Fathom vs Syft Analytics

October 15, 2024

Choosing the right financial management reporting platform can be challenging, especially when comparing leading solutions like Fathom vs Syft Analytics.

This article provides a neutral, fact-based comparison of Fathom vs Syft Analytics, covering their features, pricing and customer support.

Fathom vs Syft Analytics: Quick Summary

See how Fathom compares as a Syft Analytics alternative.

Syft Analytics
Cash flow forecasting
Management reporting
Consolidated reporting
Financial analysis
Custom branding
Unlimited forecasting scenarios

Introduction

Do you often feel bogged down by the time and effort spent on financial reporting and analysis? Tools like Fathom and Syft Analytics promise to automate these tedious processes, freeing up your time for more strategic decisions.

Both solutions offer comprehensive features like cash flow forecasting, financial analysis, management reporting and consolidations. However, their capabilities in each of these areas – in addition to their price and support offered – differ in important ways.

This in-depth comparison of Fathom vs Syft Analytics aims to help you choose the best solution for your needs – whether you’re a small to medium-sized business (SME), accounting firm, enterprise or not-for-profit.

If you’re looking for a detailed Syft Analytics comparison, we’ve got you covered. From explaining what Syft Analytics is used for to understanding Syft Analytics pricing, this guide will provide everything you need to make an informed decision.

Read on for a neutral, fact-based comparison of these two solutions across their key features and support.

What is Fathom?

Fathom is a cloud-based financial management solution that helps businesses generate insightful reports, simplify consolidations, analyse key financial drivers and forecast cash flow.

It’s known for its visually compelling reports and flexibility in managing complex financial data, making it popular among SMEs, enterprises, accountants and franchisors.

Developed in Brisbane, Fathom has over 80,000 users worldwide and stands out for its easy-to-use interface, customisation, flexible pricing and comprehensive customer support.

What is Syft Analytics?

Syft Analytics is a financial analytics platform that helps simplify reporting, consolidations and forecasting for SMEs, accountants and CFOs.

Based in South Africa, the solution is trusted by over 100,000 businesses worldwide and is targeted at SMEs, accountants, not-for-profits, franchises, universities, financial institutions and ecommerce businesses.

For those looking to understand what Syft Analytics is used for, it provides a comprehensive suite of tools for cash flow forecasting, management reporting and KPI tracking.

Its scalability, combined with competitive pricing, makes Syft Analytics a strong alternative to Fathom and other competitors.

In September 2024, Xero announced it will acquire Syft Analytics. Following the acquisition, the company said it will continue to offer Syft Analytics as a standalone solution.

Comparing Fathom vs Syft Analytics: Key Features

While Fathom and Syft Analytics offer similar capabilities, there are several key distinctions between the two.

Here, we compare the solutions across key features and support.

Fathom

As a Syft Analytics alternative, Fathom compares favourably for its unlimited reporting output, more detailed forecasting, customisation options and compelling visuals. Let’s look at some of its key features:

  • Cash flow forecasting

    Fathom offers three-way cash flow forecasting with unlimited forecast scenarios, making it ideal for businesses that need flexible and accurate financial planning tools. As a Syft Analytics alternative, its forecasting tool is easier to customise and features more value rules and predictions.

  • Financial analysis

    Fathom offers visual financial analysis tools to track metrics like profitability, growth and cash flow. The platform allows for custom KPIs and features over 50 KPI pre-built KPIs, making it particularly suited to businesses needing to quickly grasp clear data-based insights.

  • Reporting

    As a Syft Analytics alternative, Fathom’s management reporting capabilities offer ready-made templates and unlimited reporting output.

    As a Futrli alternative, Fathom offers an easier to use reporting editor and its reports offer more scalability.

  • Multi-entity consolidation

    With support for up to 300 entities and 97 currencies, Fathom’s multi-entity consolidation helps eliminate manual processes and improve accuracy of reporting across subsidiaries or franchises.

    It takes minutes to perform a consolidation, with the ability to generate custom reports and apply inter-company eliminations. You can view our webinarfor a helpful overview of Fathom’s consolidation capabilities.

  • Integrations

    Fathom integrates seamlessly with Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB, Sage Accounting, syncing data daily to keep reports up to date. You can also easily import financial and non-financial data from Excel and Google Sheets.

