General Consultant Discussion

I just watched the Sage U intro videos, and one detail jumped out at me: the login used is a Sage ID, with nothing about linking the "Sage Connect Account" to a customer license. 

So, as a Sage Partner, I don't think it's right for me to do the setup for a client under my Sage ID... and if we use a customer's Sage ID, what about job changes (i.e. that user leaving the company)?  Would we need to take down the site and reconfigure it to run under someone else's credentials? (In the FAQ, linked below, taking the site down basically erases all site history, and expires all links).

Will multiple users (each with their own Sage ID) be able to manage / work with the SC site data? 

Will we need to get the customer to get us connected using their Sage ID (with 2FA), if want need our assistance with any kind of troubleshooting / settings...? 

Is there a way to set up different Sage ID permissions for the potentially multiple company codes on a client's Sage 100 installation?

At this point it looks like this new feature is still at the "wow, isn't this cool!" stage, with many critical details yet to be worked through... but of course I could be wrong. 

From the FAQ:

Indeed... not a mature product yet.

What about upgrades / server changes?  Will that break all the existing links?

------------------------------
Kevin Moyes
Technical Systems Analyst
Munjal White Consulting Co.
Toronto ON
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"Sage" and "Connect" = version 0.01beta, final release, official deprecation in about 5 years.  when you see Lucy holding a football, go the other way....

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Phil McIntosh
Friendly Systems, Inc.
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LOL Phil... Run the other way when Lucy's holding the football 🏈 

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Doug Higgs
Midwest Commerce Solutions, Inc
(312) 315-0960
Chauffeur, Chef, and Personal Assistant to Sprinkles
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-01-2024 22:44
From: Phil McIntosh
Subject: Sage Connect

"Sage" and "Connect" = version 0.01beta, final release, official deprecation in about 5 years.  when you see Lucy holding a football, go the other way....

------------------------------
Phil McIntosh
Friendly Systems, Inc.
------------------------------

1. Be careful about helping customers with this for free because it's be "so quick and won't take any time at all'.
   1. Once you touch the install, in the customers eyes you own all future issues.
   2. Requires Sage 100 2023.2
   3. Presumably this works with 32 and 64-bit Sage100 (?)
2. There appear to be two logins
   1. First, Sage Connect, which seems to be a Sage synchronization ( even though the install routine says Sage Network )
      1. Uses a regular Sage 100 login 
      2. This does NOT appear to support unified login although maybe there is a workaround to shut down unified, create a Sage 100 account, enabled unified and then use that newly created account? 
      3. In the FAQ it appears to say this is a ONE WAY synchronization ( read this FAQ ) 
      4. I did not notice ANY ability for the customer to do ANYTHING except look at payments. There does not presently appear to be any ability to create a payment in the portal.
   2. Second, the next login appears to be the one you use to get into the Sage Network aka Lockstep aka Customer Portal. This is the problematic area because as noted people leave ( ESPECIALLY IN SAGE 100 WORLD ) all the time.

This has quite a few red flags for me. Mostly around the area of my not wanting to be involved for free with a customer who sees a direct mail and absolutely has to install this right away. Once I touch this technology I'm going to own the results ( at least in the customer's viewpoint).

Be cautious and when the customer comes asking to set it up for free - have a response ready. If you want to do this stuff free then you probably don't need any pre-planning. Historically there have been many of these types of integrations presented by Sage ( whatever happened to Paya eInvoicing? )

My services are available - for a fee -  for any type of work the customer may wish to explore. I'll give them a quick overview and they can decide whether to invest.f

My .02 summary that I'll use with customers: 


Sage Connect is an application for Sage 100 users that enables customers to access their accounts receivable invoices and transaction data through a web portal, likely the Sage Network. Sage Connect itself functions as the sync tool that pushes data one-way from Sage 100 to the Sage Network, reducing the need for emails and follow-ups by providing real-time data updates. Although Sage refers to this as a Customer Account Portal, it appears to be linked to the Lockstep product acquired by Sage in 2022. Sage Connect supports versions 2023.2 or higher of Sage 100 and offers features like data synchronization, secure data storage in the EU, and streamlined email communications, though it currently doesn't support integration with Paya eInvoicing.

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT
------------------------------

You can view the "one way" synchronization information at the Download Sage Connect Installer for Sage 100 - it's the only spot I've seen refer to this as a one-way sync.

Since information is gated behind the download page I do not know whether Sage considers it proprietary confidential information.

