Implementing an ERP system is an investment in your company’s future, so setting a budget for the implementation project requires careful planning and forethought along with a detailed familiarity of your specific business requirements.

ERP pricing can seem complex due to deployment options and add-on options. Don’t make the mistake of concentrating solely on the upfront investment. Some companies start by appreciating the actual value of ERP by factoring in both Return on Investment (ROI) and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

Standard ERP costs to consider:

• Size of your business
• Business requirements
• Software implementation
• Annual maintenance fees (software updates and upgrades)
• Support (annual, hourly, or tier)
• Training
• Hardware
• Technology requirements
• Additional licenses and renewals
• Customization requirements
• …and more.

Implementing Sage Intacct ERP

Sage Intacct is the preferred all-inclusive cloud-based financial management and business accounting software provider that automates the complete array of accounting processes so you can improve productivity from a unified and scalable platform.

With Sage Intacct, you can make informed long-term decisions, then execute on them with greater insight and flexibility.

Understand Cost Breakdowns

Sage Intacct pricing can vary from small to enterprise levels and comes with a broad set of core financial functionality alongside optional, more specialized features. Still, you probably don’t need as many as you think.

Intacct saves you time by making your financial processes more efficient, which is fundamentally a mitigating factor to the expense of the buy.

Still, when considering the cost of implementing an ERP and accounting solution, a general rule of thumb is to expect a $1 to $1.5 for every subscription dollar spent. You can have any number of users, multiple user types, and diversified permissions. The overall cost of Sage Intacct is driven by the number of users, not the user types or permissions needed.

The Sage Intacct Implementation Process

The delivery framework for Sage Intacct software takes time and typically rolls out in four phases: Defining, configuring, testing, and deploying the software.

• Define the process by creating the roles, tasks, responsibilities, and timeline for the process deliverables.
• Build and configure Sage Intacct’s environment for your business, after which the final data templates are uploaded to your business processes.
• Test the Sage Intacct model to ensure it works seamlessly with your business. This stage includes the customization and training of the ERP solution.
• Deploy and go live with Sage Intacct.

Pro Tip: Your software vendor is your partner in maximizing your Sage Intacct implementation, so make your decision only after thoroughly vetting your vendor options. Whether you are a small business or a big corporation, you need an ERP solution provider with the right skill set for planning, documenting, and providing easy access to licensing and training.

The Basic Implementation Cost

As mentioned, the overall cost to implement Sage Intacct depends on your deployment, configuration and customization needs, and the modules you select. A typical implementation might range between $25,000 and $60,000 based on a fixed implementation fee or the time and materials used for implementation.

It is vital to understand everything included in the cost and how the prices might change as your business needs change. The more you know your company’s requirements, the more money you can save by eliminating features you don’t need right away.

The hard costs associated with Intacct implementations, such as software subscription and services fees, are easy to track. It’s crucial to allocate for the soft costs as well.

Since an ERP system involves cross-functional, cross-departmental business processes, the implementation project team takes key employees away from their regular duties and should include top performers with:

• department function expertise
• cross-department process awareness
• an understanding of primary ERP capabilities
• communication skills
• documentation capabilities
• flexibility to change

As you consider a software migration to Sage Intacct, don’t forget about the soft costs that include taking staff away from their usual tasks to see your implementation project through to completion.

Core Financial Module

Fit for small and medium-sized businesses, the financial module capabilities include General Ledger, Purchasing, Order Management, Cash Management, Accounts Payable, and Accounts Receivable. The implementation cost will vary depending on the number of users per module.

Advanced Modules

As your business needs grow, so too will the subscription model and modules you select on Sage Intacct. Extra functionality comes with additional costs, but with Sage Intacct, you can add them when you need them.

Advanced modules include features like:

• Billing solutions that include revenue recognition, project costing and billing, and contract and subscription billing.
• Dashboard and reporting modules like financial visibility, intuitive financial dashboards, and flexible accounting reporting.
• Platform modules for web services API, and salesforce integration. Functional modules in this group include spend management, fixed assets, and project management modules, among others.

Wrap up

In return for improved production, planning and procurement practices, and better resource allocation, Sage Intacct reduces inventory, overall waste, and even labor costs. In the end, if the basis for investing in a Sage Intacct ERP platform is decreasing operating costs and boosting productivity, then the savings and ROI from more than compensate for the upfront costs price tag.