La dolce vita – Envisage drives business growth for Italica

Envisage, a leading Sage partner and part of The Noledge Group, today announces that it has deployed the Sage 200 business management solution to drive business growth for Italica, a family-run supplier of Italian wines and provisions to restaurants, delicatessens, and hotels.

Based in Newcastle, Italica was established as a family business over 15 years ago. The business handles an average of 100 orders per day and, as it continued to expand, outgrew its existing Sage 50 solution. To keep pace with Italica’s evolving needs, Envisage implemented the powerful Sage 200 system, which can flex and scale in line with business growth. It will enable Italica to expand and futureproof, while simplifying its operations.

The platform is accessible to all of Italica’s employees across the business – including office-based workers and the delivery team on the road – which is great for collaboration. It delivers much improved communication and easily available real-time data which allows it to streamline operations for all departments, from the warehouse, inventory, and invoicing, to sales, customer service, and delivery. This more connected business leads to enhanced productivity and the increased ability to innovate and roll out new products and services for customers.

The new system creates greater visibility of stock levels and Italica can easily identify popular or in-demand products, enabling it to meet evolving customer requirements and remain competitive. Italica can also identify upsell or cross-sell opportunities for customers. Clear data and actionable insights contribute to improved reporting for the business, leading to more informed decision making.

The highly scalable new solution also utilises automated cloud data backups which are carried out quickly and efficiently without interruptions, leading to a lower risk for Italica. Envisage also provides proactive customer care should any issues occur, which is crucial for Italica.

Envisage is part of The Noledge Group, which last year announced that it is investing €1.8 million over the next three years to expand its business in Great Britain following growing demand for its solutions in the market.

Michelle Marrone, Director, Italica, said: “Our customers are at the heart of what we do, and our Sage 200 solution is enabling us to better meet their needs. The solution removes the guesswork and allows us to analyse data and effectively adapt product lines to suit changing demands.

“In addition, streamlined communication across all functions of the business is vital and our team can access the data they need – when they need it – regardless of location. The Sage 200 solution implemented by Envisage has given us the confidence to scale our business and seamlessly expand our offering for customers.”

Chris Hawley, MD Great Britain, Envisage, said: “Our end-to-end Sage 200 solution has transformed Italica’s operations and supports all aspects of the business. Increased capacity and reliable backups of critical information give Italica access to invaluable data which will form the basis for strategic business decisions as the company grows and expands.

“Furthermore, efficiency is key in the fast-moving food and beverage industry and the solution enables more streamlined workflows for employees. We have built a valued relationship with Italica and we are excited to continue to support and work closely with the team as the business goes from strength to strength.”

Swoop and Sage unveil global partnership

Swoop, a fintech company specialising in funding solutions and Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology, are excited to announce their global partnership aimed at helping businesses and accountants access a wide range of funding opportunities. Navigating the complex landscape of funding opportunities can be daunting for businesses. The partnership aims to bridge this gap by providing a user-friendly platform that connects businesses and accountants with the financial resources they require.

In addition, the partnership will help businesses to identify opportunities to reduce costs in areas such as energy, banking and foreign exchange, providing a significant impact on the bottom line.

By integrating their Sage accounting software once, businesses can identify more accurate funding opportunities, streamline the funding process, unlock business savings, and benefit from tools such as cash flow forecasting.

Businesses often face challenges in securing the financial capital they need to grow and thrive. Research conducted by the Sage Foundation has highlighted that the lack of financial resources remains one of the most significant obstacles businesses encounter on their journey to success.

Recognising the importance of overcoming this challenge, Swoop and Sage have joined forces to simplify and expedite the process of accessing vital funding for businesses and their advisors. This innovative partnership will enable advisors and businesses worldwide to effortlessly explore and tap into various funding options that suit their unique needs.

The global partnership brings a wide range of funding opportunities for businesses, including grants, loans, and equity investments, whilst streamlining the application and approval process. Trusted advisors, such as accountants and financial professionals, will also benefit from this partnership, gaining the tools and resources to guide their clients effectively through their funding journeys.

Andrea Reynolds, CEO of Swoop, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Sage to bring our funding expertise to businesses and advisors worldwide. Together, we will simplify the path to financial empowerment for businesses of all sizes.”

“In a world full of fluctuations, with inflation and interest rates on the rise, businesses are facing unprecedented challenges, so it is important to make business finance more accessible and less daunting,” said Chip Mahan, Global Commercial Head, Fintech, Payments & Banking at Sage. “This partnership with Swoop aligns perfectly with our mission and will make accessing essential financial capital quick and easy, ensuring businesses have the support they need to succeed.”

