COMPARING SUGAR AI / SALES-I

Sugar AI shows your reps what already happened. Proton tells them what to do next.

Sales-i + SugarCRM gives you green/yellow/red reports. Proton gives your reps a real AI — one that surfaces wallet gaps, at-risk accounts, and the next best move across thousands of SKUs. Built for distributors. Not bolted on.

2.6x
avg. growth in year 1
11x
average ROI
42%
higher user engagement
A warehouse employee using Proton CRM and talking on the phone.
TRUSTED BY LEADING DISTRIBUTORS WORLDWIDE
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HEAD-TO-HEAD

Proton vs. Sugar AI, line by line

Same ERP data. Very different outcomes for your reps.

CAPABILITY
SUGAR AI / SALES-I
Reporting & analytics
PROTON.AI
AI growth platform
RECOMMENDED
The AI
The AI
Rules-based segmentation
Green/yellow/red flags from pre-defined rules. No deep learning.
Deep-learning models
Predicts wallet gaps, churn, and next best action across thousands of SKUs and accounts.
Who it's built for
Who it's built for
Horizontal CRM
SugarCRM serves every industry. Sales-i was bolted on after acquisition.
100% distribution
Built by distributors, for distributors. Wallet share, reorder cadences, ERP sync — native.
What reps get
What reps get
A list of what happened
Reports and dashboards. Reps still have to decide what to do.
The next best action
"Call Acme tomorrow. Pitch P/N 410-B. Here's why." In their pocket, in plain English.
Platform scope
Platform scope
CRM + analytics only
No PIM. No eCommerce AI. No order entry. Expand and you're shopping vendors again.
One platform
CRM, Pronto AI, PIM, eCommerce AI — all connected, all learning from the same data.
Proven outcomes
Proven outcomes
Report generation
Usually deployed in one region, for reporting only. Low adoption, low growth story.
2.6x growth, 11x ROI
MSC, Benco Dental, R.S. Hughes and more see measurable revenue lift in year one.
WHY DISTRIBUTORS SWITCH

Three reasons teams replace Sugar AI with Proton

01
REAL AI, NOT RULES

Sugar AI flags the past. Proton predicts the future.

Ask them to explain their model. Sales-i runs on pre-defined rules and segmentation — green/yellow/red. Proton runs on deep learning that identifies patterns rules will never catch, across thousands of SKUs and every account in your book.

02
BUILT FOR DISTRIBUTION

Horizontal CRM ≠ distribution CRM

SugarCRM serves every industry in the world. That's a feature for them. It's a bug for you. Proton is 100% focused on distribution — wallet share, reorder patterns, ERP sync, takeoffs, SKU management. Built by distributors, for distributors.

03
ONE PLATFORM

Stop shopping vendors every time you grow

Sales-i is CRM + analytics. That's it. Need product data enriched? Different tool. Want recommendations on your website? Different tool. Proton is one platform: CRM, Pronto AI, PIM, and eCommerce AI — all connected, all learning from the same data.

THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
2.6x
the average sales growth clients see in just 1 year with Proton
11x
the average ROI Proton clients gain
42%
higher user engagement vs. all-purpose CRMs
12 weeks
the average time it takes clients to go-live
BEFORE YOU BUY

Before you buy Sugar AI, ask these four questions.

If the answers feel thin, it's worth talking to us.

?
“What will we actually accomplish with Sugar AI that we couldn’t already do with an ERP report?”
?
“Will Sugar AI tell our reps what to do next — or just show them what already happened?”
?
“Now that SugarCRM owns sales-i, what’s the roadmap for distribution-specific features?”
?
“How much time will our team spend configuring and maintaining rules to keep Sugar AI useful?”
CUSTOMER VOICES

See what our customers have to say

“Proton gets info to our sellers fast and effectively, so they can talk about what’s relevant and what’s important. With Proton, our team has better discussions with customers.”

Tim Babco (Ad)
CIO
·
ORS Nasco

“Proton is a sales stimulant, helping us grow our business through recommended products.”

Eric Wessinger
President & CEO
·
Richards Supply

"Proton is the best ROI of any tech investment we've made in the past 30 years."

Mike Page
CMO & CTO
·
R.S. Hughes

“The value of Proton for our industry is that right out of the box, it speaks our language. It understands what challenges distribution companies have.”

Jason Moorehead
VP of Sales
·
Swish Maintenance

"Proton is one of the greatest sales tools that we've ever had at Midwest Wheel."

Sean Kinter
Sales Development Manager
·
Midwest Wheel

“Just think of the best assistant you’ve ever had. You can plug an account number or contact name into the system and get all the information you need within seconds.”

Dave Purdy
General Manager
·
Swish Maintenance

"After I got into Proton, my sales skyrocketed. Proton hasn’t just helped me maintain and build my business; it's also helped me personally. It has made me a better sales rep."

Chelsea Reddell
Sales Consultant
·
Salon Services Pro

“We’re seeing a 3x profit return for every dollar spent on Proton software. What makes Proton different is the people and their domain expertise. It feels like we have a partner — a group that’s living and breathing distribution. They understand the unique challenges distributors face.”

Erik Gershwind
President & CEO
·
MSC

“Just the ability to summarize and share call notes easily with the branch has been huge. We used to edit and summarize them manually, now it’s just three clicks. It’s probably gained us a day each week.”

Aaron Soloski
Sales Manager
·
Aquifer

“Before Proton, it would take me 10 to 15 minutes to do my research on an account. Now it’s just a minute or two.”

