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Upgrading to Sage X3 Version 12
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Download the Mysoft guide to ‘Upgrading to Sage X3 Version 12’ to explore some of the primary reasons that businesses upgrade their Sage X3 environments.
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For Sage Line 500 click here/ For Sage 200 click here
It’s inevitable that eventually, a product will run its course, and a number of years ago Line 1000 was “retired” from development and support, and had now been issued with an EOL statement.
For many businesses Sage 1000 performed exactly the way you wanted it to when you first implemented it in your business; it handled your finances, customers, and supply chain within a simple and easy-to-use solution. However, as your business has grown (and the world has moved on), your business has needed more sophisticated functionality. You have required more intelligent reports on your business data, so, you have added a BI suite like Sage Enterprise Intelligence. You required a more detailed view of your inventory and stock, so, you naturally enhance this with added Sage Inventory Advisor.
This evolving landscape is normal, most companies do it; selecting a core ERP and then enhancing it with a “best of breed” approach in key areas. This can be true of Sage X3 sites too – many have SEI, SIA, and budgeting and forecasting solutions such as Prophix, to help bolster core functionality in areas that are important to the business. When moving from Sage 1000 to Sage X3 your business doesn’t need to give up these familiar tools if you are using them already today.
For many businesses today there will be a “rush” to find a new solution (or new support partner) to deal with this EOL announcement – but this doesn’t necessarily need to be a chaotic time. A number of Sage 1000 partners are offering their own “extended support” to Sage 1000 sites, which will provide a safety net and although this doesn’t remove the risks outlined below, this will help to mitigate them for a short while:
If you’re still unsure whether or not it’s time to upgrade your Sage 1000 system to Sage X3 why not get in touch and have a chat with our team.
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As a consequence, the systems that are implemented into organisations must be adaptable and scalable to the changing needs of the users and operations.
With the impending changes to legislation and compliance requirements imposed by the outcomes of the Brexit negotiations, whether there is a formal ‘deal’ or otherwise. With this additional pressure for some, ensuring that the systems handling tax and compliance will be of the utmost importance. Maintaining patching and version levels will enable businesses to utilise key functionality and configurations which assist with meeting the standards of an ever-changing global economy.
Companies implement ERP solutions for the efficiency gains associated with single systems covering multiple operational areas interleaving processes and minimising data entry errors or loss. An unintended consequence of this approach is that when it comes to adapting one facet of the system it may mean upgrading the system as a whole.
Systems which have been heavily modified can be challenging to keep up to date, as a result of extensive testing cycles and further modifications to ensure continued operations, and as such often they get left behind. This accidental “legacy-ing” of key Line-of-Business systems such as ERP can lead to incremental diminishment of efficiency and process drift in an organisation far outweighing, in aggregate, the cost and bother of maintaining the ERP to current version.
Sage has, over the years, continued to improve the patch and update cadence and methodology for Sage X3. They have now moved to a quarterly rolling release for V12 which simplifies the upgrade process and allows customers to stay current while minimising the business burden of updating or upgrading. For customers on older software versions, a ‘classic’ approach would be required to bring the system up to date then regularly maintained with patching). For customers on later versions of Sage X3 an ‘easy upgrade’ approach can be adopted.
With regards to Brexit, Mysoft are working with a number of customers to configure their Sage X3 systems to accommodate a raft of business changes in light of the changes of their place in the European tax framework. Whether utilising new features, or simply adapting their system to meet new needs.
As a result of customer demand, Mysoft has also commenced offering a variety of application management services to assist with staying abreast of the administrative and maintenance duties for our Sage X3 customers, including a patching service. Through these services Mysoft are able to ensure that our customers maximise their use of the Sage X3 system, make use of new functionality, close security gaps, review process consistently and often, and get the most value from their ERP.
