COMPARISON | 5 MIN READ
Sage Intacct vs Oracle NetSuite
Best-of-Breed or Software Suite
Sage Intacct and Oracle NetSuite are leading accounting systems for organizations hoping to streamline and automate activities. However, key differences between these two software products will determine which is a better fit for your business.
Best in Class vs. Suite Software
The biggest difference between Oracle NetSuite and Sage Intacct is philosophical. Oracle NetSuite is a complete, all-in-one “software suite” that includes customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning, and accounting modules. Sage Intacct, on the other hand, is a stand-alone, best-of-breed, or best-in-class cloud accounting system. Sage Intacct integrates with a wide range of other software applications, including some of the most popular CRM and ERP systems on the market.
As a best-in-class software, Sage Intacct is designed with deep accounting functionality and vast integration options. Businesses seeking software to handle their core financials as well as more advanced needs like allocations, consolidations, fixed assets, revenue recognition, and more may opt for Sage Intacct and integrate it with their existing solutions. Additionally, best-in-class software is easy to learn compared to multi-application suite software, and while its functionality is limited to niches and the customization process can take time to implement, this software is designed to smoothly integrate with other programs.
Alternatively, while Oracle NetSuite has more generalized applications, this can be seen as the program’s greatest benefit. The sheer number of tasks that suite software can accomplish means it could take care of the core financial tasks for a business as well as other administrative and organizational responsibilities. Although suite software may not synchronize with some third-party solutions and its cost may come with an excess of features, consistent formatting across all of a suite’s applications makes the software easy to learn.
Accounting vs. ERP
“What do you want your software to do?” seems like an obvious question to ask when investing in a new solution, but the answer requires a surprising amount of depth. After all, the choice between Sage Intacct and Oracle NetSuite is a choice between accounting-specific software and broader ERP software.
Some businesses aren’t looking for a blanket solution and are satisfied to mix and match best-in-class software. Organizations in need of advanced functionality like built-in reporting and dashboards, budgeting and planning, project accounting, contract management, and more may not get their money’s worth from an entire suite of applications. As such, they may prefer accounting-based software like Sage Intacct.
ERP products are operations solutions, so you often find finance and accounting capabilities mixed in with things like inventory, HR, and workflow automation. ERP software consolidates internal operations to break down silos and promote a free exchange of information between various departments. For businesses hoping to improve productivity and proactivity as well as cohesion, an overarching software like Oracle NetSuite may be the best investment.
Software Pricing
The key difference between the two that mid-market organizations must consider is pricing. While both solutions have the functionality and capability to support growing mid-market businesses, NetSuite has an enterprise-level price tag. NetSuite requires a large up-front investment for plenty of functionality, and while a business may not need some of those features immediately, they could be utilized later down the line as the company scales.
On the other hand, Sage Intacct comes at a relatively lower price than NetSuite due to its niche functionality. Sage Intacct offers a reasonable entry point for small-but-growing businesses, including the flexibility to add users, entities, and modules as you need them.
In essence, Oracle NetSuite and Sage Intacct offer the same amount of flexibility, but that flexibility operates differently. NetSuite provides the necessary resources up-front for a higher cost, while Intacct provides specialized accounting software that can be easily added to a lower price point.
Deployment
Both Sage Intacct and Oracle NetSuite live in the cloud, meaning there are no files to worry about on your internal server, and your IT department won’t have to help with implementation. Even better, cloud software means that both in-office and remote users can access financial data from anywhere. This can be helpful when your accounting team is spread over many locations or when individuals need access to financial reports while traveling. The cloud also means that your data is safe, encrypted, and backed up at all times.
What Size Businesses are Best?
Sage Intacct and Oracle NetSuite both cater to mid-sized and larger businesses but differ in scalability and complexity. Sage Intacct is best for growing mid-market companies that need advanced financial management without the overhead of a full ERP, typically ranging from 50 to 1,000 employees. Oracle NetSuite, with its broader ERP capabilities, is better suited for larger mid-market and enterprise organizations, often with 100 to several thousand employees, that require full-scale business management across multiple departments and locations. While both systems handle multi-entity and global operations, NetSuite is often preferred by companies anticipating rapid expansion or requiring extensive operational functionality beyond finance.
Sum It Up
When it comes to finance and accounting, Sage Intacct is a best-in-class solution that delivers on modernization, automation, and self-support. Any functionality that cannot be achieved through Sage Intacct, such as inventory or sales management, can be easily integrated from other software solutions.
Oracle NetSuite is a cloud-based ERP solution with traditional and specialized functionality to aid countless industries to achieve business cohesion. The suite offers ERP, CRM, accounting, and e-commerce functionality across a single solution, and is customizable to cater to your organization’s workflow.
At Cargas, our expert consulting team specializes in ERP and accounting solutions, including Sage Intacct. As a Sage Intacct Premier Partner, Cargas has been recognized for its exceptional growth, customer satisfaction, and strategic expertise. If you’re struggling to determine which of these solutions is the best fit for your business, we’d love to help. Let’s connect to talk about your needs and what you’re looking for in a software solution.
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