Abstract
Sage is a Corporation that offers one of the most important Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) software that every Windows users can utilize without much difficulty. The firm acts as one of the colossal and key performers in the marketplace. Given that Sage comes along with other e-commerce features, most of the management systems of business rely on it.
However, Sage comes third after the other ERP competitors like SAP and Oracle, which are set up in England. The new intricate business start-ups, transnational, and multi-divisional depend on Sage ERP for the software services.
The Windows users can engender and scrutinize business information and achieve the required business efficiencies across organizational chains of supply. This becomes possible through various Sage EPR versions (Leon, 2008).
In this context, the report discusses the current edition of Sage EPR solution previously known as Sage EPR MAS 200 and MAS 90 software system that contain multi-user purposes. Nonetheless, the ERP edition of Sage that came earlier experienced overload challenges.
The contemporary version serving various customers is destined for heavy data specification. The report initially looks at the prologue of Sage ERP Software system. The report further elaborates on the major characteristics and strengths of Sage ERP software system. This report ultimately brings the weaknesses and a brief summary of Sage ERP software system.
Introduction
In the fiscal 1981, the establishment of Sage essentially aimed at supporting the SME’s (Small and Medium Enterprises) with an Accounting Software. The payment processes, human resource, payroll, and healthcare are the several solution components built-up by Sage.
The developed modules provide solution to the retail, automotive distribution, manufacturing, accountancy, transport, real estate, and construction sectors. At first, the Windows constructed by Sage faced a number of bottlenecks such as overloading.
The problems augmented from the fact that the earlier Windows used (Providex), a language of programming the Basic Business Windows that accommodated the software production. The operations of Windows 2003 and Windows 2000 were however predestined for use by Sage 100 ERP (Leon, 2008).
On the other hand, the Windows users find it easy to apply the system smoothly owing to the resilient features of the software. Sage 100 ERP software systems furthermore provide support to the Windows users through propping up the Novell.
On the contrary, most of the modern editions of such software make the solutions of e-commerce available under fine-tuning. The other eminent software editions available are Sage MAS 90 small business and Sage MAS 200 SQL.
The main features of Sage ERP
In order to guarantee success and updates using Sage 100 ERP, the incorporation of this solution occurs at the level of application through the usage of Business Objects and e-Business Web Services. This denotes that the influential data tools, reporting, maintenance, and scheduling are the potentials of Sage ERP solution.
Indeed, through integrations and business astuteness Sage ERP system helps the management in coordinating business activities in terms of form allocation, assembly, sales, and financing. The features of Sage ERP system as choice of technology in an organization range from data imports and integration to customization.
The evident features also entail the distribution and light assembly as well as the customer account management. Reporting and business intelligence in addition to financial and accounting features make Sage ERP system an appropriate choice of technology in any business (Leon, 2008).
Data Imports, Integration, and Customization
The feature enables an organization to pursue system processes in establishing smart memorandums attached to the required information. Actually, the system allows for personalization of displays that helps in rationalizing the entry of data for the associated tasks and user-friendly in organized frameworks.
The organization is capable of adjoining the custom buttons, UDT’s (Tables), and UDF’s (user defined fields). Through customization, the management finds it easy to create customizations that endure improvements for a longer period by way of establishing Customs Office.
The users are thus able to conceal the accessibility and append the new-fangled fields while rescheduling their computer screens. The managers can alter the performance of software solution by creating user-defined screenplays.
The change gratifies exclusive business prerequisites regardless of the border of users. In fact, the users devoid of clacking any key are able to type and run the characters of particular events. The exploitation of Sage 100 ERP system enables the organization to integrate using the Web Services and Business Objects. The application is significant during company upgrading and update.
It reduces severe impacts and lowers the organizational TCO (total costs of ownership). Further, the feature helps an organization during amalgamation with other businesses. It ensures the implementation of interface, consistency, safety, and guiding principles of the business. Hence, the Visual Integer facilitates the creation of Sage ERP solution data imports.
Distribution and Light Assembly
Through the solutions such as Distribution and Light Assembly incorporated in Sage ERP, an organization is capable of improving the loyalty and services offered to the consumers. The management has the authority to generate income and sever costs. The entire stages and processes experience an increased effectiveness through a combination of distribution and light assembly series.
For instance, the organizations become competent in producing informative and perfect reports by instigating multi-level schedules of supplies. For the flawless transactions, the feature permits sales order and inventory management to make finished goods obtainable.
The schedules in this feature encompass credit card processing, bar code, return merchandize authorization, purchase order, sales tax, sales order, bills of materials, and inventory management (Nah, 2002). Thus, the management can shore up the in-depth account of sales for every product line, merchandises, and consumers besides following various warehouses inventory.
Consumer Account Management
The management effectively participates in the contemporary market, embraces interior collaboration, and effectively communicates through Sage CRM (Customer Relations Management). The core functionality of Sage ERP solution sanctions the management to accomplish marketing operations that are dripping, continuous in e marketing, targeted, and high in value.
Moreover, the feature enables the administration to convey sizzling leads to the business players and perfectly compute the return on investment (ROI). The above is possible through the bouncing, clicking, and automatic track opening rates.