The Return on Investment (ROI) for upgrading is not as simple to calculate as it would be for a new implementation as it takes into account micro-improvements to intangibles (cyber-security risk, improved UI/UX, etc.) in addition to more macro-benefits of tangible process improvements and compliance. However, below is a list of key reasons to upgrade and stay updated:
In summary, businesses which allow their systems to be degraded by version-entropy will succumb to operational and process entropy; not only losing out on efficiency gains of newer systems but also the slow but inevitable diminishment of static processes in a dynamic world. This blog emphasises the importance of staying on top of ERP system administration, ensuring full functionality required in an ever-changing landscape.
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While Sage 500 is still a supported product, you may feel restricted by its current capabilities, particularly in this digital age where your users are demanding more flexibility, ease of access and, critically, improved security. If you’re also an organisation with expansion plans, both domestically and internationally, or if compliance with industry, national and accounting standards are a concern, then read on!
Sage X3 is a modern, browser-based tool kit, which can be hosted either on premise, in the cloud or in a data centre. This means that it can be available to all users, wherever they can get an internet connection and on any device. It’s built around the concept of a single database, with all functionality completely integrated across multiple companies and across multiple legislations. This means, amongst other things, that your distribution, manufacturing and financial operations are all linked across all areas of your business in real time and that your finance function can operate and report under a number of accounting standards simultaneously, if required. It also offers integration capabilities with external systems, either using simple flat file-based integrations or more sophisticated web services – or hybrid approaches, depending on the capabilities of your other source or target solutions.
Expanding on some of these points further, Sage X3 provides a number of powerful tools to cater for the requirements of organisations who may be:
Sage X3 is suitable for companies engaged in both process and discrete manufacturing and there’s also the benefit of comprehensive lot and/or serial number traceability in real time. This enables tracking from a parent product down to (or up from) its components. This traceability, and subsequent complex auditability, also means that industry compliance requirements can be satisfied. At Mysoft we have extensive experience in dealing with customers across verticals such as pharmaceutical and food distribution (amongst others), so we’re very happy to discuss these points further with you.
A number of your Sage 500 add-ons are included as standard functionality in X3, including Product Costing, Change Control, Quality Control and Project Management. Other add-ons, such as Fixed Assets, EDM and Reporting using Sage Enterprise Intelligence (SEI), are either also included out of the box, or can be easily integrated.
When all of your companies are under one roof, group policies can be easily invoked. Operational and financial data is also available in real time across the entire breadth of your organisation. Whether that’s stock information for a particular product; sales volumes by customer; or revenues and expenditure across all companies converted into a common currency at an agreed exchange rate. Local legal and industry requirements can work alongside group reporting to ensure comprehensive compliance and reporting from with the single database.
If you’re currently using SEI for reporting with Sage 500 then this works with X3 too, so you don’t necessarily need to worry about migrating whole swathes of data between systems. Both SEI and other BI tools such as Sage Data & Analytics (SD&A) enable reporting across multiple databases and are already largely pre-configured to work with both 500 and X3. This means that you have easy access to your data, old and new, with all the benefits of greater data intelligence and more powerful decision-making that this brings.
Sage X3 offers an attractive subscription-based licensing model, with concurrent licensing across a number of user types. The fact that it can be hosted across any number of different environments also means you have full flexibility to tailor your solution to the requirements of your users. A tailored solution uses the latest in development technologies which offers limitless possibilities moving forward. This is complimented by Sage’s long-term focus on usability, security, and connected services.
In conclusion, rather, than just being seen as an upgrade, a move from Sage 500 to Sage X3 should be considered as a step change to a more modern, configurable, and even customisable solution. A solution built on more modern technology and enabling far greater future scalability. For more information about how Sage X3 can benefit your organisation, please get in touch.
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Since Sage published their end-of-life dates for both Sage 1000 and Sage Line 500, they have been providing service packs and patching updates every few months. These address defects and any major compliance changes, such as MTD. These services will only be supporting Sage 1000 V3 and V4 and Sage Line 500 V7.1. Any preceding versions will no longer be kept up to date.
