A session that further defines what "Protect and defend the Base" means for a Sage 100 customer.
As a group, this could internally be known as "Protecting the Customer."
The reality is that GLAPAR users are strong candidates for Sage Intacct ( so long as they have the budget )
The remaining wholesale, distribution and manufacturing customers may not be candidates to migrate.
Customers who've spent material amounts on their accounting system should expect a certain amount of R&D effort around making their usage as streamlined as possible.
If this became an annual session with 6 to 8 remote brainstorming sessions before MOTM, I think it could have real value.
This would be different from the mod squad, which to date has been mostly ( but not fully ) focused on giving Sage enhancement ideas.
And MOTM would be the "keeper of the wall notes," and one of the group's charters would include lobbying the publisher to prioritize these concepts. That would include not only the Sage representatives who show up for that year's MOTM but other Sage executives / decision makers who may never attend MOTM.
What are some ideas to kick off the list?
- Installing product updates should be possible without calling every 3rd party ISV to see if they are compatible.
- When product updates are installed, they should be seamless to the end user - no more workstation sync, surprise data conversions, required form updates, etc
- Endorsed Solutions are available for all updates within 15 days of release and for all releases ( hence why they are Endorsed )
- Set aside a section on the Sage website to host the latest updates to all Endorsed solutions so that every customer/consultant isn't forced to call the ISV to ask about compatibility and where to obtain any needed updates ( this seems like such common sense - I don't want to login to 10 different ISV portals)
- The endorsed Solutions program needs significant revision so that ENDORSED products meet all items above.
- IRD for year-end should not require a specific PU as a pre-requisite
- PU should ultimately be self-installable via "An update is available - do you want to install now?"
- In place upgrades
I don't know what should or shouldn't be on the list however, as I go through a long list of customers who I believe are going to need IRD's installed -- many of them also needing a PU -- it doesn't make sense that we keep expecting so much effort in the final 30 days of the year.
I also think we should be able to act as more of an MSP for our top customers. We need these updates and upgrades to be as seamless as possible.
These are just some ideas that would make MOTM even more productive since all the players necessary to make the above happen are together in one place. This also adds value to 90 Minds membership. A
key part to making this work would, in my view, be having a series of meetings leading up to MOTM and not just to get everyone together in a conference room and staring at each other, not knowing where to start. By the time you get to MOTM you've already started and developed a list and can further discuss improvements.
And next year the list changes. Some items may be removed. Some may be added.
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Wayne Schulz
wayne@s-consult.comSchulz Consulting
(860) 516-8990
Moodus, CT
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