From Transform to Future

There may be errors in spelling, grammar, and accuracy in this machine-generated transcript.

Doug Lewis: So Matt and Emily, we are back once again. For whatever reason, it feels like it has been a very long time since we last recorded. I don't know if that's true or not, it just feels that way. Is that just me?

Matt Lescault: No. I kind of feel the same way. I don't even remember what we talked about last time I saw you.

Doug Lewis: Well, it must have been groundbreaking if. If we can't even remember what we did last time.

Emily Madere: I think our last [00:00:30] episode was avalara.

Matt Lescault: Yes.

Doug Lewis: Wow. That feels like months back at this point, even though it was probably just a week or two.

Emily Madere: Yeah, we're busy people.

Doug Lewis: Well, just incredibly busy. Incredibly busy. And I know we are the unofficial Sage Intacct podcast, but today I think we're inching as close as we've ever been to official, if I'm not mistaken. And that might be an overreach, I don't know. We're getting dangerously close. So we are officially unofficial [00:01:00] at this point, I think Sage Intacct podcast, uh, Mark Hickman will be joining us here. Uh, Mark will get to you in a second. I'd love to hear your background, experience, all that fun stuff, but, uh, it's a pretty big deal. You know, I don't want to quote too many Will Ferrell movies, but, Mark, I'm pretty sure you are. You are a pretty big deal, if I'm not mistaken. Is that am I am I off base there?

Mark Hickman: Uh, slightly off base. Yeah. I wouldn't, uh, most people that I know that wouldn't call me a big deal, but I do appreciate you calling [00:01:30] me a big deal.

Doug Lewis: Wait, so what what would most people call you? I'm curious.

Mark Hickman: Oh, uh, usually, Hickman, because we have so many marks. Uh.

Doug Lewis: Oh, just just another number inside the Sage ecosystem, huh?

Mark Hickman: Yeah. Touche.

Doug Lewis: Uh, so, Mark, managing director of North America. Yeah, that is, uh, quite the title. Would you mind just giving the listeners a little bit of background of who's who's Mark Hickman? Put yourself in a nice little box for everybody to know.

Mark Hickman: Okay. Perfect. Well thank you. Doug. [00:02:00] Um, I am originally from the UK. Um, spent most of my life in Canada. I've recently relocated to Atlanta. Um, I have been in the tech industry for over 25 years. Uh, joined Sage almost three years ago. Um, the first 18 months I ran the Canadian business, uh, and we had great success. And then, uh, in the last year and a bit, I've been running the North American business, which includes, of course, the US and Canada. So, [00:02:30] uh, very excited to be joining this podcast. Um, and all of your listeners, um, you know, things that Sage are going incredibly well, and we look forward to sharing that information with all of your listeners.

Doug Lewis: So now, 25 years in the tech industry, can you give us some background? What what sectors did you work in previously to Sage? You know, just kind of some, some flavors. So people understand that you might know just a little bit what you're talking about.

Mark Hickman: Yeah, sure.

Mark Hickman: Um, well I've spent [00:03:00] a lot of time in different types of technology. Actually, I started in big companies way back when. Computer Associates, which used to own a simply accounting and Accpac Sage 300 and Sage 50 in Canada. Uh, I moved on to be a BA Java infrastructure, RightNow technologies, which was self-service CRM. Uh, both those businesses acquired by Oracle. I spent ten years running a Canadian cybersecurity company. So yeah, so I have a very varied background in terms of technology and leading [00:03:30] different teams and running businesses. So that all kind of culminated nicely. Um, as I am originally British, to, uh, be leading the largest British technology company in North America is a very exciting thing. And all of my family in England are very impressed with it, which is, uh, kind of comical because they didn't know any other companies that I work for, so they're quite impressed with Sage.

Doug Lewis: So you've you.

Doug Lewis: Fooled them essentially.

Doug Lewis: That's what I've heard.

Mark Hickman: Yeah.

Doug Lewis: Yeah.

Emily Madere: So what does what does your family think [00:04:00] that you do? Because it seems like families can never get it right about, you know, what we do for work?

Mark Hickman: Yeah. Um, they always tend to zoom in on the things that they think are quite glamorous in my job and not the non-glamorous things. So I guess if you ask my kids who are, you know, calling them kids is a bit of a stretch at the moment. They're obviously quite older. Um, but, um, they would probably say, I think that's in software and, uh, he sells, I think they do accounting software, financial software. So they're getting a little better versed on it. [00:04:30] Uh, they do uh, they do love the commercials and the MLB stuff they see with Sage. That's an exciting thing. Uh, but yeah, I think most, uh, most of the family definitely thinks that, uh, he works in tech, so they they assume that I can fix the printer and reboot their laptop, things like that. So. Yeah. But, uh, yeah, I think I think they're getting a little better versed on what I do, so. But if I said to them, we sell, you know, high performance financial software. Erp, you know, medium, small businesses that would get a little complicated for them. But yeah, [00:05:00] so I think they're coming around to the fact that that sells financial software.

Matt Lescault: So so it was interesting. I was in Toronto a couple of weeks ago meeting with some of, uh, some of the colleagues, uh, in the Toronto office. And so I asked for a little bit of insight into into you. So I had a little bit of, of of maybe not dirt. That's not the right way to put it, but I found out that, um, you're a big, big NFL guy, that you're that you're a big fan.

