Every year around this time I find myself answering the same question for my clients:
Should I upgrade ACT!??
Over the last five or six years, Sage Software has followed the same trend in regards to ACT! and upgrades. In the early summer, Sage Software begins presales for the latest and greatest version of ACT!. As part of the presales process, Sage Software discounts ACT! making it an attractive investment for people who need to upgrade. At the same time, Sage Software also announces that come late fall they will no longer support the version of ACT! that was released three years prior.
For companies running their business on ACT!, deciding whether or not to upgrade can be a stressful decision to make. If you have been tasked with deciding whether or not to upgrade ACT!, there are a few questions that you should be asking:
- Is the version of ACT! I am using supported by Sage Software and/or by the ACT! Certified Consultant I work with?
- If my version is no longer supported, what does that mean for my business? What are the possible implications if ACT! were to suddenly stop working tomorrow? What would the cost of that downtime be to my business?
- Can I still purchase additional licenses for the version I am on? Depending on the version of ACT!, it may be supported but Sage Software may no longer sell the licenses for it. If the software is no longer available, do I have enough licenses to cover any growth that could occur in the next 12 to 18 months?
- Am I planning to upgrade my hardware or other software in the next 12 to 18 months? If so, will my version of ACT! run on it? Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, and Office 2010 are all prevalent out on the market and come installed on most new machines. However, if ACT! does not work on it, what does that mean for me?
- Is my existing hardware capable of running the new version of ACT!? This is a common pitfall for the people who love to upgrade every year and can end up being a budget gotcha when factoring in the cost of the new hardware that may be required to run the latest version of ACT!.
- Will the new features included in ACT! make my business run better/more efficiently? What areas of ACT! need to be improved for my business to run better? Will the new version address those issues?
In working through the answers to the questions above, you will discover the answer to whether or not upgrading ACT! makes sense for your business.
Still unsure about what to do? Reach out to your ACT! Certified Consultant and seek their advice.
