Your business operates in a demanding and fast-paced industry and the software you use will prove critical to improving productivity and efficiency in every department. Modern ERP solutions such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central offer a hybrid of accounting and business management solutions that are different from other software packages such as Sage Intacct. Here we compare the two software solutions to see which one could be more beneficial to your business.
The Microsoft Stack
Integration with other popular Microsoft programs such as Outlook, Excel and Teams is made easy with Dynamics 365 Business Central. It makes hybrid working simple to manage as business processes can be accessed from anywhere and at any time, with costing and accounting tasks made far more dynamic. Sales and Marketing, Customer Service and HR apps found within Dynamics 365 can also be integrated, along with Jet Reports, Power BI, PowerApps and many more. The apps are located on Microsoft’s AppSource marketplace, which as of mid-2022, features 92 additional apps and services that can be integrated into Dynamics 365.While Sage Intacct offers some integration with Microsoft products, the process is a little more complicated to set up and manage and can require use of additional resources to get things up and running.
Reporting and analytics
Dynamics 365 Business Central really stands out for its reporting capabilities, allowing you to drill down into fine detail about sales and financial aspects of your business. This offers a lot of obvious benefits for profit and customer sales monitoring as well as revenue forecasting, giving you far more control to make informed decisions. Sage Intacct also offers good reporting functionality – although perhaps not as detailed as Dynamics 365 – along with the option to customise data models and deployments and a host of in-built features.
Scalability
Not only can Dynamics 365 easily scale up to accommodate a vast number of new users, but it can also be used for businesses that rely on multiple functions. For example, if a company brings previously outsourced manufacturing in-house this will drastically change existing practices, with a host of new processes needed to be introduced and monitored. Sage Intacct works in very much the same way, remaining responsive to the changing needs of your business as you grow and expand.
Security
The security features are important to take note of as the threat of cyber attacks remain constant for businesses of all sizes. Rigid controls within Dynamics 365 work to prevent unwanted intrusions and potential attacks, helping to protect critical and sensitive business and customer data. While Sage Intacct does have good security protection in place, it is not as robust as Dynamics 365, which could leave key data vulnerable to attacks.
Upgrades
You ideally want the update process for your management software to be smooth and seamless, minimising interruption to your workflow. For online versions of both Dynamics 365 and Sage Intacct, updates are deployed automatically at no additional cost, with no installation or downloads required. However, for on-premise software, there are charges applied as it requires a third-party to carry out the work. New features and capabilities, along with service packs and bug fixes are regularly made available for both platforms, making it easy to keep up to date with the latest versions.
Summary
If you are looking for a cloud-based solution at a low cost that gives you more control over multiple departments and functions within your business, Dynamics 365 could be for you. Sage Intacct is tailored specifically towards accounting and finance and weighs in at a higher price, so does not offer the same balance found with the Dynamics package.
