The battle of the cloud: NetSuite vs Sage

Jamie Roberts

So you’ve decided it’s time to choose a new software solution for your business. In the second of our comparison series, we pit NetSuite against another big hitter, in a NetSuite vs Sage head to head.

Leading cloud solutions provider Nuage Networks states that NetSuite has continued to take customers and clients from their rivals Sage, but is this true? What can NetSuite offer and what does Sage allow a business to do which lets them be the front runner?

With many different ‘flavors’, Sage has software to help every business manage their accounting and financials, operations, payroll, payments, and people.

Firstly, we’ll look at their ERP systems and compare NetSuite ERP with Sage 100 2018. If you are looking for our CRM comparison, you can skip straight to this section.

So, let’s investigate the pros and cons of both systems, what features are on offer and how the price compares.

What is NetSuite ERP?

NetSuite ERP is a scalable cloud ERP solution that is a leader in its industry thanks to the combination of financial management operations and built-in business intelligence. Like other NetSuite products, you can tailor the package to your own needs, allowing you to work seamlessly with all the products in your productivity suite.

What is Sage 100 2018?

It is used across a range of products, meaning it’s a popular choice for manufacturing, distribution and services companies. It’s also suitable for those working with industrial supplies and services, building materials and electronics.

NetSuite ERP vs Sage 100 2018: pricing

Like its NetSuite counterpart, for Sage 100 you must contact the software provider for an exact quote. By offering to tailor their systems to the needs of the business, it’s not possible to give an accurate price, but it does start from $45 per month.

NetSuite ERP vs Sage 100 2018: features

NetSuite ERP is broken down into eight categories, each with impressive features. They are:

Category	Features
Accounting	Audit trail visibility Procure-to-pay Order-to-cash Tax management
Billing management and invoicing	Flexible billing scheduling NetSuite TribeHR Payroll services Shipping and fulfillment Integrated process workflow Recurring revenue management Revenue recognition management Incentive compensation management Core HRIS Human capital management
Payment management	Flexible payment acceptable Fraud prevention Flexible payment processing Global ready
Demand planning	Gross requirements inquiry Supply chain intelligence with MRP Demand planning engine
Manufacturing	Shop floor management Manufacturing routing Product costing Bill of materials Materials resource planning
Inventory control and warehouse management	Inventory control Inventory visibility Order fulfillment Cost management
Purchasing and vendor management	Routing and approval Integrated process workflow Centralized vendor management
Fixed asset management	Workflow management Flexible depreciation management Fixed asset roll forward Integrated financial reporting

Sage 100 2018 has several benefits that stand it above Sage PFW ERP. It can be broken down into three modules, each with their own specialized features.

Module	Features
Financials bundle and general platform	Easy-to-use navigation and workflow thanks to built-in visual process flows Streamline access using one function Customizable lookups Paperless Office is included, with data automatically stored as a PDF There is no month-end GL process required, so the monthly closing processes are simple Built-in dashboard Advanced security settings based on roles and users Available as a cloud or on-premise solution
Distribution bundle	A flexible pricing structure that can be set by using totals, items, customers, and groups An easily streamlined look at on-hand inventory Purchase receipt labels including barcodes can be produced to attach to inventory items Automatic memos can be set up for both vendors and customers Repeated and blanket orders able to speed up the ordering process Keep unique accounts while streamlining branch and corporate
Additional modules	Material requirements planning Work order module helps to develop schedules and issue work orders. Barcodes to help you streamline warehouse processes

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NetSuite ERP vs Sage 100 2018: pros and cons

Pros: NetSuite ERP

The solution allows you to work in many countries, including USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Japan, and China. This is a great benefit to multinational companies
The software is very flexible, working smoothly on operating systems including iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and web-based
It’s a powerful software which allows you to customize the functions and feature to your own needs
Being cloud-based, it’s all hosted online
Many hold it in high regard, with the argument being it’s the world’s top financial management solution

Cons: NetSuite ERP

You can’t view a summary of your sales orders
It’s hard to navigate the dated interface
Unwanted changes may occur due to it being cloud-based

Pros: Sage 100 2018

Affordable for small to medium-sized companies
An easy system to navigate, with shortcuts straightforward to create and use
The sophisticated software allows you to configure it as you need it
Improvement on calendar and security enhancements since previous editions

Cons: Sage 100 2018

Multi-language isn’t available
Multi-currency is a third-party add-on
The system may sometimes not work well with itself
It’s difficult to correct a mistake that’s been entered

A customer relationship management system is an excellent tool for any business. It is therefore essential to choose the right one from the abundance of options you have out there. Here, we’ll compare NetSuite CRM+ with Sage CRM 2018.

