Sage 100

Sitting through the training for the Consultant test and it just pissed me off all over again that they are touting the addition of extended descriptions for Misc Items when up until version 4.10 we ALWAYS had that ability. I think that was the thing people bitched the most about when 4.10 came out.

Are we supposed to be studying for a test? When is the re-certification due?

GOOD GRIEF. My assessment TOTALLY screwed up tonight. It wouldn't let me go back to the few I had marked that I wanted to view again, then I couldn't go forward, and finally I had to go to Summary and of course failed because I hadn't even had a chance to fill them all in. YIPPEE. I think it's due in Feb, but I honestly didn't pay attention. I just wanted to get the damn thing out of the way. SO much for that.

Hope you make screen shots of the questions?

@DougHiggs I was under the impression that re-certification is not required for 2016. Based on this notice I received from SAGE in October 2015.

One (unclear) Sage - FTW!!

Confusing. I was under the impression that we didn't need to pass the version 2015 certification test. I thought I read version 2015 and version 2016 tests would be merged together. Since we didn't have to pass a test last year I figured they would have us pass something this year (by the end of Feb 2016). @BethBowers What test are you taking?

It's football season, Sage is Lucy, and we're Charlie Brown...

It's a combined test, 2015 and 2016. The little ""classes"" go so much better at 1.75 speed...

Some sample questions: 1. Name three ways that Sage Live can be integrated to Salesforce 2. Of the following products, which one is NOT global: a. Sage Live b. Sage One c. Sage X3 d. Sage Impact e. Sage 100 3. When a customer purchases Sage 100c direct from Sage, what benefits does the Platinum care plan Sage sold them also provide? a. They can schedule appointments with Sage for support (in app) b. They can expect proactive regular call-outs from Sage to see how they are doing with the product c. They can call Sage for help on their upgrade ""planning"" d. All of the above 4. How many times may a salesperson win an Apple Watch in the monthly sales contest? a. Once b. Quarterly c. As many times as they are a top seller d. Only once, but after that we'll give them a TV e. All of the above, plus they are eligible for the AMEX travel gift card 5. When a customer asks about why Sage CRM is no longer a global product a. Respond with some variation of ""smashing down walls between the front and back office"", then hope they don't wonder what the ** that means. b. Reply that Sage CRM is the preferred solution for the tens of licenses of perpetual software Sage sells in NA each year c. Fake that you have no idea what they are talking about

Slow day at the office Wayne?? You had me going until the last line. I was about to ask if you would post the answers......

A tad off topic but I can't wait to see what happens when Sage implements the kill switch on some of these products. I know other software companies do this but customers know when they buy a subscription model if they don't pay the software will be shut down. Sage is retrofitting the kill switch. This is different. Customers thought they purchased on premise software and will have access to it forever. Now, if they upgrade, then don't pay maintenance, the software can be shut down. This is going to piss off a lot of end users.

But the client has OPTIONS!!!!! They have a CHOICE if they want the new prettier UI that they will PAY 15% or more for the subscription. And as a reseller doing proper due diligence, we will have the SIGN a document that they understand that they continue paying the monthly subscription fee or else they may one day be faced with the Sage ""crypto"" code that turns their system into a read only system (best case). That will be their CHOICE. I am willing to bet that most current users will not make that choice. What the fly in the ointment is is that now Sage is changing the rules for payroll. If you want to stay current in PR, you must begin paying MORE for that privilege or lose that functionality. Who knows in this round of Sage poker whether existing PR users will ante up to the table or just fold their cards and walk away.

Important Notice About Sage Licensing Agreement - EULA You are solely responsible for reviewing and agreeing to all licensing terms - including any changes prior to installing upgrades or new licenses - of the Sage End User License Agreements) (EULA) which may be viewed within the Sage 100 ERP software by navigating to the help menu - selecting About and ""View The End User License Agreement"". You may also view the current licensing online at: http://na.sage.com/sage-na/eula/#erp It is your responsibility to review and agree to the terms contained in the Sage license agreement which may change from time to time as each software upgrade is applied. When you ask us to install upgrades or new licenses on your behalf by default you agree that any EULA acknowledgements are approved by you even if we enter through and accept them (on your behalf) during an upgrade or implementation.

Agree with Jeff. I've been including disclaimers that it is the customer responsibility to read the EULA and that by retaining us they agree to read it (and agree to it) and authorize us to click through the EULA during upgrades on their behalf. I've had a problem for the past few years with how Sage communicates to the customer. If there is a EULA change, many customers won't ever see it or acknowledge it provided that we're doing their upgrades for them.

Also credit card disclaimer: Important Notice About Sage Payments - Credit Card Processing Beginning with Sage 100 2013 all credit card data is stored off-site in the Sage Vault. During upgrade - or any processing thereafter - credit card numbers and related information is migrated off-site by the automated installation routine. Read more here - http://goo.gl/VkYEF . You are advised not to store any credit card data inside of your Sage 100 software which will in turn render your system non-compliant with security and processing guidelines. You acknowledge and give us permission to perform required migrations of credit card data to the Sage Vault, that you have responsibility for ensuring continued credit card processing compliance and agree that Sage has the total responsibility for securing such data and not Schulz Consulting / DSD Business Systems. Should you have any questions please contact Sage directly at 866-996-7243 before beginning use of the software or any subsequent program upgrades.

And.. the next move by Sage is take away the choice all together. All new versions will have a kill switch. It will be a slow and painful death.

@DougHiggs I believe so, and it's our job to have these conversations with the customer to set their expectations. I have been very upfront with customers. It also helps when these start complaining about the cost of maintenance. I believe what you'll see is the Sage 100 classic version (not to be confused with Sage 100c) will somehow gradually have capabilities removed or Sage will run a ton of promos to migrate people. If Sage's spreadsheet tells them that the financial downfall is minor, Sage will probably strand people at Sage 100 classic with some proclamation about how Sage 100c has been out x years, people love it, grows hair on your head, takes years off your life. And by the way , classic version is no longer so migrate to Sage 100c.

I am with you. 100 classic will eventually be phased out..... and if 100c can grow hair on my head, I'll take a second helping.

Anyone else remember Classic Coke and New Coke. Maybe Sage should review that marketing disaster.

Sage is moving to a totally subscription model, just like MS did with Dynamics. New sales will be Sage ""100c"" and derivatives. I agree classic 100 will be eventually phased out. Did they give any direction to the MD community that has very little subscription model plans at this point? So we sell the Sage 100c subscription for X amount per year and then charge more than X for the 3rd party enhancement as part of the initial sale because it is still being sold on the perpetual license. None of my recent prospects have been without 3rd party products being recommended.