Sage Software’s recent endorsement of the Automated SQL Migration for Abra Suite tool, gives Abra Suite users an option that simplifies the migration effort while shortening the time to migrate and lowering cost.

History of Abra Suite

While Sage announced in 2012 that Abra Suite will no longer be sold to new customers, Sage continues to support Abra Suite today and into the foreseeable future.  However, Microsoft® Visual FoxPro® (VFP), the underlying technology used by Abra Suite, is a discontinued product, and support for it is no longer available from Microsoft.

Benefits of Migrating to Sage HRMS

Sage HRMS is the flagship HRMS for Sage North America and is the product line intended to replace Abra Suite.  Based on a Microsoft SQL database, Sage HRMS is similar to Abra Suite in many respects except payroll, which is an entirely new module. Sage encourages Abra Suite users to consider migrating to Sage HRMS to realize many benefits, including:

  • Security—In addition to Sage HRMS security features, SQL prevents unauthorized database access.
  • Reliability—Built-in file corruption protection provides the best in data reliability.
  • Speed—With the power of the database, you may notice faster search results and report computations.
  • Automatic Backups—SQL Server includes an automatic backup feature that can help you ensure the safety of your workforce database.
  • Scalability—A SQL database can handle millions of records and database requests.
  • Easier Integration—SQL makes it easier to integrate Sage HRMS with other business applications. For example, you can easily transfer your data between Sage HRMS and Sage 500 ERP.
  • Improved Functionality – Sage HRMS includes new features, like the ability to store alternate email addresses for each employee, to file tax forms with Sage Payroll Tax Forms and eFiling by Aatrix, step rates, and time off enhancements.

Selecting the Best Tool for Migration

Deciding what tool is right for your migration project – either the Automated SQL Migration for Abra Suite tool or the Upsize tool – depends on your needs. There are six decision points you can consider when selecting the best tool for migration.

 

Deciding on the right tool for migration

Migrating Abra Payroll

Are you migrating Abra Payroll? If so, the Automated SQL Migration for Abra Suite tool is right for you. It provides an automated and repeatable way to migrate from Abra Suite to Sage HRMS. This tool simplifies setup and configuration of Sage HRMS, migrates all data (including check history!), refreshes data as a repeatable process, and automates the parallel comparison.

Migrating Abra Suite HR Only

Even if you’re only migrating Abra Suite HR (no payroll), there are times when the Automated SQL Migration for Abra Suite tool makes sense. You can use the features of this tool to help “clean house” as part of your migration.

Do you need to renumber your employees?

If your employee numbers are social security numbers, it’s likely you’ll want to change that. Increasing awareness of privacy issues has resulted in employers questioning the use of social security numbers in connection with record keeping and employee identification. Historically, before identify theft became a concern, employers used social security numbers as employee numbers. Now, it’s considered a best practice to use a numbering scheme that does not incorporate an individual’s social security number. Maybe you’re numbering scheme used a format that’s no longer practical or you want your employee numbers to match badge numbers. The Automated SQL Migration for Abra Suite tool lets you renumber employees as part of the migration process.

Wish your code tables were cleaner?

Over time, it’s possible your list of Abra HR codes has gotten a bit unwieldy. Perhaps codes were added without carefully considering what codes already existed, and now you have duplicate codes. The Automated SQL Migration for Abra Suite tool lets you translate Abra HR codes to new codes in Sage HRMS.

Wish you could redo your Org Levels?

Org Levels were generally used for reporting or to drive the general ledger (i.e., coding wages to a department). In Sage HRMS, Org levels are no longer necessary to drive payroll entries. Perhaps over time, your organization’s structure has changed, and the levels you have now aren’t ideal for your current structure. The Automated SQL Migration for Abra Suite tool lets you transpose Abra Org Levels (1-5), essentially mapping levels used in Abra Suite, into a new set of levels in Sage HRMS.

Have you used “Employers” to drive security for the same EIN?

To help segregate data and provide additional security, Abra Suite users might have set up multiple employers that share the same Employer Identification Number (EIN). Sometimes this separation could lead to duplicate employee records. The security features built in to Sage HRMS and its SQL underpinnings makes this separation unnecessary. The Automated SQL Migration for Abra Suite tool lets you merge multiple employers that share the same EIN in to a single employer and resolve duplicate employee records in the process.

Do you have separate instances of Abra Suite licenses at different locations?

Abra Suite installations for organizations with multiple locations were often set up as separate licenses of Abra Suite. This helped partition the data by location and made it easier for “location-based” reports. The downside of this approach is the difficulty in generating reports representing the entire organization and the support costs associated with separate Abra licenses. It also meant that, over time, each location could diverge from the initial set of codes used in the installs making a consolidated view even more difficult. The Automated SQL Migration for Abra Suite tool lets you merge multiple instances (i.e., sites) of Abra Suite in to a single, consolidated organization. The improved functionality of Sage HRMS provides data security, speed, and simplified reporting (at any level) eliminating the need for multiple instances while saving on support costs.

If none of these situations apply, you can use the Upsize tool to migrate from Abra Suite to Sage HRMS.

The choice is easy. If you purchase Sage HRMS before September 30, 2015, you get Sage Employee Self Service (ESS) for free! You also get 30% off the license costs of 15 other Sage solutions (restrictions apply). Implementation can be scheduled after September 30, 2015 at a time that works for you. Check out this post for details and the “fine print.” 

The return on investment (ROI) to migrate to Sage HRMS is clear. Have you worked on your migration plan?