What is NetSuite CRM+

The software is a robust system that offers a single cloud CRM solution that consists of Sales Force Automation (SFA), customer support and service, marketing automation, ecommerce and flexible customization.

It was first released in 2005 and helped to mark NetSuite’s shift towards becoming a comprehensive business solution provider.

What is Sage CRM 2018?

Sage CRM 2018 offers a robust and comprehensive CRM platform. It can provide your business with the insights that help drive you forward. The solution provides your business with a platform that will help your marketing campaigns be more precise and targeted.

NetSuite CRM+ vs Sage CRM 2018: pricing

Like its ERP relative, you can’t track down a set cost for NetSuite CRM+ online. The only way you can find out how much the solution will cost you is by directly contacting NetSuite or a solution provider.

Similarly, it’s impossible to nail down a set price for Sage CRM 2018 by just looking online. To receive a quote, you must request one from the company so they can tailor their product to your specific needs.

NetSuite CRM+ vs Sage CRM 2018: features

NetSuite CRM+

NetSuite CRM+ has a lot of great features available split into four modules:

Category	Features
Sales Force Automation (SFA)	Ability to easily manage opportunities Forecasting offers which are probability-based Order management
Marketing automation	Able to track campaigns rapidly Sole system for email marketing Upsell marketing supported by historical analysis
E-commerce and flexible customization	Can capture micro-interactions Greater services and product visibility provided
Customer service and support	Customer case submissions, communications, and status tracking is enabled thanks to online self-service Real-time dashboards can monitor key factors, such as renewals, customer satisfaction, and resolution metrics Supportive of routing and tracking support cases according to issues, case type, product, partner or customer Automated business processes with case management

Sage CRM 2018

Sage CRM has several key features:

You can manage customer relationships by recording key details about customers, which allows you to easily build rewarding relationships
An improved quality of support thanks to the central knowledge base provides a consistent experience to every customer
The software can help accelerate the process for sales, from the initial lead all the way through to closing
Mobile CRM is available so you can remotely access your data and make key decisions based on real-time reports while you’re on the move
Built-in email marketing tools to help build lists faster and analyze your campaigns
Easy to combine the product with other Sage software

NetSuite CRM+ vs Sage CRM 2018: pros and cons

Pros: NetSuite CRM+

NetSuite CRM+ provides streamlined information throughout the lifecycle of the customer, while also simplifying your business’s lead-to-cash processes
Productivity levels can increase thanks to a 360-degrees overview of your customer portfolio
Forecasting, upselling and commission management can improve a business’s sales performance
Organizations as well as managing global sales are serviced

Cons: NetSuite CRM+

You can’t integrate productivity tools such as Skype
High support access fees and difficulties when trying to obtain customer support
Currently, NetSuite doesn’t utilize personal AI assistants

Pros: Sage CRM 2018

It’s easy to learn how to use the software
You can track calls by integrating your telephone systems
It’s affordable low-cost appeals to small businesses
It’s able to capture information that has been entered into a business’s page so it can be used later for reference

Cons: Sage CRM 2018

A mid-sized business that continues to grow may run into problems with its limited features meaning that the app may not be scalable
You can’t track competitors
Lacks integration features

What is a great cloud solution for a business?

With so much information to digest, it’s always best to ‘try before you buy’. Thankfully, you’re in luck. Both NetSuite and Sage offer a free trial of their product, so you can test out all the features and see which is best suited to your business.

However, NetSuite claims that if your business has outgrown your current version of Sage, then, instead of a fresh Sage implementation, you should switch to NetSuite as it’s proven to support a higher-growth in a business. So much so, NetSuite state that over 500 organizations of all sizes have already switched to their solution from Sage.

Entrepreneur Tobi Skovron agrees that NetSuite is a great solution for businesses. “What I really like and value about NetSuite is its centralization of all company activities,” says Skovron. “From ERP, CRM and even eCommerce all notes, history, billing, were all central and not bolted on with other products or providers.

“I like the all-in-one solution. Furthermore, our accountants were able to have their own login and complete monthly bookkeeping reports. Their pioneering backend support keeps businesses super lean as an organization and super fast on the front/consumer-facing side.”

Are you enjoying our battles of the software brands? Check out our NetSuite vs Microsoft Dynamics piece and make sure to keep an eye out for future head to heads.

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