Timing is Everything
Migrating from Sage 50, 100, or 300 to a cloud-native ERP solution, such as Sage Intacct, sounds appealing but often involves lengthy timeframes and significant planning. For finance and accounting teams, coordinating a migration around month-end, quarter-end, or year-end closes becomes especially challenging. ERP projects are complex, requiring not only data migration but also testing, system reconfiguration, and staff retraining—all of which can cause delays.
In many cases, cloud hosting your existing Sage software offers a better path forward, allowing businesses to retain their familiar workflows without the extended downtime and disruption typical of full migrations.
How Long Does an ERP Migration Really Take?
Migrating to a new ERP platform is a time-intensive process that varies based on company size and complexity. According to industry research, medium-sized companies typically need 6 to 9 months to complete an ERP migration, while larger enterprises can take 12 to 24 months or more to go live. Even small businesses can face several months of disruption due to the complexities involved with data migration, testing, and training. Additionally, it’s common for ERP projects to fall behind schedule due to unforeseen issues, such as missing data, software bugs, or inadequate staff availability during critical phases of testing and go-live preparation.
These timelines can stretch even further if multiple business modules—such as finance, inventory, and HR—are involved, requiring extensive testing and coordination across departments (sources: Ultra Consultants, Genius ERP)
Common Roadblocks to ERP Migration Success
- Data Migration Challenges: Data stored in legacy Sage systems often needs extensive cleanup and validation before it can be imported into a cloud-native ERP. This process is prone to delays, especially when errors are detected late in the migration.
- Training and Change Management: Even though ERP vendors offer training, employees must adapt to new workflows, which takes time and effort. This often results in lost productivity in the early phases of go-live.
- Timing Constraints: Finance teams need to coordinate migrations around their busiest periods, such as quarter-end and year-end reporting, which limits the available windows for smooth cutovers.
- Testing and Reconfiguration: ERP migrations require extensive testing to ensure data integrity and that custom reports and processes work correctly. Any issues that arise during testing can push back the go-live date significantly.
Why Cloud Hosting is a Faster, Less Disruptive Option
Rather than replacing an on-premise Sage system with a cloud-native ERP, many businesses find that cloud hosting their existing Sage software offers a more efficient and practical solution. Cloud hosting allows companies to maintain their familiar workflows while gaining the benefits of remote access, security, and scalability—without the long timeframes and disruptions associated with ERP migrations.
Benefits of Hosting Sage in the Cloud:
- Quick Setup and Migration: Hosting providers can move your existing Sage system to the cloud in days or weeks, compared to the months or years needed for a full ERP transition.
- Minimal Training Required: Because users continue using the same Sage interface, there’s no need for extensive retraining or process reengineering.
- No Disruptions to Financial Periods: Cloud hosting allows your team to transition smoothly without affecting quarter-end or year-end reporting deadlines.
- Remote, Secure Access: Hosting Sage in the cloud enables multi-user access from any device, anywhere, without the need for complex VPN setups.
- Lower Costs and IT Burden: Cloud hosting eliminates the need to maintain on-premise servers, reducing IT costs and freeing up internal resources.
When Does ERP Migration Make Sense?
There are situations where a full migration to a cloud-native ERP like Sage Intacct may be the right choice—particularly for businesses that need advanced automation, real-time analytics, or significant changes to their current processes. However, such migrations should be approached cautiously, with a clear understanding of the time and resource commitments involved. For many businesses that are already satisfied with their current Sage system, cloud hosting offers the best balance of modernization and continuity.
Go Cloud with Concero
If your business wants to enjoy the benefits of the cloud without the disruptions of a full ERP migration, hosting Sage in the cloud is the ideal solution. With Concero’s Citrix-powered Cloud Desktops, you can keep using the software your team knows while gaining remote access, improved collaboration, and enhanced security—all with a much shorter timeline.
Get a free trial of Concero Cloud Desktop today to see how easy it is to transition your Sage system to the cloud. Opt-in to our newsletter for more insights into cloud technology for Canadian businesses.