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-02-2024 09:37
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Sage Connect

1. Be careful about helping customers with this for free because it's be "so quick and won't take any time at all'.
   1. Once you touch the install, in the customers eyes you own all future issues.
   2. Requires Sage 100 2023.2
   3. Presumably this works with 32 and 64-bit Sage100 (?)
2. There appear to be two logins
   1. First, Sage Connect, which seems to be a Sage synchronization ( even though the install routine says Sage Network )
      1. Uses a regular Sage 100 login 
      2. This does NOT appear to support unified login although maybe there is a workaround to shut down unified, create a Sage 100 account, enabled unified and then use that newly created account? 
      3. In the FAQ it appears to say this is a ONE WAY synchronization ( read this FAQ ) 
      4. I did not notice ANY ability for the customer to do ANYTHING except look at payments. There does not presently appear to be any ability to create a payment in the portal.
   2. Second, the next login appears to be the one you use to get into the Sage Network aka Lockstep aka Customer Portal. This is the problematic area because as noted people leave ( ESPECIALLY IN SAGE 100 WORLD ) all the time.

This has quite a few red flags for me. Mostly around the area of my not wanting to be involved for free with a customer who sees a direct mail and absolutely has to install this right away. Once I touch this technology I'm going to own the results ( at least in the customer's viewpoint).

Be cautious and when the customer comes asking to set it up for free - have a response ready. If you want to do this stuff free then you probably don't need any pre-planning. Historically there have been many of these types of integrations presented by Sage ( whatever happened to Paya eInvoicing? )

My services are avaialable - for a fee -  for any type of work the customer may wish to explore. I'll give them a quick overview and they can decide whether to invest.f

My .02 summary that I'll use with customers: 


Sage Connect is an application for Sage 100 users that enables customers to access their accounts receivable invoices and transaction data through a web portal, likely the Sage Network. Sage Connect itself functions as the sync tool that pushes data one-way from Sage 100 to the Sage Network, reducing the need for emails and follow-ups by providing real-time data updates. Although Sage refers to this as a Customer Account Portal, it appears to be linked to the Lockstep product acquired by Sage in 2022. Sage Connect supports versions 2023.2 or higher of Sage 100 and offers features like data synchronization, secure data storage in the EU, and streamlined email communications, though it currently doesn't support integration with Paya eInvoicing.

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT
------------------------------

I noticed that Sage posted the recorded demo they did for the group as well as a marketing PDF about Sage Connect to the Sage Partner Portal. You can find it in the Marketing section.

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 8/5/2024 12:25:00 PM
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: RE: Sage Connect

I noticed that Sage posted the recorded demo they did for the group as well as a marketing PDF about Sage Connect to the Sage Partner Portal. You can find it in the Marketing section.

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT
------------------------------

There is a PDF on the Sage Partner Hub that details a bunch of future features. I've witnessed so many initiatives that were started only to never take flight or later be abandoned that I'm highly skeptical about how much this synchronization with Sage 100 might be developed in the future.

On the flip side, if Sage is able to monetize their installed base for enhancements such as Sage Network ( Customer Portal ), Payments, AP Automation - then that might incent Sage to pay closer attention to the future of Sage 100. 

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-05-2024 13:11
From: Sue Bennett
Subject: Sage Connect

We all know Sage is an acquisition company and not a development house.  It is great to think that they acquired Lockstep and are providing this customer portal at no charge to the Sage 100 client as a feature of their Sage 100 subscription.  But my question is, long term if Sage does allow the customer to pay invoices through the portal, what kind of transaction fees will the customer have to pay?  Again, an acquisition company that needs to pay back their shareholders.  I'm going with they Lucy-Football-Analogy.

 

Sue Bennett / President
P. 503.620.3484 / E. sue@benpor.com

 

Bennett/Porter & Associates, Inc.
12559 SW 69th Ave / Tigard, OR 97223
benpor.com / facebook / instagram

 

 

The information in this email and any attachments is considered confidential. This information may be subject to legal, professional, or other privilege. It must not be disclosed to any person without our authority. If you are not the intended recipient you are not authorized to and must not disclose, copy, distribute, or retain this message or any part of it. Please return this message to the sender immediately and delete any and all copies from your system.

 

 

 

 

Original Message:
Sent: 8/5/2024 12:25:00 PM
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: RE: Sage Connect

I noticed that Sage posted the recorded demo they did for the group as well as a marketing PDF about Sage Connect to the Sage Partner Portal. You can find it in the Marketing section.

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT
------------------------------

Maybe they are really a private equity group.  Buy a company, gut/milk the company then let it wither on the vine???

------------------------------
Jeff Schwenk
Bottomline Software, Inc.
(540) 221-4444
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-05-2024 14:01
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Sage Connect

There is a PDF on the Sage Partner Hub that details a bunch of future features. I've witnessed so many initiatives that were started only to never take flight or later be abandoned that I'm highly skeptical about how much this synchronization with Sage 100 might be developed in the future.

