Frequently Asked Questions

• Why are you changing the Sage Simply Accounting name?

  Sage has long been committed to providing small and midsized businesses with high-quality business software solutions. Over the past few years, we have made significant investments in creating common support services like Sage Business Care and Sage Advisor technology to help you get the most out of your software investments, making connected services like Sage Payment Solutions available to help you increase the effectiveness of your front and back office, and significantly improving the quality of web, phone, and community support resources to deliver a superior customer experience. In the year ahead, this trend will only continue as we build even greater strength and consistency in the Sage portfolio of solutions.

  To help signify this new level of capability, Sage is evolving its brand strategy to build a strong master brand that exemplifies our commitment to a superior customer experience. This strategy will include renaming many of our core product offerings under the Sage 50, Sage 100, Sage 300, and Sage 500 banners, which in turn will help simplify finding additional Sage solutions that are the right fit for your business, when and if you need them, at any stage in your business growth cycle.

• What does the number 50 stand for in the product name? Why a number and not a name?

  Numbers are often used in naming architectures that seek to emphasize the master brand. Examples range from Seattle’s Best Coffee® to luxury car brands to many technology hardware firms. In our case, this approach helps to emphasize the Sage brand and our goal held in common across all of our products to deliver a superior experience. At the same time, the numbers help to identify the increasing levels of functionality or sophistication of the product lines. They help to make clear which products are most suitable for a business at different stages of the business growth cycle.

• When will the name change take effect for Sage Simply Accounting?

  The new name will be implemented with the release of Sage Simply Accounting 2013 in October 2012.

• How will Sage 50 be different or better from what Sage Simply Accounting offers today?

  Sage 50 will still be the same easy-to-use, easy-to-implement small business accounting software that you use and trust today. For our customers, the efficiencies gained from uniting under the Sage name will result in future product innovations and streamlined delivery of support and services for your business.

• Will my current version of Sage Simply Accounting products still work?

  Yes, your current products will continue to work as they always have. Keep in mind that our obsolescence policy will affect which product versions will be supported in the future. We support the current version and one prior version.

• Will my subscriptions such as Sage Business Care that includes support and/or payroll, Credit Card Processing, or other add-on services change?

  You will experience no disruption to your current services or subscriptions. Plan terms and conditions will remain the same.

• Will prices change when the names change?

  Price changes are not a function of the name change. We determine pricing based on current market conditions as well as the cost of maintaining our products to the highest standards possible.

• Will this change how I get my software from you in the future? Will my purchase experience be the same or different?

  There are no expected changes to how you acquire your Sage 50 software. Plus, we are always looking for ways to make your purchase experience better.

• I understand that Sage Peachtree will also be named Sage 50. What’s the difference? And how will I make sure I get the right product?

  The two different products will retain all the individual features and functionality as they have today. Over time we hope to work more efficiently and share the best ideas from both products. However, they’ll continue to address the needs of customers in the two countries, Canada and the United States.

  To avoid confusion and to help you choose the correct product for your business, look for the designations “U.S. Edition” and “Canadian Edition,” attached to the product names and descriptions. There will continue to be distinct packaging and graphics for the two products, and we’ll limit the marketing of each to their specific geographies. This will ensure we present the best solution to our customers based on their geography.

• Why is the name of the “Enterprise” edition name changing to “Quantum”? Is the product software changing?

  No, the product software will not be changing, only the name. There are two reasons for the name change:

  1) Enterprise is currently the top-of-the-line edition within the Sage 50—Canadian Edition product line up and Quantum is the top of the line edition within the Sage 50—U.S. Edition. In order to provide naming consistency within the product lines, “Enterprise” will be renamed to “Quantum”.

  2) With the transition to the new Sage product naming hierarchy for the small business and mid-markets (Sage 50, Sage 100, Sage 300, and Sage 500), the term Enterprise is no longer a suitable name for a small business product line.

• Why aren’t the names of other Sage products I use, like Sage ACT! and Sage Timeslips changing?

  With some products, such as Sage Timeslips, our business strategy is to support our existing customer base rather than attracting new customers, in which case, it makes sense to retain the familiar product name.

  In a few cases, such as Sage ACT! and Sage SalesLogix, the products are positioned differently internationally, and it is more challenging and more confusing for our customers to change the name in these diverse markets.

• Will it be easier to integrate with other Sage products?

  In the short term, there will be no changes to product integrations. However, Sage is working on future improvements to product integrations and easier migration within the product line.

• There’s a Sage 50 UK version. Will Sage 50 incorporate some of that functionality?

  The Sage 50 Canadian, U.S., and UK Editions are distinct and separate products. Each will maintain its distinct features and functionality.

• Will there be additional benefits of using Sage 50 in the future?

  Sage is constantly improving our products. This heritage of rich feature improvements will continue, along with the benefits of Sage-wide tools, such as Sage Advisor, Sage Business Care, and Sage Business Intelligence, that will help you work more efficiently, make more informed business decisions, and get the most out of your software investment.

• What is Sage Advisor, and will it be implemented into Sage 50—Canadian Edition?

  Sage Advisor combines expert technology in our software with the expert knowledge of Sage people to help you get the most out of your Sage solutions. Yes, the plan is to implement this technology into Sage 50—Canadian Edition at some point in the future.

• How about your website and social media sites? Will they be renamed? How will I find them?

  We will change the name of the website and of the various social media channels. In addition, we are developing a plan to help bridge the transition between old and new product names, especially for the various search engines. We’ll find various ways to communicate this to you so you can continue to engage with us through the Internet.

• As a Sage Accountants Network (SAN) member or Solution Provider, does this name change mean I need to recertify under the new name?

  Since the products remain the same, recertification due to name changes will not be necessary.

• I recently purchased the Sage Simply Accounting Spanish Bilingual edition in the U.S. Can I still get upgrades and what is that product going to be called?

  The current Sage Simply Accounting product that is available in the U.S. is primarily for our Spanish-speaking customers. We will continue to support this product and its new name will be Sage 50—Spanish Bilingual Edition.

• What will the Sage 50 name be in French?

  Sage 50—Édition Canadienne