Mark Hickman: Yeah, yeah. No. Absolutely.

Matt Lescault: And I don't [00:05:30] think a lot of people would assume that saying that you come from the UK, you spend most of your time in Canada. But I was told that your favorite team is the 40 Niners.

Mark Hickman: Yep. That's. Yeah. Well, you didn't dig in dirt.

Doug Lewis: No.

Emily Madere: Not doing his homework.

Doug Lewis: The dirt comes when we stop recording.

Mark Hickman: Yeah. So when I arrived from England many moons ago. Um, the 40 niners actually won the Super Bowl. Um, in that first year that I was here. So [00:06:00] Joe Montana, Jerry rice, etc.. So it was, uh, they beat the Bengals. So I've been a Niners fan for 40 plus years. So I've been through the good times and the bad times. And yeah, it's very strange that I'm a Niners fan when I really have never lived anywhere near the West Coast, so. But I do love the Niners. I live and die by the Niners.

Matt Lescault: Yeah, well, I'm a Washington Commanders fan. I just want to say thank you for Adam Peters. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you for Deebo Samuel. I think this is all going to work out pretty well for us. Yeah. I'm sorry. [00:06:30] Yeah.

Mark Hickman: You guys are looking good.

Mark Hickman: Yeah, absolutely.

Matt Lescault: I, uh, well, I've only known the bad times pretty much, so I'm hoping for it to turn around.

Emily Madere: Okay, I think I think the Saints are going to go to the Super Bowl every year.

Matt Lescault: That's what we actually thought.

Doug Lewis: You're all complaining that you lived through bad times of teams. I live in Chicago, Right. Yeah. Oh, see.

Doug Lewis: For those just listening and not watching, Mark's face just went like he ate something very sour. And that is the appropriate face [00:07:00] to make for every sports franchise in the Chicago market. So thank.

Emily Madere: You.

Doug Lewis: For that, Mark. Uh, we're always very future future oriented with our sports here. Um, and that wasn't a cheap segue into I want to.

Doug Lewis: Focus on kind of one specific thing. If we could, if everyone's all right with it. This is the first year mark. We're getting away from Sage transform, the flagship marquee event that everybody goes to, to Sage future, which I think is kind of fun. I love the name [00:07:30] change. Can you give some insight? We'll get to the event itself, but were you at all involved in that process of of changing the event or how did you go through that or why? Why are we now shifting to Sage future?

Mark Hickman: Um, I think it was a couple of things. I think, uh, and I was definitely not involved in the naming. That's not my forte. We have a lot of very smart people that came up with that. But I think when we looked at transform, it was a great event. It was very well attended. We wanted to expand that a little bit, [00:08:00] make it even more customer focused, bring in the rest of the Sage family from the products and really, um, give a vision of what's possible. And business transforms, uh, with AI and all the different things that are going on in technology at the moment. So we felt that renaming it Sage future. So when people come to, uh, Sage future, we want to give them the ideas of what is possible and where they can take their businesses. [00:08:30] So, uh, I think it was a, um, you know, a significant name change. And, uh, you know, we're very happy with it. And we're getting great feedback from customers, partners and all of our colleagues. Uh, but yeah, we're very excited about the opportunity to bring, you know, a massive number of people to Atlanta this summer.

Matt Lescault: When you say a massive number of people, do you have an expected attendance count yet or. Uh.

Mark Hickman: Yeah. It's north of 5000.

Emily Madere: Wow.

Matt Lescault: North of 5000. [00:09:00]

Emily Madere: And that's that's customers. That's, um, Vars. That's people from Sage. That's really the whole ecosystem.

Mark Hickman: Yeah, that's the whole ecosystem. And, um, at the moment, attendance is significantly ahead of where we've been in the past.

Matt Lescault: So I'll say.

Mark Hickman: That.

Matt Lescault: That would make it the largest, uh, North America. I don't know if the stuff that you do in Barcelona would be any different, but, um, the largest North America conference to date, wouldn't it?

Mark Hickman: Uh, I'm not I can't talk about [00:09:30] in the past when they used to throw, uh, other events when it was, uh, they included the 50 ecosystem as well, but it's definitely the largest in in a very long time. It's larger than any transform event.

Matt Lescault: And and in the past, transform was really focused around intact. If I'm if I'm not mistaken, is this really bringing the entire product ecosystem under one conference?

Mark Hickman: Yeah, we're really focused at bringing in the whole midsize product area. So 100, 300, uh, [00:10:00] x3 as well as, you know, really focusing, bringing in Sage, which is now launched into that ecosystem, uh, as well as our new product supply chain, uh, supply chain intelligence, which is our recent acquisition. So, yeah, so we're very excited about bringing the whole portfolio of medium products to the market so that everybody can see what we're doing and how we're delivering it in all of the different verticals.

Doug Lewis: So now, Mark, if you had to pick a favorite Sage Sage [00:10:30] product, what are we looking at? No, no. Again, we'll do that when we stop recording. You love them all equally. Is that it? They're they're.

Mark Hickman: All they're all my children. Yeah.

Matt Lescault: Yeah.

Doug Lewis: I bet they all perform the same too. Right? From your. From your eyes. They're all top notch.

