This article was originally published on August 27, 2020.
Hosting Sage 100 in the cloud will enable you to maximize your ROI on your software, unlocking new opportunities to scale productivity while reducing your potential overhead from the physical resources you would have to invest in otherwise. Working with an experienced service provider who understands the ins and outs of your ERP will also help to make your migration more seamless and provide a greater level of visibility into how to optimize your cloud-hosted environment around your needs, including managing integrations or customizations.
On-premise solutions like Sage 100 present a business challenge over time, particularly in this new digital world as legacy systems age out of interoperability and compatibility with younger market-leading applications that your business may rely on for other mission-critical functions. By working with a CSP (cloud service provider) such as SWK Technologies, you will gain better flexibility in addressing this gap and avoid having to leap into a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution until your business is ready.
Here are the top 10 reasons to consider hosting Sage 100 in the cloud:
1. Save Money on Sage 100 Upgrades in the Cloud
Software upgrades can be cumbersome and sometimes expensive processes for on-premise environments depending on the size and importance of the application, which makes ERP overhauls or migrations often particularly painful due to the volume of data, integration within your IT stack, etc. For older and multi-faceted solutions like Sage 100, where financial and business management uses are often intertwined and connected throughout your ecosystem with multiple third-party add-ons, any mistakes can lead to having to start all over and spending more money on the time, resources and external support needed to get it right however long it takes. However, working in a private cloud allows you to sidestep these hurdles in a separate environment that gives you more flexibility in testing updates as if it was in live production.
2. Protect Your ERP Data with Native Cybersecurity
The shift to majority remote workforce has generated new cybersecurity concerns across the world; however, with cloud-hosted software and networks providers are able to proactively monitor data online unlike ever before. With real-time endpoint protection and human cyber intelligence deployment, CSPs armed with a security operations center (SOC) can quickly identify and address hacker footprints in your Sage 100 system. Implementing a secure cloud hosting and IT service is the most cost-effective way for SMBs to employ cyber protection for ERP.
3. Remove On-premise Hardware Needs and Costs
No matter which method of deployment you choose, the simple reality is that moving your ERP to the cloud will enable you to significantly cut down on your hardware investment. Physical workstations, servers, and all the other equipment needed to use them come with upfront costs in addition to the price of regular maintenance to keep the working. All of these expenses inevitably go out the window when technology shifts and competition force you to invest in another expensive upgrade for any of your on-premise resources.
4. Scale Your Sage 100 Environment to Resources Available
Migrating away from onsite implementations also removes the burdens placed by physical IT equipment, which in addition to static costs includes rigid capacity limits. Having your Sage 100 instance hosted online provides an enhanced level of scalability and makes it much easier to build your environment according to your actual needs. Network resources in the cloud can be modified as needed without the huge shifts required for on-premise set ups, and without paying for expensive hardware to increase your bandwidth capabilities.
5. Enable Flexible Access for Multiple Locations
Without being limited to local servers, you will be able to distribute secure access to your systems and data throughout your business teams with the right permissions and security controls in place. This is especially useful if you have multiple offices, facilities or storage locations such as different warehouses or distribution centers across your supply chain, saving you from having to maintain separate IT resources onsite. Your CSP will handle your ERP application from their data center and allow your registered users to access it from their workstations locally.
6. Consolidate Sage 100 Support Touchpoints to One Provider
Engaging a partner who can provide cloud, software and IT services for your hosted Sage 100 infrastructure will streamline your support, simplifying the process for order requests. Known in the industry by the cynical tongue in cheek term, “one throat to choke,” relying on one vendor for ERP, hosting and network services consolidates the amount of touchpoints you must go through to handle issues. More importantly, it ensures that your provider will have access to all the relevant information and tools for your environment and will be able to seamlessly perform upgrades and correct issues without serious disruptions.
7. Deploy Your ERP on Mobile Devices
Hosting in the cloud gives additional options for making your software device-agnostic and opening it up to deployment across multiple interfaces. This enables your employees to access Sage 100 data not only from any desktop or laptop computer from anywhere, but also from a smartphone, tablet or other mobile computing device. If you operate from multiple locations or have teams in the field, this will allow for registered users to interact with the system online and share files on the go, as long as they have the right permissions under your security controls and an Internet connection.
8. Back Up Sage 100 Data Daily
Keeping your ERP in a secure cloud lets you back up data more frequently, seamlessly, redundantly and with added protections in place to ensure your files remain safe and viable to restore. Your CSP will handle this for you with minimal interruption to your processes, and a partner that understands Sage 100 will know how to navigate the architecture to make sure data is preserved as is. Additionally, software upgrades are carried out in the background as your system stays connected to the Internet and keeps your applications patched for the latest cybersecurity threats.
9. Access Real-Time Business Intelligence Anywhere
Hosting your on-premise ERP in the cloud opens opportunities to leverage remote access from anywhere, letting you scale user productivity without needing to be in the office. Deploying this functionality for comprehensive yet fast reporting gives you on-demand insight into your operations, no matter where you are. Combined with additional analytics, you will gain the visibility required for immediate decision-making on your value chain activities, and be able to quickly pivot for developments as they come.
10. Choose Your Cloud Deployment Model
Sage 100 can be hosted as an individual application on a private server, but the true beauty of the cloud is that it provides you with options to divide and deploy different IT resources at scale and your discretion. SWK Technologies also IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) in addition to ERP hosting – essentially taking the additional assets and tools around your accounting software, and giving you the ability to manage them in a secure environment.
Unlock the Best Value for Your Sage 100 ERP in the Cloud
Migrating your Sage 100 ERP to a cloud-hosted server allows you to get the “best of both worlds” with your reliable accounting and business management system, and a digital IT infrastructure that reduces your capital expenses (CapEx). SWK Technologies will leverage our experience as longtime Sage ERP reseller and consultant to ensure your environment is optimized around your needs, delivering the best value possible for your technology investment.
See our webinar here to learn more about migrating Sage 100 to the cloud and how to take advantage of benefits such as seamless upgrades in a secure testing environment.