IFS Cloud Platform vs Intercom Customer Communications Platform comparison

IFS and Intercom are both solutions in the CRM category. IFS is ranked #21 with an average rating of 8.0, while Intercom is ranked #29 with an average rating of 9.0. IFS holds a 0.5% mindshare in CRM, compared to Intercom’s 0.3% mindshare. Additionally, 87% of IFS users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Intercom users who would recommend it.

IFS Cloud Platform

Read 30 IFS Cloud Platform reviews

211 Views
95 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

Intercom Customer Communica...

Read 2 Intercom Customer Communications Platform reviews

136 Views
63 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IFS Cloud Platform

Intercom Customer Communica...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 20, 2025

IFS Cloud Platform and Intercom compete in enterprise management and customer communications, respectively. Intercom has the upper hand in features, while IFS Cloud excels in pricing and support.

Features: IFS Cloud Platform offers comprehensive enterprise management capabilities including finance, HR, and supply chain modules. Intercom is strong in customer communication with messaging tools, automation, and integrations that enhance user interaction.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IFS Cloud features robust deployment with support for complex integrations and substantial support options, though requiring more resources due to its functionalities. Intercom offers a smoother setup focusing on customer communication, generally faster and more accessible for customer-focused teams.

Pricing and ROI: IFS Cloud is competitively priced, delivering significant ROI for businesses needing comprehensive solutions, although initial setup costs can be high. Intercom presents a scalable pricing model with lower setup costs, enhancing ROI through efficient user communication, showing clear value in improving customer interactions.

To learn more, read our detailed CRM Report (Updated: June 2025).

Buyer's Guide

CRM

June 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

IFS Cloud Platform

Ranking in CRM

21st

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Customer Experience Management (7th), Field Service Management (2nd), Help Desk Software (12th), ERP (12th), Activity Based Costing Software (7th), Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) (2nd), Local Government CRM (9th), IT Asset Management (10th), IT Service Management (ITSM) (11th), License Management (2nd)

Intercom Customer Communica...

Ranking in CRM

29th

Average Rating

9.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

CRM Customer Engagement Centers (12th), Social CRM (6th)

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the CRM category, the mindshare of IFS Cloud Platform is 0.5%, up from 0.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Intercom Customer Communications Platform is 0.3%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

CRM

Featured Reviews

Brendan Fisher

IFS Applications Consultant at Zest Business Process Management Ltd

Robust, customizable, and modern

IFS is a very large and complex software, and implementation of IFS can be challenging and may lead to a difficult lengthy project. It can take between 12 and 24 months in some cases to deploy. I have found that not all clients are fully aware of how big the task is that they're undertaking when they make a decision to move to software like this. Companies need to be more aware of the complexity of an ERP implementation project and while I fully recommend moving to IFS, it is not easy and does require business change when adopting an ERP solution. New features are a difficult ask - I work across multiple industries and everyone would probably choose a different feature. Maybe BIM in Construction or Customs link-ups for importers/exporters.

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Kumar Abhishek Anand

Director at Revivo Technologies

Customer support has improved significantly with seamless chat integration for quick resolutions

The feature we appreciate most about the Intercom Customer Communications Platform is the messenger functionality. We are able to integrate it into our application and provide support to customers directly through our application. The messenger works efficiently, allowing users to have conversations without entering their details repeatedly. There is conversation history available for each customer interaction, and they can access the help section within the chat itself. The Finn AI agent handles conversations both in chat and WhatsApp, which is particularly beneficial. Regarding automation tools, we have enabled the AI agent to answer customer queries instantly, reducing the need for constant staff presence. The AI agent quickly responds to customers and summarizes their issues, informing us when it cannot resolve a problem independently.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"All the modules are valuable in their own right, but everything has to go through the ERP. IFS has done an excellent job integrating the various modules to complete these processes. My expertise is in the finance module, but I have used the other verticals. It's an all-around good product."

"Having a young talented programmer, during the six years of use, we were able to save around 75 000 EUR preparing simple modifications using customization rather than ordering them in IFS / Partner."

"IFS Applications' best feature is the user-friendly interface that has a .NET Framework application in the front end and an Oracle database and WebLogic middleware."

"The main reason for the ERP project was to bring together our fourteen sites, which had until then worked in separate silos."

"There tends not to be a massive weakness in the product itself, as weaknesses can quickly be resolved in the next patch or the next release."

"The most valuable features of IFS Applications in the latest version are the new user Arena interface. It's from Apps 9, but it brings more flexibility in usage, especially around different devices, such as mobile usage, which doesn't restrict you from using a computer. We are it for the HR side, and it's proving quite good. It has a new modern feel to it similar to a standard cloud application which enhances the user experience."

"The platform is reliable and stable."

"Individual user profiles that can be configured as templates to minimize data entry."

More IFS Cloud Platform pros

"The live chat is pretty good because you can create a macro, which is a predefined input we can give customers."

"The feature we appreciate most about the Intercom Customer Communications Platform is the messenger functionality, allowing users to have conversations without entering their details repeatedly."

Cons

"The integration is a bit complex, and post-implementation support services need to be improved. They have a service center based out of Sri Lanka. The support aspect is good, but the response time is a little slower than we anticipated. In the next release, it would be better if Warehouse Management could be improvised. They have a product line that's a data warehouse management system, but it's still premature and requires a bit of enhancement."

"IFS Applications can improve the reporting capabilities and increase the speed of feedback time in the IFS Applications. This would help with the overall performance of the solution and provide better experiences for customers."

"Documentation-wise, they need more."

