90 Minds Community

Why doesn't Sage promote their Sage Endorsed Partner program with a real benefit?

Make it so Endorsed Partners are required to have app/integration available for the current version of Sage 100 within x months of the product release date.

As Sage cuts the time they actively support current releases it becomes even more important for customers to upgrade to the latest ( as opposed to 1 version back ) release to get the most from their money.

Whenever I ask this question I get a who slew of excuses as to why this isn't possible ( mostly being that Sage doesn't release code until the product releases ). Well, why does this have to continue? Couldn't Sage work closer with endorsed partners to get them the code closer to release day? Couldn't endorsed partners more proactively pursue these updates?

We are now at mid-August ( hello vacation month ) before some major integrations ( Avalara, etc ) will be compatible. That forces most customers to push upgrades into the year-end timeframe and if you miss year-end then you are wondering whether to upgrade because the next scheduled upgrade is March ( ish )....




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Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
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OMG, that's not part of the program?  That's so much a given, that I've been telling customers that's the benefit of using an endorsed partner.  That's always how it works!

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Rhonda McNamara
Customer Success Manager
Stewart Technologies, Inc.
rsm@stewarttechnologies.com
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When your endorsed partner lags the release by 4-5 months then I think if it’s part of the program the program needs some policing.

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Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-10-2019
From: Rhonda McNamara
Subject: RE: Why isn't this a feature of being a Sage Endorsed Partner ?

OMG, that's not part of the program?  That's so much a given, that I've been telling customers that's the benefit of using an endorsed partner.  That's always how it works!

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Rhonda McNamara
Customer Success Manager
Stewart Technologies, Inc.
rsm@stewarttechnologies.com
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The question I ask is "who is currently in charge of the Endorsed Partner Program?" The last one I knew about was Jeff Blomstrom, and he left/was asked to leave, because he and Scott didn't get along. I never heard about a replacement, so maybe no one. And Jeff was more interested in recruiting new ones than policing it seems.​

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John Hoyt
Forming Solutions: john.hoyt@formingsolutions.com
Next Level Manufacturing Consulting Group: johnh@nextlevelMCG.com
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-10-2019 15:45
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Why isn't this a feature of being a Sage Endorsed Partner ?

When your endorsed partner lags the release by 4-5 months then I think if it's part of the program the program needs some policing.

---------------------------------
Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
---------------------------------




Original Message:
Sent: 09-10-2019
From: Rhonda McNamara
Subject: RE: Why isn't this a feature of being a Sage Endorsed Partner ?

OMG, that's not part of the program?  That's so much a given, that I've been telling customers that's the benefit of using an endorsed partner.  That's always how it works!

------------------------------
==================
Rhonda McNamara
Customer Success Manager
Stewart Technologies, Inc.
rsm@stewarttechnologies.com
------------------------------

Just from our exposure through Darin's webinars, you can see that code is being written up til the 11th hour.  Not even tweaks, but entire features it seems. That means there is no time period for endorsed partners to beta test, right?  It makes me wonder if the pace of  the technology releases is why the lag exists.  This may not hold true for annual upgrades, but certainly for slip stream PU's.

------------------------------
==================
Rhonda McNamara
Customer Success Manager
Stewart Technologies, Inc.
rsm@stewarttechnologies.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-10-2019 15:45
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Why isn't this a feature of being a Sage Endorsed Partner ?

When your endorsed partner lags the release by 4-5 months then I think if it's part of the program the program needs some policing.

---------------------------------
Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990
---------------------------------




Original Message:
Sent: 09-10-2019
From: Rhonda McNamara
Subject: RE: Why isn't this a feature of being a Sage Endorsed Partner ?

OMG, that's not part of the program?  That's so much a given, that I've been telling customers that's the benefit of using an endorsed partner.  That's always how it works!

------------------------------
==================
Rhonda McNamara
Customer Success Manager
Stewart Technologies, Inc.
rsm@stewarttechnologies.com
------------------------------

I think @Alnoor Cassim can vouch for that too.​​

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Robert Wood
Consultant
90 Minds, Inc.
Ocala FL
352-615-5898
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-11-2019 10:18
From: Rhonda McNamara
Subject: Why isn't this a feature of being a Sage Endorsed Partner ?

Just from our exposure through Darin's webinars, you can see that code is being written up til the 11th hour.  Not even tweaks, but entire features it seems. That means there is no time period for endorsed partners to beta test, right?  It makes me wonder if the pace of  the technology releases is why the lag exists.  This may not hold true for annual upgrades, but certainly for slip stream PU's.

------------------------------
==================
Rhonda McNamara
Customer Success Manager
Stewart Technologies, Inc.
rsm@stewarttechnologies.com
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 09-10-2019 15:45
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Why isn't this a feature of being a Sage Endorsed Partner ?

When your endorsed partner lags the release by 4-5 months then I think if it's part of the program the program needs some policing.

---------------------------------
Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990


Original Message:
Sent: 09-10-2019
From: Rhonda McNamara
Subject: RE: Why isn't this a feature of being a Sage Endorsed Partner ?

OMG, that's not part of the program?  That's so much a given, that I've been telling customers that's the benefit of using an endorsed partner.  That's always how it works!

------------------------------
==================
Rhonda McNamara
Customer Success Manager
Stewart Technologies, Inc.
rsm@stewarttechnologies.com

Ray Rannala is the Director of ISV Programs  - believe he took over the role about a year ago.

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Melissa Secody, Operations Manager
melissas@dsdinc.com
DSD Business Systems
San Diego CA
800.627.9032
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-11-2019 10:42
From: Robert Wood
Subject: Why isn't this a feature of being a Sage Endorsed Partner ?

I think @Alnoor Cassim can vouch for that too.​​

------------------------------
Robert Wood
Consultant
90 Minds, Inc.
Ocala FL
352-615-5898
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 09-11-2019 10:18
From: Rhonda McNamara
Subject: Why isn't this a feature of being a Sage Endorsed Partner ?

Just from our exposure through Darin's webinars, you can see that code is being written up til the 11th hour.  Not even tweaks, but entire features it seems. That means there is no time period for endorsed partners to beta test, right?  It makes me wonder if the pace of  the technology releases is why the lag exists.  This may not hold true for annual upgrades, but certainly for slip stream PU's.

------------------------------
==================
Rhonda McNamara
Customer Success Manager
Stewart Technologies, Inc.
rsm@stewarttechnologies.com


Original Message:
Sent: 09-10-2019 15:45
From: Wayne Schulz
Subject: Why isn't this a feature of being a Sage Endorsed Partner ?

When your endorsed partner lags the release by 4-5 months then I think if it's part of the program the program needs some policing.

---------------------------------
Wayne Schulz - Schulz Consulting - 860-516-8990


Original Message:
Sent: 09-10-2019
From: Rhonda McNamara
Subject: RE: Why isn't this a feature of being a Sage Endorsed Partner ?

OMG, that's not part of the program?  That's so much a given, that I've been telling customers that's the benefit of using an endorsed partner.  That's always how it works!

------------------------------
==================
Rhonda McNamara
Customer Success Manager
Stewart Technologies, Inc.
rsm@stewarttechnologies.com