/ Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:47:35 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Did you know you can customize how chats and channels appear in Microsoft Teams? Streamline your workspace by combining chats and channels into a single view, organizing conversations into custom sections, and adding… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/spoofed-emails-thanks-quarantine/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/spoofed-emails-thanks-quarantine/ Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:45:19 GMT Construction Tech & ERP As most of you know, we made the spam filter more sensitive several weeks ago. This has greatly reduced the amount of spam that makes it to your InBox. It’s also caught legitimate email messages and put them in… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-teams-apps/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-teams-apps/ Wed, 22 Jul 2026 18:12:49 GMT Construction Tech & ERP In this installment of Chris’s Tips & Tricks, discover how to make Teams work smarter for you. Chris shares how to add and pin apps for quick access, highlights the Meet app for managing meetings, and demonstrates how… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/yelp-and-search-engines/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/yelp-and-search-engines/ Wed, 22 Jul 2026 18:03:32 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Larry doesn’t recall making any changes, but noticed that Chrome started routing every address-bar search through Yahoo. Nothing seemed wrong at first—Google was still set as the default search engine, there weren’t any… https://syscon-inc.com/book/book-review-the-prophet/ https://syscon-inc.com/book/book-review-the-prophet/ Wed, 15 Jul 2026 20:22:58 GMT Cathy's Book Reviews It’s been literally decades since I had read this book. It came up as I was considering what I might share at the wedding, so I took it out again and re-read it. We actually have a framed page from the book on the topic… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-sharepoint-onedrive/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-sharepoint-onedrive/ Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:21:47 GMT Construction Tech & ERP In this latest Tips & Tricks video, Chris Wendt shares practical ways to get more out of SharePoint and OneDrive. Learn how to find Teams meeting recordings in OneDrive, use Copilot to quickly search meeting content,… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/software-and-change-management/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/software-and-change-management/ Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:23:49 GMT Construction Tech & ERP I don’t know if it’s part of the New Year’s resolutions, but we have a LOT of clients asking about software changes. Some of them are customizations to our FIT System; new or updated Power BI reports; Power App… https://syscon-inc.com/client-stories/integrated-building-automation/ https://syscon-inc.com/client-stories/integrated-building-automation/ Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:32:35 GMT Client Story The company provides, configures, and maintains controls for HVAC systems, making buildings more energy efficient. This is a fairly line type of work that is expected to grow quickly. Craig started doing this work as a… https://syscon-inc.com/book/book-review-the-sacredness-of-secular-work/ https://syscon-inc.com/book/book-review-the-sacredness-of-secular-work/ Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:09:59 GMT Cathy's Book Reviews I heard Mr. Raynor speak at the C12 Currents conference. I could tell that some of what he was sharing was making a few people uncomfortable, which means he probably had a few good things for us to consider about our… https://syscon-inc.com/newsletters/july-2026/ https://syscon-inc.com/newsletters/july-2026/ Tue, 30 Jun 2026 19:17:16 GMT Syscon U Monthly While attending the Faith & Freedom tour in Washington DC, we learned about the MANY special activities related to celebrating our nation’s 250th https://syscon-inc.com/blog/automated-patch-reboots/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/automated-patch-reboots/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:30:01 GMT Construction Tech & ERP As part of our IT Managed Services, we provide automated patch management with other tools and updates to keep your computers safe. For many of these updates, they happen in the background and you never know, but we see… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-outlook-part-2/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-outlook-part-2/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:25:24 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Looking to get more out of Outlook? In this latest Tips & Tricks video, Chris Wendt shares simple, practical shortcuts to make your meetings and daily workflow more efficient. Learn how to automatically record meetings… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-outlook-part-1/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-outlook-part-1/ Tue, 16 Jun 2026 19:18:54 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Looking for a few easy Outlook wins? Chris’s latest Tips & Tricks video covers quick, practical shortcuts to save you time—like opening multiple Outlook views, pasting without formatting, and finding exactly what you… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/recurring-email-thru-power-bi/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/recurring-email-thru-power-bi/ Tue, 16 Jun 2026 19:15:24 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Power BI is typically used to see beautiful and functional dashboards. These are viewed in a browser only. We had a client who wanted to share them through email, as an attachment, instead. Our Biz Apps team created a… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/shiny-new-gadget-of-the-month-tile-slim/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/shiny-new-gadget-of-the-month-tile-slim/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 22:08:22 GMT Construction Tech & ERP A couple of weeks ago, my wallet fell out of the pants I was wearing as I changed clothes. Not having a clue where it could be, I searched the house, the car, everywhere! Very frustrating. I finally found it completely… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/cybersecurity-and-contractors/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/cybersecurity-and-contractors/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:58:13 GMT Construction Tech & ERP We speak and write on this topic quite a bit, so when a vendor in our space presented on this topic, we made sure to attend. Here are some of the highlights. Construction was the most affected industry by ransomware in… https://syscon-inc.com/client-stories/whatever-it-takes-electrical/ https://syscon-inc.com/client-stories/whatever-it-takes-electrical/ Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:30:23 GMT Client Story In the 1990’s, John Rolls was making good money as a union electrician, but the tech crash brought a slow down of work. With young kids in daycare, John started a barbeque sauce business as a hobby, to make ends meet… https://syscon-inc.com/book/the-5-apology-languages/ https://syscon-inc.com/book/the-5-apology-languages/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 21:30:33 GMT Cathy's Book Reviews I’ve heard Gary Chapman speak and have enjoyed his books. This one is co-authored by Jennifer Thomas. How can someone write a whole book about apologizing? Well, turns out it’s a little complicated and we don’t all hear… https://syscon-inc.com/newsletters/june-2026/ https://syscon-inc.com/newsletters/june-2026/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 19:54:26 GMT Syscon U Monthly The price of laptops has risen sharply. This has been frustrating for everyone, but especially those that are hiring right now. Even in our construction industry, computers are a necessary tool to get work done! https://syscon-inc.com/blog/shiny-new-gadget-of-the-month-wall-mount-tool-charging-station/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/shiny-new-gadget-of-the-month-wall-mount-tool-charging-station/ Wed, 27 May 2026 15:29:27 GMT Construction Tech & ERP We love all the cordless tools, but our garage and tool cabinet are a little crazy, and we often have to recharge when we reach for a tool that’s been sitting for a while. This Sharper image charging station is… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/sales-tax-change/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/sales-tax-change/ Wed, 27 May 2026 15:19:42 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Effective October 1st, 2025, the state of Washington is adding quite a few services to its list of items that are subject to Retail Sales tax, or if services are provided by companies outside the state, Use Tax. In… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-more-desktop-pointers/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-more-desktop-pointers/ Tue, 12 May 2026 13:50:44 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Many of us could benefit from a little “spring cleaning” on our desktops. In this video, Chris walks you through simple, effective ways to get organized—plus a few extra tips as we wrap up Part 1 of this great series! https://syscon-inc.com/blog/the-roadmap-to-all-things-fit/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/the-roadmap-to-all-things-fit/ Tue, 12 May 2026 13:44:44 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Chris presented a webinar to all our FIT users sharing some of the core enhancements, new features on the roadmap, a review of existing add-on modules, and took questions at the end. Everyone will be off the legacy… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-virtual-desktops-windowstab/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/tips-tricks-virtual-desktops-windowstab/ Wed, 06 May 2026 15:45:07 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Is your desktop working for you—or against you? Chris walks you through how Virtual Desktops can declutter your screen (and your mind), with a simple shortcut—Windows + Tab—that makes staying organized easier than ever! https://syscon-inc.com/blog/fake-expense-receipts/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/fake-expense-receipts/ Wed, 06 May 2026 15:33:38 GMT Construction Tech & ERP According to Ellen Jennings-Trace, a staff writer for TechRadar Pro, there is a significant rise in AI-generated fake receipts which are being turned in for employers to reimburse. These are very hard to spot since… https://syscon-inc.com/newsletters/may-2026/ https://syscon-inc.com/newsletters/may-2026/ Mon, 04 May 2026 15:26:10 GMT Syscon U Monthly May is usually packed with special events such as graduations, Mothers’ Day, and of course Memorial Day; enjoy! For Syscon, it’s conference season! Chris and Matt attended the Empower conference; I attended the EOS (Traction) conference; we’ll have our quarterly https://syscon-inc.com/client-stories/mccowan-berrones-co/ https://syscon-inc.com/client-stories/mccowan-berrones-co/ Thu, 30 Apr 2026 19:36:32 GMT Client Story Individually, Chris and Ryan both knew they wanted to work for themselves one day. Ryan had left commercial construction to get into residential, wanting to start his own business someday. Chris was a carpenter and had… https://syscon-inc.com/blog/how-to-handle-a-suspicious-email/ https://syscon-inc.com/blog/how-to-handle-a-suspicious-email/ Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:12:20 GMT Construction Tech & ERP Matt noticed that many users, many of our clients, don’t know how best to handle potential, or obvious, phishing or malicious emails. Some users forward them to us—but those just end up in our quarantine blocks at best,…