"Technical support could be improved."

"There should be some improvements in the predefined templates in IFS Applications."

"Customization needs to be improved."

"The CRM was shaky and although this improves in Apps 10, there is room for improvement."

"There are certain digital features that need to be incorporated, such as IOP."

More IFS Cloud Platform cons

"Sometimes, the solution lags and takes time to update something."

"It would be beneficial if there was a way to train the AI to better understand customer language."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Licensing is on an annual basis, with no additional costs."

"Pricing is an area that could be improved. They could be more competitive."

"Compared to SAP, the pricing for IFS Applications was very affordable. People using the solution would find that it's worth the money."

"There are varying license levels that you can purchase."

"IFS Applications is expensive software, but it's on par with SAP and Oracle. It's for large enterprises and government entities and not for small and medium-sized enterprises. They have one licensing model, but if you want to have a module-specific license, they provide component-based licenses. Unlike SAP and Oracle, it doesn't have different levels of licensing. It's one level of licensing."

"The additional cost that comes with the solution includes the overhead of the people who are trying to fix the tool issues. These people are trying to reproduce the issue and report it to the technical support and testing with them which is huge. It is the cost of quality in the end."

"IFS Applications are competitive in terms of pricing compared to other vendors, such as SAP, Oracle, and Epicor. They are generally cheaper, especially for licensing costs."

"We pay for a license to use the solution, which is not very expensive."

More IFS Cloud Platform pricing and cost advice

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

20%

Manufacturing Company

Energy/Utilities Company

Financial Services Firm

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IFS Applications?

Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine or ten out of ten since it is an extremely scalable solution that can be used for various use cases with thousands of users.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IFS Applications?

The product is reasonably priced. The costs are justified by the value provided, considering the comprehensive features and minimal need for customization. I rate the pricing a seven out of ten.

See all answers

What needs improvement with IFS Applications?

I am not able to recall much about batch. Documentation-wise, they need more. There is not much available online, and the documentation availability is on the lower side compared to other products,...

See all answers

What do you like most about Intercom Customer Communications Platform?

The live chat is pretty good because you can create a macro, which is a predefined input we can give customers.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Intercom Customer Communications Platform?

Sometimes, the solution lags and takes time to update something. If I put a specific tag on an inbound lead, it would take around five minutes for that tag to reflect throughout the solution for al...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Intercom Customer Communications Platform?

We use the solution to capture leads and interact with them. Our company manages all the customer interactions through the solution.

See all answers

Comparisons

SAP ERP vs IFS Cloud Platform

Compared 17% of the time

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs IFS Cloud Platform

Compared 10% of the time

IBM Maximo vs IFS Cloud Platform

Compared 10% of the time

SAP S/4HANA vs IFS Cloud Platform

Compared 9% of the time

ServiceNow vs IFS Cloud Platform

Compared 7% of the time

More IFS Cloud Platform Competitors

No data available

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

IFS Cloud Platform

June 2025

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Buyer's Guide

CRM Customer Engagement Centers

June 2025

Intercom Customer Communications Platform report

Download Intercom Customer Communications Platform product report

Also Known As

IFS Applications, Assyst, IFS Cloud

Intercom

Overview

IFS is the world’s leading provider of Industrial AI and enterprise software for hardcore businesses that make, service, and power our planet. Our technology enables businesses which manufacture goods, maintain complex assets, and manage service-focused operations to unlock the transformative power of Industrial AI™ to enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Industrial AI is IFS.ai.

IFS Cloud is a fully composable AI-powered platform, designed for ultimate flexibility and adaptability to our customers’ specific requirements and business evolution. It spans the needs of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Enterprise Asset Management (EAM), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Information Technology Service Management (ITSM), and Field Service Management (FSM). IFS technology leverages AI, machine learning, real-time data and analytics to empower our customers to make informed strategic decisions and excel at their Moment of Service™.

IFS

Intercom Customer Communications Platform enhances interactions by offering robust tools designed to streamline customer engagement and support, effectively catering to modern business communication needs.

Providing a comprehensive approach to customer interaction, Intercom facilitates seamless conversation management through its adaptable suite of messaging, logistical, and analytical features. Frequently utilized for customer support and marketing, its flexibility and user-friendly design encourage efficient communication. While offering valuable insights through analytics, some users note areas for improvement in customizability and pricing models, pointing towards a potential enhancement in fine-tuning its cost-effectiveness and adaptability to diverse business strategies.

What are the standout features of Intercom?

Live Chat: Immediate customer support through real-time messaging.
Automated Bot: Streamlines inquiries by handling routine questions.
Integration Capabilities: Connects seamlessly with third-party tools.
Inbox Management: Organizes conversations for efficient response.

What benefits and ROI should users look for?

Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Faster resolutions lead to happier clients.
Improved Team Efficiency: Automation reduces manual workload.
Actionable Analytics: Data-driven insights optimize strategies.
Scalable Solutions: Adapts to growing business demands.

Industries such as e-commerce, SaaS, and tech-driven businesses often implement Intercom for its ability to provide personalized customer journeys. Its messaging platform excels in maintaining customer relationships and resolving issues quickly, which is crucial in these fast-paced sectors.

Intercom

Sample Customers

China Airlines, Electrolux Group, Babcock, Cimcorp, Sky, Multiplex, Veolia.

Expensift, Moz, Invision, Salesforce, Droplr, Vend, BugHerd, Ghost, Put.io, Codeship

Find out what your peers are saying about Salesforce, Microsoft, SAP and others in CRM. Updated: June 2025.

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