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Computer Monitor
It's the end of the line for Sage Simply Accounting. The popular small b u s i n e s s accounting application from Sage North America is now known as Sage 50 Canadian Edition.
The new name is one of two controversial changes in the recently-released 2013 version of the product. The other is the revised end user licence agreement (EULA), which could increase the cost of using the software for some businesses.
According to Nancy Harris, vice-president and general manager of Sage 50 Canadian Edition, the name change "is about creating a dominant master brand for Sage."
There's no doubt in my mind that the revised name will more closely identify related products in the Sage family to former Simply Accounting users. But there is a risk that brand equity and user loyalty built up over the years will be lost in the transition. Sage is betting that gains from a dominant master brand will offset the loss of the Simply Accounting franchise.
There's also a risk Sage 50 Canadian Edition may be confused with Sage 50 U.S. Edition, formerly known as Peachtree Software. Despite their common small business focus, the two country editions are quite different accounting products, built on...