Sage announced today that they have reached an agreement to sell it’s non-integrated CRM products, Sage ACT! and Saleslogix, to Swiftpage. Sage will focus on core solutions; this sale does not include SageCRM.
Swiftpage is a long-time partner with Sage; their Swiftpage email subscription-model service is rebranded as Sage eMarketing and integrated as a paid, connected service.
As an UK organization focused on accounting and ERP systems, Sage never quite meshed the ACT!/Saleslogix CRM product line with their other software offerings. Sage will be an investor in the transaction, so it remains to be seen how “divested” they will actually become.
Current management and staffing for the product lines are expected to remain the same. Sage has prepared an FAQ for customers that addresses potential customer concerns, and more information is coming as the process evolves.
As a long-time ACT! Certified Consultant (who’s weathered the journey from Symantec, to Interact, to Best, to Sage) I’m encouraged by this change. IMHO, ACT! has been the red-headed stepchild (or, at least has felt that way) at Sage, and hasn’t gotten the love it deserves.
That ACT! is becoming a major product for Swiftpage (rather than a “what-do-we do-with-this-product” line) bodes well for ACT!’s continued success and longevity. Plus, one hopes, we can rid of that silly Sage ACT! name. As far as users are concerned ACT! is ACT! Let’s not tart it up!