The Interactive Dashboard connects the data feeds scheduled on a solitary computer screen. Hence, the flexibility of the organization augments by the usage of data widgets that offer a control panel that has freestyle interactive. The users can also view the data feeds the way they desire on the screen given that there is a possibility of repositioning and resizing the widgets on a single monitor.
Reporting and Business Intelligence
Sage ERP business intelligence and reporting solution heightens the functionality and amplifies the efficiency of various organizations. The gadget is easy to utilize and helps the management in generating an all-inclusive MIS (Management Information System). The set of information updates running between business players is enabled via Sage 100 ERP’s business insights explorer and business insight dashboard.
Furthermore, the swift appraisal and generation of information along with the financial reports is achievable via business insights explorer (Bruch & Vinnichenko, 2007).
The managers afterwards select Sage ERP solution to resolve their provocative queries using the appropriate technology such as MIS. The sales directors, CFO’s, and CEO’s who are the top executives find Reporting and Business Intelligence perfect in running the daily businesses.
Conversely, the top management is capable of viewing the fundamental company information by the use of Business Insights Dashboard. For example, with the aid of preferred templates like the Microsoft Excel, the widespread assessment of organizational information is achievable.
Managers also get in touch with Sage human resource managements and CRMs. Consequently, the executives can secure data from the diverse sources, divisions, and manifold companies besides ensuring data safety and protection.
They can append and produce the trees of reporting as well as the layout of report for designers using Sage ERP business intelligence solution. As a result, the managers can modify and design meaningful reports for a quality performance assessment using Sage ERP’s SAP crystal Reports.
Financial and Accounting
The financial and accounting schedules are present in the entire central system of Sage 100 ERP. These modules might include Bank Reconciliation, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and General Ledger. The establishment of Paperless Office promotes speedy electric recovery and storage as well as simple transmission and reception of faxes and emails.
Actually, the Accounting and Financial features make it possible for the managers to e-file, mail, and print documents to the relevant central bureaus and suitable realms. The executives make the reports for the Accounts Payable and the organization’s 1099 e-Filling more efficient (Nah, 2002).
The outcome of this accounting schedule is evident in the highly optimized and efficient organization through the flexible accounting basis. In general, the management can enhance every vocation at will subsequent to the amalgamation of the modules and the other auxiliary characteristics for exceptional desires.
The strengths of Sage ERP System
Sage ERP solution has innumerable advantages that make it appropriate for use as the management information system technology in the organization. The presentation of Sage ERP solution is superior and the system software is undemanding. The software can proffer various corporations with different business dimensions using important business solutions.
For example, the system can offer shipping, e-commerce, and warehousing services to a number of sectors in any organization or business. To be precise, Sage ERP solution is essential to the decentralized offices considering the unsophisticated user interface it possesses. In Sage ERP solution, the displaying gadget used in integration with the new sundry software is cheap compared to other systems (Bruch & Vinnichenko, 2007).
Essentially, whereas other software applications take scores of time concerning configuration, Sage ERP solution takes the shortest time possible during such activities. This makes the software to be accustomed without any problems of procedures of special company businesses.
In fact, Sage ERP solution software is trouble-free when administering. The personalization of this system is readily available founded on the fact that the software is of lightweight. Equally, Sage ERP software system is proficient when supporting extensive networks available during the review procedures such as Value Added Resellers (VARS).
The system software is endowed with enormous effectiveness and easy to use interface design that proffers resourceful and simple planning schemes to several enterprises. Finally, the system software incorporated in Sage ERP is eminent in the provision of boundless customization of average products. The executives are thus capable of personally controlling the software through obtaining the software source code (Nah, 2002).
The weaknesses of Sage ERP solution
Sage ERP solution has some limitations that do not favor its usage in any organization. However, the above advantages tend to outweigh the disadvantages. The costs of maintaining and owning the system software is pricey. Besides, the implementation of Sage ERP solution tends to incorporate excess finance besides taking longer periods.
The diverse scheduled user interfaces apparent in the system appear to be analogous given the unlike and slackly modules that have been incorporated. In fact, under extremely intricate and fresh Sage ERP solution functionalities, the costs turn out to be even more than approximated. Therefore, the software is not suitable for institutions that exercise the representations of business in a scattered structural design.
Conclusion
Sage ERP as a software solution keeps on suiting the managements of all small and medium business enterprises. The system is safe, easy to get, and has a cost effective way of streamlining business operations.
The enhancements like add-on solutions and new cloud computing services are all contained in Sage ERP solution. In fact, Sage users easily and rapidly prompt and dissect various business reports using Sage.
Besides, managers can achieve the required business efficiencies crossways the organizational chains of supply. In general, Sage ERP solution appears to be significant for use by the management of information system in every organization.
References
Bruch, M. & Vinnichenko, S. (2007). Comparative analysis of enterprise resource planning systems in Russia and Sweden. Munich, Germany: GRIN Verlag.
Leon, A. (2008). Enterprise resource planning. India: Tata McGraw-Hill Education.
Nah, F. (2002). Enterprise resource planning solutions and management. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Inc (IGI).