Juha Harkonen, VP of Partners and Operations at Sage, provides an insider's perspective on the evolving landscape of technology partnerships and advisory services. He shares valuable insights on how partners can differentiate themselves through verticalization, adapt to changing technology, and build sustainable practices in an AI-driven future. The conversation explores the nuances between different partner programs, marketplace strategies, and the critical elements that make partnerships successful in today's rapidly changing business environment.

• (00:00) - Introduction and Welcome
• (00:28) - Meet the Guest: Juha Harkonen
• (00:53) - Roles and Responsibilities at SAGE
• (02:31) - Career Journey and Partner Ecosystem
• (13:31) - Advisory Services and Business Growth
• (25:45) - ISVs and MPPs Explained
• (33:07) - Partner Ecosystem and Collaboration
• (39:05) - Upcoming Topics and Conclusion

Connect with the Hosts:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybmadere
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattlescault
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlewis715

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Emily, Doug, and Matt reflect on the transformative changes that shaped the accounting industry in 2024, from the surge in M&A activity to the evolving role of AI in firms of all sizes. They discuss Sage's rebranding of their flagship conference from "Transform" to "Future" and what it signals about the company's strategic direction. The conversation explores current industry challenges around staffing, compensation, and maintaining company culture, while offering insights into what firms should expect in 2025 and beyond.

• (00:00) - Welcome to The Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast
• (01:11) - Reflecting on 2024: A Transformative Year
• (03:44) - Personal and Professional Growth
• (06:58) - Generational Perspectives and Personal Anecdotes
• (09:04) - Sage Transform to Sage Future: What's Changing?
• (13:42) - Industry Trends and M&A Strategies
• (19:45) - Industry-Wide Staffing Challenges
• (21:18) - Navigating Economic Cycles
• (22:23) - Maintaining Company Culture
• (23:27) - Sales Pipeline Insights
• (24:20) - M&A Trends and Firm Valuations
• (28:31) - The Role of AI in Accounting
• (36:48) - Upcoming Events and Podcast Goals
• (39:54) - Closing Remarks and Dad Jokes

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We dive deep into the world of Sage Intacct's marketplace partners, exploring how these integrations and add-ons enhance the core platform's capabilities. From understanding the crucial differences between Marketplace Partners (MPPs) and Integrated Software Vendors (ISVs) to discovering niche solutions like utility billing software, we break down what organizations should consider when selecting partner solutions. The conversation also highlights valuable community resources like Partner Office Hours and the Sage Intacct Community, offering listeners practical insights for maximizing their Sage Intacct implementation.

• (00:00) - Welcome to The Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast
• (00:15) - Matt Launched His New Brand
• (04:10) - Understanding Sage Intacct Marketplace Partners
• (16:43) - Exploring Niche Marketplace Partners
• (22:37) - Partner Office Hours and Community Resources
• (33:39) - Closing Remarks and Dad Joke

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Matt, Doug, and Emily dive into real G2 Crowd reviews of Sage Intacct, analyzing feedback from delighted champions to frustrated critics. They unpack common implementation challenges, explore the critical importance of partner selection, and share insights on what makes ERP projects succeed or stumble. The conversation highlights how proper expectation setting and clear communication can make or break a software implementation, regardless of the underlying technology.

• (00:00) - Welcome to The Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast
• (00:51) - Corrections from Previous Episode
• (05:22) - Discussing Sage Intacct Reviews
• (08:22) - First Five-Star Review: Courtney D.
• (16:01) - Second Five-Star Review: Randy
• (24:47) - Middle of the Road Review: Christina
• (26:44) - Comparing QuickBooks and Sage Intacct
• (30:05) - Emily's Take on Implementation Challenges
• (34:51) - Lexi's Middle-of-the-Road Review
• (39:08) - Melody's One-Star Review
• (48:48) - Unknown Name's Detailed Critique
• (53:11) - Final Thoughts and Takeaways
• (55:46) - Closing Remarks and Dad Jokes

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Karen Penhallegon joins the show to break down the latest release notes and share insights from her 8+ year journey with the platform, both pre and post Sage acquisition. The discussion covers major updates including enhanced AR statements, new list view capabilities, and significant improvements to construction features and employee expense management. Karen, Matt, Emily, and Doug explore how community feedback shapes Sage's development while providing practical insights into how these updates impact different industries and users.

