The Future of Sage BusinessVision:
Comparison of your options to replace BusinessVision
Separate fact from fiction, and understand your options
On our introductory page on The Future of BusinessVision, we gave an
overview of:
- What's going on with Sage BusinessVision
- Why BusinessVision is slowly dying, and why Sage is letting that happen
- What Sage wants you to do about that
- Why we think you should consider something different, better, and more cost-effective than what Sage
wants you to do
- Why Spire is the ultimate path to the future for users of Sage BusinessVision
On our F.A.Q. (frequently asked questions) page, we looked at quite a few questions clients have been asking, and the answers we think make the most sense.
So now you're wondering, what are my options? What really makes sense for the future? How can I get the most out of what I have, and still move forward to the future
without spending a fortune or making myself crazy?
That, I think, is exactly the key to all this. What ARE your options? How do I compare them? So, following are some of the main considerations you should be thinking of when you evaluate your options.
Comparison of options to replace Sage BusinessVision
What follows are several charts comparing your existing Sage BusinessVision to Sage 300 Online (which Sage is pushing very hard these days), and to Spire, which is the
next generation of the venerable BVEssentials product. We think the differences should be fairly clear, and we'd love to discuss them with you.
There are charts comparing core features, migration considerations, the technology used, and cost.
1. Core Features Comparison
Feature
Sage BusinessVision
Sage 300 Online
Spire
Cloud-based
N
YES - Hosted by Sage
N
Core accounting modules (AP, AR, GL)
Y
Y
Y
Real-time, up-to-the-minute accounting data
Y
N - uses batch processing
Y - can choose to batch invoices for posting later, but don't need to
Order entry / invoicing including quote-to-order-to-invoice flow
Y
Y
Y
Inventory Management
Y
Y
Y
Environmental and other charges / levies
NO
NO
Y
Warehouse Transfers / adjustments
Y, but limited
Y
Y - very simple and flexible
Payroll, including tax updates
Y
Y
Y
Excel Import and Export
Y (with limitations)
Y
Y
Multi-Currency
Optional
Y
Y (included)
CRM - Customer Relationship Management
N
Optional
Current: Communications module; Future: full optional CRM module to be added
Budgets & forecasts
Y
Y
Future
Multi-lingual
N
Y (5)
Future
Production Manager
NO
NO
Optional add-on
Service Manager
NO
NO
Optional add-on
Rental Manager
NO
NO
Optional add-on
2. Migration Considerations Comparison
Feature
Sage BusinessVision
Sage 300 Online
Spire
Keeps ALL your historical data
Y
NO - Sage promises to convert 'some' of the BusinessVision data, but no concrete plan for all of it
Y - included complete conversion of data from BusinessVision
Retain control and ownership of your sensitive, proprietary data
Y
NO - your data is wherever Sage puts it, run by whomever they assign
Y
Familiarity of workflow
Y
NO - workflow is quite different, including batch processing, day-end, month-end
Y - with added functionality and flexibility
Use existing custom forms or reports
Y
NO - all customization will be required to be done from scratch
Y - most custom forms/reports can be easily adapted from BV forms/reports
Multiple company data sets, archived data sets etc. for single price
Y - unlimited
NO - duplicate monthly charges for each data set
Y - unlimited
If developer were to retire the software, or you wanted to stop paying any more money to them, when and how would that impact your business?
Delayed - Continue to use it as normal for now. After 2020, would need to replace it (hard-coded date limitation)
Immediate - Lose access immediately. Would need to completely replace the application and convert to something else BEFORE cancelling
Delayed - Continue to use it as normal, for as long as desired (assuming operating system compatibility - so likely minimum of 5-10 years)
3. Technology Comparison
Feature
Sage BusinessVision
Sage 300 Online
Spire
Where installed
Your server
Cloud - hosted in US by Sage
Your server
Can run from anywhere
Y (terminal server, Citrix, Remote Desktop, etc.)