On the flip side, if Sage is able to monetize their installed base for enhancements such as Sage Network ( Customer Portal ), Payments, AP Automation - then that might incent Sage to pay closer attention to the future of Sage 100. 

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 08-05-2024 13:11
From: Sue Bennett
Subject: Sage Connect

We all know Sage is an acquisition company and not a development house.  It is great to think that they acquired Lockstep and are providing this customer portal at no charge to the Sage 100 client as a feature of their Sage 100 subscription.  But my question is, long term if Sage does allow the customer to pay invoices through the portal, what kind of transaction fees will the customer have to pay?  Again, an acquisition company that needs to pay back their shareholders.  I'm going with they Lucy-Football-Analogy.

 

Sue Bennett / President
P. 503.620.3484 / E. sue@benpor.com

 

Bennett/Porter & Associates, Inc.
12559 SW 69th Ave / Tigard, OR 97223
benpor.com / facebook / instagram

 

 

The information in this email and any attachments is considered confidential. This information may be subject to legal, professional, or other privilege. It must not be disclosed to any person without our authority. If you are not the intended recipient you are not authorized to and must not disclose, copy, distribute, or retain this message or any part of it. Please return this message to the sender immediately and delete any and all copies from your system.

 

 

 

 

Original Message:
Sent: 8/5/2024 12:25:00 PM
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: RE: Sage Connect

I noticed that Sage posted the recorded demo they did for the group as well as a marketing PDF about Sage Connect to the Sage Partner Portal. You can find it in the Marketing section.

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT

1. Buy a ton of software companies and figure out what to do with them later
2. Now what?
3. The market has shifted to cloud based computing
4. What do we do with all these on-prem solutions?
5. Let's build our own SaaS accounting solution!
6. Uh oh...
7. Let's BUY a SaaS product since build didn't go too well
8. Let's not rock the boat with our acquired company
9. Let's migrate all the low hanging fruit to our SaaS offering
10. Low hanging on-prem is migrated - let's keep harvesting the profits on legacy lines and invest the lions share into our new line

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-05-2024 15:37
From: Jeff Schwenk
Subject: Sage Connect

Maybe they are really a private equity group.  Buy a company, gut/milk the company then let it wither on the vine???

------------------------------
Jeff Schwenk
Bottomline Software, Inc.
(540) 221-4444
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 08-05-2024 14:01
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Sage Connect

There is a PDF on the Sage Partner Hub that details a bunch of future features. I've witnessed so many initiatives that were started only to never take flight or later be abandoned that I'm highly skeptical about how much this synchronization with Sage 100 might be developed in the future.

On the flip side, if Sage is able to monetize their installed base for enhancements such as Sage Network ( Customer Portal ), Payments, AP Automation - then that might incent Sage to pay closer attention to the future of Sage 100. 

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT


Original Message:
Sent: 08-05-2024 13:11
From: Sue Bennett
Subject: Sage Connect

We all know Sage is an acquisition company and not a development house.  It is great to think that they acquired Lockstep and are providing this customer portal at no charge to the Sage 100 client as a feature of their Sage 100 subscription.  But my question is, long term if Sage does allow the customer to pay invoices through the portal, what kind of transaction fees will the customer have to pay?  Again, an acquisition company that needs to pay back their shareholders.  I'm going with they Lucy-Football-Analogy.

 

Sue Bennett / President
P. 503.620.3484 / E. sue@benpor.com

 

Bennett/Porter & Associates, Inc.
12559 SW 69th Ave / Tigard, OR 97223
benpor.com / facebook / instagram

 

 

The information in this email and any attachments is considered confidential. This information may be subject to legal, professional, or other privilege. It must not be disclosed to any person without our authority. If you are not the intended recipient you are not authorized to and must not disclose, copy, distribute, or retain this message or any part of it. Please return this message to the sender immediately and delete any and all copies from your system.

 

 

 

 

Original Message:
Sent: 8/5/2024 12:25:00 PM
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: RE: Sage Connect

I noticed that Sage posted the recorded demo they did for the group as well as a marketing PDF about Sage Connect to the Sage Partner Portal. You can find it in the Marketing section.

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT

Has anyone heard anything recently about Sage Network / Sage Connect?

I notice that in the release schedule in the KB where they talk about Sage 100 2025 features ( here ) that Sage Network / Sage connect is not mentioned once.

I know there is a checkbox in company maintenance for Sage Network in the 2024 release however I may have missed any discussions from Sage about the status of this integration. 

Is this integration going the way of Sage Data & Analytics?

------------------------------
Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.com
Schulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
CT
------------------------------