Parents claim they don’t have a favorite among their children. However, some parents can’t help leaning more towards one child than others. Sage is in this pickle. It’s proud of both Sage 100 and Sage Intacct, but it leans towards Intacct. Read on to find out why.
Target Audience and Business Size
Consider two young children: one is really good at building Lego, while the other reads well above her grade and is good with numbers.
Sage 100 is the Lego whiz. It excels at meeting SMBs’ basic accounting and simple operational functionality needs. It’s not really scalable, but that’s ok because you’re happy with your business as it is.
Sage Intacct is the little genius. Its cloud-based software caters to mid-market and enterprise-level businesses that need more advanced accounting solutions, including multi-entity and multi-currency management.
Intacct is scalable. If your business is experiencing a growth spurt, Intacct is the perfect solution because it accommodates your increasingly complex financial management needs.
Deployment Options: On-Premise vs. Cloud-Based
Our Lego whiz will go to a perfectly good local community college. Our little genius will go to an Ivy League University.
Sage 100 works best as an independent on-premise accounting solution. Businesses are responsible for their hardware and infrastructure maintenance – which many people prefer.
Sage Intacct is an advanced cloud-based accounting solution. You can access the system wherever you can find an internet connection and enjoy the benefits of remote IT support. The software provider automatically handles updates, so you don’t need to worry about anything other than nurturing your business.
Financial Management and Other Accounting Features
The Lego Pro goes into construction, specializing in brick walls and floor tiling. The genius goes into business management, becoming head of the finance department.
Sage 100 specializes in simple but critical financial foundation tools, like accounts payable and receivable, and general ledgers. It’s not going to set the world afire but it’s reliable and sturdy.
Sage Intacct provides heavy-weight financial management tools, like multi-entity consolidations, revenue recognition, financial tracking, automation, and real-time financial reporting. One of the primary benefits is enhanced operations, which save time and money and are generally more efficient.
Scalability and Growth Potential
Lego-man is comfortable working in his hometown. He doesn’t need to expand beyond the city limits, although there’s potential for growth. Business superwoman is sailing up the corporate ladder, with her eye on the C-Suite.
Sage 100 is the ideal partner for small and medium-sized businesses that have cornered the market in their corner of the world. However, it’s not ideal if you want to take advantage of growth opportunities and your financial needs become more complex. Upgrades cost a pretty penny.
Sage Intacct is designed to grow with your business. There’s no need to purchase upgrades because it’s already with you every step of the way.
Customization and Integration
Lego Pro has a point to prove and prefers to keep all business operations under one roof – his roof. He’ll work with others, but not happily. The master genius is adaptable and welcomes anything that encourages growth.
Sage 100 has limited customization and integration options. It’s not easy to integrate the software with third-party applications and cloud-based tools and it’s quite a challenge to customize workflows to enhance financial operations.
Sage Intacct is customizable up the wazoo and easily integrates with third-party applications, including Salesforce and other e-commerce platforms. Its open API ensures you can seriously tailor your system to meet advanced needs.
Cost and Pricing Structure
Master Lego builder purchases affordable, quality materials and supplies, but occasionally needs to splash out on specialized equipment. Genius Pro keeps costs down by purchasing more expensive, higher-quality tools that are more cost-effective in the long run.
Sage 100 has low upfront costs with a choice between a one-time payment or annual maintenance fees. Costs add up when you include IT infrastructure maintenance and system updates.
Sage Intacct is subscription-based; you pay for the modules you need and add modules as your needs change. Your subscription includes updates and customer support. It’s more expensive than Sage 100, but it provides long-term value and maintenance costs are low.
When and How to Make the Switch
Mr Lego accepts that growth is actually a good thing and wants to find partners that will support his business through this stage. His sister, Ms. Genius is thrilled to bits and can’t wait to help him take his business to the next level.
It’s possible to migrate from Sage 100 to Sage Intacct, but it’s important to work with a certified Sage consultant to make the transition as smooth as possible. Your consultant will help you evaluate your current needs – where Sage 100 is falling short – and then plan the switch to Intacc’s advanced financial services.
Note: You’ll need training to understand and optimize Intacct’s features.
Do You Have a Favorite Child?
Of course not! The idea is absurd. Except …
Sage 100 and Sage Intacct both provide excellent value with high-quality software solutions. It’s just their target market is different. Also, Intacct provides greater value with advanced features that support you through long-term growth.
Is there a favorite? It’s up to you to decide.