Y (requires specific browsers only)
Y (terminal server, Citrix, Remote Desktop, etc.); also, third-party apps exist for remote sales and other tasks
Developed on modern platform using modern software development tools
N
Some - code base is same as Sage 300 (formerly ACCPAC) with web "wrapper" to make it work in browser; some code is being updated, but not all
Y
Uses modern database
N (old Pervasive)
Y - MS SQL Server
Y - PostgreSQL database
Uses modern, common report writing tools
N (old Crystal Reports)
TBA
Y - current versions of Crystal Reports
Mac, Linux and Unix versions
N
Not directly; depends on specific browser, so may have limitations on other operating systems
Future (Mac and Linux at least)
Multiple company data sets, archived data sets etc. for single price
Y - unlimited
NO - duplicate monthly charges for each data set
Y
You control whether / when to upgrade
Y
NO - being hosted, you get whatever updates are implemented, whether they are beneficial or not
Y
Direct access to data for custom add-ons, data maintenance, backup or review
Y
NO - only add-ons available will need to be web-based, and custom add-ons will be very difficult / expensive
Y - API will be available to custom / third-party developers
Developer has strong reputation for customer service, responsiveness, quality software and innovation
N (not since Sage purchased BV)
NO
Y
Will work beyond the year 2020
NO - Sage is aware of hard-coded limitation in the software, has no plans to fix it
Y - should not be an issue
Y - will not be an issue
Amount of resources developer puts into developing new features / functions / updates
None - only updates now are minor bug fixes, payroll updates
Some - though most of the code is legacy, some is being ported to more recent technologies
Huge - every month, new functions / updates are being issued, primarily based on user requests
4. Cost Comparison
Feature
Sage BusinessVision
Sage 300 Online
Spire
Cost - software
Current pricing; if you're reading this, you likely already own it
Current promo, monthly cost "similar to BV"; future pricing significantly higher within 3 years (Sage shows "starting at $69 per user for first company, 1/2 price for each added company, per month, plus one-time $495 setup fee")
Pricing similar to BV; Discount if upgrading from BV; free upgrade if BV Essentials purchased before July 2015
Cost example: 10 users, 2 companies
Client Server Edition 10-user approx $13,000; annual fees approximately $2,600 per year
$69 per user x 10 users for first company, plus $34.50 per user x 10 users for second company= $1,035 per month, or $12,420 per year, every year
Initial purchase approx. $10,500; annual fees around $2,000 per year (note that initial purchase price will be much lower if you purchased BV Essentials before July 2015 or if you are upgrading from BV)
5-year software cost using above example:
$23,400
$62,100
under $20,000
Cost - implementation
None, assuming you already have it up & running
Significant costs for added Internet infrastructure, training, implementation, custom forms / reports, and user learning curve as entirely new workflows are undertaken
Moderate: installation / configuration, development of custom reports / forms if needed; learning curve is quite low, as your workflow won't need to change much
Option to purchase software outright
Y
NO - if you decide to stop paying for it, you lose access entirely
Y
5. Cost Comparison - Bottom Line
Feature
Sage BusinessVision
Sage 300 Online
Spire
The 5-year software cost using the above example bears repeating. 5 years of software-only cost for a 10-user business with 2 data sets:
$23,400
$62,100
under $20,000
So what can we conclude from these comparisons?
I think the conclusions are pretty clear:
- Sage 300 Online can probably exceed certain functionality from BusinessVision, but won't match what you have in BV plus BVEssentials, or in Spire
- Spire definitely exceeds all your current functionality that you have in BusinessVision and BVessentials (with a few current exceptions like some reports, which are in development and expected to be delivered fairly soon)
- Spire is modern, Sage 300 Online significantly less so
- There are some significant risks in buying a hosted solution (security, reliability, etc. - covered elsewhere in these pages) that you won't face with Spire
- There is only one solution that will let you keep ALL of your BusinessVision data: Spire
- Even though Sage are currently offering Sage 300 Online for about the same price as your BusinessVision annual maintenance, that's only for up to three years
- After three years, your annual cost will skyrocket to their normal Sage 300 Online rates. In the typical 10-user environment with 2 company data sets, that annual cost could be $12,420 per year, every year.
The cost for a comparable Spire installation annually (after initial purchase) will be more like $2,000 per year. Over five years, that client would save over $42,000 by using Spire instead of Sage 300 Online.
- Let's repeat that last one: Spire will cost $42,000 less over five years. And that assumes they don't increase the price in the meantime.
Conclusion:
$42,000 is a lot of money.
Additional Resources
Read more about these issues:
Please call us today if you want to discuss how you can move forward to the future in a smart, cost-effective way.
You don't need pressure from Sage, you need advice that makes sense for your business, which is our commitment.
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