Sage goes after the little people

Acquisition-happy payroll software maker Sage (UK) has moved into the HR biz with the launch of a new system aimed at SMBs.

The software, which is available now, can be used by firms to manage, update, access and analyse employee details and has a starting price tag of £250.

The company said Sage 50 HR 2007 can be integrated fully into the firm's Payroll 2007 offering.

Sage has specifically targeted SMBs following its own in-house research. It claimed that many customers recorded and managed HR data manually or by using Excel because there was not an affordable alternative.

Sage SMB managing director, Jo Ray, underlined the firm's focus on the SMB people management market and said:

"Employment legislation and compliance requirements are placing a growing burden on small businesses, making it even more important for them to keep accurate records about their people."

In May this year, Sage swallowed up HR business management firm Snowdrop in a £17m cash deal.

Sage chief exec Paul Stobart said at the time that the acquisition would allow the firm to enter the SMB HR space. ®