By continuing to use the solution with additional patches or external integrated modules, you risk becoming vulnerable to bugs and issues surrounding the security of information. In order to keep your business safe and efficient, the logical next step is to invest in a solution that is fully supported and one that can cater for your growing needs. Sage is a business that is familiar and trustworthy to you so it makes sense to progress on to another reliable Sage product.
Sage X3 is a solution that offers you everything you love about Sage 1000, and more. Sage X3 provides a greater depth to the finance, manufacturing, distribution, data visibility and project functionalities, without the need for bolt-ons. All of your business processes can be viewed and managed under one roof.
For more information about the differences, click here.
As a Sage business partner specialising solely in the implementation, development and support of Sage X3, Mysoft are a reliable pair of hands for your ERP transition from Sage 1000 or Sage Line 500. We understand that each business is unique and requires a tailored solution. Sage X3 is a higher tier solution that can offer far more sophisticated functionality without the need for additional software – reducing costs and eliminating unnecessary workload.
Choose a solution that can unlock your business’s potential for years to come. Click here to learn more about the cost of Sage X3.
With the wettest February on record, life on the streets is even more challenging. Organisations for the homeless in Reading, like Launchpad, aim to get rough sleepers of the streets during periods of below zero temperatures. They provide lifesaving shelter, hot drinks, warm clothes and hearty meals.
A very admirable team of volunteers give their time to provide the homeless with these essential supplies. Mysoft are pleased to be able to give a helping hand to a very worthy cause.
We managed to collect a very impressive mountain of Pot Noodles as well as some additional extras of biscuits, milk and sugar cubes. Everything donated will be making a difference to those who have come across some complications in life and no longer have a stable place to live. The volunteers at Launchpad run drop-in sessions where the warm food and drinks will be handed out to those who need it.
It was great see the whole team involved in contributing to the food collection that will used to support those less fortunate than us and make their lives that little bit easier.
With Sage you can expect reliable, accurate and secure financial management.
As your business grows from an emerging business into a medium-sized organisation, you will need a solution that can grow with you to match your high-level requirements. Perhaps you are expanding your product range, increasing your employee count or you are growing from a domestic company to a global operation. It is important to ensure that your business software can handle this expansion – an area where Sage X3 comes into its own.
With growth comes an increase in resources and a higher volume of historical data to store. Sage 50 was designed originally as a single user system. It has supported you in the past however, the system can become slow and you may need to clear system history on a regular basis to avoid corruption.
With Sage X3 you can have up to 2000 users, making it highly scalable and ideal for a business that has aspirations to grow and needs scalability to suit. There is much more flexibility when it comes to storing data too. Sage X3 gives you the option to choose from industry standard databases, supporting large data volumes which are also aligned with your wider infrastructure strategy.
Unlike Sage 50 or other Sage products, Sage X3 doesn’t have an ‘end point’ as such. The solution will continue to expand and scale just as your business does. Where other solutions may limit your growth, Sage X3 pushes your business forward, thriving in a complex business environment and encouraging success.
As mentioned previously, your growing and successful business might have plans to expand to other territories. As a Sage 50 user you will already be familiar with the legislative landscape of the UK, however, if you propose to start subsidiaries in other countries you need one product that is available in those languages as well as your domestic one.
Sage X3 offers multi-company, multi-location, multi-site, multi-currency and multi-language all as standard. These capabilities are one of the key reasons that businesses migrate over to Sage X3 from another product. This flexibility means that each entity can be set up in its own format but users are still able to view the whole company from a single point of access.
You need your software to be working alongside your business processes: linking data, customers and finances together; streamlining your processes; sharing one view of your data across all departments and increasing the visibility of pricing and quotations, supply chain and stock management; and invoices and payments.
Carving up the information to suit your internal functions or using a variety of add-on software, rather than focussing on the needs of your customers, is no longer best practice in today’s business environment.
Sage X3 offers a single, shared view of your data helping your business work more efficiently and effectively across different areas of your organisation. You can use the solution to create insightful intercompany reports as well as eliminating hours of number crunching through its intercompany transaction functionality, all of which will aid your company’s growth. Read in-depth about Sage X3’s intercompany functionality here.
