Sage X3 vs IFS

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Our analysts compared Sage X3 vs IFS based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Supply Chain Management Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

IFS Software Tool

Product Basics

Sage X3 is a comprehensive enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution designed to deliver industry-specific solutions for food and beverage, discrete and process manufacturing, distribution, chemicals, and services. Core features include integrated finance, production and supply chain management, as well as real-time demand forecasting and inventory monitoring. It also offers complete traceability and quality control.

Primarily geared towards businesses with complex needs and international operations, Sage X3 boasts robust multi-currency, multi-language, and multi-company capabilities. It also helps ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Its extensive customization, coupled with cloud and on-premise deployment options, allows businesses to tailor the software and environment to their specific requirements.

Some of the key benefits users highlight include improved financial control, optimized inventory management, enhanced project visibility, and streamlined collaboration. Additionally, the solution's intuitive interface and user-friendly features are frequently commended, making it easier for employees to adopt and utilize. While user experiences vary, overall sentiment leans positively towards Sage X3. Users appreciate its comprehensive functionality, scalability, and flexibility. However, some note the initial setup and configuration can be complex, requiring professional assistance.

Pricing for Sage X3 is based on factors like the number of users, modules selected, and implementation services required. It typically falls within the mid-range of ERP solutions, with costs varying depending on individual configurations.

Pros
  • Rich features and functionality
  • Flexible and customizable
  • Improved financial control
  • Streamlined operations
  • Enhanced business visibility
Cons
  • Complex initial setup
  • May require professional assistance
  • Mid-range pricing
  • Limited reporting capabilities (out-of-the-box)
  • Steeper learning curve
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IFS offers is a suite of connected workflows such as accounting, warehouse management, distribution, sales and HCM. By integrating a range of front- and back-office workflows, the program aims to alleviate internal snags and streamline operations.

The software contains real-time insights and can be accessed either through the cloud or via on-premise installation. It’s intended for use by medium and large companies. The program is highly integrative and contains various online support and training options for users.

To learn more about their primary ERP offering, visit our IFS Cloud page.
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Product Insights

