View the Q1/2020 Customer Newsletter as a Landing Page

CGC Updates in regard to COVID-19

This is an unprecedented time in our history.  As we all continue to navigate through these unique challenges related to COVID-19, we want you to know that we remain dedicated to keeping you informed about what we are working on for you during this uncertain time.

• eCMS ERP Updates: We are continuously monitoring the changes that are being imposed by the government. We will be communicating these changes as well as updates to eCMS applications if/as needed. 
• Hosted/Cloud ERP Environments: We continue to closely manage our secure and highly resilient cloud services platform for maximum reliability for your eCMS environments and our IT systems and infrastructure. We are also ensuring that we follow established policies and procedures as they relate to our hosted cloud infrastructure, platform, and services. And, we are working diligently to migrate several customers over to our hosted cloud deployment. 
• Customer Services: We are experiencing a higher number of inquiries than usual. We encourage you to continue to submit all inquiries through the online incident/ticket system. We will be also providing updates if/as needed through email communications that will also be posted on the customer support website as well as the CGC portal. 
• Professional Services Offerings:  Our professional services teams are available to deliver online training, support ongoing implementations, and provide consultation services remotely keeping your organization moving forward--whether you started your implementation months ago, or more recently.

CGC is committed to being your partner and we are here for you.

FMLA expanded benefits associated with COVID-19

No additional program changes in eCMS are planned at this time to capture the benefit limits and expenses associated with the expanded FMLA benefits in regard to the COVID-19 bill.

Customers need to review how they currently keep track of FMLA benefits and expand the Other Hour Type (P/R / Maintenance 2 / Other Hours Type) for the new benefits for those who suffer from COVID-19 illnesses directly or indirectly.

Hosted eCMS System Password Administration

As many of you recently have shifted to a remote or working from home environment, our Technical Services team has received a number of incidents requesting resetting passwords, enabling or disabling eCMS user accounts, and so on.

Please note that Computer Guidance's policies state that each customer is responsible for assigning security administrators to perform such tasks, not CGC. 

Our policies have been established to ensure compliance with the SOC 2 Type II Audit for cloud hosting systems, services, and associated processes, and other industry standards.

Industry Updates

AGC of America’s government relations team has combed through the details of the coronavirus relief bill set for passage in the House. They provided this initial analysis of what is in the bill and how it will impact the construction industry. We will, of course, share even more details as we continue to comb through the measure.

We recommend that you subscribe to the AGC's ongoing updates during this time. 

Product Updates

Featured Product — Cloud Managed Hosting Deployment

Due to organic growth and increased reporting requirements for jobs in the public sector, Alcorn Fence Company needed additional functionality and automation that would come with an upgrade to CGC’s latest eCMS ERP. The company then faced a decision to purchase additional IT hardware or to move to hosted cloud-based deployment.

The IT department was spending a lot of time and money on mandatory system updates and older, on-site infrastructure that needed constant attention. In addition, with an on-premise ERP solution, the contractor was required to have in-house expertise to back-up critical data, monitor disaster recovery scenarios and perform routine maintenance. The management team felt that moving to the cloud was the right decision for the company.

Because of the outbreak of COVID-19, more and more businesses are switching to remote work and we are here to help with this challenge.

Whether on a job site, unable to travel to a job site due to restrictions, or working in a remote office, CGC's web-based and cloud ERP can help to keep your business running with minimal interruption. You access and operate the feature-rich, fully integrated construction management software over the Internet through a highly secure Web portal.

Further, your Hosted eCMS ERP is supported by Computer Guidance's Disaster Recovery solutions and associated managed hosting services. Hence, Hosted eCMS and associated Disaster Recovery provides you with a wide array of flexibility. You can shift your focus toward what is most important to you—your construction business. 

ANNOUNCING:
eCMS v.4.1 Service Pack 3 Fix Pack 5

eCMS v.4.1 SP3 Fix Pack 5 is now generally available for installation into production environments. Fix Pack 5 requires CGC installation and a dedicated environment.

Fix Pack 5 includes new menu options, new modifications and enhancements to eCMS, and the most recent bug fixes. Refer to the Release Notes for details. 

Supported eCMS Releases

Supported release levels are those for which modifications, enhancements, and installation updates are provided. All eCMS release levels are supported for break/fix assistance.

• eCMS v.4.1 SP3 Fix Pack 3 and later 

Some release levels are supported only for quarter-end/year-end updates and break/fix. The quarter-end/year-end updates contain only the minimal changes required by law.

• eCMS v.4.1 SP2 Fix Pack 7 or later
• eCMS v.4.0 SP12 Fix Pack 13
• eCMS v.3.7 SP12 Fix Pack 4
• eCMS v.3.4.3 SP14 Fix Pack 3 

Software Delivery Updates

Installing eCMS Updates 

Updates are a necessary part of any software product to provide corrections, changes and additional functionality. CGC's Software Delivery team will schedule and install most eCMS updates as they become available for both hosted and non-hosted customers. We at CGC make every effort to cause as little disruption as possible to the normal business operations of our customers during these updates.

eCMS Software Migration 

Changes in your business may require migration of your eCMS software and database. You may need to replace your IBM server because it has failed or become obsolete, or you require the additional power of the newer IBM servers, or you want to become hosted to gain the advantages of the CGC Cloud. Any time you change your IBM hardware a migration is required, including new license files and keys, even if you stay at the same eCMS release level.

A migration process is also required when upgrading from CMS v.3.4.3 or eCMS v.3.7 release levels to eCMS v.4.1. Please note that eCMS v.4.1 Service Pack 2 Fix Pack 8 is the latest release level to which these older release levels can be migrated. The Go Live data migration must be completed before the environment can be upgraded to a fully supported release of eCMS v.4.1.

Your Customer Success Team will be happy to provide options and assistance with migrating your eCMS products.

Customer Focus 2020 

We are working on some exciting new product features that we will share with you at Customer Focus 2020 whether we will be holding it in-person or online. Exciting announcements to come!

We continue to monitor the situation in regard to COVID-19 and will follow public health guidance as it relates to in-person meetings and travel. The safety and well-being of our employees, customers, and partners are our top priority. CGC will make the decision about the format of Customer Focus 2020 by May 15, 2020. We will keep you informed. 

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