Our Marketplace

Sage’s product development is based on our belief that SMEs require products tailored to their local market requirements. Our product development strategy is strongly customer-led and based on customer feedback from the 36,000 customer service calls we handle daily on a global basis.

“Local products for local markets” is the cornerstone of our business strategy and it allows us to occupy a unique segment of the software market.

Sage’s Competitive Profile

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The software industry is highly innovative, and the market for business management software continues to evolve. Our entry-level products are migrating to using a common database platform, MYSQL, to satisfy customer demand for increased functionality, integrated software solutions and lower overall cost of ownership.

In the mid-market, choice of operating systems and databases is important to many of our customers, therefore we remain committed to working with a range of operating systems and databases. As our customers grow, they demand more sophisticated applications for managing their businesses, tailored to the requirements of their specific industry. Sage continues to broaden the range of industry-specific solutions we offer globally to our customers.

Global leadership

The diversity of our distribution channels is one of our key business strengths. Each operating company works closely with an influential “referral” group, usually accountants and business advisors, who act as advocates for our products in the market. Worldwide, we have over 40,000 advisors recommending Sage products to their clients. We are also developing new referral networks, such as the partnership we initiated with Barclays Bank in the UK, who sell Sage business management products to their small business customers.

In addition, we have over 25,000 business partners and certified consultants promoting our products to the market. Most of these business partners are long-term Sage partners with in-depth specialist knowledge of Sage products. They keep us in touch with market dynamics and help us develop products tailored to local needs, particularly in the mid-market sector that often has unique requirements.