After two decades and thousands of satisfied customers, Sage Line 500 and, its predecessor, Sage 1000 officially retire on the 31st of December, 2024. But what does that mean for customers like you who continue to run their businesses on the software?
Following the announcement in January 2022, managing director Stuart Morland shared his expert insight into the Sage 1000 retirement. Watch the interview or read on for answers to your biggest questions, including:
Following the January 2022 announcement, Sage stopped development on Sage 1000 in December 2022 and will continue to support the software until the 31st of December 2024.
During these two years, Sage have been gradually reducing the level of support it provides to Sage 1000 customers and accredited partners, like Datel. Beyond 2024, Sage will issue software licences for five years that allow customers to use the software up to 2029. This two year window to December 2024 has given you time to:
So, is 2024 the end for Sage 1000?
Yes and no. Yes, from a Sage point of view. The end of 2024 is the milestone date at which point they'll cease supporting Sage 1000 and Sage Line 500. However, Sage are going to issue a licence which will take customers through to 2029.
Stuart Morland, Managing Director
Once support ends, Sage will no longer guarantee the product. It will stop releasing regular updates, software patches, and bug fixes, withdraw compliance support, and close its help desk. The upshot is Sage 1000 won’t be updated to include legislative changes, bug fixes and other issues, and, as other technology retires (such as SQL server versions) it won’t be updated to work with newer technology.
Accredited Sage 1000 partners can continue to support customers who decide to stay on the software until 2029 on a reasonable endeavours basis. However, they will be limited in what issues they can address as there is no access to the development code.
We interviewed Sage’s vice president in charge of the retirement, Stephen McNicol, who shared more on why they are retiring the solution and what to expect from Sage. Watch it here.
Running your business and finance operations on Sage 1000 after December 2024 exposes you to certain risks.
Unpatched software is more vulnerable to hackers and falls short of the minimum requirements for cybersecurity certifications, like Cyber Essentials and ISO 27001. The simple truth is that using retired software isn’t only a technology challenge – it’s a serious business issue that can affect you and your customers.
Software developers constantly refine their solutions to adapt to changing requirements, life cycles of platforms and to meet new challenges. But this process only lasts for as long as they support the software. When Sage 1000 support ends, there’s no guarantee your software will function as it has in the past or meet your needs.
Unsupported software doesn’t receive regular security patches, making it more susceptible to cyber-attacks. Even the simplest techniques can give hackers access to your systems and data. This is problematic for any software, but especially for an ERP solution.
Cybercrime costs UK businesses £15,300 a year on average. But it’s not only the financial impact you must consider. Suffering a data breach can seriously harm your reputation among customers and suppliers. Given the choice, who would you work with? A company that’s suffered multiple cybersecurity breaches, or one with a spotless record?
After 2024, Sage 1000 will no longer meet the minimum IT security standards demanded by Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, and similar cybersecurity certifications. This could put your current accreditations at risk and prevent you from attaining new ones.
Today’s security-conscious customers pay close attention to your cybersecurity credentials. It’s a crucial factor in deciding who to work with. Losing your certified status could make it harder to attract and retain customers.
Rather than waiting for issues to arise, start conversations now. Think about what the next steps are for your business.
Stuart Morland, Managing Director
With Sage 1000 end of life drawing ever nearer, we recommend reviewing your migration options as soon as possible.
Start by thinking about your business goals and what you require from a new finance and business solution. This will help you create a shortlist of the most suitable alternatives. Consider what you need from an implementation partner. Do you need step-by-step guidance for each stage of your project, technical support, or a combination of the two?
Systemic business change can feel daunting. However, migrating to a new ERP solution isn’t only about avoiding risk. It’s also an opportunity to evaluate and improve your business processes and operations.
Sage offers a range of ERP and financial management solutions to suit businesses of all sizes, available through Datel. For Sage 1000 customers, we recommend:
Sage Intacct is a scalable, cloud-based financial management solution for multi-entity organisations with detailed requirements. Built-in automation empowers finance teams, providing real-time insights and helping them work more efficiently to accelerate growth.
Sage X3 is a flexible ERP solution for global, product-centric organisations. With a flexible, modular architecture that adapts to your needs, Sage X3’s market-leading capabilities let you manage every aspect of your business from one powerful platform.
Sage 200 is an all-in-one business management solution for rapidly growing SMEs. From financials to supply chains, it connects every business unit to give you unrivalled visibility and control. Like Sage X3, it boasts a flexible design. It also supports a range of add-ons and integrations, so you can customise and adapt your solution to your needs.
Whether you need ongoing Sage 1000 support or help migrating to a new ERP solution, Datel can help. We’ve worked with many Sage 1000 businesses migrating to Sage 200, Sage X3 and Sage Intacct to ensure they transition effectively to a their new solution.
Our experts guide you every step of the way. From selection to implementation, change management, and onboarding, we help you find the best migration route for your business.
That depends on several factors, including the type and complexity of your solution and number of users.
Our migration projects follow a tried and tested implementation methodology to deliver your project quickly and efficiently. Clear milestones and dedicated project management teams support you at every stage, keeping your project on track and disruption to a minimum.
The 2029 date for support ending for Sage 1000 could provide you with an opportunity to ignore the risks today and remain on the platform. But, the longer you leave addressing the issue, the harder it will become. Your business risks remaining on unsupported software from December 2024 which could bring considerable risk if left unaddressed.
Taking the steps towards your migration project today will prevent issues from arising in 2025 and beyond.