Sage North America has announced that Ideascope usage will be expanded to include the MAS product line.

Ideascope is an hosted feedback management solution for software developers. It allows them to gather suggestions from end users and consultants on what new features or changes should be implemented in the product.

Ideascope: Changing the Face of Enhancement Requests

Ideascope is an interactive program which allows customers and partners to submit enhancement requests hassle-free through the Web. Peachtree has had great success utilizing Ideascope with their products. In May 2009, Ideascope will be available to Sage MAS customers and partners! Customers and partners will at first be able to access Ideascope through the Sage MAS Online Community. And later this year, Ideascope will be integrated directly into Sage MAS products, radically improving the ability for customers and partners to submit their requests and generate change!

This unique program is simple to use and completely automated. To submit an idea, a customer or business partner clicks on a link on the Sage Web site (or within the Sage MAS product) bringing up the Ideascope form. They chose the product line and type in a brief description of their enhancement idea. Quickly, the Ideascope server analyzes the submission to determine if something similar has already been suggested. The individual is offered a list of previously-submitted matching requests to choose from, or to submit their own as a new or unique idea. Ideascope will automatically update the request frequency each time. The customer is sent an automated e-mail, informing them of their initial request’s status and each time there is a status change.

On our side, Ideascope categorizes, prioritizes, and catalogues the requests for easy searching and review. A key appraisal team (consisting of product management, product marketing, and other key internal constituents) will periodically assess the top-requested enhancements, and create a priority list for our development team. Anytime an enhancement request is included as a fix or addition to a new product release, those who requested that enhancement will receive an automated e-mail update informing them of this news.