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?