Further Sage X3 data visibility functionality:
Why Sage X3?
Sage X3 is a system that has sophisticated functionality ideal for medium to large corporations that have a road map to expand. The built-in functionality makes it a safer option for growing businesses, rather than using multiple add-ons alongside Sage 50 to achieve the result. The vast amount of ERP features that come as standard with Sage X3, as well as the opportunities it has to develop this further and create a bespoke solution, make it perfect for growing multi-site and multi-territory businesses.
If you’re using Sage 50 and you’re ready for the next step, contact us today!
An up to date ERP system will allow your business to continue to perform at top condition, allowing you to efficiently manage daily business activities. The latest versions of ERP software are capable of keeping up with today’s business and technological demands.
The following will explain the risks you might face by not upgrading and the benefits of making sure you have an up to date solution.
By using a legacy product, you might find yourself on an unsupported version of the software. Software developers release new updates and, subsequently, stop actively supporting older versions.
Remaining unsupported could lead to running issues such as bugs and slow performance which may have a negative impact on your business’s efficiency. Legacy systems were not designed to keep up with today’s fast-paced business environments.
Upgrading to a current solution means that any issues that are encountered can be solved from the root of the problem, working together with your ERP vendor and the ERP supplier. It also means that you can avoid the unnecessary cost of fixing patch issues and instead, focus on the full efficiency capabilities of your up to date ERP solution.
An outdated ERP system could leave your company data at risk. Storing data in unsupported software will leave it vulnerable to hackers and viruses. This is particularly prominent when a business is using old on-premise servers.
The benefit of upgrading today is that the majority of ERP solutions operate using a secure Cloud domain, which is perfect for growing companies who want to take advantage of the latest and most advanced business management technology. All new updates are automatic, system maintenance and user support are managed by the ERP or Cloud vendor and the system will automatically be up to date with the latest functionality. A Cloud solution is ideal for mobile employees working on-the-go as all data is stored in a remote database, accessible everywhere but safe from those outside the organisation.
As mentioned previously, legacy software eventually becomes unsupported. This means if new regulations come in, for example the introduction of GDPR in 2018 or MTD in 2019, the older versions of the software risk not being compliant.
The fines incurred with failing to comply can be huge, for example you could be fined up to £20 million for failing to follow GDPR regulations. So, ensuring that your ERP solution is fit for purpose is not only important but could also save you money.
ERP is designed to maximise efficiency within your business so that it can grow and become more profitable. It would be inefficient to continue to use a solution that could land you behind your competitors. By upgrading to software that is right for you means that you will be making the most of the functionality and business benefits the solution offers.
Using up to date technology will allow your business to continue to work at a high level of productivity using automated processes creating time and cost savings. It can enable your business to work and trade more freely with customers or suppliers too.
ERP software that can keep up with your evolving business needs, that integrates seamlessly with all departments in the business, and is line with your growth strategy will enable you to make those marginal gains that are key to standing out from your competitors.
By implementing Sage X3 your company will gain an advanced business management solution, streamlined business processes and detailed insights on company wide data. Sage X3 is a solution that can handle all of your company’s requirements in one. There is no need for any additional integrated software to manage separate areas of the business.
If you are using any add-ons along side your ERP software there are risks. If one was to fail there is a risk that it can affect the whole suite which in turn may affect the running of the business. There will also be a lot of pressure on the organisation to ensure that all system integrations are working correctly. Upgrading to Sage X3 from a lower tier Sage product, such as Sage Line 50, Sage 200 or Sage 1000, means that your business can achieve complete visibility and control across the entire organisation including multi-site and multi-territory capabilities, and multi-language and multi-currency functionality.
Sage X3 is a solution that grows with your business. Once live, you will be able to use the solution thereon after, simply scaling up your business processes as required.
