Sage 100

What's the next step beyond MAS 200 for light mfg? We have two light mfg customers who have outgrown MAS200 and are looking for the next step - any recommendations? They have multiple locations, multiple os platforms (i.e. MACs), international (multi currency), e-commerce links, standard costing with serial tracking, MRP...

Define ""Outgrown

Are you wanting to stay on Sage 100, move off 100 but stay in the Sage family, or is another vendor an option. There are a lot of choices out there beyond 100. Within the 100 solution set, I'm not aware of anything other than JobOps. Looking forward to reading other posts. In the Sage family, 300 has an add-on from INDUSTRIOS Software (http://www.industrios.com/sage-accounting-integration.asp) that is pretty robust. Next is X3.

The driving factor is the desire to do full standard cost accounting, and track items by serial and lot number. They are both using DSD multi currency, which gets them by, but does not have some features they need. Terminal Server for the remote connections is cumbersome and requires extra resources. They are both getting to over 40 users. On both of them we have done scripting and custom ofc solutions to address needs so far. Does that help describe ""outgrown

This is not limited to Sage, although I'd like it to be a product we could support. They have both been on MAS200 for 10 years+. They don't want to upgrade to an oracle or sap, but say they want something one or two levels beyond mas200.

You should chat with Brad Kain about Info and his MFG experiences.

It sound like they need to initiate a software selection research project. When we have clients in these situations, we try to stay in the game for a while by helping them with a few different projects; a needs definition, software selection, and possible a data transfer and project management. The decision of choosing a new product for your firm should be made independently from the clients needs. While it would be nice to learn the product while working with the existing customer, your decision should be based on if you have the resources needed to invest into a new product and if you feel you can make 5 to 6 additional sales of the product over the next 2 years. Picking up a new system is a very expensive prospect.

Where does X3 fall into the mix?

xTuple handles all of that including the Macs.

+1 Shawn -- and it's awful if you only make one sale of a relatively complex product. The certifications and learning curve will drive you nuts.

@ClarkWalliser Based on the limited amount of facts/challenges about these customers, X3 seems like a good place to start. Not that there aren't other non-Sage solutions, but being in the Sage community, we have the opportunity to review this option in detail as a starting point. Ultimately I agree with the approach recommended by @ShawnSlavin with regard to a selection research project.

When they are ready to look at options, Epicor is killer for most all manufacturing, except for process. I'd be happy to chat. We've got buku free demos at http://www.epicor-demo.com