Executive Summary

• This is the Brightwork Research & Analysis software rating series.
• We rate both the software and estimate the risk of implementing each application.

MUFI Rating & Risk for Sage X3

MUFI: Maintainability, Usability, Functionality, Implement ability

Vendor: Sage (Select For Vendor Profile)

Introduction

Sage is one of the few enterprise software vendors we cover that is not based in the US. Sage is based in the UK and is the most popular ERP vendor for smaller businesses, although they have very few customers above this level.

Sage, like Infor, has quite a few ERP products. These are Sage 100, Sage Advanced ERP, Sage 500 ERP, Sage 300 ERP and Sage ERP X3. Sage is phasing out or sunsetting Sage 500, and the flagship ERP for Sage is to be Sage X3, and in fact, this is the only ERP system that Sage promotes on its website.

Application Detail

While Sage offers a full ERP system, but its accounting module is the most highly regarded of all its ERP modules. The overall ERP application has a very lightweight feel and is easy to use. The reporting capability of ERP system is one of the best out there, as is its workflow capabilities. This allows users to determine the step in the process that a financial object is in – a very valuable capability.

Sage X3 is browser-based – meaning that it is extremely easy to create shortcuts to areas of functionality within any browser. This leverages the bookmark functionality of browsers, which is far better than trying to rebuild this bookmark functionality within the application. And actually, we have yet to see any ERP system, except for ERPNext, which has better bookmark functionality than a browser (of course because ERPNext is also browser-based, one can use the browser’s bookmarks in addition to the applications’ bookmarks)

Most of the initial screens are just web pages and come with a great deal of instruction as to what to do. Forms are quick and logical to understand and come with links for more explanation. Something we have been asking for in all applications regardless of the software category is a search box, allowing all of the functionality to be searched comes standard with Sage X3, greatly improving user productivity.

Sage X3 is overall a very forward thinking application, which puts ERP systems like SAP and Oracle to shame when it comes to usability and user productivity.

Sage X3 scores well on the speed of implementation as well. We estimate they will take longer than Rootstock and ERPNext, our implementation time leaders, but as Sage is a more complex product than Rootstock, the comparison is not apples to apples. Sage would be the fastest implementing ERP system, which is towards the more complex end of the spectrum. In fact, the speed of implementation that is reported to us leaves us scratching our head – and leaves vendors like Epicor, Oracle – that is other ERP applications in the same category looking quite slow.

A major benefit is of course not being implemented by the major consulting companies which our research shows greatly extends out the length of the implementation – however, Epicor is also generally not promoted by major consulting companies, and Sage implementations are still quite fast in comparison.

MUFI Scores

All scores out of a possible 10.

Vendor and Application Risk

Brightwork Research & Analysis Risk Defined: (See This Link for Our Categorization of Risk)

Sage X3 is similar to Infor Lawson in that the system is a good application which rates well for implement ability, but the software vendors are towards the weaker side regarding consulting and organizationally overall.

Likelihood of Implementation Success

This accounts for both the application and vendor-specific risk. In our formula, the total implementation risk is application + vendor + buyer risk. The buyer specific risk could increase or decrease this overall likelihood and adjust the values that you see below.

Risk Definition

See this link for more on our categorizations of risk. We also offer a Buyer Specific Risk Estimation as a service for those that want a comprehensive analysis.

Risk Management Approach

Risk management for Sage X3 should be focused on getting the right resources and managing these resources. Sage has grown into a software conglomerate, and its sales arm will try to use Sage X3 to pitch other applications, and it is emulating SAP and Oracle in this regard.

Finished With Your Analysis?

To go back to the Software Selection Package page for the Big ERP software category. Or go to this link to see other analytical products for Sage X3.

References