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There is a range of key differences between the two software packages (Sage X3 and Sage 200) that will suit different businesses for different reasons. In a nutshell, Sage 200 is better suited to small to medium businesses operating in a single entity that require, predominantly, a single territory accounting solution. Sage X3, Sage’s most comprehensive ERP solution, is appropriate for medium to large companies operating globally that have complex or unique business processes and a view to grow.
| Feature | Sage 200 | Sage X3 |
| Multi-territory | Each company is separately accessible. | Multiple company information is accessible through one system at the same time. |
| Core Features |
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| Currencies | Multi-currency Sales and Purchase ledgers, but single currency General Ledger. | Full multi-currency across General Ledger meaning that a company can view General Ledger transactions in their base and reporting currencies. Trading ledgers (SL/PL) can transact in multiple currencies, with options for revaluations at month end. |
| Multi-site (Stock Management) | Yes – but no tracking goods in transit. | Yes – full multi-site planning and transactions. |
| Scalability | For small to medium sized businesses. A solution to continue the journey towards more efficient financial management during the early stages of growth. | For medium and enterprise sized businesses. A highly scalable solution, and ideal for a business that has aspirations to grow and needs scalability to suit. Ideal for companies growing by acquisition or rapid expansion. |
Small businesses using Sage 200 that run in the UK become familiar with the legislative landscape, foreign taxations and legislations. When the time comes to expand to overseas sites, a package that is available in the local language, as well as meeting local statutory and legislative requirements is imperative.
Sage X3 is a solution that excels in areas of complexity. It is a product that is multi-company, multi-location, multi-site, multi-currency and multi-language, all as standard. This helps businesses to gain data insights across the entire organisation from a single point of access, which is a key factor of growth. The business needs to be able to mine data from different areas of your business efficiently and provide cross company reporting so that it can respond efficiently to changes. Intercompany activity can be automated to create corresponding postings in multiple companies, allowing for simple auditability.
As a business grows, the volume of data within the business expands. With this growth comes more employees, more transactions and more historical information to store. Although Sage 200 has supported the company in the past, there is likely to be an increasing need to manage more concurrent users to aid efficiency, develop processes and enable the business to explore new markets and geographies.
Visibility of company-wide data is important, particularly with a higher number of concurrent users. With Sage X3, your operations, customers and suppliers are seamlessly integrated, even in complex business models. This allows for improved visibility and improved decision making.
As the number of users expands, the range of internal roles expands with it. Different departments need to use different parts of the solution, be it Sage 200 or Sage X3. With Sage X3 it is possible to control access to information on the system for different users.
Set permissions or limit access to information for particular users to improve the security of data internally and tailor the experience. The fully configurable nature of the solution means that Sage X3 is a more sophisticated offering and has a higher level of control and accountability.
Is Sage X3 Right for You?
Evaluate the current position of your business and find out if you are ready for the next step and read Why Upgrade From Sage 200 to Sage X3?
Click For Sage 1000 / For Sage 200.
A few years down the line and you discover Sage Line 500 is no longer being actively marketed by Sage, and you’re left wondering if the reliable system you’ve been using for years is no longer fit for purpose…
Sound familiar? Well, there’s no need to panic. Sage may no longer be investing in or promoting Sage Line 500 but it doesn’t mean that they are cutting off current customers. You can still carry on using the system as you have it but you won’t be able to benefit from any new technology and Sage no longer guarantees that it will be legislatively compliant. There are also plenty of Sage business partners who still support Sage Line 500, such as Pinnacle, who have been working with the product for many years and have a Sage Line 500 dedicated support team.
However, if you don’t like the idea of using a legacy solution and want to add value through your business management solution then you should look at upgrading to a different Sage product. Sage 200 is the most similar product to Sage Line 500 and is the best choice for smaller businesses. If you’re looking for a more long term solution then it could be worth investing in Sage’s flagship business management solution, Sage X3.
Sage X3 is Sage’s flagship business management solution and as such is being constantly invested in and improved on by Sage, with no danger of it becoming a legacy product. By investing in Sage X3 you equip your business with a solution that can grow with your company and be used for many years to come.
Get a free quote for upgrading! Find out how much it would cost you to implement Sage X3.
