Sage previously announced Sage 1000 end of life and Sage Line 500 end of life, leaving businesses that currently rely on these systems to manage their financial data and business processes in a precarious position.

In this article, we discuss the key dates and considerations businesses using Sage 1000 and Sage Line 500 need to be aware of, as well as offer advice on the best course of action for migration.

If you’ve already decided that you’re moving away from Sage, scroll to the bottom of this page for your free 20-point guide on implementing a new system.

What does this mean for Sage 1000 and Sage Line 500 users?

The phasing out of Sage 1000 (Sage 1000 end of life) and Sage Line 500 (Sage Line 500 end of life) means that users will experience a decrease in support for several aspects of the solutions such as technical issues, developer assistance and compliance support.

This has already been happening (as Sage has been gradually reducing the levels of support provided to customers of Sage 1000 and Sage Line 500).

This will continue until the end of 2024 when the software will ultimately be rendered completely unsupported.

There are many downsides to this discontinuation. First off, customers will no longer be able to receive assistance with any functional issues or other matters concerning the software.

Furthermore, as businesses will no longer benefit from compliance support, they’ll be more vulnerable to legal risks associated with non-compliance.

The lack of developer support also means that customers will no longer be able to access customisations, modifications or updates for their systems and processes.

Additionally, if your organisation relies on a third-party service provider to support any of the software, the help desk function for escalating issues to Sage’s in-house support team will also be shut down.

It is worth noting that currently, cosmetic issues are no longer being addressed, compliance and legislative requirements have been paused, and platform support has been frozen.

It has been reported that a license from Sage will allow customers to continue using the software until 2029 (giving a 5-year grace period from 2024 when the solutions will be retired).

However, it is highly likely that businesses will encounter both internal and external issues because of the reduced support, which may force a migration discussion earlier than desired.

To avoid this, we recommend that businesses start thinking about and discussing migration to alternative solutions as soon as possible. You don’t have to wait until 2024 or 2029 as that may cause issues in your operations, slow down your organisation and cost more in the long run.

What is the Best Alternative to Sage 1000 and Sage Line 500?

When migrating from Sage 1000 and Sage Line 500, it is important to look for a system that can be tailored to fit the specific needs of your business.

An easy choice would be to choose another Sage product. However, this is a golden opportunity for your organisation to explore potentially better-suited alternatives in the market.

The new system should also be flexible and able to accommodate changes in growth and should have capabilities that match or surpass those of Sage 1000 and Sage Line 500.

It should also be able to integrate with your existing systems and data to minimise disruptions during and after the transition.

It’s also important to consider the level of support, scalability and compliance with industry standards and regulations that the new system offers.

So far, one solution that matches this description is Oracle NetSuite, the world’s #1 cloud business software suite.

Oracle NetSuite is a market-leading unified business management suite, trusted by more than 26,000+ organisations in 200+ countries.

The suite combines Enterprise Resource Planning, Financial Management, CRM, and eCommerce solutions to provide businesses with a truly cover-all customisable, customer-specific, pixel-perfect experience.

As a unified business management suite, NetSuite enables companies to manage all key business processes in a single, fully-integrated system, thereby eliminating the need for multiple enterprise applications.

From small businesses to mid-market companies to large organisations, NetSuite provides businesses with the visibility and controls to make the right decisions no matter their industry.

With no need for dedicated hardware, no upfront license fee, and no maintenance fees associated with hardware or software, it’s no surprise companies are turning to this powerful cloud-native platform to lower their operating costs and improve operational efficiency.

NetSuite also offers a wide range of customisation options, which allows businesses to tailor the system to their specific needs. This makes it easy for businesses to adapt the system to their unique processes and workflows, which can help improve efficiency and save costs.

Sage 1000 end of life and Sage Line 500 end of life: Next steps

For businesses considering making the switch from Sage 1000 and Sage Line 500 to Oracle NetSuite, the key is to start planning now. The earlier you begin the process, the more time you will have to ensure a smooth transition and minimise disruption.

Based on 25+ years of experience in implementing finance and business systems such as NetSuite for global organisations, we recommend beginning with an assessment of your current system and evaluating your unique needs. This will help you identify which features and functionalities you need from your new system.

Our experienced consultants can help you with this as well as help you map out a migration plan, develop customisations for the system, and make the transition as seamless and cost-effective as possible.

Book a FREE consultation call now to reserve your spot.

If you’ve already decided that you’re moving away from Sage, get the FREE 20-Point Guide To Selecting And Implementing An Accounting System