Our editorial team at Software Connect has personally tested and reviewed IFS Applications and Sage 300 to find out which is best for most businesses.
Developed by IFS North America, IFS Applications is a flexible ERP solution that lets you pick and choose from over 100 business components. It’s like a digital toolbox offering more than 6,000 smaller software components. Each component has a clear purpose and interface, allowing modifications within a component without affecting others.
This solution is primarily recommended for organizations in the Aerospace and Defense, Energy Utilities and Resources, Construction and Engineering, Manufacturing, and Service Industries.
Our editorial team found IFS Cloud’s ability to integrate all business functions like human capital management and asset management quite commendable. However, it’s worth noting that some users have found the interface to be less intuitive than desired, which might pose a learning curve for newcomers.
Sage 300, formerly known as ACCPAC, is a strong ERP system designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It shines in its core modules, such as accounting, inventory management, supplier management, and job costing.
Sage 300 is best suited for medium-sized businesses with strong accounting-first modules. The average company size using Sage 300 ranges from 50-200 employees, and most users are based in the United States and Canada.
The system provides robust multi-currency and multi-company capabilities, making it a suitable choice for global businesses. However, Sage 300 also has a steep learning curve for new users and an outdated user interface. Some users have reported performance issues, especially with large datasets.
After thorough testing, we believe that IFS Applications is likely the better choice for most businesses. Its ability to be serve various industries and integrate different business functions provides it with an edge over the competition. It’s a more flexible option, allowing businesses to select functionalities as per their needs and expand over time.
However, businesses with a stronger focus on accounting or those operating on a global scale might find Sage 300 financial module and multi-currency support more suitable. It’s also worth considering the learning curve and interface intuitiveness when making a decision.
For more insights and comparisons, check out our roundup of the best ERP software overall.