Doug Lewis: So I'm kind of curious. The event itself, you're you're kind of broadening the, the product, uh, family of products that you're going to be, you know, giving a little more exposure to than in the past. You know, what type of experience if, if anything, [00:11:00] can people expect who've come to transform? Is the event experience itself going to be kind of in line and comparable with with what you've done before? Are we are we kind of taking it a different way in terms of the type of sessions, you know, length, uh, different events that are happening maybe inside or outside the event. Can you give some flavor to, you know, what attendees would be expecting versus previous events?

Mark Hickman: Yeah. I think the minute everybody walks into the event, they're going to feel a complete change of the way that [00:11:30] we're interacting with them and engaging with them. Just the layout of the whole convention center is going to be quite spectacular. Um, our goal is to give people the opportunity to hear keynotes. Obviously, we make big announcements and, um, you know, have a massive room full of, uh, of everybody and then breakout sessions, you know, hands on product engagement or big partner forum will be there and ISVs and all different technology and sponsors. So yeah, it's really we're really [00:12:00] trying to really drive that human interaction, um, between ourselves and our customers and our partners and that whole ecosystem. Really, the whole goal of future is to bring everybody into one place, and so everybody can learn from one another. Peer to peer, and also hear what's coming from from the ecosystem and what Sage is bringing to the market.

Matt Lescault: Before we started recording, you had talked about, uh, the new office in Atlanta. Um, I have not personally had a chance [00:12:30] to see it yet. I think the last time I was in Atlanta, I actually saw you at Lawrenceville office. Um, is there and I know the conference is not being done at the office. There's not enough room for 5000 people. But are you guys going to do anything, any kind of breakout, uh, visits during the conference, anything like that happening to kind of highlight that, uh, the new office.

Mark Hickman: Yeah. Um, that's a that's a good point. So our new office in Atlanta is in Ponce City Market. Uh, for the listeners who don't know, Ponce City Market is [00:13:00] the second most visited place in Atlanta, and the most visited place in Atlanta is the airport. So and it's the busiest in the world. So that's a pretty impressive stat when you think of all the sports stadiums and all the different things in Atlanta. So it's in a very cool, hip place, uh, in the city, uh, you know, we're showcasing our investment into Atlanta as our new North American headquarters. Uh, so during future, we will be doing, uh, visits to the, the Ponce City market for some, uh, some customers and partners. And [00:13:30] we're also doing some, some events, uh, as well around, uh, around Ponce City. So it's not far from the convention center. It's right in the center of Midtown. So it's a short, short trip. So yeah. So we will be doing some things absolutely at Ponce. And I say we're very, very excited to showcase that office for our part. You know, we built that office and it's two floors, one floor for colleagues and the other floor, which is our Sage Discovery Center, which is a place that we want to really build that product interaction and technology interaction [00:14:00] with our customers, colleagues and partners. So we're very, very excited to showcase that space.

Matt Lescault: Awesome.

Doug Lewis: Just just not you, Matt.

Matt Lescault: No, I'm sure not. You know.

Doug Lewis: They're talking about the important partners.

Mark Hickman: Yeah.

Matt Lescault: Yeah. Well.

Matt Lescault: You know, that was one day. One day.You know,

Doug Lewis: It doesn't hurt to dream, right? But what are you going to do? Uh, before we move on from the Sage future conversation to Mark, I want to pick your brain. You mentioned there's going to be some big announcements, as always, which I think a lot of people have come [00:14:30] to expect with transform in the past. Yeah. Um, this year with the I'll just leave it at radical change happening pretty much throughout everywhere it seems like anymore. Can we expect a real, real bombshell to be dropped? Like just a real like something that is just worlds apart from everything else? That's.

Emily Madere: Doug. Are you are you are you pushing the envelope? Are you trying to.

Emily Madere: Insider information.

Doug Lewis: I haven't asked to disclose what it was yet. I'm just saying, can people expect to hear something [00:15:00] that is just going to blow their minds?

Mark Hickman: I, I can't share what the announcements are, as you can probably imagine, because, you know, that would take away from the event and the excitement of the event. But there will be some large announcements, some significant announcements that will be making, you know, to the to everybody that's there and obviously the world as well. Right. We're very, very excited. You know, we use that as obviously a platform to really get our voice out into the market. And there are some significant things that we're going to be announcing that I think will, uh, [00:15:30] that will be game changing and very, very exciting for ourselves and our customers and partners.

Doug Lewis: Perfect.

Doug Lewis: And those things are Mark.

Emily Madere: And I can, I can say the last time I went to, uh, it was transform. Um, Aaron Harris was up there, and he was he was introducing copilot. And I just remember sitting in the room with the lights. Everything's black and green and just feeling this overwhelming. This is going to change the way people do business. This is going to to help so many of our clients is going to [00:16:00] help clients who don't even know that they need this tool. Um, and I can just imagine that I'm going to have this a similar feeling going into Sage future.

Mark Hickman: Yeah. So, uh, Sage copilot is now launched. Um, we've launched that into Europe. Um, and we've got about 40,000 customers using that on some of our products. Um, and we will be making big announcements at Sage future around copilot. Exciting announcements that.

Emily Madere: You're giving me goosebumps.

Mark Hickman: It's going to be good.