  • Efficient Operations: Sage Business Cloud X3 gives users control over various phases of their business such as lead acquisitions, customer shipments and notifications. These processes automate workflows so users don't have to manually input data. For example, when a transaction is completed, Sage X3 crafts an invoice in accordance with that data and transmits it to patrons. 
  • Visualize Data: Create dashboards based on trigger events with this appliance. There are more than 400 standardized reports to choose from and even allows the filtering of predetermined information, permitting users to envision operations and swiftly obtain significant data. 
  • Maintain Compliance:  Remain compliant with various security standards such as LDAP, OAuth2 and SAML2. 
  • Mobile-Friendly: This program is available on Android and iOS devices and contains an HTML5 interface that allows users to modify it for their organization's needs. 
  • Streamlined Operations: Simplify your business with Sage X3's single database integrating all your information and processes.
  • Powerful Workflow: Achieve greater efficiency with automated tasks, optimized processes, and real-time information.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Foster seamless communication and teamwork with real-time data access and collaborative tools.
  • Improved Adaptability: Stay agile and responsive to change with Sage X3's scalable and flexible architecture.
  • Reduced Costs: Eliminate waste and inefficiencies, optimize resources, and improve profitability with Sage X3.
  • Deeper Insights: Make informed decisions with rich data analytics and comprehensive reporting.
  • Increased Customer Satisfaction: Enhance responsiveness, improve service, and boost customer loyalty.
  • Competitive Advantage: Gain an edge with streamlined processes, real-time insights, and improved decision-making.
  • Future-proofed Growth: Scale confidently with Sage X3's robust platform and expand your business without limitations.
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  • Accessibility: IFS solutions can be deployed through different avenues: SaaS, cloud service models, IFS Managed Cloud or on-premise. With cloud deployment, the program can be accessed at any time and any location as long as there is an internet connection available. 
  • Real-Time Data: The program includes real-time data and visualizations. For example, engineering changes, bottlenecks in the production system and any material shortages can be analyzed as they occur. Barcode scanning is also included to track the movement of products and materials throughout the supply chain. 
  • Revenue Boost: By identifying and reducing bottlenecks, forecasting demand and honing the sales process, revenue can be increased. IFS includes a range of features that can maximize revenue through elements such as reduction in spoilage and increased efficiency. 
  • Increase Productivity: IFS helps streamline and automate facets of workflows such as sales, manufacturing and distribution. By reducing the amount of time that employees spend on tasks such as supplier invoicing, which can be automated through this tool, more time is freed up for staff to work on other important tasks. 
  • Legal Compliance: This program helps to ensure company compliance with a range of industry or governmental standards and regulations. For example, IFS Human Capital Management can keep track of and manage employee health and safety measures in accordance with legal requirements. A dedicated maintenance tool is also available to help ensure that the company adheres to rules. 
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  • Budgeting and Accounting: Sage X3 contains essential accounting functions such as accounts payable and receivable, general ledger, budgeting and fixed asset management. The system allows for an unlimited number of currencies to be used and contains exchange rates to help global companies centralize their finances. Tax management is also included in this tool. 
  • Purchasing: The purchasing tool includes supplier and product management features, purchase requests and supplier invoices among many other components. The tool allows users to monitor the quality of suppliers, manage product serial numbers, take requests for quotation into account and calculate reorder suggestions. 
  • Inventory Management: The inventory management tool has multi-warehouse, multi-company and multi-site support, meaning users may track and manage inventory across various geographic locations. The program also includes quality control features and can assist in the tracking and preparation of stock movements. 
  • Sales Management: Sage X3’s sales management tool enables transactions conducted across different sites to be done automatically. It allows for different prices and discounts to be applied along with also controlling sales quotes and shipment preparation. It assists in the creation of invoices and is compliant with the EU Exchange of goods declaration. 
