The debate over who has the closest connection to Microsoft isn't new. In this round, is NetSuite's endorsement of Microsoft's Azure's versus Acumatica's support of the OData standard in order to support Power BI. NetSuite CEO Zach Nelson was invited to meet with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Acumatica was invited to present a content package for Power BI at the Microsoft Build conference on April 30.

A lot of people are talking about Sage Life, most in the channel not as fans. The fact that the channel was not given advanced notice of a totally new product (coupled with Sage jettisoning Pascal Houillon) has taken many resellers beyond anger to resignation. This quote sums up one attitude very well. “I think that all our energy will be spent trying to outrun Sage's shipwreck, and most other partners, who want to be in this business 10 years from now, are doing the same,” said one VAR. This is from someone who is not a hothead, but who had been a solid Sage loyalist.

Acumatica has signed new resellers in the New York metropolitan area. It bolsters what the company says was a weak presence in the area. The new recruits include Stratus Global Network Technology and Appsolute Consulting Group, based in New York City; Ezcom Software, a cloud-based EDI provider in Englewood, N.J., and Integrated Business Systems, also housed in New Jersey. CEO Jon Roskill said his company continues to see a stream of Dynamics and Sage VARs that are interested in adding other products. He noted that recently the 90 Minds Group of Sage resellers was having a meeting in San Diego, Calif. that was opposite an Acumatica event.