ERP AND ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE
SAGE 500
Sage 500 works for you, and we get that.
You’ve customized it, invested in it, made it your own, it suits your needs and is affordable, and you want to use it for as long as you can. We get that, and we’re here to say that we will support your Sage 500 ERP for as long as we can.
Built from the ground-up with Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Basic and Microsoft Office technology, Sage 500 (formerly Sage ERP MAS 500) is a complete enterprise management solution. Based on a core of proven financial accounting software, Sage 500 solutions has expanded to integrate business intelligence, order processing, distribution, and manufacturing. They were developed to help companies streamline operations, manage with insight and springboard to the next level.
There is one burning question: How long will you be able to run Sage 500?
SAGE 500 END OF LIFE UPDATE
At Sage Summit 2012, Sage hinted that Sage 500 ERP would likely reach end of life soon, but the date for this impending termination was not made clear. If your company has a Sage 500 ERP system, we understand that this might be concerning for you. However, don’t worry for now, because Sage 500 ERP is here to stay a little longer. In fact, all Sage had said was that they would re-evaluate the product by 2017, and everyone else erroneously interpreted this as an end-of-life statement. They have committed to product releases at least through 2018, and likely much farther into the future. Sage has realized many clients continue to want to use the product and are still adding more features and functionality. There is currently no officially stated end of life for Sage 500.
WHAT DOES “END OF LIFE” MEAN?
When a software product reaches “end of life,” that means that updates and patches will no longer be released for that product. The software does not stop working at that time–in fact, it usually works just the same as it always has. However, end of life means that the software developers have decided to end all support for the product. It won’t be updated to respond to new security threats, and it won’t be optimized to run its best. Also, if your company runs into problems, the developer won’t help you (though SWK will).
The term “end of life” could also be labeled “end of security,” because without constant patches and updates, a system past end of life – and all the data you have in that system – could be extremely vulnerable to hacking.
HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY SAGE 500 ENVIRONMENT?
While Sage 500 will likely never be Sage’s flagship product again, there are still improvements being made and there are a lot of things that can be done with the product. Sage 500 now supports the latest releases of Windows, Windows Server, Office (including Office 365), and SQL Server. The power of SQL, open database design, and APIs allow for data transfer to or from almost any other system. This means you can integrate with your bank, timekeeping system, billing systems, CRM, POS, Payroll and many other systems without completely changing your financial system. This is often a much less costly endeavor than replacing the entire system, especially when most of your requirements are already being met.
What Can You Expect from SWK?
We at SWK want to provide the highest level of service for all our customers and to continue supporting the entire Sage 500 community. While other Sage 500 partners have abandoned Sage 500, SWK has not. We continue to have experienced and knowledgeable Sage 500 consultants ready to help with any of your Sage 500 needs. We will support your Sage 500 ERP for as long as we can and we’re more than happy to provide you with tips and tools to help you get the most of your ERP, including:
A Word to the Wise
Even though Sage 500 ERP is sticking around for at least a while, it would still be wise to learn about and carefully consider other ERPs and accounting software solutions as potential replacements, just to be safe. With enterprise software, it helps to be prepared for the future. We’re happy to show you the latest in on-premise and cloud ERPs that match your operational needs, workflows and processes, features and functionality requirements, IT infrastructure, and budget. For a free consultation and preview of the latest and greatest small and mid-sized business ERPs, click here.