  • BOM Planning: BOM management is a component of the production management tool that allows users to conduct changes for a product and BOM. With this system, users may control the use of a product in different flows, such as sales, manufacturing, subcontracting and stock issues. Mass maintenance and a view of current bills of material are also provided. 
  • Shop Floor Control: Sage X3’s shop floor control component accounts for direct and indirect labor. Users can also track actual and elapsed time spent working on various tasks. Important labor factors such as break time entry and attendance are included to help ensure that time is being used efficiently and appropriately. 
  • Quality Control: This system supports the management of expiration dates, quality control record creation and serial number management. Stock can also be marked as either accepted, rejected or inspected so items that don’t meet standards won’t get sent to customers. Re-inspection and sampling management are also included in Sage X3. 
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  • IFS Financials: IFS includes basic accounting tools such as general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable and fixed assets. It also contains business planning functionality that uses customer-defined planning models to enable demand-driven planning. The eInvoice tool automates supplier invoicing and enables electronic invoicing. Consolidation can also be conducted across multiple companies and with multiple reporting currencies. 
  • IFS Human Capital Management: This system allows employees to manage their own data as well as perform tasks such as applying for leave and updating time and expense reports. HR personnel can also manage payroll procedures, maintain health and safety information in accordance with government regulations and develop internal training programs through the tool. Recruitment can be done through the program’s connectivity with third-party applicant tracking systems (ATS). 
  • IFS Engineering: This feature includes the ability for continuously updated data related to factors such as design elements, products and facilities to be accessed throughout an organization. Change management capabilities allow users to view, approve and check changes before going ahead with change orders. The commissioning tool also ensures that facility components are designed, tested, etc. in accordance with operational requirements through the use of punch lists and mechanical completion packages. 
  • IFS Projects: IFS includes project management, risk management, project reporting and project budgeting features. Specific functionality consists of the ability to process project cost transactions, create projects using WBS, develop project schedules and develop forecasts using multiple versions of project estimates, reviews, budgets, etc. Estimate to Complete (ETC) and Estimate at Complete (EAC) principles are supported and spreading rules are available. 
  • IFS Manufacturing: This tool can calculate capacity requirements, conduct Master Scheduling for finished goods, manage the production to order process and enable employees to report production information quickly. Project-based, discrete, repetitive and batch process manufacturing are also supported through the system. Visualization of the production plan is included and enables users to identify bottlenecks and material shortages. 
  • IFS Supply Chain: IFS offers demand forecasting, supply chain planning, inventory replenishment, sales order management, procurement, rental management, warehouse management and shipment management features. The inventory function is connected to the demand forecasting tool and includes different planning strategies such as economic order quantity and service level-driven safety stocks. Item traceability is also supported through barcode functionality, which provides real-time stock information. 
  • IFS Sales & Service: This feature controls the customer lifecycle from the time a lead comes in to the time that a product reaches its final destination. It assists with transportation by allowing users to visualize driving routes. It also supports service quote and contract management. Sales efforts can be streamlined through the sales configurator, which includes a product advisor that uses a series of questions to define requirements and recommend products. 
  • IFS Maintenance: IFS enables users to evaluate potential improvements in equipment performance, communicate with subcontractors through a collaboration portal, develop leaner MRO operations and manage preventive maintenance schedules. It also makes regulatory compliance for vehicle fleets easier and manages tasks such as fault reporting, preparation, execution and final reporting for maintenance-related matters. 
  • IFS Business Enablers: This solution includes role-based portals and personalized access to ensure that employees, customers and suppliers view the most relevant information and that no one has access to privileged information that they should not be able to review. The solution contains real-time data and allows for the connection of internal and external programs through web services. Add-ins and add-ons can be implemented to customize the solution through RESTful oData APIs from IFS. 
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Product Ranking

