Beyond Sage - The Online50 Community
In the December edition of this Newsletter we looked ‘under the bonnet’ of the Online50 platform. Many users would be forgiven for thinking that it is merely access to Sage Line 50 over the internet, and while Sage Line 50 is indeed a core product, Online50 is much more than just this one product. It is a technology in its own right, as well as the fastest growing community of users in the industry, and this is only just the beginning.
In the first 12 months of operation Online50 grew from a community of one accounting practice to about 60 (with over 150 offices nationwide) at the time of writing. This looks set to continue as we experience exponential user base growth, which averaged more than 15% per month over the second half of 2004.
So what makes Online50 different, and why is it so much more successful than other ASP offerings that have preceded it?
Online50 provides its services via the accounting channel to small businesses, typically with up to £5 million turnover. These firms generally rely on accountants for advice and administrative support with their accounting function, hence the first step being to enable them to work together more closely. This is a view that is shared by a number of other organisations, and we are not alone in our accounting channel strategy.
So, if Online50’s uniqueness lies not in its approach to market through the accounting channel, where does it lie? - in its approach to software. Rather than to write web based applications, we decided to write software that supports the use of standard ‘best of breed’ Windows applications. In the case of Line 50 it is the most widely used application in its class and it is a product that has lasted the test of time.
We recognise that Line 50 on its own is not enough to support most entrepreneurs and business owners. They need marketing, CRM, HR and a whole host of other integrated tools to assist them with the running of their businesses. With these comes the need for the resources and technical expertise to acquire, implement and support these systems. Online50 can reduce the barriers to adoption of best of class technology, allowing small businesses to excel.
Online50 work in partnership with accounting firms to provide the software that small businesses are demanding. From our core application, Sage Line 50, we have included add-ons, such as Job Costing, Payroll, Busydesk (CRM), and Microsoft Office, and we are negotiating licence terms with other leading providers of applications for managing HR, financial, and marketing requirements. Choice of applications is determined by the market, and access to these products is available to all Online50 partners and their clients through the branded practice portal.
We are grateful to our ever expanding community of business partners for their support and assistance with the shaping of the service. We continue to look forward to further establishing Online50 as the premier online community of accountants.
