Before you sign a contract, use these 9 essential questions to evaluate your options for Sage resellers, so you can choose a partner who will truly help your business thrive during implementation, ongoing customization, and long-term support.
Sage 100 has been a consistently popular ERP solution since the 1980s. Over the decades, it’s been sold and supported by a wide variety of Sage 100 resellers. Some of those resellers are outstanding. Some of them are shamefully inept.
Here’s the hard truth: even great ERP software can fail your business if it’s implemented and supported by the wrong partner. A reseller who lacks experience, clear processes, or genuine investment in your success can turn a powerful system into a costly, frustrating mess. The software is only as good as the team behind it.
Make sure you find the best partner. Ask Sage 100 resellers you’re considering these 9 questions before you sign a contract.
Getting Started with Sage 100
The answers to these questions will help you understand how smooth your reseller can make your initial Sage 100 setup.
1. What is your experience with migrating data to Sage 100?
All data-capture systems (spreadsheets, QuickBooks, ERPs) have their own quirks, and experienced resellers have documented processes for migrating data out of commonly used systems. When faced with a less familiar one, a true data migration expert should quickly start to ask smart questions about how to navigate it. If they don’t, delays are likely.
2. What does your typical implementation plan look like?
All good resellers follow the Sage framework, but only some have a crystal-clear, proven process with sequential, logical, road-mapped steps. Go with one of those.
3. How do you handle training, and is it remote or on-site? Do you provide both initial and ongoing training?
Full disclosure: Sage 100 is not intuitive to use. Your staff will need training, both initially and as you hire or promote staff. There’s no 100% right answer here; just ensure the reseller meets your training preferences.
Personalizing Your System
The answers to these questions indicate how well each of the Sage 100 resellers you’re considering can meet your unique business needs.
4. How do you handle reporting? Can you create custom Crystal Reports?
Crystal Reports is Sage 100’s primary reporting tool. Sage has strong built-in reporting capabilities, but your reseller should create initial custom reports for you, so you have them ready to use on Day 1. They should also be happy to create complex reports for you in the future.
5. Can you effectively demonstrate customized screens and workflows, so we can get a clear view of how customizable the system is?
You will want custom fields, grids, and workflows that leverage different Sage modules. Ask resellers for suggestions on how to streamline your system, and make sure they can make those suggestions a reality.
6. What third-party add-on products do you recommend to enhance Sage 100?
Over the decades, Sage 100 has built an impressive ecosystem of “commercial, off-the-shelf” (COTS) solutions, providing targeted functionality at a reasonable cost. But to the untrained eye, a lot of them look exactly the same. It’s hard to properly compare them yourself, so your reseller should have definite opinions on what you should use and why.
7. Do you know how to work with a range of third-party solutions?
As your company evolves, you’ll want to implement a range of COTS solutions (from question 6), each handled by a third-party development company. By choosing a reseller trained to assist with those solutions, you can better ensure that your Sage needs are addressed by a single point of contact: your reseller.
Supporting Your System Long-Term
The way Sage 100 resellers answer these questions indicates the quality of support you’ll get over the years.
8. What are your help desk support options?
If your Sage system goes down, you can’t run your business (or you can’t run it for long). Your reseller should offer personalized, knowledgeable support during standard business hours and be easy to reach when you need them. If your company might ever require it, it’s worth asking upfront whether they’re open to scheduled after-hours support as well.
9. How do you help customers identify opportunities for ROI?
Great Sage 100 resellers are your long-term partners. Since they truly want your business to succeed, they’ll reach out with helpful suggestions and recommendations when they come across something they think would enhance your business.
The Right Partner Changes Everything
Choosing an ERP system is a major investment, and the reseller you choose will shape your experience with it for years to come. The right partner will smooth your implementation, tailor your system to your needs, and keep your team confident and supported.
Ask these nine questions, listen carefully to the answers, and trust your instincts. The best resellers won’t just have the right credentials; they’ll make you feel like you’re already in good hands.
See What a Great Sage 100 Partnership Looks Like. Contact Us to Get Started
