When shopping for a business solution, things can get very confusing with so much choice out there. As cloud-based software has advanced, software providers have flooded the market with business solutions that, on the face of it, all look similar in their offering.
Even once you’ve decided on a software provider, there are often multiple versions of the same product to consider, and sometimes entirely different products also available from the same provider. This article will look at industry leader Sage, who has several other business solutions on the market.
Sage’s main offerings are Sage 50cloud, Sage 200cloud and Sage Intacct. Sage 50 is a widely used cloud-based system, but we won’t discuss it in this article because Sage 50 isn’t comparable to Sage 200 or Sage Intacct. To understand the differences between Sage 50 and Sage 200, you can read this article. Instead, we’ll focus on the critical differences between Sage 200 and Sage Intacct, as this can be an area of confusion.
What is Sage 200?
Sage 200 (official name Sage 200cloud) is a powerful ERP system popular with a large number of businesses. It’s software that provides businesses with one place to carry out all of their core business functions, including core financials, supply chain and inventory management, to name just a few. It gives a more singular view of the business than disparate systems could offer.
Sage 200 was developed in the UK and designed for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with up to 200 employees and turn over between £2 million and £100 million. It has two versions, Sage 200 Standard and Sage 200 professional. Sage 200 Standard is entirely cloud-based, whilst Sage 200 Professional is an on-premise solution that is cloud-connected. To understand the differences between 200 Standard Standard and Professional, you can read more in this article. Sage 200cloud is particularly popular in the manufacturing, wholesale and distribution and retail sectors (for reasons we’ll come onto shortly).
What is Sage Intacct?
Sage Intacct started its life as cloud-based financial management software developed in the US by the Intacct Corporation. It was created in 1999 then purchased by Sage for £850 million in 2018. Since then, Sage has continued to develop the software into the Sage Intacct we know today.
Sage Intacct is an entirely cloud-based ERP solution which deals with similar core financials as Sage 200coud. It lets businesses streamline their processes, increase data accuracy, and gain better visibility and control of the entire company. Sage Intacct is popular with financial service providers, not for profits and businesses offering subscriptions such as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).
Based on all of the above, Sage 200 and Sage Intacct probably look very similar? There are strong similarities and overlaps; however, there are also differences that set the software apart. These differences can explain why different types of industries prefer sage 200 and Sage Intacct. Below, we will take a look at some of the most important differences.
What are the main differences between Sage 200 and Sage Intacct?
Firstly, Sage Intacct is an entirely cloud-based solution meaning that there is no need for on-premise hardware or software, which can reduce costs. It also has the added benefit of the software always being up to date as it’s maintained on remote servers by Sage. Sage 200 Standard is also cloud-based, however, meaning it boasts the same benefits as Sage Intacct.
The real difference that comes with Sage 200 Professional, which is an on-premise solution with cloud capabilities, is that to access the additional features of Sage 200 Professional, at least some hardware and software will be required on-site. Maintaining on-site data can be advantageous for Sage 200, too, for certain types of business who deal with sensitive data that may feel more comfortable with an on-premise solution where their data is on their servers. Sage 200 can offer this, whereas Sage Intacct can’t as it is fully cloud-based.
Although Sage 200 Professional is an on-premise solution, some businesses choose an external provider like Eventura to host the hardware and software on their own site, meaning the provider can take care of updates and maintenance easily. Sage 200 Professional can also be hosted within another cloud location such as Microsoft Azure.
As ERP software grows with your business, it can be very advantageous, and this is where Sage 200 currently takes advantage. Firstly, it easily integrates with several other Sage products, including Sage Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Sage Payroll and Sage Pay.
It isn’t to say Sage Intacct can’t integrate with other software because it can; it has a robust integration with Salesforce CRM as just one example. However, it doesn’t have the same number of Sage integrations currently available as Sage 200cloud.
Sage 200 is also far more customisable than Sage Intacct. Over the years, Sage Partners and Sage Developers have added continual value to Sage 200 by developing additional modules and integrations via the Sage Marketplace, meaning that businesses can add extra functionality as they need Sage 200 to grow effortlessly with the company.
One particular module, the Sicon Manufacturing Suite, has compelled Sage to retire its manufacturing model and has become Sage’s chosen manufacturing solution, sitting within the Sage menu in Sage 200 Professional (not available in Sage 200 Standard).
Manufacturing is an excellent example of how Sage 200 and Sage Intacct have advantages over each other based on industry. The Sicon Manufacturing Suite in Sage 200 Professional connects directly with the robust Sage 200 Bill of Materials (BOM). It features works orders planning, material planning, capacity planning and more.
It has advanced barcode and warehousing functionality essential for manufacturers. Sage Intacct, however, has a basic inventory and product management, with no manufacturing capabilities, ruling it out for manufacturers or businesses like retail, who require advanced inventory management. Sage 200 also has a Field Service module that allows businesses to schedule and manage field agents such as engineers, manage van stock and even product on-site reports on mobile devices.
Sage Intacct does have its advantages for other industries, however. Its popularity in the financial services industry stems from several functionalities. Firstly, Sage Intacct is truly financially globalised. It supports multiple currencies and taxes, including US tax. Currency conversion can be automated, allowing transactions from locations worldwide to combined, allowing you to close the books faster. Although Sage 200 allows multiple currencies across companies, it still only supports UK fiscal rules and regulations. Both systems are entirely making tax digital compliant.
Financial services businesses are attracted to Sage Intacct because of its advanced audit functionality. This functionality allows them to track intercompany transactions, offering complete traceability and transparency.
These examples highlight why Sage 200 and Sage Intacct each have their advantages when employed in different industries and operating models.
One of Sage Intacct’s core features is its highly flexible and customisable reporting dashboards allowing different industries to create different dashboards specific to their requirements. It also has greater functionality in consolidating data from a large number of companies. Sage 200’s standard dashboards aren’t as advanced or flexible; however, it’s still possible to achieve this and considerably improve the standard reporting through simple third party integrations.
If your business is migrating from Sage 50, Sage 200 has a migration tool that can help make a move easier. Migrating large amounts of data between systems can be a challenge, so the migration tool is an attractive feature for businesses wanting to journey further up the Sage family. Intacct doesn’t currently offer this tool, so migrating can be more challenging and involve a more complex migration project.
Top 5 Benefits of Sage 200
- Highly advanced inventory and product management.
- Strong manufacturing and construction capabilities.
- Highly customisable and scalable through Sage Marketplace.
- Sage Payroll, Sage CRM and Sage Pay integration.
- Cloud-based and on-premise cloud-connected solutions available.
Top 5 Benefits of Sage Intacct
Summary
It’s safe to say that both Sage 200cloud and Sage Intacct have their advantages; however, this is highly dependent on what industry your operating within. If you’re business manufactures or requires substantial inventory and product management, Sage 200 wins hands down. Sage Intacct will likely improve its inventory management and manufacturing functionality in the future, but at present, it just can’t compete with Sage 200.
If your business provides professional services, financial services, or operates globally in multiple jurisdictions, then Sage Intacct could be a good fit. Its advanced multi-currency, multi-tax, and consolidation capabilities take a slight advantage over Sage 200.
It all comes down to which solution would best suit the industry you’re operating within and how you want to operate. Here at Eventura, we have been providing Sage business solutions to businesses for over ten years. Our business consultants can help you understand your specific requirements and build a Sage solution that’s right for you. From conception to implementation and then support, we can help you on your Sage journey. If you would like to speak to one of our Sage experts, you can request a free call back here.
