Now Sage is working to roll out a payment processing module. One reason? Customers with payment processing products "tend to stay with us longer," Swenson said. However, while the module will be introduced into major product lines, such as accounting software, it won't handle the heavy lifting of the payments business. Instead, it will connect to Sage's payment system which will automate settlement and clear transactions, according to Greg Hammermaster, president of the payments division. "We are trying to divorce the software solution from even recording the credit card number," he said at Summit. Sage has written an API that enables payment modules to integrate with the central payment system. Hammermaster said that’s because the company needs modules for differing needs such as those of ERP applications and the healthcare division. While not pursuing the original vision of having resellers become independent service organizations, he is developing a referral agent program. The company has also been stocking up on sales and consulting expertise. "We are getting more serious. We are getting a lot more organized," Hammermaster said.