Sage 100

Intelligence Connector - Doesn't the customer need to buy this if they want to write reports from modules other than GL?

Correct

That's what I told a customer, but their CPA firm is contradicting me. I wanted affirmation. Thanks, Erin.

Connections to other modules already exist and you do not need the connector if you simply use what's provided. However, if the client wants to create their own, modify existing or do multi-company consolidations, then they'll need the connector license. Also, if you create a connection on your own system and import the report and connection into the customer's system, then they do not need a connector license.

What @BillPfahnl said. Good opportunity to do the work for them if the need is one time.

The primary reasons given by Sage for needing the Connector are multi-company consolidations and incorporating external data in reports (data outside the Sage ERP database). It also may be required within the same company for more complex data containers as mentioned. From a potential value standpoint if you need more than the included Report Manager license, require viewers or are adding the Designer module, it may make sense to opt for the subscription bundle. Up to 2 companies is $99 per month for both the Connector and Designer modules, as well as unlimited users - Report Managers and Viewers.

For what it's worth . . . you also need the Collector license if you want to include additional fields like UDFs in your reports

@RobertWhite I did not realize that. Thanks for that information.

Is there a document anywhere that specifies in detail what can be done with the included license and what capabilities the Designer and Connector add?

@PhilMcIntosh Unfortunately, Sage's documents that attempt descriptions of the Intelligence components miss the mark. For instance, there's no mention that Report Manager includes some basic connections to inventory, sales, and purchases. And the description of the Connector says that you can ""access information from multiple sources and consolidate data from multiple companies"", but doesn't spell out that you need it to access tables in modules other than GL.

No, you don't need Connector to access tables other than GL in the same company.

@JohnHoyt Inquiring minds needed to know, so I called Sage support. If you want to write a report for one company with data from a module other than GL, you need the Connector so that you can create a container with the tables and fields that you want for the report. This is what I thought, but there seems to be a lot of misinformation in the stratosphere.

I don't doubt that's the answer you received from Support. I have a call into the Product Specialist to confirm the answer. I'll report back.

I reviewed with the Product Specialist, and here are answers. The system with the included Report Manager is delivered with containers for all modules with applicable data fields. Reports may be run using these containers (with no changes) and the Connector is NOT required ( as previously mentioned by @BillPfahnl ). If on the customer system, data fields need to be added (including UDFs) to existing containers or new containers are to be created, then the Connector IS required. As business partners with the Connector on our systems, we can create and modify existing containers and import them to the customer system for use and they do not need the Connector. The original logic for not bundling all modules for the delivered default customer systems, was to give business partners the consulting tasks and resulting revenue to work with containers and deliver them to the customer. If the customer had that module, we might miss out on that revenue. They can say that now, but we know the real reason was to make more dollars licensing the optional modules and user licenses. Much of this becomes moot with the push to subscription, as the SI bundle is licensed more. One thing we have discovered is if a customer wants to use a standard report within AP, they may not be able to run it, because it includes data fields from PO (if they do not have PO). With the Connector, we can remove those references from the container. Based on all this information, I will always push the SI bundle, since eventually the customer will need the Connector.

Slightly off topic, but I get the report designer add-on license right out of the gate because it's like having a free car with no wheels without that. As soon as we get into multi-company and viewer licenses, I go right to subscription.