Now and then: A history of Sage accounting products
It’s seems hard to believe that the powerhouse ‘Sage’, that now supports millions of entrepreneurs across 23 countries, once began as a start-up business. Sage was built on an understanding of how businesses need to operate, and their products reflect the functionality that users request. David Goldman. Paul Muller and Graham Wylie are the names behind this global success story that began in 1981. The PC boom began soon after which saw Sage go from strength to strength.
By 1999, just 18 years after establishing, it became part of The Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index (FTSE 100) where is has remained ever since.
Solutions for Accounting and CRM are proud to be your local leading Sage Strategic Partner and want to look back on how Sage has blossomed even with the unstable nature of the economy. Over time Sage has changed and evolved their products to ensure they can provide the best software solutions for businesses of all sizes. Sage has not only improved and upgraded their products, but they have also evolved the names and functionalities of many products to appeal to their customers. Sage Line 100, Sage MMS and Sage Line 50 are some of the oldest software versions that Sage provided, yet were so instrumental in providing business management support that it left a legacy that many people still know and use these product names today.
Allow us to cut through all the techy talk and clarify the newer names and features of these old favourites.
Sage Line 100
Sage Line 100 was written in the 1980’s by a company called Sky Software which Sage acquired in the late 1980’s.
It was written in a proprietary programming language called Retrieve 4GL which allowed for simple customisation and extensions of Sage Line 100. This logic and technology used by Sage Line 100 has not changed a great deal since its creation so although this means it is dated, it also represents how, for many years, Sage Line 100 was a stable, understood product.
Sage Line 100, was one of Sage’s first generation mid-range financial and trading business applications, suited for businesses in the UK with turnovers between £2-£20 million. Although it is no longer available to buy some businesses are still using it, the majority have upgraded to its more recent relation, Sage 200.
It was one of the first that offered a complete line of accounting features for mid-sized businesses in an integrated software package. Sage Line 100 moved beyond basic features of simpler systems and had the ability to batch enter orders – ideal for growing businesses. Sage Line 100, in its heyday was revolutionary, giving multiple users the ability to use the system at the same time, increasing business efficiency and giving users a chance to monitor customer and supplier relationships, in addition to easily tracking transactions. Sage Line 100 was ideal for businesses with a large number of transactions, multiple concurrent users and those that needed customisation options.
Sage MMS
Sage MMS was a modernised version of Sage Line 100 (before Sage 200), it attempted to move the financial and commercial functions of Line 100 to a newer software architecture. Despite this modernisation, many remained with the more familiar Sage Line 100, continuing to build and create bespoke add-ons.
Sage, MMS (Mid-Market Software) was, unsurprisingly, the solution for medium sized businesses that needed more functionality than off-the-shelf packages could provide. Sage MMS gave businesses the opportunity to control their processes with ease and reduce complexities. 50 users could be connected to the system simultaneously, helping companies with complex business processes to easily manage their operations throughout the business. Sage MMS was a completely customisable solution, allowing businesses to tailor the software to suit their specific needs.
Sage MMS along with features from Sage Line 100 evolved into Sage 200, a great solution for medium sized business that were looking for a software solution that would better suit their business needs upgrading due to growth. The reign of MMS did not last long as it was soon rebranded to suit the Sage suite, before evolving into Sage 200.
Sage 200
Both Sage Line 100 and Sage MMS have evolved into a combined solution, Sage 200, more recently named Sage 200cloud. This accounting system grows with you, supporting your business as it evolves. Despite the name, Sage 200 is not a true cloud product, however, with the power of desktop and the integration with Microsoft Office 365 it has cloud-connected features.
Sage 200 can be customised to fit your business needs by managing stock, projects, CRM, payments and your manufacturing processes as well as the ability to connect with third party apps. Aimed at SME’s, Sage 200cloud offers a scalable solution that has the ability to integrate with CRM, streamlining your business processes.
With Sage 200 you can manage multiple companies and access key insights and reporting when you’re on the move. This business-wide, market leading software is jam-packed with features and functionality giving you a scalable solution that grows with your business.
