As Sage 100 users migrate to  Sage 100cloud we are often advising them to consider whether a move to a SQL database may be of benefit to their operations.

One of the key benefits of the Sage 100cloud subscription is the ability to use any of the following flavors of Sage 100cloud with no additional charge for changing the underlying database driving Sage 100cloud:

1. Sage 100cloud Standard  – Providex based
2. Sage 100cloud Advanced – Providex based – runs in a client-server type environments
3. Sage 100cloud Premium – SQL backend – runs on Microsoft SQL server

What’s The Best Option For Sage 100cloud: Providex or SQL?

Below is a condensed version of the pros and cons of changing your Sage 100cloud to a back-end SQL database. Typically we recommend considering this switch when you:

1. Have significant database sizes (> 500 MB) and expecting to continue growing
2. Noticeably slow reporting – especially with externally connected reports/queries
3. 10+ users on the system concurrently (now or expected in the future)

Your end users don’t need to know anything about SQL. About the only thing they’ll notice is if they use the SOTAMAS90 for external reporting they will have to change drivers in favor of a connection to the SQL tables.

Benefits of SQL for Sage 100 and Sage 100cloud

• No premium for premium (a true benefit of Sage 100cloud subscription)
• External reports based on SOTAMAS90 pretty easy to convert to Premium
• Customers notice a speed increase in external reporting (true value added)
• Virtually all 3rd party ISV solutions work with Premium
• Reporting via external tools/connections can be significantly faster
• Straightforward to set up Sage 100cloud on Premium
• The prior penalty for SQL speeds in native Sage screens seems mostly gone
• Data File Display & Maintenance (DFDM) goes away but you can download a free DSD SQL DFDM
• Skilled users can use SQL tools for query/changes (recommend locking users out of write capabilities)

Disadvantages of SQL for Sage 100 and Sage 100cloud

• Need to be comfortable setting up a SQL server
• Some customers reluctant to invest in a new server to maintain (especially if they don’t have on-staff IT person)
• Sage has limited info about how to configure the SQL server
• Easy to use SQL tools to change data without Sage 100cloud which could result in lost data if not performed by a qualified person
• WO, MRP users can’t use Premium as of December 2018 (due Q1 2019)
• Tricks you may do with Providex such as swapping in or out single data files are difficult/impossible with Premium
• Cannot simply insert a new license key – a system upgrade will be required which involves migrating existing data to a new installation of Sage 100cloud Premium

If you are considering a move to Sage 100cloud Premium ( aka SQL ) then consult our summarized guide to selecting and configuring Microsoft SQL for Sage 100 Premium.

The use of SQL is a popular selection for growing Sage 100cloud customers with significant reporting requirements now or in the future.

For more information contacts us or give your Sage 100cloud partner a call.