NetSuite vs. Sage Intacct: What You Need to Know

      It wouldn't be a contest if the battle between Sage Intacct and NetSuite came down to the number of users. NetSuite has more than 36,000 customers, compared to Intacct's 12,500. But as is typically the case, the numbers only tell part of the story. Both NetSuite and Sage Intacct give you powerful financial management and automation tools. But Sage Intacct is more of a financial ERP, while NetSuite is a more full-service, comprehensive ERP.

      Here's how NetSuite and Sage Intacct compare in terms of features and the kinds of organizations they're best for:

      NetSuite vs. Sage Intacct: A Comprehensive Comparison

      Here's how NetSuite and Sage Intacct stack up, so you can decide which one is better for your organization:

      Industry Focus

      The most significant difference between NetSuite and Sage Intacct is the industry they cater to. Sage Intacct is primarily an accounting tool, making it extremely useful for accounts receivable management and financial control tasks.

      NetSuite has a broader industry focus and provides many tools to match. You can use NetSuite to manage many elements of accounting and other financial disciplines, but you can also leverage it to analyze and automate many other business processes.

      Features

      Because Sage Intacct is designed for accounting, many features lend themselves to CFOs and accountants. For example, the software is known for its ability to manage financials across multiple locations, countries, and various types of businesses.

      NetSuite offers similar versatility, but its features extend beyond financial tools. It enables the comprehensive management of:

      • Inventory
      • Orders
      • Procurement
      • Warehouse functions
      • Manufacturing processes
      • Demand planning
      • Customer relationship management (CRM) systems
      • E-commerce

      Implementation Process

      The implementation of NetSuite and Sage Intacct can be considerably different in that:

      • Sage Intacct only has to integrate with elements of your business that feed data to your financial system, while NetSuite can use data from many more departments.

      • With Sage Intacct, your implementation partner must only be a financial expert. A NetSuite implementation requires an expert knowledgeable in different business systems.

      • A NetSuite implementation may take longer because of the many different business elements the software can manage and needs to interface with.

      Total Cost of Ownership

      Generally speaking, NetSuite may have a higher total cost of ownership. Subscription fees are higher than for other ERPs, and the customization required to get the most from the software can make it more expensive in the long term. Sage Intacct has fewer features, which can result in a more straightforward—and potentially less expensive—implementation.

      Customer Reviews and Reputation

      Sage Intacct and NetSuite both enjoy an overall positive reception from customers. According to G2.com, Sage Intacct outshines NetSuite with 4.3/5 stars compared to NetSuite's 4.0/5 rating. Similarly, SoftwareAdvice.com gives Sage Intacct a slight edge of 4.19 to NetSuite's 4.13 out of 5 rating.

      Regarding reviews, both products have their share of accolades and criticisms. NetSuite gets praise for its versatility and cloud capabilities but occasionally frustrates customers with its complexity. Sage Intacct gets a thumbs up for its scalability, but some feel that reports can be hard to set up and incorporating data into dashboards is less than intuitive.

      Cloud vs. On-premises

      When considering Sage Intacct vs. NetSuite from an ecosystem perspective, it's important to note that NetSuite is a purely cloud-based product you use via Oracle's cloud infrastructure. Sage Intacct is also a primarily cloud-based tool, but you can also host it on your on-premises server. This may make Sage Intacct a more versatile solution when it comes to deployment.

      Integration and Partner Ecosystem

      Some apps integrate well with both NetSuite and Sage Intacct. For example, Salesforce, WooCommerce, and HubSpot work well with Sage Intacct and NetSuite.

      The same holds for many other programs, but here's what you need to know: The ability of a solution to integrate with NetSuite or Sage Intacct depends on whether the solution's developer gave it the ability to interface with the ERP you prefer. Check with the developer to ensure integration is possible before you decide which ERP works best for you.

      Support and Customer Service

      NetSuite gives you three support options:

      • Basic: You get support for critical issues and access to the SuiteAnswers knowledge center and the NetSuite Support Community group online.

      • Premium: This option enables you to make toll-free calls for critical and non-critical issues. You also get priority queuing and are notified of upcoming releases before regular NetSuite customers.

      • Advanced: NetSuite's Advanced Customer Support (ACS) offers all of the above, but you also get help with implementation customization. This support tier also comes with ACS Playbooks, which feature best practices collected over the years that have helped companies overcome common NetSuite challenges.

      Sage Intacct's customer support system focuses on enabling customers to help themselves and providing additional support if the customer can't self-manage an issue. Sage Intacct's site has a help center with how-to videos, training, community support, release notes, and other resources designed to empower customers to help themselves. But you can also contact your Sage Intacct account manager for help if you can't find a solution.

      Which Organizations Are NetSuite and Sage Intacct Best For?

      When considering NetSuite vs. Sage Intacct, your industry vertical may be less of a consideration than how you plan to use the solution. Both tools can suit various business types, but NetSuite gives you more freedom regarding the business systems you can manage and automate.

      For example, if you want to automate your accounts receivable system elements, you can use either NetSuite or Sage Intacct. But if you also want to collect and analyze operational data from your manufacturing facility, go with NetSuite.

      Explore NetSuite's Potential with GSI

      GSI's team of expert NetSuite consultants can take the complexity out of any NetSuite implementation, reducing your total cost of ownership and increasing your ROI. As a NetSuite solution provider, GSI has professionals specializing in various industry verticals who know precisely how to maximize and manage your implementation.

      Contact GSI today to learn more.