Sage Software Simplifies and Extends Its Partner Advantage Program

Re-organized to Simplify Accessibility; Now Includes Single Sign-on Partner Portal


NATIONAL HARBOR, MD--(Marketwire - May 13, 2008) - Sage Insights Conference -- Sage Software announced today at its annual Insights business partner conference a new, simplified structure for its Sage Partner Advantage program. The new structure will enable authorized Sage Software business partners who carry and resell the company's Business Management Division (BMD) and Industry and Specialized Solutions Division (ISSD) products and services to more easily access program components focused on four key elements of managing their business operations: business growth, hiring and retaining talent, building knowledge and the expertise of staff, and earning rewards from Sage. The updated program also features the new Sage partner portal, www.SagePartnerPortal.com, which provides business partners with a single access point for all programs and services.

"Sage Software has built more than 30 successful programs under Partner Advantage," said Susan Searle, Sage Software executive vice president for partner programs. "Partner satisfaction is high among those who actively participate, and our research shows that partners who participate perform better than those who don't. Simplifying and improving access to our programs will help more of our business partners achieve even greater success."

The new Sage Partner Advantage program is delivered in four, easy-to-understand categories:

--  Grow Business: These programs help business partners develop new
    business, and include Fast Track for Growth, the Marketing Alliance
    Program, Preferred Vendors and Webcast Lead Builder. Fast Track for Growth
    is an intensive, one-year mentoring program for partners who are committed
    to growing their businesses by acquiring new customers. Participating
    partners receive over $8,000 worth of benefits and are given $1,000 credits
    for new license sales that are above and beyond the number of sales they
    had one year prior to joining the program. This package includes new
    marketing tools for partners to optimize their website for local web
    searches and for developing sales referrals. Top graduating Fast Track for
    Growth partners now also gain free access to the marketing consulting
    services of the Marketing Alliance Program.
    
--  Hire Talent: These programs and resources help business partners
    recruit and retain staff, and include HireAssist Sales (formerly known as
    the 100/100 program), and other Recruiting Resources. HireAssist Sales
    helps partners recruit, hire, and train full-time field salespeople. It
    includes an $8,000 cash grant, personality profile services, additional co-
    op allowances for developing new recruits' lead pipelines, and enrollment
    in the Sage Sales Academy. This annual program will now be available two
    times per year.
    
--  Build Knowledge: Sage Software University,
    www.sagesoftwareuniversity.com, is home to hundreds of business partner
    certification and specialization training classes that are designed to
    build knowledge and proficiency on Sage products. Training courses are
    delivered in various formats, including traditional classroom hands-on
    certification, virtual classrooms, instructor-led online classes, and self-
    paced anytime learning tracks and subscriptions. Additionally, partner
    development courses in the study of sales, consulting, marketing and
    leadership are coming to Sage University. These courses will be offered in
    new Centers of Excellence training facilities at select Sage Software
    campuses.
    
--  Earn Rewards: These programs provide partners with margin enhancement
    opportunity and peer recognition, and include the Sage Select and Sage Co-
    op programs, as well as four annual recognition award programs: Business
    Partner of the Year, Chairman's Club, President's Circle, and the Million
    Dollar Club. Sage Select, for Sage partners who exclusively offer Sage
    Software products and services to their clients, is now available to Silver
    level partners. In addition, Sage Select now offers availability of co-op
    funds for development training, and free access to Sage's 24/7 Anytime
    Learning subscriptions on Sage Software University for Gold, Platinum and
    Diamond level Sage Select partners.
    

About Sage Software

Sage Software supports the needs, challenges and dreams of nearly 2.9 million small and medium-sized business customers in North America through easy-to-use, scalable and customizable software and services. Our products support accounting, operations, customer relationship management, human resources, time tracking, merchant services and the specialized needs of the construction, distribution, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit and real estate industries. Sage Software is a subsidiary of The Sage Group plc, a leading global supplier of business management software and services to small and medium-sized businesses. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989. Sage Group now has 5.7 million customers and employs over 14,800 people worldwide. For more information, please visit the web site at www.sagesoftware.com or call (866) 308-2378.

© 2008 Sage Software. All rights reserved. The Sage Software logo and the Sage Software product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sage Software or its affiliated entities.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Mark Priscaro Director, Public Relations Sage Software (925) 931-7048 mark.priscaro@sage.com