SugarCRM vs. Sage CRM

If you are a Sage 100 ERP user looking for an integrated CRM please consider a few key questions:

1. Do you require a web-based solution where you can access Sage 100 ERP and customer related data on demand?

2. Do you require hosting your CRM solution on-premise or through a third party?

3. Do you require multi-tenant or single-tenant cloud architecture?

4. Do you require mobile client compatiblilty?

5. Do you require Social Media integration?

6. Do you require inbound marketing automation using tools such as Pardot or HubSpot?

7. Do you require the flexibility of an app exchange environment where you can add third party functionality by shopping for integrated applications?

8. Do you require customization?

9. Do you require software ownership or prefer to subscribe monthly/annually?

10. What is your budget?

First let's consider SugarCRM.  SugarCRM is a single-tenant web-based cloud application.  It can also be available on-premise with mobile client compliance. SugarCRM has native social media integration.  Organizations can leverage social media tools such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, as well as any number of social media feeds, inside their SugarCRM user interface. Unlike proprietary CRM vendors' approach to social CRM which locks users into their system, and simply enable internal collaboration around internal data inside the corporate firewall, SugarCRM extends the existing SugarCRM social platform with unlimited external data sources to foster social business value. SugarCRM allows users to listen, monitor and aggregate social data and tie it to their existing customer information in a simple structured manner, organizing world of myriad social media data sources. SugarCRM also offers integrations with inbound marketing automation applications such as Pardot, SalesFusion and HubSpot.  This enables SugarCRM users to respond to internet and email marketing opportunity faster with better intelligence.  SugarCRM has 1,000's of third party applications available for purchase via www.sugarexchange.com.  This application exchange offers users the option of purchasing extended functionality to meet the unique needs of individual businesses.  SugarCRM is an easily customized open source application.  SugarCRM is only available via annual or monthly subscription. 

Second let's consider Sage CRM a web-based on-demand multi-tenant cloud application.  Users have the option of hosting it internally.  Sage CRM is mobile client compliant and does not seem to have native social media integration compared to SugarCRM.  There is an integration available between SalesFusion marketing automation software and a third party integration with HubSpot. 

In summary our findings conclude:

• SugarCRM is Open Source which means it can be customized to do any task, be integrated with any external application, and be available for access to any application.   SageCRM is not open source.
• SugarExchange.com has thousands of add on applications that integrate with Sugar.    In addition, a new site called Sugar Outfitters is another marketplace for SugarCRM add-on applications. The Sage CRM add-on directory is available here: https://community.sagecrm.com/add_on_store/default.aspx and appears to offer around 105 add-on applications.
• Typically, multi-tenant architecture applications are one application that is shared by multiple organizations.   Single-tenant means each version of the application is replicated for each organization using the software.   In general, Single-tenant apps are significantly more customizable, because each version is specific and unique to the organization and can be customized without fear of impacting other organizations using the software. SugarCRM is single-tenant and our research indicates Sage CRM is multi-tenant.

Here is a link to a great general discussion of multi-tenant vs. single-tenant: 

http://erpcloudnews.com/2010/06/multi-tenant-versus-single-tenant-erp-a-comparison/

Attend our webinar December 20, 2012 at 10 AM PT to learn more about the Sage 100 ERP SugarCRM integration.