Sage ERP X3 gathers market momentum

Sage ERP X3, Softline Accpac's third generation ERP solution, has rapidly become one of the leading ERP solutions since the global launch of Sage ERP X3 v6 in January 2010.

Sage ERP X3 is now available in 53 countries with 300 new customers adopting the product, taking the total number of customers globally to more than 3 000, with over 165 000 users worldwide.

Jeremy Waterman, managing director, Softline Accpac, says Sage ERP X3 has filled a gap in the local South African market. “We launched the product 30 months ago and already have over 1 000 users. I am happy with the positioning and success achieved thus far, giving a good indication of what is required within the mid-market.”

Sage ERP X3 is primarily aimed at midmarket companies looking for a cost-effective, easy to use and comprehensive solution. Sage ERP X3 can accommodate the most complex midmarket business requirements from dispersed local organisations to global HQ.

Sage ERP X3 (multi-legislative, multilingual, multi-currency solution) integrates everything to make a company more efficient in terms of analysis and reporting, financial accounting, management control and operational management (production, purchasing, sales, and inventory). As a result, the Sage ERP X3 product is constantly evolving to bring customers state-of-the-art business functionality and technology.

The latest version, V6.1, offers SAFE X3 WAS (Web Application Server) and Web Services (in REST and SOAP flavours), a new way to leverage ERP-based processes for Web and e-business solutions, including a Web portal, directory synchronisation, eclipse source editor environment and e-applications as well as REST protocol integration to facilitate collaboration. The next product upgrade to be announced next quarter will focus on Enterprise 2.0, business intelligence services and Sage Enterprise Webtop.

Christophe Letellier, Sage ERP X3 Worldwide General Manager, says: “The usability, agility and tailored provision for midmarket companies that Sage ERP X3 delivers, allows companies to get a complete view of the business unit's operations and total financial control throughout the entire organisation. Undoubtedly as more and more companies increase international operations, global sales and supplier activity they require a flexible ERP solution, with room for the solution to be tailored to fit many business requirements, be it deployable either on premise or on the Web.”

In the last twelve months, 300 new customers have adopted Sage ERP X3.

The product's simplicity, speed of implementation, cost-effectiveness and its user and Web centricity has proved popular among mid-sized companies. Recent customers include Crown Holdings, a leading manufacturer of packaging products for consumer marketing companies around the world present in 41 countries, employing 20 510 people; leading international pharmaceutical laboratory Ethypharm; Italian manufacturer Minetti SPA; Van Genechten Packaging, the pan-European specialist in packaging technology; Avmor, a global manufacturer and distributor of quality industry cleaning products; and Namakwa Diamonds, the integrated diamond resource group listed on the London Stock Exchange.

CIO of Namakwa Diamonds, Anton Jacobsz, says: “Sage ERP X3 enables us to not only run one system across the entire mine, but report on the company, region and the overall group. We are able to access the system internally and externally in real-time with a simple Internet browser. A dynamic, intuitive Web 2.0 portal incorporated in Sage ERP X3 provides easy access to the ERP and external application data. The integration of branches, subsidiaries and the seamless inclusion of other business applications is now a reality.”

In November 2010, Sage announced in conjunction with local partner, the Energy Consulting Group, the launch of Sage ERP X3 into the Russian market. Sage ERP X3 has since been localised for the Russian market with software complying with the legal requirements of the Russian Federation that supports local financial reporting and tax accounting standards.

Mikhail Ponomarev, CEO of Energy Consulting Group, says: “Sage ERP X3 is a global ERP leader in mid-sized and larger companies. According to Gartner, Sage is the third largest ERP solution provider to businesses worldwide with 8% market share, concentrating mainly on intermediate business.

“The economic potential of mid-sized companies in Russia is encouraging amid the growing business competition. Management process optimisation and cost control are high on the priority list for business owners and top managers. Several thousand companies already use Sage ERP X3 in the world, incorporating global 'best practice' into automated management, which can successfully be used in Russia,” says Ponomarev.

Letellier says: “Russia is showing a clear market demand, which presents a golden opportunity for the introduction of a new product that meets the international requirements that today's businesses demand while being truly relevant to local business practice. This is why it is not only a product, but a solution that offers local presence and expertise via Energy Consulting, who will be able to accelerate implementations and provide a best-of-breed ERP solution to our Russian clients.”

Sage ERP X3 also launched in Austria in November 2010, following the merger of two of Sage's Austrian subsidiaries in January 2010, sharpening its domestic brand identity.

Sage is pursuing its current strategy of utilising customised solutions that are tailored to meet the needs of local SMEs. It effectively broadens the global portfolio offering to international companies by providing one ERP system that is adaptable to each country of operation. “Austria is an important market for us as it is home to a host of solid international companies that will find a great fit with Sage ERP X3. I am confident that our internationally acclaimed software will prevail in the Austrian market," said Letellier.

"A variety of our mid-market customers already have international operations," says Christian Buell, Mid-Market Business Manager Sage Austria. “The EU's eastward expansion and the opening of the Chinese market are fuelling demand for software solutions that are tailored to accommodate growing international companies. With Sage ERP X3, we now offer these customers a solution that meets their multinational requirements and covers different language versions in addition to incorporating the country's specific legislation," says Buell.

Having recognised that customers increasingly require solutions to manage businesses at an international level, Sage has recently introduced an international team to support the development of the Sage ERP X3 business by sharing knowledge, skills and resources, business development, country enablement, training, consulting and international support. In addition to the international team, Sage ERP X3 benefits from Sage's existing bouquet of 580 000 midmarket companies, serving 100 employees or more. It is further bolstered by the power and proximity of the operational countries, whose activity and expertise in their own markets are key drivers for research, sales and development. Sage's global ERP X3 community now consists of more than 500 people within Sage and over 1 500 external consultants from more than 200 business partners and system integrators across the globe.

The international team is led by software veteran Christophe Vanack`ere, who joined in February 2010 as Director of International Development for Sage ERP X3. He brings with him 15 years of international business development experience gained from managing international sales teams and operations for a number of companies.

Vanack`ere says: “Our ambition is to aggressively drive growth in the 53 countries where Sage ERP X3 is established as well as expand into new territories. The increasing strength of our partner community and their industry solutions in discrete and process manufacturing, distribution and services makes Sage ERP X3 even more relevant to all midsized businesses around the world.”

Emmanuel Obadia, Senior Vice-President of Enterprise Products, now drives Marketing and Communication globally for Sage ERP X3 in addition to his responsibilities of product management and product marketing. His team focuses on driving global integrated and marketing programs, partner and alliances marketing together with a comprehensive communication and social media strategy to accelerate Sage ERP X3 leadership in all geographies.

Obadia says: “The recent appointment of our team to reinforce Sage's footprint in upper midmarket and above with Sage ERP X3 worldwide is an exciting challenge. Sage's pragmatism, business understanding and experience serving 6.3 million businesses worldwide definitely add value to our current customers and future customers. Sage effortlessly leverages business application functionalities to aid executives in meeting their goals.”