Let’s be transparent about the elephant in the room. This doesn’t come up enough in ERP sales conversations, but it should: implementations can go sideways.
Sometimes, projects run over budget. Frequently, timelines stretch. Often, businesses go live on software they don’t fully understand and then spend months filling in the gaps.
In our opinion, all of these are failed implementations. And we should know, because we’re often the ones who get called in to fix those issues.
After 30+ years and 700+ successful Sage 100 implementations, VBCC has seen what happens when the process breaks down – and we’ve built our entire approach around making sure it doesn’t. That starts with a commitment to being straightforward about what the process actually looks like, from the first conversation to go-live and beyond.
If you’ve ever wondered what an implementation for Sage 100 should look like, here’s your answer.
It Starts With Listening, Not Selling
Many implementation firms show up with a canned demo and oversimplified answers. We show up with questions.
Before we propose anything, we schedule a discovery call to understand your actual challenges. We’re not there to pitch you software, but to accurately figure out whether and how we can genuinely solve your problems.
From there, we can prepare a custom demo using your own data, so you can see exactly how the proposed solution would work for your specific business. If you have additional needs or requirements we initially overlooked, we’ll update your demo until it’s right.
Why this matters to you: If you want a custom demo, you’ll see your own business reflected back at you in Sage 100 before you sign anything.
A Sage 100 Implementation Process Refined Over 700+ Projects
Once you’re ready to move forward, your implementation begins in earnest. And it follows a process we’ve spent three decades refining:
- We build a project plan directly from your accepted proposal with nothing generic and nothing copied and pasted.
- We hold a kick-off meeting to confirm and clarify expectations for our agreed-on scope, hours, and timelines.
- We follow a proven framework, including a custom setup checklist, custom configuration to your specs, and proprietary import templates we developed to ensure none of your Master file data gets lost in translation.
- We run weekly project management meetings to keep everything on track.
- Our in-house training experts train your core team members, or we use a “train the trainer” approach for larger organizations. We focus heavily on month-end training and help you document detailed process instructions.
- We walk you through process flow testing to confirm everything works the way you expect and that all (and we mean all) your processes are fully accurate before you’re ever asked to go live.
Why this matters to you: Every step is documented, tested, and approved, and you are always in the know about project status and roadmap. Nothing is left to chance, nothing is assumed, and there’s no guesswork. Ever.
Go Live and What Comes After
Go-live day is carefully monitored by your VBCC implementation team. We’re there as your team gets comfortable with the new system, and we keep communication open to ensure your transition is smooth.
After go-live, our relationship doesn’t end. It deepens.
Post-launch support includes additional training that matters more after go-live, such as General Ledger reconciliation or advanced functions, and we provide ongoing assistance as your team becomes more comfortable with the software over time. VBCC support is available Monday through Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM CST, with weekend and after-hours support available by appointment on an as-needed basis.
We also ensure you have comprehensive 24/7 access to Sage’s support articles, product documentation, and the latest software downloads and updates in the Sage Knowledgebase.
Why this matters to you: You won’t be handed a user manual and wished good luck. We’ll still be there, whenever you need us. And you won’t have to initiate help all the time. We can schedule training sessions to enhance your understanding of Sage 100, and we’ll check in with you regularly. A lot of people throw around the term “your success matters to us,” but we actually mean it.
The Team Behind the Process
VBCC was started by Joe Jenders, a public accountant who got tired of watching his clients struggle with software implementations and decided to do something about it. From the beginning, he built VBCC’s reputation around solving client problems, not selling software licenses.
More than three decades later, that philosophy hasn’t changed. It’s grown bigger. Our national team of expert consultants has an average of 20+ years of experience, has very little turnover, and serves clients in 40 of the 50 states.
Why this matters to you: The team that implements your system will still be there when you call with a question years from now. We won’t hand you off to some junior consultant who just passed a certification exam and has never heard of you. We’ll keep you connected with the team members you’ve developed relationships with – the folks who know you, have seen your exact situation before, and can really help.
Get to Know Who You’ll Be Working With
A successful Sage 100 implementation isn’t something we do to your business. It’s something we build with your team. Your deep knowledge of your business, combined with our deep knowledge of Sage 100, gets us working together toward an outcome that fits your exact needs.
To us, that means getting to know your operations, your challenges, and the people who will be living in the software every day. It also means giving you the opportunity to get to know us, too. Not just as consultants, but as partners who will be in your corner long after go-live.
Start by finding out more about the team you’d be working with.