Mark Hickman: You know, Aaron will be, uh, doing his [00:16:30] thing, as he always does, but yeah, very, very exciting announcements around copilot, I think. Emily, you're touching on. We believe that it's going to change the way people interact. Uh, the people use products and, uh, you know, some of the, some of the enhancements are, uh, tech teams have made, uh, are really, truly exciting. And, uh, we think it will be game changing. And it all ties into, uh, Mr. Harris and his messaging. So it'll be it'll be very, very exciting. We're very, very pumped about that.

Doug Lewis: And Mark, you said about [00:17:00] 40,000 businesses currently, uh, have adopted copilot already and are in regular use. Uh, can you give people kind of an idea or flavor to size of businesses that are really kind of leaning into that product and that type of way of, of, of transforming everything they do internally. Like, are we talking SMB sized enterprise who's kind of adopting it the most? And, you know, maybe without disclosing anything too secretive, kind of moving forward, is there going to be a shift to focus on a specific size [00:17:30] of, of industry or industry segment or something like that with the copilot rollout?

Mark Hickman: So the first launch of Copilot, as we announced last year, was into our small products, um, in Ukiah, um, and also Europe. So that's predominantly where you see that 40,000 customers that are using it now, um, every product at Sage will use Copilot and that's, that's where we're going. Um, so we will be obviously, um, the next step for us is our fastest growing product. [00:18:00] And, um, uh, our number one product for growth is intact. So, you know, what we're looking to to do is now bring that into that intact realm. But it will it will go on all products X3 100, 300 right through the ecosystem as we move forward.

Doug Lewis: Interesting. And I think you mentioned early on, too, that Sage air is going to be, uh, a big topic of conversation moving forward, not only at Sage future, but just kind of throughout regular discussions with partners and customers. Um, [00:18:30] I'm kind of curious, what is there anything that's not public that you're allowed to share about Sage air, where that's going, what you're trying to do from a growth trajectory, who you're trying to target, who it helps all that fun stuff.

Emily Madere: But also, we haven't talked a lot about Sage air on on this podcast. I don't think we know entirely too much about it. So if you could give like a brief overview of it, I think that would be great.

Mark Hickman: Yeah.

Mark Hickman: So Sage Air is a product that, uh, predominantly started in our small businesses. [00:19:00] So we do sell it currently in North America, uh, with 50, uh, it's doing very, very well. We're now bringing that into the 300 ecosystem. And the goal will be to bring that into the intact ecosystem. Um, it is on the smaller end of those customers, not on the top end. On the top end, uh, as you know, we do partner with ADP, uh, payroll and HR, and that's a very strategic partnership for us, an important partnership that will continue. Uh, but Sage HR and our payroll capabilities will fill that gap in the [00:19:30] smaller end of the market for intact and 300, 100, etc.. So we're very excited. It's a huge growing market and we feel that, you know, Sage has a history in payroll, a very successful payroll. Payroll history. Um, for instance, in Canada, 7% of all Canadians are paid by Sage. Um, you know, in the UK it's significantly more. So, you know, we see this as something we have high confidence in and we're very, very excited about bringing it to market. So Sage is a comprehensive HR platform that has [00:20:00] all kinds of different modules that meets every business needs. And you can choose which modules you want and scale with it. So. So we're very excited about bringing that and showcasing that at future.

Matt Lescault: It's a pretty cool product. We're uh, we're looking at implementing internally for ourselves. Um, you know, our kind of knowledge of it came out of the Africa and Middle East because, uh, region because there's a new payroll product coming out called Space Age Payroll Advanced that's cloud based, and it's going to be integrated with Sage HR. And then the roadmap [00:20:30] coming into intact. And it's a pretty powerful product. Um, and I think if you look at service providers in the way that finance is going, it has gives a great opportunity to sort of meld those two, those two functions. Um, Doug, I mean, we had that whole conversation around, you know, what you're seeing from a advisory services component in the US marketplace and, and sort of having that people operations component from an outsourcing.

Doug Lewis: Oh, it's it's one of the lowest hanging fruits, honestly, inside most client [00:21:00] bases of businesses that that whole HR suite that a lot of people just don't do because either they don't understand it or the products that are on the market today are really geared towards, you know, enterprise level businesses. So, you know, in the in the SMB space here, at least in the US market, it's a relatively untapped or untapped market. That whole HR suite, which is it's kind of interesting. I probably should look into this a little bit more honestly.

Matt Lescault: And the question maybe I don't know if this is fair to you, Mark, but you know, we have Sage people [00:21:30] and then there's HR and I'm assuming and please correct me, is that Sage people is the kind of enterprise, you know, HR platform. And then HR would be more of your SMB to, to, to, into the mid market. And depending on how Sage, you know, people is needed by each company, whether they graduate into that. Is that is that accurate.

Mark Hickman: That's very accurate. That's that's actually bang on. Um, Sage people is a much bigger product. We use Sage people, uh, ourselves. Right. We're a big global [00:22:00] organization. So, um, whereas HR is definitely much more focused on that SMB space.

Matt Lescault: Yeah. May or may not have seen some of your people. They load their OKRs into Sage. People really track their, uh, their key results and everything. It's a it's a great, great platform.

Mark Hickman: I do.

Doug Lewis: You sound so happy about it too. Which is great.

