Streamline utility billing with the Sage Intacct and CUSI solution

When we flip the switch or turn on the faucet, we expect utilities to be working and available at all times.

America’s 65,000+ utility organizations—including electric, natural gas, water, and sewer providers—deliver the essential services that make modern civilization possible.

Needless to say, the software applications these organizations rely on daily are mission-critical to society at large.

Yet, many utility organizations face unique technology obstacles.

Download the Sage Intacct and Continental Utilities Solutions datasheet

Utility organizations face many challenges, including a strict regulatory compliance environment, complex billing processes, limited IT integration, and an evolving cyber security threat landscape.

Because they provide services to the public, utility organizations need to be able to deliver financial transparency and excellent customer service.

Utility leaders need access to timely, reliable insights to make solid data-driven decisions for the future.

In this article, we will explain why one of the most essential integrations needed for streamlining utility operations is between your financial management system and your utility billing software.

To that end, Sage is pleased to announce that Sage Intacct and Continental Utility Solutions, Inc. (CUSI) have partnered to provide utility organizations with best-in-class, integrated solutions to streamline operations, enhance financial visibility, and deliver exceptional customer service.

Here’s what we’ll cover

Critical integration: Why your organization needs seamless data sharing between utility billing and financial management

It is crucial for utility organizations to have integrated financial management and utility billing applications.

Both of these systems are responsible for revenue and financial stewardship.

Together, these systems impact mission-critical areas such as customer satisfaction, revenue and billing, regulatory compliance, financial reporting, forecasting, and strategic planning.

Here are some of the ways integrated financial management and utility billing applications can enhance utility operations:

Operational efficiency

By eliminating double data entry, integration helps streamline billing processes, leading to faster invoicing and revenue collection.

Billing accuracy

Using an integrated, cloud-based solution helps ensure all billing rules are applied accurately and consistently while allowing payments to be tracked instantly.

Better customer experience

Eliminate data silos interrupting the flow of customer information and accounting information.

Data-driven insights for decision-making

Integrated solutions can generate financial reports and dashboards faster and combine billing data with operational data.

Easier regulatory compliance

Integrated systems ensure billing and financial data are aligned, accurate, and ready to submit for audits.

Introducing the Sage Intacct and CUSI Utility Billing solution

Sage has partnered with Continental Utility Solutions, Inc. (CUSI) to offer a comprehensive solution that integrates utility billing and financial management.

Leverage powerful reporting and insight generation with a single source of truth for all of your billing, customer, and financial data.

This innovative, combined solution offers:

• Cloud-integrated best-in-class utility billing and financial management
• Enhanced financial control with real-time insights
• Superior operational efficiency through automation
• Robust data security and compliance

Run your organization with the business management applications you prefer.

Combine CUSI’s industry-leading utility billing and customer information system with powerful financial management software from Sage Intacct for a superior alternative to all-in-one solutions.

Rather than being locked in with a single software vendor, Sage Intacct and CUSI give you flexibility and choice with cloud-connected, best-in-class solutions featuring seamless data integration.

Gain comprehensive oversight for data-driven decision making

By connecting your financial data in Sage Intacct with your utility billing data in CUSI, you’ll gain a complete 360-degree view of your operations and finances for proactive management.

The power of combined, real-time data flows leads to more comprehensive financial reporting and meaningful key performance indicators.

Integration ensures financial records are always up to date, giving you an accurate look into cash flow and budget variance.

Decision-makers benefit from real-time insights into key metrics of financial performance and operational efficiency, so they can make more accurate, timely forecasts and plans.

Streamline operations with automated workflows

Utility organizations can reduce staff workloads by eliminating manual data entry.

The Sage Intacct and CUSI utility billing solution can automate complex billing processes, including multiple service utilities, ensuring accurate and timely billing as well as up-to-date financial records.

Enhance regulatory compliance and data security

As a utility, your organization needs accurate and easily accessible financial data to adhere to regulations and reporting requirements.

The Sage Intacct and CUSI solution helps streamline reporting to reduce closing time and infuse solid internal controls throughout your financial operations.

Accurate, up-to-date financial, customer, and utility usage records also help simplify audits.

Both Sage Intacct and CUSI meet the highest standards of data security and regulatory requirements, including SOC 2 compliance and advanced security features to protect sensitive financial and customer data.

Final thoughts

Utility organizations face challenges in financial management and utility billing, including navigating regulatory compliance, meeting customer expectations, keeping up with technology disruption, and ensuring financial stability and transparency while planning for future investments.

Organizations need cloud-based, integrated technology solutions to streamline operations and provide the data and insights needed to empower effective decision-making.

Of critical importance, utility organizations need financial management software to work hand-in-glove with their utility billing software.

The Sage Intacct and CUSI Utility Billing solution enables utility organizations to enhance efficiency and accuracy, elevate customer satisfaction, and strengthen financial planning while maintaining regulator compliance.

Learn more by downloading the Sage Intacct and Continental Utility Solutions datasheet.

About the author

Natalie Anderson

Natalie Anderson is a senior nonprofit industry marketing manager for Sage Intacct.

With 10 years of experience in software marketing, Natalie is passionate about helping nonprofits leverage software to achieve mission success.