Micheál Martin, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ireland, said: “I am delighted to acknowledge both Swoop and Sage in the development of an effective funding platform for the small and medium enterprise sector. The innovative combination of the advanced technology platform of Swoop combined with Sage’s globally recognised cloud-based accounting software will provide great assistance to company leaders as they look to funding options.”

Paul O’Riordan, VP Partners, Ireland, Sage, said: “We’re excited about this partnership as we know from our research that access to finance is one of the biggest hurdles businesses currently face, yet it is crucial to any future economic recovery in Ireland. Businesses that can access finance have a bigger range of opportunities facing them to grow than those that don’t. I’m excited to see Irish businesses grab this opportunity with both hands and use it to reach their full potential.”

The partnership marks a significant step towards levelling the playing field for businesses and underscores their importance in driving global economic growth. With this collaboration, the future looks brighter for entrepreneurs and businesses worldwide.

Envisage announces €1M investment and 12 new jobs alongside new partnership with Sage

Envisage, a leading Sage partner in Ireland and member of the Noledge Group, today announces that it will create 12 new jobs as part of a three year, €1M investment to support its appointment as the first Sage partner in the country that will resell Sage Intacct.

The partnership with Sage – the leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) – will support Envisage’s plans to grow its business and drive customer acquisition. The company, which currently has annual revenues of €3M and employs 22 people, expects to increase its annual revenues to €6M and grow to a team of 34 people.

As demand for cloud-based finance systems increases, this partnership will enhance Envisage’s ability to offer the highest level of service to its growing customer base across Ireland and the U.K. Envisage will be offering customers Sage’s award-winning accounting software, Sage Intacct. With this new partnership, Envisage customers will benefit from automation, cost savings, smooth integration, effortless data access across multiple systems, and real-time insights for informed decision-making.

Through Sage Intacct, Envisage can now deliver more automated solutions and controls for billing, accounting, and reporting, enabling finance teams to simplify complex processes and increase data accuracy. To support this growth, Envisage will hire 12 additional people over the next three years. The new roles will be in the areas of sales, marketing, implementation and support.

Sage Intacct provides comprehensive visibility into both operational and financial aspects of a business, leading to improved automation, increased profitability, and enhanced customer satisfaction. Sage Intacct is designed to serve a variety of industries, including, Business Services, Financial Services, Not for Profit, Software and Hospitality.

David Burke, Technical Director, Envisage, said“We are delighted to make this significant investment in our expansion and grow our team in Ireland. By adding Sage Intacct to our product portfolio, we can bring additional value to our customers and also open up new opportunities in the services sector.

 “As a leading Sage partner in Ireland, we are dedicated to providing the best products, training, and resources to help businesses achieve their growth goals. With the addition of Sage Intacct to our portfolio, we are now able to offer an even wider range of solutions and services to meet the evolving needs of our customers. We look forward to this next chapter of growth and success.”

Paul O’Riordan, Vice President, Partners & Alliances, Sage UK & Ireland, said: “Envisage has a proven track record in delivering creative, flexible, and long-lasting ERP solutions for some of Ireland’s leading companies. With Sage Intacct, we’re confident that we can help our joint customers drive their businesses forward. We are pleased to partner with an ambitious company that has the resources and capabilities to design and integrate exceptional customer solutions.”

Envisage, which was recently recognised as ‘Sage Partner of the Year for Ireland’, now offers Sage Intacct to customers in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Sewell Revs Up Growth with Connections Software

Envisage, Ireland’s award winning Sage Business Partner and member of the Noledge Group, today announces that it has provided its Connections software to Sewell On The Go, a leading UK fuel and convenience retailer, to optimise the business’ operational processes to improve efficiency and financial data accuracy.

Sewell On The Go employs 250 people in 13 locations in Yorkshire and provides round-the-clock forecourt and retail services, including fuel, fresh food, coffee, car wash and valeting services, parcel collection, and many others. The company has ambitious plans to expand its business across current and future sites, while prioritising sustainability and operational efficiency.

In order to achieve their growth objectives in a cost-effective way, Sewell On The Go wanted a software solution that would make its business more integrated and automated, while minimising repetitive manual tasks, and decreasing administrative expenses. As a result, they decided to collaborate with Envisage and implement their Connections software, which integrates with their Sage 200 software.

Administrative tasks have been streamlined with the implementation of this solution, transforming slow and manual data entry into connected, automated and simplified processes. This has led to a 50% reduction in time spent on manual data entry, improved data accuracy, and sustained growth without needing to increase administrative staff. It also allows the team to focus on more valuable business driven expansion initiatives and innovation.

Alex Mortimer, Finance Director, Sewell On The Go, said: “Envisage has played a crucial role in our business transformation journey. Their knowledge of Sage 200, plus their powerful Connections software, has enabled us to gain significant time savings and enhanced efficiency which are key to enabling us to scale our business profitably.

