Comparing Sage Intacct Construction and Sage 300 CRE: Which Software Solution is Right for Your Business

Overview of Sage Intacct Construction

Sage Intacct Construction is a true cloud-based financial management solution designed to meet the specific needs of the construction industry. What does that mean exactly? True cloud solutions don’t have to be hosted (run on a local or hosted virtual computer). The architecture of these systems is the most modern available. This makes integrations, upgrades, and backups very seamless and easy. Sage Intacct Construction integrates with other Sage products and third-party applications to provide a comprehensive, real-time view of your business operations. In a cloud-based environment, you can add modules much easier than in a legacy base system. 

Key features include:

• Cloud-Based Platform: Access your data from anywhere, at any time, with automatic updates and backups. It works on a computer, phone, tablet, or any internet-connected device.
• Real-Time Financial Management: Gain real-time insights into your financial performance, including project profitability, cash flow, and budget management. Older software typically is not “real time”. In cloud-based systems, as soon as you post a transaction, it rolls up to the live dashboards.
• System Updates and Security: True SaaS solutions like Sage Intacct are always on the latest version, and always backed up, as a feature of being a cloud solution. Sage Intacct is SOC2 compliant, which is among the most stringent security certifications, so your data is always secure.
• Scalability: Easily scale your operations as your business grows, without worrying about hardware limitations. Also, you don’t have to worry about upgrading the server’s operating system, backing it up, or securing it, because all of that is handled in a cloud-based system like Sage Intacct.
• Integrations: Seamlessly integrate with other Sage solutions and third-party applications for a unified business management system. In cloud-based systems, it’s much easier to “flip a switch” and integrate with other solutions. There is usually some integration support required, but it’s not nearly as cumbersome as a legacy system.
• 3^rd party support: Sage Intacct Construction offers seamless integration with Sage Intacct payroll by ADP, Procore, Sage Construction Management, Sage Field Operations, BuildOps, Miter, Penta and other popular offerings. Because of the open API, Sage Intacct can be connected to most modern platforms and solutions.
• Reporting and Analytics: The way to think of reporting has changed. It’s no longer necessary to run multiple reports to gather the whole picture. Sage Intacct Construction offers truly live, interactive dashboards, that are fully drillable. What’s more, you can easily export and integrate with Excel (if you must)
• Job Cost Reporting: Sage Intacct Construction offers many reports out of the box, and Kerr Consulting has built in WIP, time-card controls, controls for contracts, and more that are exclusive to our offering of Sage Intacct Construction. Reach out to us to learn more.
• Financial Reporting: Sage Intacct offers customizable dashboards that can report across multiple entities and modules, right in the browser. Sage Intacct offers best-in-class financials that are second to none.
• Subcontracts and Payments: Sage Intacct Construction offers flexible and customizable subcontract agreements, and Kerr Consulting has further extended this functionality with our tools, built into every construction implementation we do. SIC offers vendor compliance and controls as well, and you can automate payments and reconciliations and invoice workflows.
• AIA Billing: Sage Intacct Construction offers AIA billing with enhanced capabilities
• Pre-Construction Tools and Planning: Sage Intacct Construction integrates with Sage Construction management, which is a full pre-construction project management tool. This tool handles lead tracking, estimating, document management and drawings control, some field management, contract management, QC, Safety, Scheduling, and more. You can also integrate with Procore, HCSS, and other pre-construction solutions.
• Field Services and Real Estate: Specialty contractors have the option to add-on Sage Field Operations, along with BuildOps and other specialty contractor solutions (Plumbing, HVAC, etc.)
• Customization: Sage Intacct can be customized to match your business processes
• The Power of Dimensions: With Sage Intacct's dimensional accounting structure, you can analyze your business inside the system in ways not possible with a typical chart of accounts, in minutes not days.  The days of having to cobble together multiple reports and spreadsheets to get a financial picture are over.

Overview of Sage 300 CRE

Sage 300 Construction and Real Estate (CRE), formerly known as Timberline, is a robust, on-premise solution designed specifically for the construction and real estate industries. It offers a wide range of features to manage all aspects of your business, from accounting and project management to service management and property management.

Key features include:

