accpac erp architecture Brochure
Understanding the Benefits of the Sage Accpac ERP Architecture
3
Sage Accpac ERP
Technology
Technology
Introduction
Why is it important to understand the architecture of a business management software system?
The answer is straightforward. When choosing a business management solution, you are making
an investment. The immediate and ongoing costs include licensing the software, training staff,
and adjusting business processes. Selecting a product with superior functionality will deliver a
quick payback from more efficient operations. Selecting a product with a superior architecture will
ensure that your investment will continue to pay dividends for many years, as well.
The answer is straightforward. When choosing a business management solution, you are making
an investment. The immediate and ongoing costs include licensing the software, training staff,
and adjusting business processes. Selecting a product with superior functionality will deliver a
quick payback from more efficient operations. Selecting a product with a superior architecture will
ensure that your investment will continue to pay dividends for many years, as well.
A superior software architecture has specific requirements that enable products built within its
framework to adapt to fast-changing technology and stand the test of time. A large investment
has been made in developing the Sage Accpac ERP architectural framework. Sage Accpac ERP
is released in three editions, which, in increasing levels of functionality, are Sage Accpac 100,
200, and 500. All editions share the same architecture and code base.
framework to adapt to fast-changing technology and stand the test of time. A large investment
has been made in developing the Sage Accpac ERP architectural framework. Sage Accpac ERP
is released in three editions, which, in increasing levels of functionality, are Sage Accpac 100,
200, and 500. All editions share the same architecture and code base.
To separate fact from fiction, it is important to understand the requirements of a true architecture.
A software architecture exists in a sea of industry-standard technology, and its benefits cannot
be stated without reference to this technology. But using industry-standard technology is not
the same as having an architecture. Many software companies without a real architecture make
pretentious claims based on the technology they use, but do not own. Using industry-standard
technology is important, and the ability to adapt to this technology is one requirement of a great
architecture. But the Sage Accpac architecture and its realization is technology that has been
created by, and is owned by, Sage. This architectural technology is the key distinction between
Sage and its competitors.
A software architecture exists in a sea of industry-standard technology, and its benefits cannot
be stated without reference to this technology. But using industry-standard technology is not
the same as having an architecture. Many software companies without a real architecture make
pretentious claims based on the technology they use, but do not own. Using industry-standard
technology is important, and the ability to adapt to this technology is one requirement of a great
architecture. But the Sage Accpac architecture and its realization is technology that has been
created by, and is owned by, Sage. This architectural technology is the key distinction between
Sage and its competitors.
The costs of a large, complicated business application built on a poor architecture are significant.
Such a system is very hard to maintain and takes a major reworking or rewriting to add new
features or to take advantage of new technologies. This reworking of large amounts of existing
code to add new features takes more time plus generally makes the product less reliable since
there are many more places for bugs to get introduced into existing working features during
the process of adding the new features. As a result, you have to wait longer to get less reliable
updates, while your competitors using well-architected products are able to quickly embrace new
technologies and features without any problems and enjoy the resulting productivity gains much
sooner than the company with the poorly architected product.
Such a system is very hard to maintain and takes a major reworking or rewriting to add new
features or to take advantage of new technologies. This reworking of large amounts of existing
code to add new features takes more time plus generally makes the product less reliable since
there are many more places for bugs to get introduced into existing working features during
the process of adding the new features. As a result, you have to wait longer to get less reliable
updates, while your competitors using well-architected products are able to quickly embrace new
technologies and features without any problems and enjoy the resulting productivity gains much
sooner than the company with the poorly architected product.
Before reviewing the Sage Accpac architecture, this document attempts to set the record
straight—not with fancy talk, but with real examples of real benefits that flow from a superior
architectural design. It is hoped that you can use these examples to help distinguish fact
from fiction.
straight—not with fancy talk, but with real examples of real benefits that flow from a superior
architectural design. It is hoped that you can use these examples to help distinguish fact
from fiction.