Sage X3 vs Workday
Side-by-side comparison of Sage X3 and Workday — features, pricing, modules, and deployment options.
Sage X3 vs Workday at a Glance
| Criteria | Sage X3 | Workday |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Midsize process manufacturers and distributors | People-centric organisations needing unified HR + finance |
| Starting Price | $100/user/mo | Custom quote |
| Pricing Model | per-user | custom |
| Deployment | cloud, on-premise | cloud |
| Company Size | 251-1000, 1001-5000 | 1001-5000, 5000+ |
| Implementation | 4–9 months | 6–12 months |
| Typical Cost | $100K–$400K | $300K–$2M+ |
Module Comparison
| Module | Sage X3 | Workday |
|---|---|---|
| Finance & Accounting | ★★★ Strong | ★★★ Strong |
| Manufacturing | ★★★ Strong | — N/A |
| Supply Chain | ★★★ Strong | ★ Basic |
| CRM | ★ Basic | — N/A |
| HR & Payroll | ★★ Moderate | ★★★ Strong |
| Project Management | ★ Basic | ★★★ Strong |
| Inventory Management | ★★★ Strong | ★ Basic |
| Procurement | ★★★ Strong | ★★★ Strong |
| Warehouse Management | ★★ Moderate | — N/A |
| Ecommerce | ★ Basic | — N/A |
| Business Intelligence | ★★ Moderate | ★★★ Strong |
| Quality Management | ★★★ Strong | — N/A |
| Field Service | — N/A | — N/A |
| Asset Management | ★★ Moderate | ★ Basic |
Pros & Cons
Sage X3
Pros
- +Excellent for process manufacturing (batch, formula, compliance)
- +Strong multi-site and multi-legislation support
- +Good total cost of ownership for the mid-market
- +Flexible deployment options (cloud or on-prem)
Cons
- -CRM is very basic — most integrate Salesforce or HubSpot
- -No field service module
- -Smaller ecosystem than SAP/Oracle/Microsoft
- -UI modernisation is ongoing but still behind newer ERPs
Workday
Pros
- +Best-in-class HCM — payroll, talent, workforce planning
- +Excellent financial planning and analytics (Adaptive Planning)
- +Unified data model — no separate data warehouses needed
- +Consumer-grade UX with strong mobile experience
Cons
- -No manufacturing, warehouse, CRM, or ecommerce
- -Not a full-suite ERP for product-based businesses
- -Very expensive for mid-market companies
- -Limited supply chain capabilities
When to Choose Sage X3
- You need an ERP best suited for midsize process manufacturers and distributors
- Your company has 251-1000 or 1001-5000 employees
- You operate in Manufacturing, Food & Beverage, Pharmaceuticals
- You prefer cloud / on-premise deployment
- Your budget aligns with $100/user/mo starting price
When to Choose Workday
- You need an ERP best suited for people-centric organisations needing unified hr + finance
- Your company has 1001-5000 or 5000+ employees
- You operate in Professional Services, Healthcare, Education
- You prefer cloud deployment
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sage X3 better than Workday?
It depends on your business needs. Sage X3 is best for midsize process manufacturers and distributors, while Workday is best for people-centric organisations needing unified hr + finance. Sage X3 starts at $100/user/mo and Workday starts at custom pricing.
How does Sage X3 pricing compare to Workday?
Sage X3 uses a per-user pricing model starting at $100/user/mo, while Workday uses a custom model. Sage X3 typical total cost is $100K–$400K vs $300K–$2M+ for Workday.
Which is better for manufacturing: Sage X3 or Workday?
Both vendors serve manufacturing companies. Sage X3 is typically chosen by 251-1000, 1001-5000 employee organizations, while Workday targets 1001-5000, 5000+ employee companies. Consider your company size and specific module needs to decide.
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