General Consultant Discussion

For those of us poor working stiffs unable to attend MOTM, can we get a recap of the Sage Town Hall Meeting?

They did not answer any questions completely or directly, but had a conversation with us... Sage 100c ""the premium"" version is the same code base with features that are activated or not. This will be controlled by a new ""entitelment"" server that will replace the current key generator. What will be only in c versus in standard Sage 100 is TBD. Sage Data Cloud is dead. They will be trying to get endorsed partners for some of the functionality like manufacturing that they will not build themselves.

Any word on moving JC and PR to the new framework?

Based on the Q&A at the very end of the session I gathered that Manufacturing and Job Cost would ONLY be available in 100c. They didn't say this directly but instead said something along the lines of Sage wanting to invest in the ""newer"" product - even though they said both would have the same code base as @Gary Feldman mentions above. My take is they will do this to push people to the 100c subscription environment. I was pretty disappointed that the Sage people only mentioned this after some direct questioning in the Q&A. So much for being up front and forthcoming with important information......

They did not mention anything about JC but I believe PR is included in 2017

Payroll 2.0 due out in alpha in Oct 2016. J/C mentioned but nothing confirmed.

Diane Coffman confirmed she is working actively on payroll 2.0 and that portions of it are built.

What I heard was a possibly different JC solution - meaning not upgrading the existing JC module. WO and MRP are dead and we are predicting JobOps will be the replacement of those modules. And even more confusion about any new features will be available in classic Sage 100. A quick slide on MultiBin available this summer too - no details. FYI old payroll dead probably April 2017(the current expire dates on keys) so you have till then to get a company switched to the new tier payroll subscription program.

I'm absolutely ok with offering a better option for my JC clients. They really only need Project Accounting. They desperately, however, need SQL. I have half a mind to start looking for other options now, rather than wait on Sage.

@JohnnyPabian, regarding JobOps as a probable replacement for W/O and/or MRP, can you share any signals or information you've received that leads you to that prediction? I didn't get that from the Sage presentation and it would surprise me.

@PhilipWhirley I have been on this mission for 2+ years to get resolution where premium users can go to for MFG needs besides abandoning the product. Sage is not interested in tackling these type challenges and would rather write a check or get an agreement to put a solution on the price list. So yes over the last year little birdies have implied what the thought process is and their options. Linda Cade confirmed that the WO Transaction entry screen she put up on the screen was vaporware and that there was going to be another option instead. There are no other business framework addons for Mfg other than JobOps. I think JobOps is overkill for many and that is why I think SBOM from ACS will fit fine for the smaller mfg company that wants a simpler functionality but gets them in the framework.

Thanks @JohnnyPabian. I wondered what they were going to do with W/O and MRP, but I didn't hear and see enough in the presentation to give me any clear prediction. I have not paid as much attention to it as you have. It would be so nice to get clarity from them. Hopefully it will happen soon.