Are you looking to replace your Sage 50 software?
Sage 50 has served you well in the early years–offering a basic, yet powerful solution for your small business accounting. From bookkeeping to managing cash flow, tracking expenses, inventory management, and bank reconciliations, this desktop accounting software has been a reliable cornerstone of your financials.
As one of the most popular solutions out there, Sage 50 comes loaded with all the basic accounting you need to succeed. But it may not surprise you to hear that many companies eventually realize they need more than Sage 50 can offer. And that’s a good thing because it means you’re growing! Here’s the good news: when that time comes, we don’t want you feeling overwhelmed that you need to make a change, because there is a solution.
Fortunately, there are excellent alternatives within the Sage family itself that make upgrading your software simple and easy (without letting go of your user-friendly dashboard) — namely, Sage 100 and Sage Intacct.
Recognizing the Signs: When Sage 50 No Longer Fits Your Business Needs
So how do you know it’s really time to upgrade your accounting software? What signs should you look for?
Here are a few things we come across all the time:
- Much of the reporting and data manipulation happens in Excel and relies too heavily on manual activities.
- Feeling unprepared or unable to support multi-entity growth with the existing accounting software.
- A lack of manufacturing capabilities that are now necessary for the growing business.
- Huge need for real-time control and financial visibility that’s preventing a true understanding of operational costs (and how to minimize them).
You may also find yourself struggling with user access capabilities, limited data, and processing slow-downs, or an over-reliance on manual entry and spreadsheets from systems that don’t integrate well—all of which are challenges that can stifle your efficiency and scalability.
Still not sure if it’s time? Download the whitepaper to more about The Top 5 Signs You’ve Outgrown Sage 50 after you’ve read this article.
Knowing Your Options Beyond Basic Bookkeeping: What to Look For…
When you’re ready to move beyond basic bookkeeping, it’s good to know your options and what to look for. Once you’re ready to move on from Sage 50, you’ll want an alternative that’s worth the upgrade.
Some things to look for in your new software:
Performance
It’s no secret that slow, underperforming software can be harmful to your efficiency. As your business expands, so does the workload. That’s why you need software that can easily support higher volumes of transactions, multiple entities, complex processes, and data handling, and deliver faster processing times.
Features
While Sage 50 is great for small businesses, as you grow, you might need more sophisticated functions like multi-currency capabilities, advanced inventory management, automated billing and payment processing, or detailed project costing —to name a few. One of the biggest advantages of upgrading to Sage 100 or Sage Intacct is the extended (and fully customizable) features they offer. We must also note that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, but that’s a good thing! There are so many different modules and add-ons to make the software work for you.
Integrations
Look for software that easily connects with the third-party services you use daily. This could be CRM systems, e-commerce platforms, payroll services, and other essential applications. Both Sage 100 and Sage Intacct excel in this area, offering robust integration capabilities. They also integrate with Sage CRM to streamline your quote-to-cash cycle, something that previously required manual effort and added stress on your team.
Getting to Know Sage 100 and Sage Intacct
Sage 100 and Sage Intacct both offer their own range of features to handle everything from financial management and accounting to supply chain and production. They both offer huge upgrades from Sage 50, because of their powerful features, better customization options, and growth potential.
Let’s take a look at what benefits they offer when you upgrade, starting with Sage 100:
- Designed to address advanced distribution and manufacturing needs. The wide array of additional features extend capabilities and automation to sales orders, lot and serial tracking, forecasting and replenishment, as well as a streamlined integration of Bill of Materials and Production Management.
- Customized reporting and presentation-quality output that allows you to gain deeper insights and see exactly the information you need.
- A modular structure that you can customize as your needs evolve, making it highly scalable and adaptable.
On the other hand, Sage Intacct is uniquely built to offer:
- A true cloud-based solution, providing anytime, anywhere access to financial data.
- Automation of complex tasks such as multi-entity management, project accounting, and revenue recognition, giving back your time and building a better accounting routine.
- Seamless integrations where your third-party applications come together to create a data ecosystem that doesn’t rely on clunky, disconnected systems and information silos.
- Interactive, customizable dashboards that allow drill-down capabilities with instant visibility to make real-time, data-driven decisions.
Finding the Right Alternative with Help From DWD Technology Group
As your business grows, the limitations of Sage 50 will become more apparent, especially if you start needing more advanced capabilities… when your everyday invoicing and financial reporting don’t suffice. This is a clear signal that it’s time to explore other solutions within the Sage family that offer broader functionalities, better data handling, and integrations that don’t require painful workarounds.
Unpopular opinion? Accounting doesn’t have to be hard! Let your software do the work for you, so you can focus on more important core tasks and stop working those long, exhausting hours.
Next Steps.
Regardless of your industry or business type, DWD can help you determine the next step that’s right for you, starting with our free Software Needs Assessment. With extensive experience in Sage 50 and its upgrade counterparts, our experts will help you choose the right solution for your growing business.
If you’re starting to look for new ERP, Business or Nonprofit software, we offer a free Software Needs Assessment to help you find the best software for your unique needs.
Contact us today!