A year advantage in a new computer product or process being

Here is the thing about "being" - it is an absolutely acceptable word in English language so it is odd to think that a particular institute does not favour it!
The reason many sentences with the word "being" are incorrect is that we often use this word incorrectly in our day-to-day language.

For example,

Being a doctor, he is very well respected.

This is incorrect because he is not "being" a doctor; he "is" a doctor.

But there are correct ways of using ‘being’. Since most students believe that ‘being’ is wrong, don’t trust the GMAC to not use this nugget of information to misdirect the test takers. The correct answers of questions at higher ability are worded in such a way that they make the test takers uncomfortable!

So how is ‘being’ used correctly?

‘Being’ is used to express a temporary state.

The little boy started screaming when he saw his dog being impounded.

‘Being impounded’ is a temporary state and would be over – unlike being a doctor. So the use of being is correct here.

In the original question, the company is not "being" a year ahead. It would be a year ahead in introducing and that won't change.

That said, option (D) "by a year earlier" doesn't work either. The SC is certainly from a non standard source and not worth your time and effort.