What’s changing in Sage CRM?

A useful CRM update should make a difference to the people using it, whether that means simpler access, clearer guidance or better connections between systems.

Sage has outlined plans for its next Sage CRM release, with improvements covering security, Microsoft integration and AI-assisted help. Here’s a closer look at the proposed changes and what they could mean for your business.

Stronger foundations behind the scenes

Some of the most significant changes sit beneath the interface.

Sage plans to upgrade the platform to Java 11 and update supporting components, including Apache Tomcat, Apache Solr and OpenSSL. The release also includes security improvements and fixes for priority issues reported by customers.

These changes may be less visible than a new feature on your dashboard, but they matter. Keeping the underlying technology maintained helps Sage CRM remain compatible with modern IT environments and easier to support.

Closer integration with Microsoft

For businesses already using Microsoft tools, the planned identity and access improvements could be particularly useful.

Sage has outlined new capabilities for importing and setting up users through Microsoft Entra ID. It also plans to support Single Sign-On and Multi-Factor Authentication through Microsoft Entra Application Proxy.

Depending on your setup, this could help bring CRM access into line with the way your business manages other applications. Single Sign-On can reduce separate login steps, while Multi-Factor Authentication adds another check when users sign in.

The plans also include improved support for Microsoft Azure and reverse proxy deployments, giving IT teams more flexibility in how Sage CRM is hosted and accessed.

Help that better understands your questions

Sage Semantic Search is planned to replace the technology previously used by Sage CRM Ally.

The focus is on helping users find product guidance through everyday questions, with better understanding of context and what someone is trying to achieve.

For someone unsure how to complete a task, that could make finding the right instructions more straightforward. The announced capability concerns product help and guidance, so it should not be confused with an AI tool that searches or analyses all your customer records.

More possibilities for connected systems

Sage is also introducing an Enriched Semantic Schema. In plain English, this gives developers richer descriptions of CRM records, fields and the relationships between them through its REST API.

That additional context could support more capable integrations, automation and AI-enabled applications.

For businesses, the potential value lies in solutions built around their processes. These foundations give developers more to work with, although individual integrations and tools will still need to be developed and configured.

What does this mean for your business?

The planned changes give existing Sage CRM users several areas to review, particularly Microsoft access, hosting arrangements and opportunities to connect systems.

The useful starting point is your current setup. Which tasks take too long? Where are people entering information twice? What would make the system easier for your team to use?

At Rainbird Business Solutions, we can help you explore how the planned improvements relate to your Sage CRM system and what to consider before upgrading.

Get in touch to discuss your Sage CRM setup and the changes that could benefit your team.