Sage Invests in Immediacy for Web 2.0

Replaces previous content management system with Immediacy CMS

Immediacy, the leading UK web content management provider, today announced that Sage, a leading supplier of business management software and services, has chosen Immediacy Content Management System (CMS) for the redesign of its principal www.sage.co.uk website.   Sage will use Immediacy to create a faster, more dynamic and interactive website, with support for Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs and RSS feeds.

Sage ordered a review of content management systems after recognising the need to modernise its website and intranet.  The company invited 5-6 vendors to demonstrate their systems, including its existing content management system provider, which it had been using for the last five years.   Following rigorous testing, Immediacy was selected for its simple to use interface and because it offered all the right functionality, such as the ability to develop customised plug-ins and support for RSS feeds.  Sage was also impressed with the strength and knowledge of the Immediacy team.

The aim of the redesign is to improve the customer experience by bringing the site alive.  Customer expectations for websites have changed a lot over the last five years and will continue to do so over the next five years.  It was important for us to ensure that the infrastructure we chose to build the site could evolve with the Web.  Immediacy not only offers all the functionality we need right now, but the company gave us a very clear idea of its product roadmap. We have every confidence that the system will be able to adapt to our needs, said Mark Francis, Web Channel Manager, Sage (UK) Limited.

Sage expects Immediacys ease of use and tools, such as Word and Excel drag and drop, to improve the experience for content editors and encourage them to keep the websites 16,000 pages up to date.

The Web is growing through a period of rapid change and evolution at the moment and it can be hard for sites to keep apace, commented Nigel Jackson, CEO, Immediacy.  We are committed to providing tools that enable companies like Sage to embrace new technologies while at the same time ensure they keep getting the basics right.

Sage will initially carry out a proof of concept with Immediacy on one of its micro sites, before redesigning the principal site. The redesign is set to happen between December 2006 and August 2007.  Following this Sage is looking to roll it out to its intranet.