The Sage 100 straitjacket
Many successful companies get to the point where their systems act as straitjacket to their growth. One EBS client explains how they escaped this trap, by upgrading.
Our client has been the UK’s top industrial rubber specialist for the past 20 years, with 1,300 customers around the globe. They pride themselves on their customer service and enjoy being challenged to think up new designs and new solutions.
This approach has seen the company expand in size and success, finally outgrowing Sage 100 after nine years of smooth service.
The finance director explained: “We needed a larger system to cope with the growing demands of our business. EBS sat down, listened to what we wanted and came up with the solution to fit. Thanks to our previous experience of Sage, we knew we were buying a top-quality product which would deliver exactly what it promised.”
The director was attracted to Sage 200 suite because of its flexibility and control over every aspect of data. “We have customers who expect a non-standard quote within minutes and the product made on the same day. We need software to help us deliver that, from the phone to the warehouse floor.”
However, what sold the suite were the additional elements that came with it, particular the Customer Relationship Manager (CRM).
“The CRM system has been a revelation. Before, we had been using databases that took hours to manually operate. Now, the integrated system does it for us, without mistakes or duplication. It has been the equivalent of jumping from a typewriter to a computer, with the same endless possibility”
Functionality is important, but so is peace of mind in a very competitive environment. As always, the client has the last word: “Sage is not cheap. But it is virtually bombproof, withstanding attacks that have crippled our Microsoft products and restarting without a hitch after power cuts. It has a long life-span, with regular updates that keep the software current for years after the original purchase. If we can keep our 200 software going for as long as the 100, we will be a very satisfied company.”