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Elevate vs Cleo
Elevate vs Cleo
Cleo is Built for Enterprise. Elevate is Built for SMBs.
Many growing companies tell us the same story:
- Cleo’s CIC platform is robust — but too complex for small teams
- Implementations can require IT resources you don’t have
- Pricing tiers often feel enterprise-level, even when your needs aren’t
- Customizations require specialist knowledge or consulting hours
Elevate was built to solve these exact issues for SMBs and mid-market companies that need:
- Transparent pricing (no enterprise surprise fees)
- Quick onboarding without long IT projects
- Real human support — not escalations and long queues
- Managed-service simplicity instead of DIY complexity
- Flexibility to grow partner-by-partner without penalty
No heavy platform. No enterprise overhead. Just a simple EDI platform that works for SMBs.
Thinking about Cleo? Read this before you decide.
Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC) is a good platform for the right type of business.
Large enterprises love it. Highly technical teams love it.
But for SMBs, the same strengths can become blockers:
- Too many modules
- Too many configuration layers
- Too much internal resource required
- Long onboarding times
- High costs for mapping and integrations
Elevate fills the gap for businesses that need strong EDI capabilities without enterprise complexity.
Many growing companies tell us the same story:
- Cleo’s CIC platform is robust — but too complex for small teams
- Implementations can require IT resources you don’t have
- Pricing tiers often feel enterprise-level, even when your needs aren’t
- Customizations require specialist knowledge or consulting hours
Elevate was built to solve these exact issues for SMBs and mid-market companies that need:
- Transparent pricing (no enterprise surprise fees)
- Quick onboarding without long IT projects
- Real human support — not escalations and long queues
- Managed-service simplicity instead of DIY complexity
- Flexibility to grow partner-by-partner without penalty
No heavy platform. No enterprise overhead. Just a simple EDI platform that works for SMBs.
Thinking about Cleo? Read this before you decide.
Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC) is a good platform for the right type of business.
Large enterprises love it. Highly technical teams love it.
But for SMBs, the same strengths can become blockers:
- Too many modules
- Too many configuration layers
- Too much internal resource required
- Long onboarding times
- High costs for mapping and integrations
Elevate fills the gap for businesses that need strong EDI capabilities without enterprise complexity.
Why SMBs Choose Elevate Over Cleo
Here’s what companies switching tell us:
- “We didn’t need all the enterprise bells and whistles, just reliable EDI.”
- “We needed managed support, not a DIY platform.”
- “Elevate felt like working with real people, not a giant system.”
- “Cleo felt too big for our team; Elevate was simple and fast.”
- “Cleo’s pricing was built for large companies, not us.”
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Category | Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Enterprise-grade integration platform, multi-module | Cloud-native, lightweight, modern UI |
| Ease of Use | Deep functionality but requires technical expertise | Designed for SMB teams; intuitive, minimal training |
| Support Model | Tiered support; enterprise ticketing & queues | Real humans, same-day help, fully managed |
| Onboarding Speed | Weeks to months depending on complexity | Days for many SMB setups |
| Pricing Transparency | Enterprise pricing: custom quotes; variable costs, gets very expensive with increasing volumes | Simple, published, no hidden fees |
| Integration Style | Highly customizable; requires configuration | API, CSV/XML, AS2/STP; managed for you |
| Scalability | Designed for high-volume, global enterprise scale | Ideal for 1–50 partners |
| Contract Lock-in | Annual or multi-year plans common | No contracts |
| Best For | Enterprise companies with IT resources | SMBs, startups, mid-market |
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Category | Cleo Integration Cloud (CIC) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Enterprise-grade integration platform, multi-module | Cloud-native, lightweight, modern UI |
| Ease of Use | Deep functionality but requires technical expertise | Designed for SMB teams; intuitive, minimal training |
| Support Model | Tiered support; enterprise ticketing & queues | Real humans, same-day help, fully managed |
| Onboarding Speed | Weeks to months depending on complexity | Days for many SMB setups |
| Pricing Transparency | Enterprise pricing: custom quotes; variable costs, gets very expensive with increasing volumes | Simple, published, no hidden fees |
| Integration Style | Highly customizable; requires configuration | API, CSV/XML, AS2/STP; managed for you |
| Scalability | Designed for high-volume, global enterprise scale | Ideal for 1–50 partners |
| Contract Lock-in | Annual or multi-year plans common | No contracts |
| Best For | Enterprise companies with IT resources | SMBs, startups, mid-market |
Who Should Choose Cleo?
Cleo is a fantastic fit if you:
- Have a large IT team or integration specialists
- Need complex, multi-system orchestration
- Are managing high-volume, global EDI
- Require deep API and data transformation capabilities
- Want full control (DIY model)
Who Should Choose Elevate?
Elevate fits perfectly if you:
- Have a small or growing team
- Want EDI that’s managed, not DIY
- Need fast onboarding
- Want clear, predictable pricing
- Are onboarding 1–50 partners
Want a long-term, human partner, not a complex enterprise platform
What to Expect When You Migrate from
Cleo (CIC) to Elevate
What to Expect When You Migrate from Cleo (CIC) to
Elevate
Switching EDI providers shouldn’t feel like a gamble. At Elevate, we make migration predictable,
low-risk, and fully managed, so you don’t lose momentum.
Switching EDI providers shouldn’t feel like a gamble. At Elevate, we make migration predictable, low-risk, and fully managed, so you don’t lose momentum.
Phased Trading Partner Migration
Parallel Setup, Zero Downtime
Trading Partner Communication Handled
Hands-On Testing & Validation
Each partner is tested in a staging environment to ensure clean data flow before going live. We don’t move forward until you’re confident everything works.
Dedicated, Human Support Throughout
You’ll work with real people, not tickets. Our team stays engaged through every phase of migration and beyond to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most say Cleo was overkill for their needs, too complex to manage internally, or too expensive compared to a transparent, managed-service solution.
For SMB and mid-market EDI needs (850, 856, 810, retail compliance, integrations), yes. For heavy enterprise workflows, Cleo offers more advanced orchestration.
Elevate — because it’s fully managed by EDI Support LLC for you. Cleo requires configuration and technical skill.
Usually yes. Cleo is built for technical teams and enterprise IT environments.
Elevate can get SMBs live in days. Cleo implementations often take weeks or months depending on the number of trading partners to be added and integration complexity.