In a recent SWK webinar, Technical Account Manager David Monroe explored how transitioning your Sage ERP to the cloud can revolutionize your business operations. The session highlighted the many benefits of cloud hosting, including cost savings, enhanced scalability, and robust security. It also covered crucial steps for a smooth transition from on-premise to a hosted environment, and the importance of thorough previewing and testing to ensure a seamless deployment. Finally, Dave discussed why SWK’s Secure Cloud Hosting is the optimal choice for your business’s cloud migration.
Recap of Webinar
Use this recap to skip to the sections that matter for you:
The Benefits of the Cloud (2:45 – 4:27)
The cloud offers a range of advantages that can significantly enhance your business operations, from scalability and flexibility to robust security and cost savings. By transitioning your Sage ERP to a hosted environment, you position your company to adapt quickly to changes and streamline various aspects of your IT infrastructure. Explore the key benefits that make cloud adoption a strategic choice for modern businesses.
- No costly server purchases or upgrades needed; infrastructure is provided (2:57)
- Faster scalability means your system can grow with your business (3:20)
- Built-in security protects your sensitive business data (3:49)
- Reduce operational expenses by avoiding large upfront hardware investments (4:06)
Preparing for the Transition from On-Premise to Cloud (4:28 – 7:34)
Effectively managing data migration, customizations, and integrations is essential for preserving system integrity during your Sage ERP transition to the cloud. Additionally, comprehensive training and ongoing support are crucial for adapting to the new cloud environment. Addressing these key areas during the preparation phase will help facilitate a seamless shift from your on-premise system to the cloud.
- Assessing your current infrastructure and planning to securely decommission old servers (4:43)
- Ensuring data integrity during migration (5:47)
- Reviewing customizations and integrations and ensuring their compatibility with the new cloud environment (6:10)
- Training employees to access the new cloud system, with support provided by SWK (6:40)
- Monitoring clouds and optimizing based on key performance indicators by SWK (7:12)
Cloud Environments for Sage Upgrades: Testing (7:35 – 9:16)
Before moving your Sage ERP to a cloud-based environment, it is essential to conduct further previewing and testing to ensure a smooth transition. This process includes user training, system optimization, and a variety of testing procedures to confirm the cloud environment meets your specific needs and operates efficiently. Dive into the key aspects of this process and how they contribute to a successful deployment.
- Test for data accuracy with a test environment (7:42)
- Test cloud performance with a test environment (8:07)
- Test customizations and integrations in a test environment (8:27)
- Providing a controlled test environment for users to safely and effectively familiarize themselves with new features and functions (8:50)
- Cloud test environments facilitate comprehensive backup testing and recovery procedures (9:04)
Why the Cloud is the Optimal Place for Sage (9:18 – 10:39)
This section explores why moving your Sage ERP to SWK’s Secure Cloud environment is the best choice for your organization. Discover how this transition can optimize your Sage ERP experience and drive your business forward.
- Cloud scalability allows you to adjust your user base up or down depending on the demands of a specific time (9:26)
- Cloud hosting enhances cost efficiency with predictable monthly expenses (9:50)
- Hosting Sage in the cloud provides enhanced accessibility and enables remote work (9:56)
- Identify and fix issues early, avoiding costly downtime (10:10)
- SWK’s 99.9% uptime ensures your business keeps running smoothly (10:26)
Guide to Stress Free Upgrades and Cloud Transition (10:40 – 12:48)
Dave Monroe overviews the steps for a smooth upgrade and cloud transition for Sage ERP systems. Review key steps, such as assessment and planning, engaging with SWK and Sage consultants, data preparation, testing and validation, scheduling the upgrade, and pos-upgrade support.
- Begin by conducting a comprehensive assessment of your current Sage system (10:46)
- Engage with SWK Sage consultants early on to leverage their expertise and guidance (10:55)
- Work with SWK to prepare your data for the upgrade by cleaning, consolidating, and validating to ensure accuracy and integrity (11:14)
- Have a test environment set up to validate the upgrade before deployment (11:38)
- Be sure to schedule your upgrade and migration (11:53)
- Continue to collaborate with your consultants after your cloud transition (12:05)
- Gather feedback from users to identify areas for improvement and optimization (12:15)
SWK Managed Cloud Services (13:56 – 14:39)
In this section, we will cover the advantages of transitioning to SWK’s cloud, including no upfront hardware costs, built-in-cybersecurity, and faster scalability. We’ll highlight the importance of setting up a test environment and working with SWK consultants for a smooth transition and ongoing support.
Q&A Session (14:40)
Want to learn more? This section offers insightful questions and answers about the next steps in transitioning to the cloud.
- Can we test upgrading in the Cloud and then decide whether to keep it on premise or in the cloud? (16:00)
- How many users can access the cloud environment? (16:37)
- We heavily use UDTs and UDFs, are we able to create these on our own, or do we need to go through SWK or Sage? (17:11)
- Will it cost more to host our Sage 100 instead of keeping it on-premises? (18:01)
- What is the next step to upgrade towards cloud-based software? (18:59)
- Do you have to be on a certain version of Sage 100 before migrating to the cloud (20:03)
Learn More About SWK’s Secure Cloud Hosting
Explore the benefits of SWK’s Secure Cloud Hosting for you Sage ERP system. Our solutions provide enhanced security, scalability, and efficiency for your business. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your transition to the cloud and assist with ongoing support to maximize your ERP investment.