Part of: Why your month-end close keeps getting slower
Most ERP selection conversations get argued on the wrong terms. Feature lists. Brand reputation. Pricing per user. The conversation that produces the right answer runs against six factors that determine fit, not preference. Across the engagements I have run — north of ninety implementations and advisory engagements — the same six factors appear in every decision.
Factor one — entity complexity and consolidation needs. Multi-entity is the single biggest determinant of platform fit. Sage Intacct's multi-entity engine is the most mature in mid-market. NetSuite handles multi-entity at higher complexity but with more configuration cost. Rillet handles modern entity structures with a lighter footprint but is newer.
Factor two — industry-specific reporting. Project economics, multi-currency, billing models, inventory complexity. Sage Intacct's project module dominates in professional services and construction. NetSuite's inventory and order management dominate in eCommerce and distribution. Rillet handles SaaS subscription billing without the customization the older platforms require.
Factor three — existing technology stack and integration footprint. NetSuite has the deepest connector ecosystem at the cost of complexity. Sage Intacct has strong API support and a focused connector library. Rillet was built API-first and integrates cleanly with modern stacks.
Factor four — AI and automation roadmap. Rillet has the cleanest API surface for AI integration. Sage Intacct and NetSuite both support it but with a structurally different production AI overlay.
Factor five — implementation partner capability versus platform fit. The platform and partner decisions are coupled. A weaker partner on the right platform produces a worse outcome than a stronger partner on the second-best platform.
Factor six — five-year cost of ownership, not first-year price. License growth, customization renewal, internal staff capacity. The platform with the lowest first-year price is often the highest five-year cost.
If the conversation about your ERP selection starts with features, the conversation is already in the wrong frame.