• On Premise or Hosted Platform: Sage 300 CRE can be hosted on your local servers, or with a hosting provider. Access from anywhere is available, but not as seamless as a true cloud solution
• Access to Information: Data access might be limited to your local installation, and will require a local backup or hosted back up solution. Transactions are posted in batches, and real-time information is limited to your most recent posting activity. 
• System Updates and Security: Sage 300 CRE will need to be taken offline to upgrade, and the upgrade process is manual. In addition, your hardware (or that of your hosting company) will need to be upgraded manually and secured.
• Scalability: Sage 300CRE will support large companies and thousands of transactions, but scalability is limited to the capabilities of the hardware in which the software is installed.
• Integration: Sage 300 CRE will integrate with many mature construction-based add-ons, including Sage Construction management and Procore. Any integrations with Sage 300 CRE will need to be manually upgraded and maintained, however.
• 3^rd Party Support: Because Sage 300 CRE is a mature legacy product, there are many 3^rd party options available.
• Reporting and Analytics: Sage 300CRE uses a legacy-based report writer (based on Crystal Reports), and it offers dashboards and inquiries out of the box. Also, you can use Microsoft Excel to import data.
• Job Cost Reporting: Because the solution so mature, there are a comprehensive number of reports available, covering contractor agreements, managing change orders, lien waivers, certificates of insurance, WIP, and more.
• Financial Reporting: Basic financial reports are available, and there is a connector to generate financial statements in Excel, using Sage 300 CRE data.
• Subcontracts and Payments: Sage 300 CRE offers the ability to track subcontractor agreements, vendor maintenance, and payments.
• AIA Billing: Sage 300 CRE offers standard AIA billing
• Pre-Construction Tools and Planning: Sage 300 CRE integrates with Sage estimating, and offers on premise project management for RFI’s, submittals, and capturing meeting minutes
• Service and Property Management: Manage service operations and property portfolios efficiently with dedicated modules.
• Customization: Customize the software to meet your specific business needs with a wide range of add-ons and integrations.

Key Differences Between Sage Intacct Construction and Sage 300 CRE

1. Deployment and Accessibility

• Sage Intacct Construction: Being a cloud-based solution, Sage Intacct Construction offers the flexibility of accessing your data from any device with an internet connection. This makes it ideal for businesses with remote teams or those who require access to real-time information on the go.
• Sage 300 CRE: As an on-premise solution, Sage 300 CRE requires installation on your local servers. This can provide more control over your data and system configuration, but may limit accessibility compared to a cloud-based solution.

2. Integration and Ecosystem

• Sage Intacct Construction: Known for its seamless integration capabilities, Sage Intacct Construction easily connects with other Sage products and third-party applications. This creates a unified system that can streamline various business processes.
• Sage 300 CRE: While also capable of integrations, Sage 300 CRE often requires more customization and configuration to connect with other systems. However, it does offer a comprehensive set of features within its own ecosystem.

3. Scalability

• Sage Intacct Construction: Designed with scalability in mind, Sage Intacct Construction can grow with your business without the need for significant hardware investments. This makes it a flexible option for businesses expecting rapid growth.
• Sage 300 CRE: While robust and capable of handling large-scale operations, scaling Sage 300 CRE can require additional hardware and IT resources. This might be a consideration for rapidly expanding businesses.

4. Financial Management and Reporting

• Sage Intacct Construction: Offers real-time financial management with dynamic dashboards and advanced reporting capabilities. This allows for up-to-the-minute insights and better decision-making.
• Sage 300 CRE: Provides detailed financial management and reporting tools, but these are typically generated through batch processes rather than real-time updates. This can be sufficient for many businesses but may lack the immediacy of real-time data.

5. User Experience and Interface

• Sage Intacct Construction: Features a modern, intuitive interface that is user-friendly and easy to navigate. This can reduce the learning curve for new users and improve overall user satisfaction.
• Sage 300 CRE: While powerful, the interface of Sage 300 CRE can be more complex and may require more training to use effectively. However, its depth of functionality is unmatched.

Kerr Consulting

Kerr Consulting brings unparalleled expertise in both Sage Intacct Construction and Sage 300 CRE, helping businesses choose and implement the solution that best fits their needs. Their personalized approach ensures that your ERP system is optimized for your specific industry requirements, driving efficiency and growth.

Choose the right construction software with confidence, backed by Kerr Consulting’s expertise.

Contact us today to find the perfect Sage solution for your business!

Which Solution is Right for Your Business?

Choosing between Sage Intacct Construction and Sage 300 CRE depends on your specific business needs and priorities. Here are a few considerations to help you decide:

• For Businesses (especially multi-entity) Seeking Flexibility and Scalability: Sage Intacct Construction’s cloud-based nature and real-time capabilities make it ideal for businesses looking for a flexible, scalable solution that can be accessed from anywhere. If your construction company manages multiple business entities, Sage Intacct should be a strong consideration over Sage 300 CRE.
• For Businesses Requiring Comprehensive On-Premise Control: If you need a robust, on-premise solution with extensive project management and reporting features, Sage 300 CRE might be the better choice. If you need to run your own servers, or prefer legacy systems, consider Sage 300 CRE.

Both Sage Intacct Construction and Sage 300 CRE are powerful tools designed to enhance construction management. Understanding your business’s unique needs and long-term goals is crucial in making the right choice. By carefully evaluating the features, benefits, and limitations of each, you can select the software solution that will drive efficiency, profitability, and growth for your business.

We can help you determine the right path – contact us today and we’ll be happy to walk you through it.

Learn More: Email Us , Start a Chat, or Call 800-352-4032