Sage UK gives CRM its own unit
Vendor to create dedicated CRM division to provide tailored support
Sage advice: The company's partners are pleased with the move
Sage UK resellers have hailed the vendor’s decision to hive off its CRM products into a dedicated business unit as it strives to be seen as more than just an accountancy vendor.
The UK arm of the FTSE firm is appointing a general manager - thought to be CRM stalwart Carlene Jackson - at the end of this month who will oversee and attempt to grow its Sage CRM and Saleslogix business.
Previously, the two products sat within the vendor’s enterprise division alongside its Sage 1000 and ERP X3 offerings.
Greg Ford, managing director of Sage’s Mid-Market Division, said the move would mean Sage’s 30-odd CRM specialist partners would enjoy more tailored marketing and support.
Ford told CRN: “The unit has 25 people to begin with but we expect that to grow. We have a great product that is globally recognised and has significant customers and that is why we want to capitalise on that market.”
Sage partners strongly backed the move, arguing the vendor had lost focus on CRM over the past three years as it eschewed point products in favour of an integrated suite approach.
Mike Ramsay, managing director of DMC Group – which claims to be Sage’s largest CRM reseller – said: “Sage is far more than a small business accounting vendor and the world needs to know that. Pound for pound Saleslogix eats anything else for breakfast.”
Jo Fulton, sales and marketing director at Sage partner Datel, said: “We are very pleased about this as CRM can be quite a different beast from ERP.
"We are not against the idea of having complete a suite – but this will allow us to go in with CRM as the first port of call and then extend out to ERP."
Steve Attwell, general manager of Sage’s Business Partner & Channel division, claimed new license sales had picked up since January.
“The last 18 months for any channel partner in ICT selling new licenses has been pretty tough. Sage partners have had the luxury of a large install base so they have focused on existing customers but this calendar year we have seen significant uptake in new license sales.”