By Josh Thigpen
The buzz is here. Now that everyone knows that Sage ERP X3 version 7 exists, the question on everyone’s minds is: How is version 7 different from what I already have? In a nutshell, a lot has changed…and a lot has not changed. After reading this article, you’ll understand the biggest differences that version 7 brings to your desk, and you’ll be better able to decide how long you’re willing to wait for it.
The Absolute Biggest Difference Is…
Browser flexibility.
No longer will your Sage ERP X3 system be tied exclusively to Internet Explorer, as the program now works with a greater number of browsers. If you’ve been running X3 on a PC this whole time (and you aren’t in love with Firefox or Chrome), this doesn’t seem like such a big deal. However, for those of you out there who run Mac-based companies, this is a game changer. It used to be that if you were on a Mac you had to set up all sorts of complex workarounds just to run X3—but you don’t have to do that anymore.
Without the need for a terminal server or windows emulator, can fire up your Mac, open Safari and log in to Sage ERP X3, no need for an app.
So, I’ve got the Mac people interested, but you PC people are wondering why you should care. Here’s why:
The Second Biggest Difference Is…
Mobility.
The Sage Sales App has been available for some time now in various forms, but that requires an iPad and has limited functionality on a phone. Since Sage ERP X3 version 7 can run on a variety of browsers now, it is possible to run your company on essentially any device. The Sage ERP X3 toolkit allows you to configure your windows and screens for mobile visualization, which means you can now take your Sage ERP X3 system to go.
Here are just a few options with which you can now access your company data:
- iPhone 5s
- iPhone 5c
- Galaxy S4
- LG G2
- iPad
- HTC M8
- MacBook Air
- HP Pro (that’s what I’ve got)
- Galaxy Tab 10.1
- Other Android tablet
The Difference You See Is…
User Experience.
Here’s something cool. Sage ERP X3 version 7 looks the same on every device you use. X3’s beautiful new look and feel makes it super-intuitive and easy to learn.
Early adopters of version 7 have said that the product is now so easy to use that they can get temps up to speed within two days—which is a huge timesaver, considering how complex many X3 sites are.
It’s easy to learn because the information is set up like web content. The new look includes hyperlinked data, a universal search function (like Google for your ERP), and you can even personalize and then save your favorite/most used “pages” as bookmarks. Sage ERP X3 version 7 just makes sense.
The Difference Your Computer People Care About Is…
The back-end development.
Even though your company techies are pretty excited about X3’s new ability to run in Chrome, they’ll be really excited to learn that it’s now much easier to develop customized features and interfaces. The user interface is supremely flexible, and with native Java and JavaScript support, integration is faster and more manageable. When you tell IT about this, they’ll be psyched, but they’ll probably subject you to a monologue about everything they’re going to do better now that they can use Chrome with X3.
Which brings me to the last big difference…
Personalization.
Sage ERP X3 version 7’s new drag-and-drop screen personalization features make it easy for everyone in your company to get instant access to the data they need, immediately. This means that everyone will waste less time and, consequently, your company will become more profitable.
