Sage Software Introduces SageCRM v6 With New User Training Tools and Enhanced System Administration Capabilities

Market Wire, February, 2007

Sage Software announced today the latest version of its award-winning customer relationship management (CRM) solution, SageCRM v6, for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). SageCRM delivers a feature-rich and customizable suite of sales, marketing and customer support capabilities through a Web-based architecture that allows users the freedom to choose flexible deployment options including on-premises, on-demand and wireless. Version 6 introduces new user training tools including instructional feature tours and on-screen coaching, new data management features including expanded search queries and grouping functionality, and enhanced system administration capabilities.

"Meaningful user experiences and tangible results guide CRM adoption," said Elvin Monteleone, senior vice president and general manager for Sage CRM Solutions. "SageCRM remains true to this philosophy by applying a special focus on user and system administrator productivity in this latest release. Sage Software continues to deliver affordable and flexible CRM solutions that provide the multiple deployment options, feature configurations and integration capabilities our customers require to operate their businesses successfully."

SageCRM also enables bi-directional front- and back-office integration with Sage Software accounting and business management solutions including Sage Accpac ERP, as well as integrations with Sage Pro ERP, Sage MAS 90 ERP and Sage Timberline Office, in addition to a variety of third-party back-office systems.

"The topic of CRM user adoption is always present," noted Denis Pombriant, Beagle Research managing principal. "Retaining a focus on usability and training tools within CRM systems as they mature from version to version is a wise approach. Additionally, continued focus on business system integration, as evident with the Sage CRM Solutions product offerings, helps ensure that organizations have the necessary options to align their front- and back-office systems for data sharing."

SageCRM v6 User Enhancements

A new Quick Start tab provides access to on-screen training and coaching tools including instructional videos, user preference setup wizards, feature summary captions and quick tips that assist users as they navigate SageCRM.

An advanced search engine includes a redesigned interface that can now search for keywords within communications such as e-mails and phone logs. Advance query building supports "and/or" searches and allows users to specify search fields and values.

New data segmentation capabilities allow users to create static or dynamically updated groups that can contain people, companies, opportunities and other data categories to better organize and automatically update records based on common characteristics.

Enhanced Microsoft® Outlook® integration allows SageCRM to be used within the Outlook folder navigation pane or via a SageCRM toolbar in Outlook. A new company record can be created in SageCRM when adding a contact to Outlook, while also checking for duplicate records. Users can file individual e-mails or batches of e-mails sent from Outlook in SageCRM and attach global documents in new Outlook e-mails.

SageCRM v6 Administration Enhancements

Enhanced SageCRM v6 system administration capabilities include an improved territory tree for moving records from one sales territory to another and for merging sales territories. Shared data fields and multiple records can be updated in a single step.

Simplified field-level security throughout the product requires no coding and can be applied using checkboxes for granting or restricting data access for individual users, specific user type profiles and teams.

SageCRM v6 also adds support for the telephony server application programming interface (TSAPI) and for computer-supported telecommunications applications (CSTA).

About SageCRM

SageCRM is an easy to use and feature-rich CRM solution that integrates vital sales, marketing and customer support information for small and mid-sized businesses. Sage CRM provides flexible deployment options and is available as an on-demand CRM solution at SageCRM.com, or as an on-premises CRM system. SageCRM also includes a remote data synchronization client and support for wireless devices.

SageCRM is available for $595 per user for on-premises licensing and $69 per user per month for on-demand SageCRM.com deployment. SageCRM offers rent-to-own investment protection that allows customers to apply 50 percent of their first year SageCRM.com subscription costs towards migration to a SageCRM or Sage SalesLogix solution.

SageCRM and SageCRM.com are part of Sage CRM Solutions, the only family of CRM products designed specifically for the needs of small and medium-sized businesses that also includes ACT! by Sage and Sage SalesLogix. For more details, visit www.sagecrmsolutions.com or call (800) 643-6400.

About Sage Software

Sage Software supports the needs, challenges and dreams of more than 2.7 million small and mid-sized business customers in North America through easy-to-use, scalable and customizable software and services. Our products support accounting, operations, customer relationship management, human resources, time tracking, merchant services and the specialized needs of the construction, distribution, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit and real estate industries. Sage Software is a subsidiary of The Sage Group plc, a leading international supplier of accounting and business management software solutions and related products and services for small and mid-sized businesses. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and the Group now has 5.2 million customers and employs over 13,000 people worldwide. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.sagesoftware.com/moreinfo or call (866) 308-2378.