Mark Hickman: We love OKRs are critical to running our business. Right. We all, we all, uh, we all use them, and we measure them on a regular basis. Yeah.

Matt Lescault: We [00:22:30] just. We just started launching our own, uh. Or we started doing OKRs ourselves this year, and it's been a it's been a big change for us as an organization. So I can I can only imagine, especially as large as Sage is and all the different regions and, and trying to have a collective vision around that.

Mark Hickman: So yeah. Yeah, it's it's definitely something that evolves right. As you as you continue every year and, and really focus in on making sure that it transcends down right from the top. So Steve's vision then layer [00:23:00] by layer by layer right. Making sure that everybody's focused on the right things.

Matt Lescault: One quick quick bring back to the to to future. Is there any thing that you can hint at that would be like a little bit of a teaser for anybody listening to the podcast leading up to it that wouldn't give away any state secrets.

Mark Hickman: Uh, I think that I think the actual event space itself, uh, [00:23:30] will be will be something that will blow people away. And, um, I think that we've made a lot of effort and a lot of focus on making sure that the experience of Sage future is the best that anybody's ever had at a Sage event. Uh, and I think the content will be something that people will leave getting massive value out of. And of course, we'll always have fun. There'll be evenings and various things where we'll all, uh, we'll all have [00:24:00] our fun times as well. Right. So, uh, conferences are not just made for the work side. They're made for the fun side. So we want everybody to enjoy themselves as well. And Atlanta's a great city, right? Fantastic city with a lot to offer.

Emily Madere: So I think I'm just going to I'm just going to say it. I can't wait to visit chick fil A.

Mark Hickman: Yeah.

Emily Madere: I really can't. I'm so when I get off the plane, that's where I'm going.

Mark Hickman: Yeah, well, you probably get one at the airport.

Emily Madere: Probably.

Matt Lescault: Is there not chick fil A in New Orleans?

Emily Madere: Oh, no, there is, but [00:24:30] I'm going to go to the chick fil A.

Matt Lescault: Um, okay. I didn't know that. That was like a thing to go to the original chick fil A, but. All right, I just gotta say, Mark, that's a pretty tall order. I mean, I remember the Black Eyed Peas playing at one of the transforms and. And getting to listen to that when.

Emily Madere: Y'all ran out of a piece of universal. I was at the karaoke bar. That was a good time.

Matt Lescault: Did you say

Mark Hickman: We had a partner event in Chicago last year we had a karaoke bar, too.

Emily Madere: Yes, I did. I sang at that one.

Mark Hickman: Yeah. There [00:25:00] you go. I missed that. I definitely should have been there. I'll be there next time.

Doug Lewis: It's weird that.

Doug Lewis: You don't remember that, Mark.

Doug Lewis: Yeah, I mean, that was. I feel like that was the. That was the peak of that entire event. Yeah.

Doug Lewis: Um, last I say last thing that I'll bring up about Sage future. Um, obviously there's, there's a, there's a list of keynote speakers out there you're bringing in who are phenomenal. And everyone, I think, has come to expect just phenomenal content, you know, through and through at, at the past events. Is there anybody, Mark, that you are specifically just [00:25:30] very excited to see present.

Mark Hickman: Um, I think well, my favorites at Sage events are always, I think Steve and Aaron, right? They kind of set that tone. Um, they are going to be delivering, you know, massive announcements, exciting announcements. Um, we do have, uh, you know, people from outside Sage that will be presenting as well, which I can't share. Uh, but I think those will be exciting as well. And, um, you know, if [00:26:00] anybody could just be nice to me when I present, that would be.

Mark Hickman: Appreciated.

Mark Hickman: Because I usually go on after Steve and Aaron, which is not an easy task for anybody. So I appreciate that. If everybody could just be nice to the, uh, the, uh, the old guy, that would be nice.

Matt Lescault: So I was going to ask if you were presenting. Now, the question is, would you like to practice here while we're on the podcast?

Doug Lewis: Yeah. Why don't you just run throughyour content real quick?

Doug Lewis: Yeah.

Emily Madere: Yeah, actually, your team sent over your slides so we can go ahead and pull those up.

Doug Lewis: Yeah. No, uh, I gotta say, you're [00:26:30] you're impressively holding back on not letting anything slip, and I like that. But I will get you, Marc. I'll wear you down, I can promise you.

Mark Hickman: Yeah. They prepare you well, that's. What can I say?

Doug Lewis: Yeah.

Emily Madere: So, Marc, um, you talked about the really, really cool events you talked about. There's there's something coming that we're going to learn. You talked about the amazing speakers. But one thing we haven't talked about and one thing I think I personally very much enjoy about this conference, um, is the marketplace partners?

Mark Hickman: Yes.

Emily Madere: Yeah. Um, so will you talk a little bit more about those?

