Thinking of Replacing S100C?
Several months ago, we ran a three-part introduction to Acumatica Construction, a cloud-based ERP. We started with “What is Acumatica?” and moved to the special features that make it Construction-friendly, then the cool features that make it very modern. It’s not for everyone; for others, this will be amazing!
Why did we spend almost two years researching and digging into alternatives for Sage 100 Contractor? So glad you asked! As our clients grow and add new lines of business, some of their needs have changed. In some cases, there are increased expectations from new, often younger staff members when it comes to software. Sometimes this can be handled with additional software; sometimes additional reporting such as the use of Power BI and Power Automate tools; and sometimes, it’s time to look at a replacement.
This is a complicated topic! If you’re considering an alternative to Sage 100 Contractor, there’s quite a bit to work through and consider. As mentioned in previous newsletters, our team members are not commissioned on anything they recommend to you. We have no sales quota; we’re a technology group, consultants who are here to help you choose the best tools to run your business! It matters who you work with.
We know many of our clients are under-utilizing Sage 100 Contractor, and with a reasonable investment, could expand the use of the software they already know. You have already made this investment, have years’ worth of data, and existing procedures. This can be the least disruptive step and may meet the need. And, if it doesn’t, you are not stuck; you can still take the next step (keep reading).
Others may need to consider additional software, either with an existing integration, or a custom integration. Some of the most common include our FIT System for electronic field time; ProCore for project management; Sage Paperless or Timberscan for electronic processing of incoming AP invoices; our newest integration with BuildOps; our custom Cost to Complete with Power BI; Siteline for Lien Waivers; and more!
Still others may be ready for the bigger lift, a change in their ERP. This requires a lot more planning and re-search. This is also more challenging across your teams since you are replacing a core piece of software. There may be additional add-on products to meet the full need and integration goals. This is also more expensive and a longer timeline than the items above. BUT, this could be the laying of a new foundation for the next chapter!
Is there some magic formula to know which direction? Not really—a few clients have told me they think they’ve outgrown S100C, but we have clients in the same line of work who are more than double in size and are very happy. To be honest, this usually originates with another vendor trying to sell their ERP and planting seeds of doubt. You would be amazed at some of the large, multi-state clients we have using S100C for many years. Sure, we’ve built custom tools to streamline things as they’ve grown, but that core software program can’t be beat given their line of work and in-house labor.
Let’s talk about what’s different and the opportunities. With our Azure hosting services, staying with S100C might be just right since it’s cloud hosting. The best place to start is to look at current processes. Start with workflows, pain points, and additional reports and software you might be using, to get the full picture of what’s working and what could be improved. Then the research starts!
If you think you’re ready for an over-haul, we’d like to send you a link to our three-part recording on Acumatica Construction. After almost two years of research, we believe it is a great ‘next step’ for the construction industry.
Before you make any decision or investment, we would ask for the opportunity to talk with you. As one of our clients, we have some insight that might be helpful, and we are willing to share our research and perspective to help you make the best decision for your company! – CMW