Sage 300 ERP is a comprehensive and robust platform for managing all aspects of your business. However, as with any software package, it has certain areas where functional gaps exist that may hinder its ability to fully address your business needs. Small-to-mid-sized businesses (SMBs) using Sage 300 often become accustomed to the workarounds needed to address these shortcomings, but understanding when a business annoyance becomes a business hinderance will help you determine the steps you need to take in order to get the most out of your ERP system.

Identifying the Issues

As the core of the technology stack, many companies have invested significant time and money into the processes necessary to make Sage 300 adapt to the demands of their business. For example, a survey of 100 finance executives across the biotech and life sciences sectors revealed that finance personnel are spending much of their time, “aggregating and manipulating data in Excel instead of taking advantage of reporting automation to analyze data and inform strategic decisions for their business.”

If your organization is facing similar issues that require manual processes to be put in place, it’s important to determine the right time to explore alternative options for addressing the gaps.

Filling the Voids of Sage 300 ERP

Even if the functional gaps of your current system aren’t to the point of detriment, there are steps you can take now to better prepare your business for the future.  For instance, there is an update coming to Microsoft Exchange that involves changes to Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols. Users that are not on a supported version of Sage 300 (version 2020 or higher) will not receive the proper updates to their system and will lose associated communication functionality.

Along with ensuring that your ERP is updated to a supported version, there are a multiple of third-party add-ons and custom services available to help plug the holes that are inherent in the system.

If you find that these options won’t provide sufficient relief or that the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) increases significantly with multiple add-ons, then migrating to a Next Generation ERP may be a better alternative. Much of the functionality provided by third-party add-on to legacy ERP systems now come standard in ERP solutions such as Sage Intacct. These cloud-native solutions also remove the need for time consuming updates and allow users access from anywhere with an internet connection.

Building the Bridge

After coming to terms with the functional limitations of your Sage 300 ERP system, the only non-viable solution is to do nothing. As software continues to rapidly evolve, maintaining the status quo will only put your business further behind the curve. Creating and adhering to a technology roadmap will allow you to better understand your technology needs both today and in the future.

Net at Work partners with SMBs across many different industries to help companies identify the right ERP solutions to fit their needs. You can learn how you can get the most out of your Sage 300 system or if it’s time to migrate to a Next Generation ERP by watching this recorded webinar Bridge Your Sage 300 Gaps today.