Mark Hickman: Yeah. So we have our largest [00:27:00] group ever. Um, so that's exciting. Um, so we're going to have, um, as usual, have a very specialized area and forum area where people can go and engage with all the marketplace vendors. Um, I think that, you know, we have a new titanium sponsor this year, which is exciting. And, um, we think that, um, you know, we think that giving people access to those partners and engaging with those partners and doing it in a, in an interactive environment is something that, [00:27:30] uh, everybody will enjoy. So yeah, I mean, the marketplace partners are critical to our business. That ecosystem helps, you know, extend our ecosystem. So, uh, having them all at this event is something that we're very, very much looking forward to. So yeah, it'll be in a very specialized area. It's all decked out. I've seen all the plans for it. Once again, it's one of those things that, um, it's not just going to be, you know, a run of the mill conference, uh, room with, you know, booths [00:28:00] everywhere. It's going to be very well decored and fun with places where people can network, peer to peer and go have meetings and conversations and drinks, etc.. So it's it's something the team has put a lot of thought into.

Doug Lewis: It sounds like you keep saying the the space itself is going to be exciting, which I love, along with all the content I'm sure, which will be top notch. It almost sounds like you're trying to rival the Intuit Dome and what they've built out there.

Mark Hickman: I don't know what it [00:28:30] is. I'm sorry. Doug.

Matt Lescault: Yeah! Whoo hoo!

Doug Lewis: Yeah. No, it just it sounds like it's going to be quite, quite the experience, honestly. Um, you know what? What would you recommend, Mark? You've been to a few of these, of course, in the past. What would you recommend for anybody who's currently going to be attending? How are you going to get the most out of this event?

Mark Hickman: Um, first up, download the mobile app. Um, we spend quite a bit of time making sure that that app is up to date and giving people the right kind of information that they need to navigate. The event is quite [00:29:00] large, right? So without that, I think it's a little bit difficult. I think take advantage of the peer to peer. Right. That you're there with, um, people that do what you do every day and learning from other customers is something that I recommend everybody does who's never been to one of these stage events before. And then and really embrace, uh, you know, going into the different, um, The different keynotes. Get yourself a good seat. As you can probably imagine, 5000 people. Um, [00:29:30] if you're in the back of the room, you're kind of looking at a screen. So get there early and get yourself a seat up front and, uh, and thoroughly enjoy it. But yeah, I think just embrace it and enjoy Atlanta, you know, get there a little bit early, stay a little longer and just enjoy a world class city.

Doug Lewis: And and we said a couple times now 5000 attendees expected ballpark figure. Is there any kind of breakdown you can share? Like here's how many roughly from Sage. Uh, here's how many are sponsors here. How many are just just attendees [00:30:00] partners? Is there any kind of general demographics people can expect to kind of wrap their head around.

Mark Hickman: Over two thirds customers?

Doug Lewis: I'd say two thirds customers. Okay. That's that's interesting. Wow.

Matt Lescault: So that means that there's a much larger, uh, or extensive training platform here for the customers. So I know that's transforms in the in the past you had you had classes going on. I remember trying to get into the reporting classes in my early days when I when I did the work, and it was always hard to get it. You know, I, you [00:30:30] know, I always procrastinate for those things. And it was always hard to get a seat. Yeah.

Mark Hickman: Yeah. They fill up quickly. Um, yeah. No, all of that is still there. That that hasn't not doing away with all of the things that the customers love. Uh, we're ensuring that those classes are there. Those those sessions are there. So everything that you're used to transform, that everybody loved is, is still there. Right. We want to ensure that customers are getting that interaction and getting that learning capability out of the conference.

Doug Lewis: In those early days. [00:31:00] Matt still had hair at that time.

Matt Lescault: I did, I did.

Doug Lewis: Yeah. This was a while back. Yeah.

Mark Hickman: Yeah, I know, I know the feeling. Yeah.

Matt Lescault: I scared it all away. And it seems like Doug always brings us back. It brings it back to my hair, and I just.

Doug Lewis: I think it's the lighting in your office.

Matt Lescault: Oh, yeah. It's.

Doug Lewis: I think it's it's spotlight. Your head. And I love it.

Matt Lescault: Well, so it's kind of funny. I was in I was on a scoping call, uh, and one of the, uh, AV or Rsvp's. I'm sorry. [00:31:30] Um, I'm in, like, a a dark sweater in a dark room, and he's like, he makes fun of my bald head. He's like, it's the crystal ball here. To the customer. I just start laughing. So he texted me. He's like, I'm really sorry if that offended you. I was like, no, no, you just keep, keep, keep bringing it keep. So, Doug, it's not just you. Yeah. Uh, for some reason, the the the lack of, uh, insulation that I have, uh, is brought up frequently.

Emily Madere: Matt. [00:32:00] See, what you don't know is there's actually a sign permanently on your back that's like, make fun of me. And that's just the easiest thing for people to make fun of.

Matt Lescault: Hey. Well, I actually appreciate that a lot.

Doug Lewis: You said it's the easiest, not the only thing. So we don't, you know.

Mark Hickman: Things don't grow on a busy street, my friend. So you're doing well there. Don't worry.

Matt Lescault: Oh, there you go.

Doug Lewis: Very busy. Yeah, I'll tell you this guy he's got no time in his day. Which which I like. Um, Mark. So, you know, Sage feature anyone who might be [00:32:30] listening, watching this, reading whatever. Who's on the fence about, er. Is this worth going to? Should I even look at this? What is kind of your best advice to somebody who's just thinking about going or didn't even know this existed and was like, wow, that could be interesting. Why should they register today?

