Sage offloads CRM assets
Vendor claims it is still dedicated to the CRM market despite selling off SalesLogix, Act and Non-Profit Solutions
Sage has insisted it is committed to its CRM business despite announcing the sale of a number of its CRM products.
Its Non-Profit Solutions segment has been sold to Accel-KKR and its SalesLogix and Act divisions have been snapped up by long-term partner Swiftpage, all for undisclosed fees.
The vendor is keeping hold of its Sage CRM product, which integrates with its core accounting and ERP software.
"Sage is not exiting the CRM segment and has no plans to do so," the company said in a statement.
"Our vision is to be the most valuable supporter of SMBs worldwide by creating the freedom for them to succeed. CRM is a key element of this vision, and will be delivered via Sage CRM, our CRM solution which integrates with our Sage ERP solutions."
Sage CRM strategy has been erratic in recent years. In 2010, it span off its CRM offerings into a separate unit only to reverse the decision a year later.
A thousand of the firm's 13,000 employees worldwide will be affected by today's announcement, but Sage insists that the vast majority will transfer to the buyer once the sale is complete in a few months.
The vendor also revealed that in January it agreed to sell its France-based branches C&I public authorities arm, automotive branch Auto and transport and food market segment ATL to French firm Argus Soditic.
Sage's Spain-based Aytos public authorities arm will also be bought by the firm. The vendor added that all staff affected by this sale will remain in employment with the new firm.
Sage claimed Swiftpage was a natural choice as it has been a long-standing partner and "knows the products and customers well". The duo says it will be business as usual for departing customers and partners.
However, rival CRM provider Workbooks reckons that working with US-based Swiftpage may cause customers problems.
Sales director Ian Moyse said: "This may present customers with a new dilemma under Swiftpage as the new owner is a US vendor, meaning US data laws apply to any data stored in SalesLogix systems, be they in the UK or not."