Adaptive makes play for Sage resellers

Adaptive Accounting is continuing its aggressive sales strategy by launching a scheme aimed at undercutting rival Sage.

Adaptive Accounting is continuing its aggressive sales strategy by launching a scheme aimed at undercutting rival Sage.

In an attempt to woo Sage resellers, the financial software company will offer them £7500 worth of products and services for only £1500 until 31 July. Adaptive ran a similar scheme aimed at Pegasus resellers which reduced the price of its software package by more than £1000.

Nigel Reading, head of sales and marketing at the company, admitted that it is pursuing the hostile marketing policy to attract more resellers.

"We have a target of 100 resellers in the coming year. We are initially aiming at the small to medium sized enterprise sector, but are not trying to put Sage out of business," he said. The most likely targets are companies with between five and 15 users.

Reading said that Microsoft has backed Adaptive's software package, and includes Accounting Office in its Visual Basic for Applications.

The package integrates easily with other programs and applications, including budget control and cash flow forecasting, Reading claimed. The company's approach to software reflects industry trends to integrate systems with ebusiness front ends.

"To be competitive you have to have a worthwhile marketing strategy, and we are just offering a package which has more flexibility than Sage Line 100," he said, claiming that Adaptive had been contacted by "discontented Sage resellers".

The scheme offers a full day of on-site training and a five-user in-house licence for live accounts and client presentations. Resellers will receive one year's support for in-house licences and pages in the partner section of Adaptive's website that link to their own sites.

Dave Malcolm, managing director of Agility Software, said: "Accounting Office offers much greater functionality than Sage Line 100."

Adaptive's software is far more flexible than its competitors' and can be easily customised, he claimed, adding that Sage resellers will find Accounting Office a useful and valuable addition.

Sage declined to comment, saying it did not discuss rivals.

First published in Computer Reseller News