Last week in Denver, Sage hosted its annual Insights partner conference. As always, Simplesoft Solutions was in attendance and this year was represented by President, Don Menrisky and I.   Traditionally, Insights provides many of the third party software solution vendors a way to showcase what’s new and exciting, and this year’s conference was no different. We saw some valuable tools and add-ons to help drive value for our customers and serve their customer’s better. However we felt the true excitement came from Sage and the company’s plans for the future of SalesLogix.  We are pleased with their roadmap and vision. 

Insights Conference 2010

I thought I would provide a “preview” of what’s coming over the next year in part.  Sage has several releases planned with the release of  Sage SalesLogix v7.5.3, due in the next 60 days, and version 8.0 in the first quarter of 2011.  And I’m sure you have heard about the new “cloud” offering as they partner with Amazon EC2 to offer a SaaS version of SalesLogix. What does this mean for you? It means  lot of really valuable functionality, which will continue to set SalesLogix apart as the leading innovative CRM tool in the marketplace and extend the capabilities of the tools.  Here’s a preview of what you can expect: 

Sage SalesLogix v7.5.3: 

• Includes new web analytics and dashboard reporting tools designed to be easily created at the user level. Charts, graphs, and group lists are a few of the user-created options for user driven productivity.
• Browser agnostic Desktop Integrations (Think SendSLX and Drag and Drop using FireFox etc.)  
• Web administration – previously handled in the Application Administrator, a LAN based tool. Web administration will simplify the process of managing users, roles, teams & security and other vital features for SLX web users.  (Think remote administration without RDP access.)
• v7.5.3 due to be released in the cloud in the June/July timeframe, and available to on-premise deployments in late July or August.

 Sage SalesLogix v8.0: 

• New user interface for both the LAN and Web clients, more closely matched to each other.
• Increased focus on easing critical usability functions, including:
  • Contextual menus
  • Activity and calendar management
  • Note recording and viewing (split form to match LAN client)
  • Inserting contacts and accounts
• Quick editing of forms to add and edit forms, with no need to build and redeploy to users
• v8.0 expected in Q1 2011

In addition to these client enhancements, a completely re-designed Mobile Client is expected by Q1 2011 as well. This new version has been designed to roll seamlessly across any mobile platform using an HTML 5 browser, including the iPhone, Android and most new Windows and BlackBerry devices. Sage provided a link during the conference to preview the new environment, and we are very excited about what we have tested. 

Finally, we are excited about the strategic direction Sage has taken to include more Connected Services, which we believe to be critical to the ongoing success of SalesLogix. The first release of this effort of this strategic plan has come in the form of Sage SalesLogix E-Marketing, released this month. In the near future, we can expect to see integrations to Hoovers, as well as other commonly used and valuable business resources extended through web services. 

As our relationship with Sage SalesLogix grows, so does our continued commitment to our customers.   I wanted to send the entire Sage team a big thanks for hosting another successful Insights conference.  We have so much to share with our customers back in Ohio.  The next Sage conference will be Sage Summit 2011 in Washington DC. 

If you’d like to preview Sage SalesLogix v7.5.3 in the cloud you can start a 30 day free trial. E-mail us at sales@simplesoft.net or call us today at 937-885-1204 x 3210.