Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 Product Roadmap

Sage recently published a product roadmap* for Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200, and Sage ERP MAS 200 for SQL. Below, we review the highlights of the roadmap, including the just-released Product Update 2 for Version 4.4.

The new Sage product strategy is to provide more value to customers with minimal disruption to customers’ business processes. Sage will accomplish this through more frequent small enhancement releases, called Product Updates, and with less frequent major new-version releases.

Product Updates
You will find top-requested customer enhancements in the new Product Updates. Sage also is incorporating the main functionality of selected Extended Solutions into the Product Updates. Extended Solutions are specialized capabilities that were previously only available as an additional purchase.

Product Updates are delivered through a downloadable file rather than a physical CD. Each Product Update is numbered according to the release that it is added to. For example, there are currently five product updates scheduled for Sage ERP MAS 90 Version 4.4.

Product Update 2 will soon be available and includes the following enhancements:

• Electronic reconciliation of Bank Reconciliation transactions between your software and your bank.
• Positive Pay capability helps you prevent check fraud.
• ACH Electronic Payments.
• Paperless Office for Accounts Payable Checks and Deposits.

Three more Product Updates are planned for Fall 2010, Winter 2010, and Spring 2011 for Version 4.4.

Sage ERP MAS 200 SQL 4.45
The Sage ERP MAS 200 SQL 4.45 release is scheduled for the end of this year, and leverages Business Framework technology. Look for more details on this exciting new product in a future newsletter. It will include the option to purchase Microsoft SQL Server licenses from Sage, or to use MS SQL licences that customers may already own. This release does not include data migration for current Sage ERP MAS 200 SQL users. Data migration is planned to be available with the release of Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 4.5.

Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 4.5
Version 4.5 is targeted to be available in the third quarter of 2011. A highlight of the release will be additional SageCRM licensing options and improved integration. All Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 subscription plan customers will be provided with one free SageCRM user license.

The release will incorporate a number of customer-requested enhancements and the main features and functionality of select Extended Solutions to enhance a wide range of modules, such as simpler processes for reversing everyday transactions. Also planned is the expansion of eBusiness Web Services to include the ability to Create, Read, Update, and Delete Inventory items. This release is planned to also include Sage ERP MAS 200 SQL migration support for Version 4.3 and 4.4 customers.

Looking Ahead
Two Product Updates are already planned for Version 4.5. In 2012, Sage will be offering a SQL version of the Sage ERP MAS 200 Payroll module that will include new features such as Employee Self Service.

Sage ERP MAS 90 4.6 is on the Product Roadmap for the third quarter of 2012.

The Roadmap also includes a product retirement schedule:

• Sage MAS 90 and 200 Version 3.71 will be retired as of September 30, 2010.
• Sage MAS 200 SQL Edition Version 3.7x will be retired June 1, 2011.
• Sage MAS 90 and 200 Version 4.0, 4.05, and 4.1 will be retired September 30, 2011.

Retirement means that Sage discontinues support of the version and will no longer provide updates to form 1099 and tax tables. If you are still running older versions, give us a call for assistance planning your upgrade.

*This Sage product direction roadmap should be used as a product direction guideline only, and is subject to change at any time without notice.