If you’ve ever wondered what separates Sage Intacct from Sage 50—or what a SIAP or VAR even does—this episode is for you. The hosts walk through the Sage ecosystem from the ground up, explaining key acronyms, how the partner structure works, and what sets each Sage product apart.
Doug, Emily, and Matt cover the practical differences between Sage 50, 100, Intacct, and X3, breaking down how businesses use each one based on size, complexity, and industry. They also touch on integration partners and what the shift to cloud really means for accounting teams.
This is a great listen for anyone evaluating solutions or trying to decode the confusing world of Sage labels. If you’ve heard of “Intacct,” “SIAP,” or “VAR” and smiled and nodded without knowing what they meant—this one’s for you.
For a deeper breakdown of the Intacct ecosystem from a systems design and module selection lens, check out Lescault & Walderman’s summary of Sage Intacct ERP modules.
Listen to learn more about:
- (00:00) – Welcome to The Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast
- (00:36) – Setting the Stage: Today’s Agenda
- (00:52) – Diving into the Sage Ecosystem
- (02:12) – Understanding VARs: Value-Added Resellers
- (08:20) – The Role of SIAPs in the Sage Ecosystem
- (18:13) – Exploring ASPs: Authorized Services Partners
- (23:56) – Core Sage Products: An Overview
- (27:15) – The Shift to Cloud: QuickBooks vs. Sage 50
- (31:00) – Sage 100: Transitioning to Intacct
- (35:37) – Understanding Sage Intacct
- (44:04) – Sage X3: Enterprise Manufacturing and Distribution
- (48:42) – Marketplace Partners and Integration
- (53:21) – Final Thoughts and Future Directions
Related Industries
- SaaS
- Distribution & Manufacturing
- Professional Services
- Mid-Market & Enterprise Businesses
Speakers
Doug Lewis
Host | Accounting Tech Leader
LinkedIn
Emily Madere
Host | CAS Practice Lead
LinkedIn
Matt Lescault
Host | CEO, Lescault & Walderman
LinkedIn
Sponsors
Related Resources
FAQ: What Did That Mean?
What’s a VAR?
VAR stands for Value-Added Reseller. In the Sage world, VARs sell and support Intacct software directly. They’re not Sage employees—they’re implementation partners who often bring industry-specific expertise.
What’s a SIAP?
SIAP = Sage Intacct Accountants Program. It’s a special designation for firms that use Intacct to deliver outsourced accounting services. If you’re a CAS firm using Intacct, you might be a SIAP.
What’s an ASP?
ASP stands for Authorized Services Partner. These are firms that don’t sell the software but are certified to implement it, usually in collaboration with Sage’s direct sales team.
And the Acronym Fund?
If someone drops an acronym and forgets to explain it, they owe the “Acronym Fund.” It was introduced in Episode 1 and makes a return here—only this time, the price jumped to $50. Listener giveaways may be incoming.
Doug and Emily are joined by Karen Penhallegon to break down Sage Intacct’s latest quarterly release, and this one comes with some big updates. Whether you’re deep into multi-entity accounting or just tired of manual AP work, there’s something in here that will make your team’s life easier.