Ditch Your Outdated System: Sage Intacct vs. Sage 50 Pastel Comparison
By Jeff Ryan, Senior Director of Growth, ERP – UKIA
Is your current on-premise or desktop finance system holding your business back? Unable to handle your growing number of transactions? Frustrated by disparate systems and manual data entry? It might be time for an upgrade.
In the rapidly evolving world of business software solutions, selecting the right accounting system is vital for maximising efficiency, productivity, and growth. As an experienced finance executive, I’ve witnessed the shift from familiar names like Pastel, AccPac, X3, and Evolution to the game-changing Sage Intacct.
To help you make an informed decision, I’ve created a series of articles and video blogs comparing Sage Intacct to your trusted Sage solution.
Let’s dive into the comparison: Sage Intacct vs. Sage 50 Pastel.
Sage Intacct: The Modern Finance Leader’s Choice
Built for the modern finance leader, Sage Intacct offers comprehensive functionality, a sleek user interface, and seamless integrations with third-party applications. It’s a scalable solution that grows with your business and complies with multiple accounting and information security standards.
Sage 50 Pastel: A Legacy System with Limitations
Sage 50 Pastel has been a popular desktop accounting software for small to medium-sized businesses in South Africa. While it provides essential accounting functionality, including general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, invoicing, inventory management, and financial reporting, it falls short in meeting the evolving needs of businesses, particularly in terms of reporting and automation across multiple systems.
Moreover, Sage Intacct directly integrates with your bank account and complies with accounting standards like GAAP and IFRS. Its scalability allows for handling increased transactions and users, making it ideal for growing businesses. And let’s not forget its open API architecture, enabling seamless integration with various business applications, including Point-of-Sale systems, CRM, payroll and industry-specific solutions. Say goodbye to manual entry and data duplication between Excel and your financial system.
The Clear Winner: Sage Intacct
There’s no competition when it comes to the comparison. Sage Intacct outshines Sage 50 Pastel in all 14 categories (see table below).
While it may seem more expensive at first glance, the benefits outweigh the cost. With four free automatic updates per year, reduced consulting service costs, and a secure, scalable infrastructure that requires no maintenance, Sage Intacct offers improved productivity, business process automation, and data security.
Here’s the comparison:
| # | Feature | Sage 50 Pastel | Sage Intacct |
| 1 | Deployment | On-premise solution that requires hosting and Remote Desktop connection to provide remote access | Modern native cloud solution multi-tenant architecture allows users access from anywhere with minimum bandwidth requirements |
| 2 | Updates | Upgrading versions requires a significant time investment and is infrequent (sometimes once a year) | Updates are released quarterly, are applied automatically, and require no downtime or consulting services |
| 3 | Empowerment | Dependent on a business partner for all changes to solution | User-driven configuration with in-depth help files. Massively reduced business partner consulting services |
| 4 | Reporting | Reporting is basic and labour-intensive and often needs re-formatting in Excel. Dashboards are non-existent | Modern customizable, dashboards and reports deliver instant visibility and eliminate the need for Excel-based reports |
| 5 | Verticals Supported | General-purpose accounting software | Offers industry-specific solutions for various sectors |
| 6 | Inventory Management | Basic inventory tracking, Single-warehouse support, Basic reporting and Manual workflows | Real-time inventory tracking, Multi-warehouse support, Advanced real-time reporting and Automated workflows |
| 7 | GL / Account management | Fixed, segmented general ledger (GL) accounts, resulting in a huge chart of accounts as well as financial reporting challenges | Modern, flexible, dimensional account structure which streamlines both the chart of accounts and reporting and allows drill down |
| 8 | Consolidations | Only create up to 10 entities, and each entity must share the same chart of accounts. Does not allow businesses to consolidate financial data across multiple entities | Multiple entities share chart of accounts, customers, and vendors – consolidations and eliminations are automatic, providing immediate visibility |
| 9 | Technology | On-premise, legacy technology is unable to scale and harness new technologies like AI | Latest technology and innovation like GL AI, Intelligent Time and Accounts Payable (AP) Automation designed to ensure integrity of financial data and automation |
| 10 | Usability | Traditional desktop software user interface | Modern, user-friendly interface designed to be easy to use for both experienced and inexperienced users. Drag-and-drop interface making data entry and report creation easy |
| 11 | Workflows | Predefined, less customizable | Automated, configurable workflows to eliminate manual approval processes; increasing productivity |
| 12 | Integrations | Fewer integrations | Open APIs with many integrations with third-party applications and marketplace |
| 13 | Support | 8 / 5 standard customer support, which may not be as comprehensive or readily available | 24 / 7 support |
| 14 | Cost | Ongoing server and Infrastructure cost. And expensive consulting services for upgrades, integrations and customizations | Cost effective annual (or quarterly) subscription that includes four free updates a year and all infrastructure costs (including backups and DR) on AWS or Azure. Minimal / zero consulting services post-implementation |
| Overall score | 0 | 14 |
A trusted global solution tailored for South African businesses
When it comes to choosing a cloud finance solution, South African businesses may at first be hesitant to make the switch. The most common question is Pastel vs Sage. With Sage Intacct, they can rest assured knowing they have the support of local partners like AWCape and a product that is constantly updated to meet regional and industry requirements.
When it comes to choosing a cloud finance solution, South African businesses may at first be hesitant to make the switch. However, with Sage Intacct, they can rest assured knowing they have the support of local partners like AWCape and a product that is constantly updated to meet regional and industry requirements.
Our experience working with US businesses has given us valuable insights. We understand that South African businesses may have reservations about adopting a global solution. However, Sage Intacct addresses these concerns through its network of local partners, ensuring personalised support and catering to unique regional needs.
Whether it’s integrating a new local bank or enabling direct submission of taxes to SARS (VAT201), Sage Intacct is designed to accommodate the specific requirements of South African businesses.
The combination of a global platform and localized support makes Sage Intacct the ideal choice for South African businesses seeking a reliable and adaptable cloud finance solution. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a trusted accounting software, backed by a dedicated network of partners and updated to meet the unique needs of the South African market.
Make the Switch to Sage Intacct
Don’t let an outdated system hold your business back. After reviewing our comprehensive Sage vs Pastel comparison you can embrace the future with Sage Intacct, the superior choice for CFOs and financial managers. Experience enhanced efficiency, improved reporting capabilities, and seamless integration with a wide range of applications.
Partner with AWCape and Sage Intacct to empower your financial management and drive growth in your business.
Get in touch with our team at AWCape and make the move. Book a free demo and see it in action for yourself.