 “Moreover, Envisages’ exceptional dedication to customer support resulted in a seamless installation process. They got the set up right first time, to ensure minimal disruption to our business and we started to see the benefits straight away. We really value their partnership and the great impact it has had on our business.”

Ray Ryan, CEO, Envisage said: “When Alex reached out to us to help address their challenges, we took the time to understand their needs and tailor our solutions to meet them. Our goal was to provide smarter tools that could help Sewell On The Go work more efficiently and effectively.

“We are delighted to work with such a progressive business and support them on their exciting digital transformation journey. Our partnership has been highly successful because Sewell On The Go shares our values, and we share their commitment to sustainability and growth.

“At Envisage, we take pride in our customer-centric approach and strive to offer seamless installation and prompt resolution of any issues. It has been a pleasure to work with the Sewell On The Go team, and we look forward to continuing our partnership.”

Envisage wins Sage Irish Partner of the Year Award

Envisage, Ireland’s largest Sage partner, a division of the Noledge Group, today announces that it has been recognised as ‘Sage Partner of the Year for Ireland’, as revealed at Sage’s 2023 Partner Kickoff event.

Sage – the leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses – awarded Envisage the accolade for its success in generating strong revenue and in boosting the industry standard for software implementation.

By implementing Sage accounting and ERP solutions for its customers, Envisage focuses on automating and streamlining processes, reducing time, and making it easier for them to do business. For more than twenty years, the team at Envisage has served customers such as Tour America and Mr. Price, while more recent customer additions include Jump Juice Bars and The Institute of Education.

Ray Ryan, CEO of Envisage, said“Envisage has had a successful few years, so it’s wonderful to see Sage recognise the effort of our growing team and our dedication to offering the best accounting and ERP solutions and services to our customers. This accolade acknowledges our amazing team, so we are thrilled to receive this prestigious award.

 “From sales and marketing to project execution, development, customer support and accounts, we have a remarkable group of talented individuals. We pride ourselves in delivering quality projects and ongoing services to our customers to make their businesses more profitable.

“Supporting our clients in a friendly and helpful way is at the core of what we do. Our business model depends on establishing sincere, honest connections with our customers and demonstrating that we care. We greatly look forward to the year ahead and the opportunities it may bring.”

Photo – (L-R) Paul Struthers; EVP & Managing Director UK and Ireland, Sage; Steve Boyes, Customer Care Director, Envisage; Amy Hughes, Sales Manager, Envisage; Sinead Galligani, Marketing Director, Envisage; Roger Gribbin, Sales Director, Envisage; and Brian Habanna, Former South African Rugby Player. Envisage received the award at Sage’s 2023 Partner Kickoff event for its success in generating strong revenue and in boosting the industry standard for software implementation.

Review – Sage Bambino Coffee Machine

I am not the biggest coffee fan in the world nor tea for that matter but never turn a cup down if out or visiting friends and so on, this machine has no real tech to it but there is an app to help you along with things and it has buttons that light up and so on but it is a new experience for a non coffee maestro, coffee is a huge industry here and across the world and we pay for dearly at the likes of Costa and Starbucks which sport a loyalty card club people proudly dish out at tills and think they are part of something elite, that is just my take on the coffee world from observing and I have my own name for such folk which I cant repeat here but I do get it dont get me wrong each to their own, I prefer a can of coke or bottle of water and I am sure there is names for my like. I do like cappuccino more so and get that taste matters and with having only used the traditional at home method mostly for tea and coffee due to not frequenting coffee shops every day of my life I see the difference in a machine like this has over the old fashioned method and it is huge..

The smell, taste and experience changes it and in fact I may now drink more coffee and god bless turn into what I cant call here. This is my first coffee machine to check out and I have to make that clear, some other tech friends of mine here and abroad have done the same and I have turned down several times the offer to look into one and I am glad I did until now. I am no coffee expert or overnight one either for that like some have seem to become.

A Sage rep has said: ‘The kitchen remains at the heartland of every home, where wannabe-masterchefs can experiment from the comfort of their own space, and with Sage, the restaurant quality results using our products shows no sign of easing up. From pizza to coffee, 

there are so many opportunities to enjoy the process and now more than ever as we’re spending more time at home. With that, we’re excited to open up the Sage family to launch the Bambino® as the perfect espresso machine to enter and explore the full aromatic complexity of Third Wave coffee at home.’

 

As mentioned I normally get the spoon cup and jar affair but always wondered what difference these machines make, now when I say machines I mean ones in petrol stations not the ones you see in the likes of bewleys and so on, I am familiar with other brands that have machines and they deliver good ads on the TV and make it tempting even down to the pods you get and I just never bothered trying them out, some friends have them, most do not and never tried this method and now it has me interested, the machine is well built looks more expensive than it should be and easy to clean which is important and it also looks great on the kitchen press, much to some friends surprise when they came in and seen it they asked me if I way OK which was funny but I explain what is going on and they get it, not only that they became curious too and had a taste and all was good.. So overall for me testing this machine and the first coffee machine remember it has been all good.