Sage Line 50
Sage Line 50, now known as Sage 50cloud, helped to provide small businesses with a full range of software solutions to best suit each unique business’s needs. Designed mainly for sole traders and smaller businesses, Sage Line 50 was a fast and reliable software solution that was simple to use, helping businesses to minimise complexities. With flexible payment plans, Sage Line 50 allowed businesses to gain greater control over costs and helped make big decisions and generate superior ideas, creating more success.
Sage 50cloud enables you to run your business efficiently with a time saving, thorough solution for managing your accounting, invoicing, cash flow, inventory, tax and so much more. Sage 50 gives you the information you need to stay in control and drive your business forward, whilst combining all the features of the industry-leading accounting software with the option to link your data in the cloud, giving you greater flexibility and security.
Sage 50 enables you to seamlessly combine the power and productivity of a trusted desktop system, with secure online access and an integration with Microsoft Office 365. Sage 50 is ‘cloud connected’ (an on-premise solution with cloud connectivity) and provides all the tools you need to work from the office or remotely on any device, at any time.
Sage 50 is now trusted by more than 400,000 businesses and can be provided in three different versions – essentials, standard and professional.
Sage Financials
Sage terminated sales of Sage Financials in 2019 with the hope that the innovative, true cloud solution Sage Intacct could take its place once it was introduced to the UK late in 2019.
Although Sage Financials is no longer being sold it is still a big part of Sage history as it was perfect for small to medium sized businesses that were looking to grow.
Aimed at SMEs, Sage Financials was a cloud only solution built on the Salesforce platform which used the latest technology to drive business growth enabling you to manage your finances in real time, wherever you are. You gained the ability to link sales, accounting, banking, invoicing and payments with Salesforce CRM whilst having the ability to customise. Sage Financials allowed you to gain visibility into business performance and gave you flexibility to react to customer demands, new opportunities and competitors as well as allowing you to scale without complexity.
Sage Intacct
One of the most recent products to be released into the UK is Sage Intacct. This product seems to do it all, and then some and has taken over from Sage Financials!
Sage Intacct is an established software system, having been a leading system in the US for 20 years, having achieved a sparkling reputation as the #1 accounting software for customer satisfaction, according to online review platform – G2. It consistently delivers great value and deep functionality that automates complex business processes.
Sage have always been a market leader for accounting software, supporting SMEs with their business finances. Sage Intacct enables clients to, reduce their period end close time by almost 80% and allowing clients to focus on what is really important. Sage Intacct further emphasises their ability to deliver intuitive software for supporting businesses.
Sage Intacct helps finance managers and CFOs access integrated management and financial reporting across their business entities, it is a unique solution which is built with the perfect ingredients for business success!
Why Sage?
By evolving and upgrading products, Sage are able to provide more businesses with a software solution that fits their specific needs.
With improved products, businesses gain more flexibility and control over their processes, as well as gain greater efficiencies. Sage 200cloud and Sage 50cloud have improved features to enable businesses to work more effectively, making them the perfect solution.
Sage are a leader in technology and a forward-thinking business, targeting companies that want to move forward in technology. They are continuously evolving their older products, yet keeping their branding consistent to ensure that they are up-to-date and relevant to modern businesses and their needs, whilst continuing to stay loyal to more traditional industries such as manufacturing, to ensure that all businesses are supported by Sage software.
Why Solutions?
Our expert team will help you understand everything there is to know about Sage products and configure them to support your business effectively.
We will help you through every step of the implementation process, from consultation to supporting your software and your business once you are up and running, Solutions are there for you every step of the way.
We provide full product training to help your users get the most out of the software and to become more effective in their engagements with your customers.
As a leading Sage Strategic Partner, with many years’ experience in delivering Sage Solutions for clients, our team can help you transform the way you do business, freeing up the valuable time you need to focus on achieving your business goals.
Are you interested in learning more about Sage Accounting software and the solutions that we can provide to improve and streamline your business processes? Contact our experts today on 0115 840 5075 or email enquiries@solutionsforaccounting.co.uk