Mark Hickman: Uh, I think if you're in a medium business, you know, small medium business and you're looking at how you can drive your business forward, um, you're using Sage products or you're looking at maybe using Sage products as a prospect. [00:33:00] This is the event of the year. This is there's nothing like it. This is going to be the event where you can learn the most. You can engage with your peers. You can engage with marketplace vendors, as Emily was mentioning. Right. And learn about other ISVs that can build you can build into your ecosystem. You can hear from industry leaders and people that have built this industry. And you can and you can do it. You can do it in a fantastic event. You're getting value out of the content, but also [00:33:30] having fun in a world class city. I think it just all comes together. I think truly it is the event of the year in our segment, and we're very excited for as many people as possible to to attend. You know, if we get 5000, we get 6000. We'll be more than happy. There's no limit to how many.

Doug Lewis: People could be ten. It could be ten.

Doug Lewis: I'm sure the yeah, the conference hall would love that. Yeah, yeah. Really easy on the hotel system in Atlanta. Um, you know, I do a lot of a lot of conferences, a lot of events, all this fun stuff. Mark. And a pet [00:34:00] peeve of mine is when I go somewhere and there's not, like, practical, actionable stuff that people can walk away with. Now, do you say that is an expectation that they should have going to to future? Like I'm going to walk away with either the knowledge or the actual steps that I can go back and implement today, something that's useful as opposed to just, you know, pie in the sky kind of, you know, high level thinking.

Mark Hickman: I would say that's our number one goal. I want everybody to leave Sage future feeling that they've learned something, and they're going [00:34:30] back to implement that into their business with our help with our partners, help us whatever they need. Uh, I also want them to leave with some Sage swag. What would be what would be a Sage future event without some swag?

Doug Lewis: Okay, so now that one you can disclose because I don't think anyone's going to going to breathe down your neck on that. What's your favorite piece of swag?

Mark Hickman: Oh it's Sage.

Doug Lewis: Yeah. There are no into it.

Mark Hickman: Oh. I don't know what that is, Doug. [00:35:00] Um, I think that the most famous piece of swag we have is probably the. The shoes. The shoes are quite popular.

Emily Madere: The shoes?

Matt Lescault: You have shoes?

Mark Hickman: Yeah. The shoes.

Matt Lescault: Uh, can you commit getting all of us shoes that are Sage. I'm just. I'm just gonna. I'm just gonna make everything happen.

Mark Hickman: I could make anything happen.

Matt Lescault: I'm gonna. I'm gonna hold this to you. You know, we have Ali on here. She's not. She's not on on camera. And, Ali, we're holding you to this. All three of us got want shoes.

Aly: I've [00:35:30] been trying to get shoes for two years now, so add me to that list, Mark. Oh, boy.

Matt Lescault: Um.

Mark Hickman: Sizes, I need sizes. I can make anything happen. Um, I think the hoodies are quite popular too. And the tops? The MLB logo pieces are quite hot at the moment. So yeah, that's another one. So yeah. But yeah, we do. We do tend to give out quite a lot of swag. But uh, you know, we want people to have that right. And uh, our customers love it. So [00:36:00] you know, we're very happy to, uh, to give that out. So there will be some great Sage merch. Uh.

Emily Madere: Yeah. These shoes.

Mark Hickman: Yeah. We're not giving out 5000 pairs of shoes.

Emily Madere: I need. I need to see these shoes in person, I really do.

Matt Lescault: Well, I mean, I do, I have, I have socks, I have beanies, I have gloves, I have a vest, I have its shirts I need, I need the shoes. And then I will be a walking billboard and I'm fine with that.

Mark Hickman: You are. You are a very special people. I'm sure we could make that happen.

Matt Lescault: Now, [00:36:30] I got a silly question for you, Mark, because I have my own rules. What are swag items you won't take from a conference?

Mark Hickman: Oh. I think the things that like the stress balls, those are the one that I never really go for. Um, I think they just clutter the desk. Um, and I think there's it just when it gets kind of tacky. I think it's important when you've got swag that it's it's it's subtle. It's not over the top. I think [00:37:00] that's something, um, that is important. I think socks can get a little, uh. I'm famous for wearing, uh, you know, funky socks. I think it's a Canadian thing. Uh, but the Sage.

Matt Lescault: I love the socks. I love the socks.

Mark Hickman: Socks. Yeah.

Matt Lescault: So my my wife, my. The rule that I have is my wife says stop bringing home cups. I don't want mugs.

Emily Madere: Um, yeah. The cups.

Matt Lescault: I'm not. I'm not allowed to do it anymore. Except for I went to Cleveland, um, to AC, and they had a mug that had a speaker on the bottom, a Bluetooth speaker, and I was like, oh, [00:37:30] that one I'm going to take.

Mark Hickman: I've never heard that before. No, we got no mugs with, uh, speakers. That's a new one.

Mark Hickman: Up our game.

Matt Lescault: Add it, add it. You know.

Mark Hickman: That's cool. Yeah.

Matt Lescault: Doug, I know Doug.

Doug Lewis: Yeah.

Matt Lescault: Have you have you registered for future yet?

Doug Lewis: Uh, I personally have not. I am, unfortunately, conflicted out shockingly. I know well, I don't do my own schedule. Let's start there. All right.

Mark Hickman: I [00:38:00] know that life.

