Sage S200 updated with iPhone and iPad compatibility

Business software provider Sage has refreshed its mid-market business management software and extended support for iPhone and iPad devices.

Sage 200 v2011 aims to provide SMBs with a complete enterprise resource planning package complete with integrated business intelligence (BI), customer relationship management (CRM) and financial management tools.

The software is aimed at organisations with a turnover of between £1m to £50m and up to 200 employees, explained Steve Attwell, general manager of Sage's lower mid market and channel division.

Key additions include smartphone and tablet functionality together with enhanced CRM and an improved migration tool.

Mobility is a key feature as it is important to allow users to access data anytime, anywhere, the firm said. Information from the Sage software is now accessible on Apple devices following a successful integration with BlackBerry handsets last year, Attwell told V3.co.uk.

"CRM components are now accessible on the iPhone and iPad, allowing managing directors to view BI information on the move or service engineers to look at customer service tickets in the field, for example," he said.

"Existing research tells us that BlackBerry and iPhone tend to be the business platforms of choice, but we are also looking into extending the service to other other platforms such as Android."

The CRM component has also been improved with the addition of an e-marketing tool, Attwell continued.

"If a business is selling product ‘x' and they get a replacement or upgrade, they can put together an e-marketing campaign using Sage 200," he said.

"As customers open up an email and click onto a landing page of a web site, the data can be grabbed by the CRM tool and the campaign can be tracked and a sales team can follow up."

Additionally, the existing migration tool has been upgraded to make it easier for users to upgrade to the software. Business data is mapped, checked and validated to ensure that none is lost.

Attwell also gave V3.co.uk an insight into Sage's roadmap, noting that the next version of the software will be fully cloud-based.

"Users will be able to access the entire Sage suite through mobile devices if they choose to," he said.

Businesses wanting to use Sage 200 are required to sign up to one of two core packages.

A city-based firm that has no other needs than to consolidate head office accounts is likely to opt for the financial platform, Attwell said.

Meanwhile, a business that needs to monitor stock control, distribution and purchase order processing would be more suited to the commercial platform.

Pricing varies, but a typical four-user system with the financial software licence including installation costs around £8,000.

Businesses wanting to set up the commercial package for eight users would typically be paying somewhere between £15,000 and £30,000 depending on their needs.

Further platforms including project costing and bill of materials modules can then be added as and when required.

Existing Sage customers will receive the upgrade free of charge.