Requirements

The core requirements for Sage Intacct and Certinia could not be more different. Certinia is the accounting module of the Salesforce customer relationship management system, which means it can only run on the Salesforce platform. If your organization uses SugarCRM, Marketo, or any other customer database system, Certinia is not a viable option unless you’re willing to switch to Salesforce. 

Sage Intacct focuses on being a best-in-class accounting and financial system, which means its features are deep in capabilities but narrow in scope. This way, Sage focuses research and development time on improving the software’s accounting, reporting, and finance features. While Sage Intacct is priced for the mid-market, it is designed to grow with your business and prove invaluable in the long term. 

Modules and Integrations

Integration capabilities are another critical difference between Certinia and Sage Intacct. After all, neither solution exists in a vacuum—depending on the other software you’re using, you may find one solution preferable to the other. 

Sage Intacct is specifically built to integrate with other best-in-class cloud software platforms. Each division within your organization has the freedom to choose the best CRM, ERP, or other business management software that fits their needs. With its open API, Sage Intacct can integrate with many different platforms and has plenty of add-ons available through its Marketplace. Additionally, one of the most popular Sage Intacct integrations syncs the software with Salesforce. So, if Salesforce is one part of your company’s large, diverse software infrastructure, Sage Intacct could be a perfect fit. 

Certinia synchronizes seamlessly with Salesforce but does not have the API capabilities to integrate with non-Salesforce solutions. Certinia locks customers into a limited suite of proprietary platforms that work with Salesforce, including AccessPay, DocuSign, and Zimit. If your organization already uses any of these platforms, integrating Certinia (and Salesforce, if you aren’t already using it) could be beneficial.  

Financials & Reporting

Financial management and reporting features are central to any accounting software package. However, you need to consider the depth of analysis your company needs. 

Sage Intacct features a unique multi-ledger system that makes it easy to track multiple currencies, business entities, and other complex financial workflows. Sage Intacct includes a wide variety of pre-built reports with robust reporting capabilities. These capabilities allow users to quickly build custom reports and easily track essential metrics, all while adhering to industry best practices and remaining GAAP-compliant. It’s no wonder why Sage Intacct is the preferred accounting platform of the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants). 

On the other hand, Certinia features a single ledger that does not easily scale as your business grows. Because it was developed as a component of the Salesforce platform and not as a standalone accounting system, Certinia does not provide Sage Intacct’s depth of reporting and data management. Certinia relies on Salesforce for out-of-the-box standard reports, and many of its features adapt from aspects that Salesforce has already established. It does flesh out many accounting features and supplies extra functionality, but it is not a standalone system. 

Summary

If your business is looking for a cloud-based accounting system, Sage Intacct and Certinia are excellent choices. However, they present unique advantages and disadvantages that are important to consider. 

Sage Intacct is ideal for organizations needing deep financial reporting and analytics functionality. It’s best-in-class software built to integrate with various other best-in-class solutions. The company behind the software keeps Sage Intacct’s focus narrow but deep so that it excels at select tasks instead of providing broad functionality that your other software may cover. 

Certinia is a great option for companies that already use Salesforce or plan to use it in the future. As a native integration, Certinia synchronizes seamlessly with Salesforce and provides basic accounting functionality through a suite of modules. Because its functionality is not particularly deep, Certinia is best for companies with slow or limited growth and less involved accounting needs. 

At Cargas, we specialize in helping mid-market businesses implement and integrate accounting, ERP, and CRM systems. Contact us today if you have questions about the benefits of cloud accounting or the Sage Intacct accounting system. We look forward to answering all your questions and helping your business make the right choice!