Zeina Shahabeddin
Inside Sales Development Manager
·
Swish Maintenance

"Proton has made our sales team much more proactive, rather than just reacting to incoming orders. This has helped us increase the order size per invoice. Proton has increased the amount of sales our team has been able to close."

Kyle Schull
President
·
Building Products Inc.

“One time, we said, ‘For one week, trust every recommendation that Proton gives you and talk with your customer about it.’ They had a 40% close rate on brands that they never would have talked about before.”

Guy Lacey
Vice President
·
Salon Services Pro

"Pronto saves me 2 hours a day, easily. It’s very user-friendly, even for guys who don’t love tech. I use it to do call notes: after a call, I bring up Pronto, hit the microphone, talk into my phone, and it logs a note, so I can move on. With that time back, I can see 3 more customers a day."

Dave Hammett
Outside Sales Rep
·
BPI

"Proton’s added one day's worth of sales per month. Sales reps are getting a full day of extra sales revenue attributed to Proton."

Adam Crews
Director of Sales
·
Chattanooga Shooting Supplies

"Customers appreciate when you show up prepared. Pronto helps you be that rep. Before, we were jumping from screen to screen, report to report. Now it’s all right there, within seconds."

Darlene Long
Account Manager
·
Swish

“When a CRM works, everybody gets on board pretty quick. So far, we’ve had a lot of wins. That makes it contagious; if everybody sees that guy got that sale, they want to get the next one.”

Eric Wessinger (Ad)
President and CEO
·
Richards Supply

"It’s not just a reporting tool, it’s a sales growth engine. We’re giving the sales team a sports car, not a ball and chain."

Dane LeBel
Inside Sales Director
·
Vallen

“If someone’s off sick or on holiday, anybody on the team is able to jump into their accounts and know exactly what’s happening. That makes onboarding new reps and coverage easier, and helps us maintain the same level of customer service, whether the rep is in-house or not.”

Crystal Howat
Director of Technology and E-Commerce
·
Aquifer

"Pronto has been the biggest game changer for us. I believe we're one of the biggest users of it."

Steve McEnany
Senior VP
·
Midwest Wheel

“Proton makes us look like experts. The customer thinks we know everything — because the tool does.”

Ryan Barnett
Inside Sales Manager
·
Vallen

“We’ve gone from zero CRM culture to everyone talking about Proton every single day. That in itself within 3 months of launching has just been spectacular.”

Victoria Blair
Sales Enablement Leader
·
Swish Maintenance

“Before Proton, important info was buried in reports and often overlooked. With Proton, the data is right at our fingertips, easy to access and actionable. It's a game-changer for our daily routine.”

Matt Goldberg
Regional Manager
·
Benco Dental

“Our reps don't see Proton as a chore. We have a call target of 50 per week, but some reps are making double that. They're going above and beyond because they can see their progress every day in Proton."

Matthew James
President & CEO
·
Purity Life

"With Proton, our sales reps don't need to dig through account history or juggle gap reports anymore. They simply hop into Proton, see which customers are at-risk, and start reaching out."

Adam Crews
Director of Sales
·
CSSI

"If you’ve stumped yourself on what to sell, you can reach in and grab Pronto to take you to another level."

Shawn Baloun
Inside Sales
·
BPI

“Our sellers are staying active and engaged with Proton, using it on a daily basis.”

Tim Babco (Ad)
CIO
·
ORS Nasco

“Proton pulls data from all our systems, so it's all in one place. It’s been a huge time saver. A task that used to take about an hour now takes me less than ten minutes.”

Carly Albrecht
Regional Sales Manager
·
Purity Life

"We used to see large projects quoted by our quotations team, but communication didn’t always reach outside sales for proper follow-up. Proton’s had a big impact helping with that. I would absolutely recommend Proton to anybody in the distribution business. It checks all the boxes for us."

Schaun Corbett
VP of Sales
·
Aquifer

“I’m not the best email writer, so Pronto really helps me get to the point of what I’m trying to say.”

Dave Hammett
Outside Sales Rep
·
BPI

“One of our new reps pitched products to a large account based on Proton’s recommendations. The customer said, ‘I never knew you supplied those products.’ Now we’re in the final stages of closing a huge deal with that customer—all within the rep’s first 90 days.”

Zeina Shahabeddin
Inside Sales Development Manager
·
Swish Maintenance

"Proton answers the 'who do I call first?' question for you. When you use Proton, you basically become a sales analyst without even trying, because all the info you need is served to you."

Adam Crews
Director of Sales
·
CSSI

"Pronto makes me look smarter, gives me the info I need, and never judges my questions."

Darlene Long
Account Manager
·
Swish

"Proton is an effective tool to save you time. For new people, this is probably the single most effective tool. It gives you all the information you need."

Cody Olson
Territory Assistant
·
Midwest Wheel

“In just two minutes in the car, sales reps can skim through the Proton app and see everything going on with the customer they're visiting."

Katy Cohen
CRO
·
Benco Dental
SCHEDULE A DEMO

Find out what makes Proton the top CRM choice for distributors

Teams of 50+ are eligible for a personalized walkthrough. In 30 minutes, you'll see exactly how Proton compares to your current stack — and what it'd look like for your reps.

  • See how Proton turns your ERP data into next-best actions
  • Get advice on refining your sales strategy from distribution experts
  • A platform overview tailored to your book of business
faq

Common questions from teams evaluating Sugar AI

What’s the difference between Sugar AI and Proton?
Will Proton integrate with my ERP?
What if my reps don’t want to use another new tool?
We already pay for Sugar AI. Isn’t switching disruptive?
What happens to Sugar AI now that SugarCRM owns it?