Syft Analytics

Many Syft Analytics reviews will invariably mention the platform offers a full range of AI-powered financial analysis tools that make complex data easy to understand. Key features include:

  • Reporting

    Syft Analytics features highly customisable reports to measure performance across both financial and non-financial metrics. These can be custom-branded which is useful for accountants delivering branded reports. Unlike other platforms, reports can be delivered daily.

    Meanwhile, the Live View feature allows you to share fully interactive financial documents, forecasts or graphs with clients or your team.

  • Consolidation

    Syft Analytics offers consolidation for unlimited entities and intercompany eliminations, making it a solid option for businesses with more complex consolidation needs.

    You can consolidate consolidations, consolidate by percentage and perform eliminations by transaction. The platform also automates posting of foreign exchange gains or losses and offers consolidation forecasting.

  • Financial statements and analysis

    The platform helps simplify financial statements by automating the creation and validation of disclosures and notes, offering over 30 pre-built notes. It features versioning control for financial statements and notes, and you can create financials for any period.

    Syft Analytics also allows you to track both financial and non-financial KPIs and perform ratio analysis, plus gain quick insights with a visually compelling dashboard.

  • Forecasting

    Syft Analytics forecasting tool allows you to create an integrated forecast across the profit and loss statement, balance sheet, cash flow statements and financial ratios.

    It also enables scenario forecasting to test, for example, ‘best case’ or ‘worst case’ scenarios for the same period.

  • Integrations

    Syft Analytics integrates with platforms like Xero, QuickBooks, MYOB, Sage, Freshbooks, Excel, Google Sheets, Square and Shopify.

Fathom vs Syft Analytics: Onboarding and Support

When evaluating Fathom vs Syft Analytics for onboarding and support, both platforms offer strong resources but differ slightly in approach.

Fathom

Fathom’s user-friendly interface reduces the need for extensive training, making it a popular choice for businesses looking for a quick and easy setup. Onboarding support is provided via Fathom’s team of experts.

This team includes qualified accountants and is available over the phone or via email. You can also access a vast repository of online assistance, including  training videos and an extensive help centre featuring hundreds of articles.

Syft Analytics

Syft Analytics offers round-the-clock customer support via live messaging and video chats. You can also access hundreds of help articles on Syft’s Knowledge Center, online learning courses via Syft Campus and a financial advisor certification program.

Summary: Key differences of Fathom vs Syft Analytics

Here’s a quick recap of how the two solutions compare across key areas:

Reporting

  • Fathom offers ready-made templates and unlimited reporting output, with an easier-to-use reporting editor in an unparalleled user interface.
  • Syft Analytics provides highly customisable reports that can be custom-branded and delivered daily, rather than only monthly, quarterly or annually.

Forecasting

  • Fathom offers three-way cash flow forecasting with unlimited scenario planning and a more intuitive forecasting tool.
  • Syft Analytics also offers forecasting capabilities and custom-branded reports, ideal for clients requiring deeper insights across financial statements.

Consolidation

  • Fathom handles up to 300 entities with intercompany eliminations, making it suitable for businesses with medium complexity.
  • Syft Analytics supports unlimited entities and offers advanced consolidation features like consolidation by percentage and automated foreign exchange posting.

Support

  • Fathom provides local support via phone and email, backed by a team of accountants, along with training videos and a comprehensive help centre.
  • Syft Analytics offers 24/7 customer support through live chat and video calls, alongside an extensive Knowledge Center and certification programs.

Both platforms have their strengths, and it’s crucial to consider which features align best with your specific business needs.

For businesses looking for a Syft Analytics alternative or a more advanced tool, Fathom might be the better choice. However, for those prioritising affordability and multi-entity consolidation, Syft Analytics is an excellent solution.

How to continue your research

This article is only a starting point for your research into Fathom vs Syft Analytics. Make sure you download fact sheets, view case studies and ask others about their experience with either solution.

A good place to start is by exploring Fathom’s product page. If you would like to try the solution firsthand, you can sign up for a free 14-day trial. You can also learn more about Fathom on our blog.

Whether you are considering Fathom, Syft Analytics or another solution, our team is always here to help. Feel free to contact us today and discuss how we can assist you in making the right choice.

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