Doug Lewis: Yeah, I yeah, you know, Mark, you just go where you're told. And I don't even book my own flights or hotels. I just get the it shows up on my calendar and I just go and do things. Uh, no. Unfortunately, I'm on the conference circuit myself, and, uh, that one was that one was conflicted and booked out. There might be like a day where I could shoot over if it works out, but that'll be a very last minute if, uh, if I can get there. So. Well, you.

Doug Lewis: Know, if there's a pair of shoes waiting for me, that's a different discussion. I don't know, I might I might have to change the schedule for that.

Matt Lescault: Yeah, I [00:38:30] would be really bummed. I haven't seen Doug. Probably. What now? In a year and a half? Two years. But I will see you at the end of May. So.

Doug Lewis: That's right. Yep. A different conference, which we won't mention because you need to go to future. That's all we're talking about today. Uh, so that's that's certainly exciting. Um, Mark, a couple, couple rapid fires that have nothing to do with anything if you're okay with it.

Mark Hickman: Yeah, absolutely.

Doug Lewis: Just we're just going to just polish this off in something that people can take home that they'll absolutely love. So Emily said first stop in Atlanta, [00:39:00] chick fil A getting off the plane in Atlanta. Where are you going first, Mark non-work related.

Emily Madere: Was going home.

Mark Hickman: First first place to go. Uh, I don't say this because our new office, is there a lot of people that come to Atlanta? Completely agree. Is Ponce City Market?

Doug Lewis: And what do you what do you have to do? What's. You're walking in. Where are you going?

Mark Hickman: First to the food. The food court. There's a million different kinds of food places. They're high end, great [00:39:30] food, great vibe. Um, that is that is the place that I would start, for sure. And the rooftop is another place to go. There are lots of different things you can do up there. Great restaurants, different games, different setup. It's it's quite cool with a view of the city.

Doug Lewis: All right. Now this one could cut you some slack, so I'll let you decide how to answer it. What's the most overrated thing in Atlanta that everyone says you need to go do? But you do it. It's just like, ah, it was fine. Was [00:40:00] it a restaurant? Is it an attraction? What? What's something that people could maybe make room for elsewhere if they're thinking about doing it?

Matt Lescault: Can we get a fact check that they're not an intact client? Just saying.

Mark Hickman: I think this one, this one's probably not. And this was interesting, but rather pricey. Um, and, uh, not really a big Coke drinker, but, uh, it was definitely the Coca Cola museum. I would say the museum.

Doug Lewis: Yeah.

Doug Lewis: That's interesting.

Emily Madere: That is an egregious statement.

Doug Lewis: I [00:40:30] don't know, I don't think they have enough time in their day to go after Mark. Honestly. They got they got bigger fish to fry. Yeah, it is what it is. Uh, last now, last thing. Mark. Favorite color personally because people need to know. I was curious if you're going to lead with Sage though. Sage anything but you went with blue and I like that, I respect it, that's different.

Mark Hickman: Yeah.

Doug Lewis: Now, Mark, we always end these things with just a terrible dad joke. All right? Just an awful dad joke. [00:41:00] And I mean, just like, oh, God, rolling your eyes in the back of your head, dad, I always throw it out to our guest. If you have a dad joke on standby, I'd love to hear it. If not, I'll. I'll fill in.

Mark Hickman: But I'd have to think a second. Dan Miller's our famous dad joke guy. So I don't want to.

Emily Madere: Steal is.

Doug Lewis: Where you could you could steal one from him.

Mark Hickman: That could, that could work. I should, I should think about that. I don't have one off the top of my head. Actually, to be honest, I. I should have prepared that. I apologize, but I'll defer it to you.

Doug Lewis: Okay. All right. I got [00:41:30] a lot of shoe talk here. Let's. Let's shoot. Okay. Perfect. So what type of shoe did Michael Jackson wear?

Mark Hickman: I don't know.

Matt Lescault: You always have to give some guess here.

Mark Hickman: A lone walking shoe.

Doug Lewis: Good guess. Matt.

Matt Lescault: Emily, I like that, I like that.

Emily Madere: I don't know. Um, I don't know what a thriller shoe like. I have no idea.

Matt Lescault: A shoe on fire.

Doug Lewis: He wore Nike Hehe

Emily Madere: He's okay. [00:42:00]

Emily Madere: Okay.

Matt Lescault: That one was actually better than most of yours.

Emily Madere: Yeah, that one was good.

Mark Hickman: Come up with a joke. I wouldn't have beaten that

Doug Lewis: It's it's a numbers game, you know, that's, uh, it's part of the game. But, uh, Mark, thank you so much for taking the time. Uh, talking about Sage future, it actually sounds. It's pretty exciting. Um, kind of. What's going on? I love that there's a bit of a different path this year moving forward. And, uh, again, uh, unofficially, since this is the unofficial [00:42:30] Sage Intacct podcast, I believe the event itself is supposed to rival the Intuit Dome. Um, and Mark, I'll explain what that is to you offline, since you don't know what that is or who that organization seems to be. So. But you don't need to go the Intuit Dome, just go to Sage future. If you haven't registered, please register already. We'll have all the links and everything, um, and all the content here. So Mark, thank you for taking the time and hopefully we can have you back in the future.

Matt Lescault: Yeah.

Matt Lescault: Thank you.

Mark Hickman: Thank you very.

Emily Madere: Much. Thank you.