{"id":15981,"date":"2023-02-02T21:47:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-03T02:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=15981"},"modified":"2025-07-17T14:22:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T18:22:54","slug":"intacct-choosing-a-saas-metrics-dashboard-a-cfos-dilemma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/intacct-choosing-a-saas-metrics-dashboard-a-cfos-dilemma\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing a SaaS metrics dashboard: a CFO’s dilemma"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tChoosing a SaaS metrics dashboard: a CFO’s dilemma\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Having a SaaS metrics dashboard can be one of the most valuable tools that any recurring revenue CFO can utilize. In fact, contrarily, your SaaS company is at a major disadvantage if you don\u2019t have a rock-solid understanding of your metrics with the ability to track and calculate them in real-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lucy, a SaaS CFO at a rapidly growing firm, was finding this out the hard way. She was fortunate enough to be part of a successful enterprise, but that meant she was under a lot of pressure to keep that momentum going. Lucy knew that investing in the right SaaS metrics dashboard to help make strategic, data-driven decisions was one of the most crucial investments her company could make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What should be in a SaaS dashboard?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy do I need a SaaS dashboard and what should it do for my business?\u201d<\/em> This was the central question Lucy sought to answer when she and her team were deciding whether to invest in a SaaS dashboard, and if so, determining which solution would best meet their needs. They wanted a metrics solution that could help them in a few different ways, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seamlessly track KPIs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First and foremost, a SaaS metrics dashboard should help SaaS and subscription-based companies track and leverage KPIs to scale more quickly and effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Move beyond spreadsheet accounting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As much as possible, the best SaaS dashboard for any team should be able to eliminate manual workflows through automation. This ensures that mistakes are minimized and gives more time to each department member to reroute to more valuable activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get organized and stay organized<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The best SaaS dashboards should help accountants and business leaders see the exact metrics and info they need to execute their role effectively. Visual data<\/a> organization is central to an optimally run accounting department. This was a make-or-break factor for Lucy and her colleagues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SaaS metrics dashboard (first trial)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With the above functionality in mind, the first product trial that Lucy gave a spin was a stand-alone billing solution. She and her team were pleased with a few aspects of it. In particular, they were very happy with their newfound ability to use automation to track their monthly recurring revenue (MRR)<\/a>, annual recurring revenue (ARR)<\/a>, and other important SaaS metrics<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were also happy to be able to track their company\u2019s data quickly and easily without spreadsheets. Their company had grown to a point where spreadsheet accounting was just no longer practical<\/a>, and leaving it behind represented an essential step in their corporate development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After an initial trial period, though, the team decided they needed to look elsewhere to meet their software needs. Their purchase helped them meet their first two goals of tracking KPIs and moving off spreadsheets. But after spending more time with the team\u2019s new SaaS metrics dashboard, Lucy realized that the dashboard detail and customization level weren\u2019t everything they could\u2019ve been. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And since finance leaders need to see particular sets of metrics for their roles, this wasn\u2019t acceptable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SaaS metrics dashboard (second trial)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Lucy\u2019s next attempt at software implementation was more successful. After a second wave of careful research, she and the team decided to try SaaS Intelligence by Sage Intacct<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the primary reasons they found Sage Intacct SaaS Intelligence particularly attractive included: <\/p>\n\n\n\n