Sage CRM

Sage CRM 7.2 and Sage 100 2013 Sage support has told us that CRM 7.2 is compatible with Sage 100 2013. For a new installation, we need to first install CRM 7.1 and then upgrade to CRM 7.2. This combination was not listed on the compatibility, so is this a valid combination for an integrated solution?

Sage told you to install CRM 7.1 and then upgrade to 7.2? Head is spinning ... I'm going to call you.

I have been told by Steffen in Support that Sage 100 Version 2013 H is compatible with CRM 7.2b. Make sure the client is not using Server 2003 or Server 2008 (server only). The info on the Integrated Solutions Matrix as of October 2013 is for 7.1, not 7.2b. Go figure. There is a Sage CRM 7.2 Software Support Matrix on the CRM website that covers what CRM will work with but that does not include the Sage 100 information.

Please post where you end up with this one.... @PeterWolf @JohnHoyt

@JohnHoyt - Your information is correct. I've confirmed with my team. It's a bit awkward ... Steps to get Sage CRM 7.2 working with Sage 100 ERP 2013 using Sage integration would be: 1) Install Sage 100 ERP v 2013 2) Install Sage CRM v 7.1 plus the integration (deploys the base integration framework) 3) Upgrade to Sage CRM 7.2 4) Upgrade Sage 100 ERP 2013 to PU 4 ( install the integration enhancements to 7.2) It's not that bad really. The upgrade process for Sage CRM - particularly with no data - is straightforward. An alternate route is: Steps to get Sage CRM 7.2 working with Sage 100 ERP 2013 using Greytrix integration would be: 1) Install Sage 100 ERP v 2013 2) Install Sage CRM 7.2 3) Install Greytrix integration 4) Have a cup of coffee and enjoy the rest of your day

Huh, tough choice when you put it that way @PeterWolf .

Thanks, @PeterWolf . We have 7.2 installed and integrated with 2013 - no issues. Standard integration.

Oh, we had the cup of coffee, too.

Can you replace the Sage integration with the Greytrix on an existing installation?

Yes.

Can't figure out why Sage CRM integration to Sage 100 never has taken off with the level of popularity Sage imagined.

It's all smoke and mirrors when you focus on the problems with the integration. Salesforce sells billions of dollars in CRM every year with no integration. Sage CRM functionality compares nicely to Salesforce and it's a much lower investment point.

I'm merely pointing out that Sage have not figured out to sell a fully integrating Sage 100 to CRM. They tried mightily with several swings (all would be fair to describe as strikeouts). A. Bake it into EES -- WHIFF (product discontinued) B. Give it as part of Sage 100 -- WHIFF (freebie/light version pulled) C. Require all partners to certify on CRM with an ever changing certification requirement (still WHIFFing) D. Ship a native Sage integration that the channel can reliably use (WHIFF - see above channel notes re: Sage integration v Greytrix).

I understand what you are pointing out. My point is ... who cares? Most businesses that own CRM solutions today are not integrated. The Sage channel looks at integration with ERP as the number one thing driving CRM. For most businesses looking at CRM, integration is a tiny piece of the the giant puzzle. It's like not buying a car that you need for work because it doesn't come with heated seats.

I would definitely not buy a car without heated seats, sorry @PeterWolf ...

In follow-up to this question, main Sage support is telling me that since 7.2 is not listed on the Compatibility matrix for 2013, that it's not supported but it is listed on the 2014 matrix and will be. In reading this thread, it appears that there are no issues with upgrading 7.1 to 7.2 on Sage 100 Standard 2013. Can anyone clarify and if we upgrade and run into an issue are we hosed with Sage since it's not on their outdated Matrix?

We have a few systems running 2013/7.2 our internal setup included. Sage has helped me with support on this setup as well, so I doubt you'd have issues if needed. Good luck

@WayneSchulz - Mighty Casey at bat. There is no joy in Muddville tonight!