Not Long ago Sage Software had a roundtable webinar with it's VAR base to broadcast what they feel is a successful launch of their MAS 90 and MAS 200 version 4.2 release . In the meeting, Sage Software management touted a "successful" launch of the version 4.20 release of MAS 90 and MAS 200.
As we walk through the decision of whether or not to jump ship on MAS 90 and MAS 200, we have to take a careful look at the propeganda vs. the reality and attempt to discern what the heck is really going on.
The version 4.20 release was delayed by several months due to a handful of factors, not the least of which was Sage had simply not completed the database transformation of all the modules they had intended to convert.
Then Microsoft released Windows Vista and Sage had a new challenge to suffer, making MAS compatible with the new Vista Operating System. Shortly after the Vista release, Sage published a "Vista Compatibility Statement" where they listed a myriad or reasons MAS 90 and MAS 200 were not going to be ready for Vista anytime soon.
The pre-release info on MAS 90 and MAS 200 version 4.2, let out last year announced that Sage would be converting Accounts Payable, Purchase Order and Inventory Management modules to the new database. However Sage was unable to find a relevant number of end using businesses to do beta conversion testing up to version 4.2 due to the debockle known as the 4.10 upgrade.
In addition, neither the PO or IM modules were truly ready for release.
So essentially Sage announced a grand and substanative release with 4.2, ended up being 6 months or more late, and released one-third (1/3) of what they originally intended, then had a party announcing the wonderful success of the release.
All things considered, the water is still merky and it is a gamble either way. In the coming days and weeks, continue to read this blog to learn more about whether or not we should stay commited to MAS 90.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
What does the future hold for MAS 90 and MAS 200?
MAS 90 and MAS 200 is a technologically aged accounting software solution that has been the industry standard for mid-sized business management for decades. Not long ago the manufacturer, Sage Software began the arduous task of upgrading MAS's out dated back end database and officially launched it's version 4.0 release where the General Ledger financial module was upgraded to a new database standard. Keep in mind the rest of the application was left largely the same, but the GL was changed.
In the months following, Sage released additional upgrade versions of MAS 90/200 version 4, each time releasing a new module upgraded to the new database standards; each upgrade requiring a complex and risky combination of reworks, data conversions and report re-writes.
End using business owners and Sage Software consultants alike lost sleep and went through gallons of late night coffee trying to get MAS upgraded correctly and more than a few ulcers were had trying to follow Sage's dizzying maze of upgrade instructions.
In the end, Sage succeeded in upgrading roughly 4 of its 20+ modules to the new database standard before the MAS user based screamed in agony for mercy. It was reported last quarter that Sage Software's parent corporation, The Sage Group, reported a lower than expected revenue growth and cited lagging sales in the US market (MAS 90 and MAS 200) as a factor. I do not know what went on behind closed doors, but shortly after this announcement, Sage Software in the US finally admitted that all was not well and began to put together a plan to navigate the rough waters created by their own upgrade efforts.
The real question that needs to be asked is: will the MAS 90 and MAS 200 product survive the failed upgrade of it's database?
Since MAS 90 and MAS 200 uses old school technology, and even a modest upgrade of that technology poked a crater sized hole in the product, and she is taking on water at an alarming rate - is it time to abandon ship? Or will the Captain(s) of the MAS 90 ship steer their cash cow into safer waters where she can be repaired and gain back market share?
These are important questions not only for those of us neck deep in the sale and support of the product, but is also very important for the mid-sized business owner and MAS End User. Do we need to be planning for the eventual demise of MAS? Or get on the band wagon that may potentially cheer it back into a secure horizon?
Those questions are what this BLOG intends to explore.
Come back again and lets see what the future holds for MAS 90 and MAS 200.
Are you in?
In the months following, Sage released additional upgrade versions of MAS 90/200 version 4, each time releasing a new module upgraded to the new database standards; each upgrade requiring a complex and risky combination of reworks, data conversions and report re-writes.
End using business owners and Sage Software consultants alike lost sleep and went through gallons of late night coffee trying to get MAS upgraded correctly and more than a few ulcers were had trying to follow Sage's dizzying maze of upgrade instructions.
In the end, Sage succeeded in upgrading roughly 4 of its 20+ modules to the new database standard before the MAS user based screamed in agony for mercy. It was reported last quarter that Sage Software's parent corporation, The Sage Group, reported a lower than expected revenue growth and cited lagging sales in the US market (MAS 90 and MAS 200) as a factor. I do not know what went on behind closed doors, but shortly after this announcement, Sage Software in the US finally admitted that all was not well and began to put together a plan to navigate the rough waters created by their own upgrade efforts.
The real question that needs to be asked is: will the MAS 90 and MAS 200 product survive the failed upgrade of it's database?
Since MAS 90 and MAS 200 uses old school technology, and even a modest upgrade of that technology poked a crater sized hole in the product, and she is taking on water at an alarming rate - is it time to abandon ship? Or will the Captain(s) of the MAS 90 ship steer their cash cow into safer waters where she can be repaired and gain back market share?
These are important questions not only for those of us neck deep in the sale and support of the product, but is also very important for the mid-sized business owner and MAS End User. Do we need to be planning for the eventual demise of MAS? Or get on the band wagon that may potentially cheer it back into a secure horizon?
Those questions are what this BLOG intends to explore.
Come back again and lets see what the future holds for MAS 90 and MAS 200.
Are you in?
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