#13

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Supply Chain Management Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Purchase Order Management
Inventory Management
Logistics and Transportation
Supply Chain Analytics
Inventory Management
Purchase Order Management
Supply Chain Analytics
Procurement and Supplier Management
Integrations and Extensibility

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Sage X3
IFS
+ Add Product + Add Product
Inventory Management Logistics And Transportation Mobile Capabilites Procurement And Supplier Management Purchase Order Management Supply Chain Analytics Supply Chain Planning Warehouse Labor Management Warehouse Management 97 91 46 84 100 87 65 77 79 97 77 54 88 93 93 73 86 81 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

71%
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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 71 reviews
Great User Sentiment 121 reviews
80%
of users recommend this product

Sage X3 has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 80% when considering 71 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

80%
of users recommend this product

IFS has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 80% when considering 121 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

4.0 (11)
n/a
4.0 (18)
3.6 (20)
4.3 (29)
3.7 (22)
4.4 (5)
4.2 (65)
2.6 (8)
4.1 (14)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Sage X3 and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Purchase Order Management.

Purchase Order Management Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Seamless Interface: Of the users who discussed the user interface, 45% said it was easy to use.
Vast Amount of Features: This software is equipped with an abundant amount of features including a dashboard, reporting, inventory management, accounting, and fixed assets, according to 76% of users.
Scalability: Sage X3 can grow with your business, accommodating increasing data volumes and user needs. This is crucial for businesses that anticipate significant growth in the future.
Flexibility: Sage X3 offers extensive customization options to adapt to your unique business processes and workflows. This allows you to tailor the software to your specific needs and avoid being forced to adapt your processes to the software.
Integration: Sage X3 seamlessly integrates with other business applications, streamlining data flow and eliminating silos. This improves efficiency and productivity by giving you a unified view of your business data.
Security: Sage X3 employs robust security measures to protect your sensitive data. This gives you peace of mind knowing that your information is safe.
Support: Sage provides comprehensive training and support resources to help you get the most out of your investment. This ensures that you have the resources you need to be successful with Sage X3.
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Intuitive interface: Users consistently praise IFS for its user-friendly design and easy-to-navigate interface, which reduces training time and improves adoption rates.
Flexibility and customization: The system's modular architecture allows for a high degree of customization, enabling businesses to tailor it to their unique processes and requirements without extensive coding.
Strong industry focus: IFS is particularly well-suited for industries such as aerospace, manufacturing, and energy, offering deep functionality and expertise in these areas.
Mobile accessibility: Users can access the system from any device, including smartphones and tablets, enabling them to stay connected and productive while on the go.
Robust project management: IFS provides comprehensive project management capabilities, from planning and scheduling to resource allocation and cost tracking, helping businesses deliver projects on time and within budget.
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Old-Fashioned Design: Roughly 54% of users stated Sage Business Cloud X3 has a clunky implementation process and an old-fashioned design.
Unexpected Error Messages: According to 76% of users, vague and unexpected error messages appear far too often.
Complexity: Sage X3 can be complex and challenging to learn and use, especially for businesses with limited IT resources. This can lead to user frustration and errors.
Cost: Sage X3 can be expensive to implement and maintain, especially for small businesses. The initial licensing fees, ongoing subscription costs, and potential customization expenses can be significant.
Reporting: While Sage X3 provides basic reporting capabilities, some users find it to be insufficient for their needs. Advanced reporting often requires the use of additional third-party tools or customization.
Customization: While the extensive customization options can be a benefit, they can also make it more difficult to upgrade and maintain the software. This can lead to increased costs and system downtime.
Support: Some users have reported that Sage's customer support can be slow and unresponsive. This can be frustrating when you need help troubleshooting issues or resolving problems.
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High upfront investment: IFS can require a significant initial investment for implementation and customization, potentially exceeding budgets for smaller businesses.
Steep learning curve: The system's complexity can lead to a steeper learning curve for users, requiring extensive training and support to achieve full proficiency.
Limited out-of-the-box functionality: While configurable, IFS may not offer pre-built features for specific industry needs, necessitating additional development or workarounds.
Integration complexities: Integrating IFS with existing systems can be challenging, requiring specialized expertise and potentially leading to data silos.
Performance bottlenecks: Large or complex implementations may experience performance issues, requiring careful optimization and infrastructure considerations.
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User reviews of Sage X3 reveal a powerful ERP solution with a strong emphasis on scalability and flexibility. Users praise its ability to adapt to specific business needs and grow alongside a company's expansion. One user highlights this strength, stating, "Sage X3 offers extensive customization options to adapt to your unique business processes and workflows. This allowed us to tailor the software to our specific needs and avoid being forced to adapt our processes to the software." This flexibility is crucial for businesses operating in dynamic environments. However, some users find the initial setup and learning curve of Sage X3 to be complex and challenging. One reviewer notes, "While the extensive customization options can be a benefit, they can also make it more difficult to upgrade and maintain the software. This can lead to increased costs and system downtime." These concerns are particularly relevant for smaller businesses with limited IT resources. Despite the complexities, many users appreciate Sage X3's superior reporting capabilities compared to competitors like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. One user points out, "While Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central provides basic reporting capabilities, some users find it to be insufficient for their needs. Sage X3, on the other hand, offers deeper insights and flexible reporting options." This advantage enables businesses to make data-driven decisions with greater confidence. Overall, Sage X3 earns positive user reviews for its robust features, adaptability, and strong reporting capabilities. However, its complexity and potential cost considerations require careful evaluation before implementation. Choosing the right ERP solution depends on a company's specific needs, resources, and long-term growth plans.

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User reviews for IFS paint a picture of a powerful and flexible ERP system, but one that demands investment and expertise. Fans praise its intuitive interface and industry-specific depth, especially in sectors like aerospace and manufacturing. "The power of IFS is amazing and overwhelming," one user gushes, noting its ability to handle 95% of their business processes. The modular architecture allows for significant customization, a major draw for many. "It can be tailored to fit almost any business environment," says another reviewer, contrasting it with the "rigid" feel of competing products like SAP. However, IFS isn't for everyone. The initial investment and customization needs can be daunting, particularly for smaller companies. "The cost can be high," admits a user, comparing it to the "more affordable" options like Microsoft Dynamics 365. Additionally, the complexity can lead to a steep learning curve. "It's not as user-friendly as NetSuite," says another reviewer, highlighting the need for extensive training. Integration challenges and potential performance bottlenecks are also mentioned as drawbacks. Ultimately, IFS seems best suited for companies with specific industry needs and the resources to invest in its extensive capabilities. "If you're looking for a deep dive into your industry, IFS is amazing," one user concludes. "But if you need something quick and easy, there are other options."

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