Sage 100 vs Sage Intacct

Sage 100 (formerly known as MAS 90/200) is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software designed for small to medium-sized businesses.

It helps organizations manage core business processes like accounting, inventory, manufacturing, distribution, sales, and customer relationship management (CRM) in one integrated system.

Key Features of Sage 100:

1. Financial Management:

• General Ledger

• Accounts Payable/Receivable

• Bank Reconciliation

• Fixed Assets Management

2. Distribution & Inventory:

• Inventory Management

• Purchase Order Processing

• Sales Order Management

• Warehouse Management

3. Manufacturing Modules (in Sage 100 Manufacturing):

• Bill of Materials

• Work Order Processing

• Materials Requirement Planning (MRP)

4. Job Costing & Project Management

5. CRM Integration:

• Integration with Sage CRM for customer relationship and sales management

6. Payroll & Human Resources

7. Business Intelligence & Reporting:

• Built-in reports

• Custom reporting tools

Deployment Options:

• On-Premises

• Hosted / Cloud-enabled

Who Uses Sage 100?

• Manufacturing companies

• Distributors

• Professional service firms

• Retail businesses

Benefits:

• Scalable as the business grows

• Customizable modules based on industry needs

• Strong financial and inventory controls

• Good for companies needing audit trails and compliance features

Sage Intacct is a cloud-based financial management and accounting software designed primarily for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), nonprofits, and mid-market enterprises. 

It is part of the Sage Group, a global leader in accounting and business management software.

Key Features of Sage Intacct:

1. Core Financials

• General Ledger

• Accounts Payable (AP) / Accounts Receivable (AR)

• Cash Management

• Order Management

• Purchasing

2. Advanced Modules (Add-ons)

• Project Accounting

• Contract and Subscription Billing

• Multi-entity and Global Consolidations

• Fixed Asset Management

• Inventory Management

• Time and Expense Management

3. Reporting & Dashboards

• Real-time financial and operational reporting

• Custom dashboards

• Built-in compliance with GAAP, IFRS, ASC 606/IFRS 15

4. Multi-Entity & Multi-Currency

• Supports complex organizational structures with multi-entity, multi-location, and multi-currency requirements.

5. Integrations

• Native integrations with Salesforce, ADP, and other systems

• Open API for custom integrations

6. Cloud-Native

• True SaaS (Software as a Service) platform

• Automatic updates and scalability

Industries Using Sage Intacct:

• Professional Services

• Nonprofits

• Healthcare

• Software and SaaS Companies

• Hospitality

• Financial Services

Strengths:

• Fast implementation (compared to large ERPs like Oracle or Dynamics 365)

• Strong financial management and reporting capabilities

• Highly scalable for growing organizations

• Compliance-ready features

• User-friendly interface for finance teams

Limitations:

• Less suitable for large enterprises with complex supply chain or manufacturing needs

• Limited native HR and payroll (requires third-party tools or integration)

• May require add-ons for deeper functionality outside of core finance

Typical Use Case:

Organizations that have outgrown QuickBooks or similar small business accounting tools but don’t yet need the complexity (or cost) of large ERPs like Oracle or Microsoft Dynamics.

Sage 100 (Formerly MAS 90/200)

Overview:

• An on-premises (though hosted options exist) ERP and accounting solution designed for small to mid-sized businesses.

• Modular structure: Financials, distribution, manufacturing, and CRM.

• More traditional, desktop-based solution—though some web capabilities exist.

Strengths:

• Strong Manufacturing and Distribution capabilities (Bill of Materials, Work Orders, Inventory).

• Deep customization possible through scripting and third-party add-ons.

• Familiar with companies that have been running it for years—strong in verticals like wholesale, manufacturing, construction.

Limitations:

• User interface is dated compared to modern SaaS systems.

• Expensive and complex upgrades.

• Limited remote access (unless hosted).

• Not designed for high-growth, multi-entity, or global expansion.

Sage Intacct

Overview:

• Pure cloud-based SaaS financial management solution.

• Targeted at mid-market companies, especially those growing or needing complex financial reporting.

• Strong focus on finance, accounting, and multi-entity management.

Strengths:

• Best-in-class cloud accounting platform recognized by AICPA.

• Built-in multi-entity, multi-currency, and project accounting.

• Modern interface with strong dashboards and reporting (including dimensional reporting).

• Scalable with integrations via API.

• Automated updates and continuous innovation as SaaS.

Limitations:

• Does not offer manufacturing, inventory, or distribution modules at the level Sage 100 does.

• Focused mostly on financial management—manufacturers or complex supply chain companies may need additional third-party tools.

• Higher subscription costs over time vs. on-prem ownership.

Ideal Use Case Summary:

Decision Guide:

• Choose Sage 100 if your business needs on-prem ERP, strong manufacturing, inventory, and distribution capabilities, and prefers a traditional environment.

• Choose Sage Intacct if your business is growing, needs advanced financial management, multi-entity consolidation, real-time reporting, and wants a pure SaaS cloud solution.

Recommendations based on a large international company

For a large international company, Sage Intacct is typically the better choice over Sage 100, but it depends on your core business needs. Here’s why:

Recommendation: Sage Intacct

Reasons for Large International Companies:

Where Sage 100 Falls Short for International Use:

• Primarily a US-based, legacy on-prem solution.

• Poor multi-entity and multi-currency support.

• Limited scalability—built for SMBs, not large enterprises.

• Manual upgrades, harder to maintain globally.

• Designed more for manufacturing and distribution in domestic markets.

When to Consider Sage 100 for International Use (Rare):

• You are primarily a manufacturing/distribution business with highly complex warehouse or production needs and…

• You already have a hosted Sage 100 environment with international customizations and…

• You don’t require robust global consolidations or complex financial structures.

Final Take:

For a large international enterprise, Sage Intacct is the right fit if your core business is finance, services, healthcare, SaaS, non-profit, or any industry needing advanced financial control and flexibility.

If your business is heavily manufacturing or inventory-driven, you may want to:

• Pair Sage Intacct with a third-party manufacturing/warehouse management system (WMS), or

• Consider another ERP solution like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain or NetSuite for deeper supply chain control at scale.