Sage 100

Sage just jumped in an confirmed something about their MAS90 Online which I think may be a turnoff for some users. Instead of automatically upgrading data - the VAR has to DOWNLOAD and convert then UPLOAD the data again... Here's the post from Sage: Similar to Accpac Online, Sage will make the latest version of MAS90 available online so there is no need for partner install. However, the migration of data from the older version to the new version will still be similar to the on premise process where it is upgraded by the partner offline. Once the data is migrated to the latest version, it is then uploaded to the online environment where the customer can begin using the latest version going forward. Its also important to note that with MAS 90 Online we will have a ""stay current"" requirement where a customer with the assistance of a partner will need to ensure they upgrade to the latest version (via the process above) within 90 days of a new version release. Its important to note that these upgrades should be more straightforward and less complex in nature compared to on premise upgrades. This is due to the fact that there are (1) a low number of customizations in the Online solution compared to on premise, and (2) beyond the initial move to Online the version jump will always be only 1 version. Lastly, in reference to Product Updates and hot fixes for the current version, these are regularly applied by Sage as part of the Online service. This should not be confused with version upgrades. http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&discussionID=80213329&gid=106271&commentID=58289210&trk=view_disc&ut=0iz0VIWvcL3501

I don't think @GaryFeldman has a thing to worry about! That's about the most lame brain plan I've ever heard.

I hate to be so lame in not getting out my comparison white paper. We are just signing up way too many customers for me to devote the time! Have another proposal going out Friday for 7 users with multi-bin and scanforce, something Sage would never touch!

How does Sage apply product updates ""automatically"" when they require data conversions? Does Sage know that the customer's data is posted before applying? Or is there no longer a need to make sure everything is posted before converting the data?

Okay, here's a side question -- how does Sage know that everyone is out of the system to apply the product update? If everyone IS out of the system, what happens when Joe Shipping goes into the software at 6 am before anyone else and is told that he can't get in until data is converted? Or does Sage sent out an email notice that the product update will be applied on such-and-such a date?

We do not apply automatically. In a vanilla environment it is easier to do automatic updates, but for Dawn's reasons and the fact we allow non-sage enhancements, we can't do anything TO the users automatically. Instead we can provide a development server with 72 hours notice which is a clone of the existing environment or the reseller can simply zip up the directory on the server and delete the backup when done.

@GaryFeldman Are the users you see mostly existing MAS folks moving to the cloud or are the new name deals just starting MAS?

We see both. Historically it has been more moving to the cloud than buying new MAS, probably becasue of the number of exsiting customers and the slowness in sales. We have sold several MAS 90 Online deals this year where we bundle software, implmenetation and cloud services into a single monthly payment and see continuing increase in demand for this service. VARs tend to bring us new names when exisitng customer equipment becomes antiquated or new names when the customer demands cloud. Often they have lost the deal because they come to us too late and NetSuite or alternatives have already defined cloud as SaaS. If you lead with MAS 90 Online or on-premise you can define the cloud as a deployment option rather than a technology that MAS does not fit into.

It's interesting stuff. Gary - you HAVE to get me a blog article for Summit Diary. We'll get up to 10+ new deals a week with the services you provide to the partners and customers.