Sponsors
Bookkeep - https://unsage.promo/bookkeep
Corpay - https://unsage.promo/corpay
Avalara - https://unsage.promo/avalara

• (00:00) - Welcome to the Unofficial Sage Intacct podcast
• (00:53) - Matt's UK Adventures
• (01:29) - Introducing Karen Penhallegon
• (02:19) - Karen's Journey in Accounting and ERP
• (04:06) - Sage Intacct: Pre and Post Acquisition
• (07:51) - Sage Copilot and AI Innovations
• (14:08) - Release Notes and Key Updates
• (18:21) - Enhanced AR Statements and Community Driven Updates
• (26:44) - Control and Compliance: 1099 Filing
• (30:38) - Platform Efficiency Updates
• (36:43) - Retainage Feature Expansion
• (47:52) - Continental Utility Integration
• (50:49) - Employee Expenses Overhaul
• (55:16) - Closing Remarks and Dad Jokes

Connect with the Hosts:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybmadere
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattlescault
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlewis715

Get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://www.earmark.app

Download the Earmark App
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Doug leads a discussion with Matt and Emily about the key differences between NetSuite and Sage Intacct, challenging common misconceptions about company size and enterprise readiness. The conversation explores how implementation partners, industry-specific needs, and automation capabilities should drive ERP software decisions rather than revenue thresholds or employee count.

Sponsors
Avalara - https://unsage.promo/avalara
Bookkeep - https://unsage.promo/bookkeep
Corpay - https://unsage.promo/corpay

• (00:00) - Welcome to the Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast
• (00:35) - NetSuite vs Intacct: Initial Thoughts
• (02:17) - History and Overview of NetSuite and Intacct
• (04:03) - Comparing User Experiences
• (13:17) - NetSuite's Sales Tactics and Support Issues
• (24:53) - Dynamic Allocations: Intacct vs NetSuite
• (31:11) - Personal Experiences: Choosing Between NetSuite and Intacct
• (33:21) - Evaluating Software Based on Needs, Not Size
• (37:59) - Common Misconceptions About Enterprise Solutions
• (44:06) - Cost vs. Value: The True Cost of Implementation
• (49:04) - The Importance of Automation in Accounting
• (51:45) - Final Thoughts and Disagreements
• (53:02) - Dad Joke and Future Plans

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Doug, Emily, and Matt dissect Intuit's September 2024 release of their Enterprise Suite, examining how this cloud-enabled solution might impact the mid-market accounting software landscape. The discussion explores whether this move represents a defensive play to retain growing QuickBooks customers or a genuine competitive threat to established players like Sage Intacct and NetSuite. While many details about pricing and capabilities remain unclear.

Sponsors
Corpay - https://unsage.promo/corpay
Avalara - https://unsage.promo/avalara
Bookkeep - https://unsage.promo/bookkeep

• (00:00) - Welcome to The Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast
• (00:10) - Discussion on QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions
• (01:41) - Intuit Enterprise Suite vs. Competitors
• (04:42) - Multi-Entity Management and Cloud Solutions
• (13:01) - Pricing and Market Strategy
• (32:57) - Integration and Payroll Solutions
• (36:55) - Final Thoughts and Recommendations
• (38:39) - Closing Remarks and Humor

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Greg Ekker, VP of Professional Services at Sage Intacct, shares candid insights from his 19-year journey scaling implementations from a team of three to managing hundreds of concurrent projects. From explaining "what is cloud?" to delivering go-lives in as little as 30 days, Greg reveals how Sage Intacct's implementation methodology has evolved to meet changing customer needs. His stories of implementation successes, challenges, and future innovations provide a fascinating glimpse into the world of cloud financial software deployment.

Sponsors
Bookkeep - https://unsage.promo/bookkeep
Corpay - https://unsage.promo/corpay
Avalara - https://unsage.promo/avalara

• (00:00) - Welcome Greg Ekker to the Show
• (00:52) - Greg's Professional Journey
• (04:21) - Early Days at Sage Intacct
• (07:48) - Challenging Implementations
• (20:57) - Implementation Methodologies and Best Practices
• (27:53) - The Challenge of Implementation
• (29:36) - Fastest Implementation Stories
• (32:29) - Speed to Delivery and Customer Success
• (42:48) - Balancing Partner and Internal Projects
• (45:35) - Aligning Partners with Customers
• (49:07) - Why Sage Intacct
• (50:40) - Closing and Dad Joke

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