Sage evolves cloud proposition with “Sage CRM Cloud”

London, TFM&A, 29th February 2012 – Sage (UK) Limited, a leader in business software and services, has today strengthened its portfolio of online business solutions with the UK launch of Sage CRM Cloud. With Rackspace’s new hybrid hosting technology - RackConnect™ - as its backbone, the solution delivers the reach, flexibility and rapid time-to-value of traditional Software as a Service (SaaS) empowering businesses to capitalise on the benefits of CRM in the cloud and choose how, when and where they manage critical customer information.

Sage CRM Cloud will initially be available in two versions - Professional and a new Essentials edition - which leverage Rackspace’s flexible cloud resource and have specifically been designed to enable small and mid-size companies to get started with an affordable, but well-featured and user-friendly, CRM package that can grow and develop as they become more adept and confident in its use.

Implemented by over 10,000 organisations in 70 countries worldwide, Sage CRM provides an unrivalled gateway to CRM success for businesses of all sizes and complexities, managing every aspect of customer interactions and transforming levels of accessibility, information management and customer insight. The latest Sage CRM Cloud solution is the newest addition to Sage (UK’s) family of online business solutions which includes pure play SaaS with SagePay and Sage One, mobile services such as Sage 200 with RIM and its award-winning managed services Sage 50 online and Sage SalesLogix Cloud.

“The future of business computing is in the cloud, yet data security and compliance remain paramount for mid market organisations today who increasingly want the reliability and security to view their customer data in a way that best suits their needs”, explained Jayne Archbold, Managing Director for Sage’s Mid Market Division.

Unique benefits of Sage CRM Cloud include:

• Full-featured CRM: Includes everything from contact management, multi-channel campaign management, mobile access to business analytics and reporting, and customisation capabilities.

• Relevance: Sage CRM has been optimised specifically for small to mid-sized enterprises to deliver rapid route to value. A comprehensive out of the box feature set combined with simple configuration, means Sage CRM Cloud is easy to use and quick to deploy

• Accessibility: Accessible on iPhone and Android smart phones integrating seamlessly with MS Outlook and making it the perfect business management tool for those on the move

• Peace of Mind: With a 30 day trial providing users with instant access to the software, businesses can be up and running immediately and have the flexibility to decide if the cloud is the right CRM deployment option for their business

• Security: Organisations have full control over the data users can access

• Payment flexibility: Sage CRM Cloud starts from £20 per user per month, and payment structures are flexible to users’ needs

“At Sage, we are passionate about making it easier for people to do business and Sage CRM Cloud builds on this commitment by giving customers the flexibility, reliability, security and support to connect services and view their customer data in a way that best suits their needs now and in the future”, commented Archbold. “Sage CRM Cloud is a significant addition to our online family of software and services and sets a new standard for organisations to benefit from the cost, scalability and access benefits of cloud computing.”

“Sage has been innovative in its approach to building and offering an on-demand CRM solution. The company has drawn heavily on its experience, knowledge and core competencies, all combined with a clever market foresight and the recognition of a need to provide for elasticity in its own services layer. The result for the company is a clear direction and online portfolio that gives its customers the flexibility to deploy their technology in a way that can help deliver optimum results over time,” said Nigel Beighton, International VP of Technology at Rackspace Hosting.

Sage believes customers should not only have the freedom to choose the right solutions for their needs but also have the support and flexibility to manage those services as they choose. As the company continues to integrate more solutions offline, online and on mobile devices, it will give customers greater flexibility in licensing models with more immediate controls over access and subscriptions.

For more detailed information about Sage CRM, or to download a FREE 30-day trial of the Essentials or Professional version visit the website at www.sagecrm.com/uk/ or contact the sales team at www.sagecrm.com/uk/contactus/.

ENDS

About The Sage Group plc

The Sage Group plc is a leading global supplier of business management software and related products and services, primarily for small to medium-sized enterprises. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989. Sage has 6.3 million customers and 13,600 employees worldwide, operating in over 24 countries covering the UK, Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia, India and China. For further information please visit www.sage.com.

About Sage (UK) Limited

Sage (UK) Limited is a subsidiary of The Sage Group plc, a leading global supplier of business management software solutions and related products and services, principally for small to medium-sized enterprises. In the UK, Sage provides software and services to more than 800,000 businesses ranging from start-ups to large companies. This software ranges from accounts and ERP, HR and payroll, forecasting and business intelligence to customer relationship management, e-business and help for start-ups. Services include Excel Support, HR Advice, Health and Safety Advice and training courses.

About Sage CRM

Sage CRM is used by over 10,000 organisations in 70 countries worldwide to manage their critical sales, marketing and customer service activities every day. Award-winning Sage CRM equips businesses with the tools they need to find new customers, close sales faster and build lasting, more profitable relationships across all channels. Regardless of how, when or where customers, partners and prospects choose to interact with your business, Sage CRM provides a decisive advantage by delivering a comprehensive, easy-to-use system to successfully manage these relationships. Thanks to its ERP integration capabilities, the Sage CRM front-office is powered by data from the back-office to give sales, marketing, customer service and other front-office staff a true 360 degree view of customers across front- and back-office functions, differentiating it from many other CRM solutions in the market today.

Visit the Sage CRM Ecosystem at www.sagecrm.com to join the conversation on our user and partner communities and to access the full range of Sage CRM apps and extras.