Sage 50 Accounting (formerly Sage 50cloud and Peachtree) is a web-connected financial management system built for small businesses that require a streamlined bookkeeping solution for their reporting needs. In this joint webinar with Sage Group plc and SWK Technologies, represented by Nkosana Peebles and Noah Corwick, respectively, we break down the top challenges faced by SMBs when it comes to aligning finance and operations, where the core and extended features of this accounting software helps, and how to get the most out of Sage 50 leveraging the cloud.
Recap of SWK’s Sage 50 Webinar
Looking for an answer to a specific question or just seeking to learn more about Sage 50 Accounting (formerly Sage 50c)? Use the webinar recap below to skip to the sections that matter to you and refer to the timestamps to fast forward the video version on YouTube. If you have any additional questions not answered in this webinar, please contact us at info@swktech.com.
Introduction to Sage 50 Accounting for Small Business (0:12-10:08)
The webinar proper begins with an introduction to the challenges that Sage 50 helps solve for, and why – and where – small businesses need to implement technology to address these pain points. One of the most important factors when looking at solutions to choose is you will need more than just accounting software – you must consider systems that grant visibility into both your finances and operations, and makes it easier for your team to align objectives for both.
- [2:05] Overview of the webinar agenda, including touching on small business visibility needs, Sage 50’s solutions for these, its core and industry-specific features, and SWK’s value-add as a reseller and cloud hosting service provider.
- [3:39] A checklist of small business operational and technology needs, highlighting the importance of implementing effective accounting solutions for SMBs.
- [4:23] How do your software tools align with your business goals?
- [5:00] Key factors to consider when selecting a financial management solution.
Key Features and Core Functionality of Sage 50 (10:09-19:36)
This section dives deeper into the functionality of Sage 50, including core features as well as from available integrations from the ecosystem that extend its capabilities for areas such as human capital management (HCM). Some of the native functions in this accounting software include bank reconciliation, cash flow management, sales tax reporting, purchase order (PO) processing and more. It also features connectors to integrate with other systems such as Microsoft 365, which allows you to complete tasks such as accessing contact information from Outlook in Sage 50 Accounting.
- [10:16] Any business management software you choose should be able to help you fulfill these needs.
- [11:21] Leverage Sage 50 payroll integration and Sage HR to streamline human resource management.
- [12:35] How Sage 50 Accounting helps you manage tax compliance each year.
- [15:54] An overview of the core functionality, available support and capabilities of Sage 50.
- [18:47] Where would having deeper insights in your reporting help solve your business challenges?
Industry-Specific Accounting Applications (19:37-25:57)
In this section, the webinar expands on the features available in Sage 50 that are useful for businesses in particular industries, including general service-based organizations as well as those in manufacturing, distribution and construction companies. It is important to note that some capabilities do differ between the different versions – Sage 50 Pro, Sage 50 Premium, and Sage 50 Quantum – with more functionality usually available to each vertical sector in the higher-tier Editions.
- [20:10] Which features in each Sage 50 version are most useful for service businesses.
- [20:40] Features of Sage 50 Quantum for manufacturing, such as assembly and production tracking, inventory and stock management, purchase order handling, or customer order tracking.
- [21:30] Additional capabilities of Sage 50 Quantum for construction, including job tracking and expense management.
- [22:20] A deeper dive into the inventory and fulfillment tracking automations in Sage 50 Accounting for distribution.
- [23:00] More in-depth overview of the Sage HR integration.
- [24:08] A final look at the differences between Sage 50 Pro, Sage 50 Premium and Sage 50 Quantum, including user count, specific features and more.
Sage 50 Cloud Hosting and Security with SWK Technologies (25:58-43:44)
This section focuses on the value-add that SWK Technologies provides as a Sage partner, particularly as a cloud service provider (CSP) that is able to host Sage 50 in a private, cloud-based environment with Secure Cloud Hosting. This includes a breakdown of the differences between desktop software and web-based software, how hosted servers save on costs over traditional on-premise servers, and the added advantages having an experienced Sage 50 reseller as your CSP brings. We also touch on several security factors that too often go unnoticed in an on-prem environment.
- [26:28] Analysis of cloud versus on-premise hosting, breaking down the evolution of cloud computing and its key advantages over onsite servers.
- [27:30] How cloud-hosted Sage 50 makes it easier to control your security, costs and data.
- [29:27] OpEx vs CapEx – keeping hosting costs predictable versus upfront and unexpected costs with on-prem.
- [30:44] How much does your on-premise environment really cost?
- [31:42] How much money do you lose during downtime with on-prem servers?
- [35:21] A walkthrough of Secure Cloud Hosting from SWK Technologies.
- [37:08] NOTE: Not every cloud hosting provider will host your Sage 50 integrations.
- [38:05] Why having a dedicated support team matters for hosted software.
- [41:38] What happens to your data and user permissions after employees leave?
Conclusion and Q&A Session (43:50-52:18)
A Q&A (Questions and Answers) session was held towards the conclusion of the webinar to address attendee questions that had been asked during the presentations. Nkosana and Noah each answered these directly and expanded upon topics such as what is included in a migration to Sage 50 Accounting and what else is included with Secure Cloud Hosting.
- [47:05] How easy is it migrate from another system to Sage 50, such as QuickBooks?
- [48:13] What capabilities does cloud hosting provide for Sage 50, and what makes SWK’s service different from other providers?
Learn More About Sage 50 and Why SWK is Your Top Reseller
Get in touch with SWK Technologies today to learn more about our services for Sage 50 and cloud hosting, and discover exactly how we can support your accounting software implementation. Our team of experts will ensure that you get the most out of your investment in your financial and business management ecosystem with our streamlined solutions.
Contact SWK here to learn even more about Sage 50 Accounting, from all of its features and different Editions to the best ways to protect your data in the cloud.