Just like anything else I review I give my opinion, our ears differ this is something often brought up by attention seeking folk and being a fair point it is a moot one when you test more than many and you can tell good sound from bad but when it comes to taste again this will differ, in general coffee for me was never an item in my shopping basket you could say but having drinking tea and coffee the old fashioned way and now using this machine there’s a difference and big one at that so you can take what you like from that and this is just my humble opinion.

What the Sage Bambino is all about..

The Bambino delivers barista quality performance using a 54mm portafilter that holds 18-19 grams of coffee for full flavour and a powerful steam wand to create silky microfoam milk that will have at home baristas creating impressive latte art. Perfect for those with busy schedules, the Bambino® proprietary Thermojet® heating system means the machine is ready to start making incredible espresso in just 3 seconds. 

The faster way to professional results at home. Like professional machines, the Bambino can deliver third wave specialty coffee. This is made possible by the 4 keys formula. Delivering barista quality performance using a 54mm portafilter with 18-19 grams of coffee for full flavour and a powerful steam wand to create microfoam required for latte art. With a proprietary ThermoJet heating system the machine is ready to start in 3 seconds. 

The simple to use, four button interface of the Bambino belies a complex machine that takes all the guesswork out of at home espresso. The state-of-the-art design ensures the right dose of freshly ground beans, precise temperature control thanks to an integrated PID, and optimal water pressure for both espresso and microfoam milk delivered via its 15 bar Italian pump. 

See the full range

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Sage Appliances Launches FoodCycler, Completing The Circular Ecosystem Of Kitchen Tech #EcoChips

Sage Appliances, a global leader in innovative home and kitchen  appliances, has announced the UK launch of the groundbreaking FoodCycler (LWR550), a new product  which can reduce household food waste by over 80 percent.  

The FoodCycler transforms household food waste into nutrient rich EcoChips using an intuitive three stage cycle. The system pulverizes and dehydrates nearly all types of food waste, reducing it to small  particles, while simultaneously aerating and heating, which helps decompose and sterilise the waste.  The FoodCycler is odourless, quiet, uses minimal energy and is easy to clean, effortlessly fitting into your home and lifestyle while allowing you to do your bit for the environment, hassle free.  

With the new FoodCycler, Sage Appliances has truly completed the circular ecosystem of kitchen tech;  from delicious espresso, to food prep, cooking, and now food waste disposal. The Sage FoodCycler has a  light and sleek appliance that can be used and stored anywhere in the home, not just the kitchen.  

David Gubbin, President EMEA Sage Appliances says, “In the UK, we roughly throw away 6.6 million* tons of food waste which is the equivalent of around 66 three-bedroom houses. At Sage, we pride  ourselves on brilliant product design that enables home cooks to create perfect food moments, so it’s a  natural extension that we close the loop with an accessible and sustainable solution to food waste.”  

The FoodCycler can safely transform most fruit and vegetable scraps, meat, fish, shellfish, poultry,  chicken and fish bones, cereals, dairy, eggs and shells, coffee grounds, filters and tea bags, beans, seeds and legumes, as well as pet food.  

 

The FoodCycler – Key Features: 

  1. Three stage FoodCycler system
  2. Drying: Dehydrates and sterilises household food scraps 
  3. Grinding: Reduces the volume of food scraps to around 20% of original  
  4. Cooling: Cools down EcoChips™ for safe disposal 
  5. Odourless:  
  6. EcoFilters with Filter Air Guides are designed with activated carbon filtration to direct air  flow and filter odours during cycling 
  7. Carbon Filter Bucket Lid: Store food waste at room temperature, with an activated  carbon foam lid-liner to reduce odours until you’re ready to start your next cycle c. Twist and Lock Lid: Seamless design, slides and locks smoothly into place, locking in  noise and odours
  8. Quiet & Compact: custom specified for the modern home and lifestyle. Designed to fit easily in  any accessible spot in your kitchen, laundry or garage. 
  9. Low energy usage: sophisticated sensor technology defines each individual cycle to use minimal  energy with maximum efficiency. Eight hours of food-cycling is equivalent to boiling a kettle nine  times. 
  10. Easy to use with one-touch operation: automatically dries, grinds and cools scraps into  EcoChips for easy disposal in your council bin or garden. 
  11. Easy to clean: Dishwasher-safe, porcelain coated aluminium bucket 
  12. Large 2L capacity: Grinding bucket processes and reduces food scraps into EcoChips
  13. The FoodCycler (RRP£399.95) will be available via Sage’s website