ePS Pace Reviews - Page 2

web based - there is absolutely nothing else about this system that I like

In my opinion the system is a big waste of money and does nothing except cause frustration and WASTE money and time. There is really nothing about this system that I do like. Whoever created this definitely does not actually use this system......they appear to be keyboard warriors only. Common sense has left the EFI building a long time ago. We were sold this system telling us how much more productive...

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Pace's user interface and overall navigation is intuitive. We especially appreciate the file structure. It allows us to import, export and enhance system data easily using PaceStation query and the Universal Importer. Pace customer support is another strength.

It was more difficult and time-consuming to implement than we expected. Training could have been better. We were spoiled by Pace. It would be wonderful if all the products in the suite (especially Process Shipper and Printstream) could be supported the same way as Pace. With Printstream especially, obtaining support takes longer and often techs need to access files and tables we can't even view, to change a variable or status.

There are a lot of options in it; granted you have to pay big bucks to include any of them as different modules. If you simply run a cost-plus model with absolutely no specific prices quoted to customers, then this might work. The support team usually answers concerns.

Unfortunately, the varied options and features are so difficult to implement and understand that we have been attempting to use this software for 3 years now, and still are not fully implemented. The people in the trenches have no belief that it will ever be completely useable. The estimating module doesn't have a way to charge specific quoted prices to specific customers. So they offer the Price List Quoting module, which does not sync up very well with the estimating and production functionality. If anything is customized, you have to change it is two different places to be able to get it to run through your shop.

I like all the features that Pace has to offer. The ability to write xpath's and event handlers has been very beneficial to the company and production.

Lack of adequate white papers or examples on the items mentioned above, xpath's and event handlers. The amount of time spent on producing these is cumbersome in some instances. Also the fact that we pay for service but service does not include help, it only looks at broken items. I have installed several MIS packages over the years and this is the only one that I know that does not include help in its service plan.

It is great that PACE can help figure out if a job will be a better fit for digital or offset (you have to know a few tricks, but it is worth the effort). I love the fact that the software can tell me how many boxes and how many skids will be needed to finish the job. It is very helpful that I can set up an email alert when something is shipped out of the system. It is wonderful that you can use most of the fields as calculators.

I do not like the latest upgrade that puts pop up windows in the middle of the screen. Previously the pop ups opened in the upper left corner. I was able to make the main PACE screen be a little smaller to the left and always see the pop ups that were open. Now I have to make the main PACE screen half the size of my computer screen from the bottom to see the same thing. Very frustrating when the goal is efficiency.

Estimating, P.O's, Data Collection, Payroll, Invoicing and Sales and Marketing reports.

Doesn't seem as though there is a lot of personal followup or review once the system is installed. Although support is available it seems like the after the sale someone should come out annually to review issues that can be addressed to make the system more user friendly, dynamic and valuable to the end user.

Integration with DSF is an important feature for AlphaGraphics. Not always 100% foolproof, but much of the interaction is seamless and most useful. The connection with Inventory allowing customers access to their own stock items including stock balance figures is a winner. PACE allows a high degree of customisation which gave us a greater ability to apply the structure we needed to our workflows. It also facilitated the implementation of accurate production processes into the structure of the MIS.

We are missing more structured tie-ins with equipment vendors, allowing better integration of prepress and production workflows. This is something that is prevalent across all vendors, not just EFI. It feels like each vendor is determined that their method is the correct one and all others must conform to their standards, leaving customers with little option but to go it alone or forget about true integration.

That it is browser based. That it connects with Digital Store Front and Process Shipper. The Pace Station report creator. Open connectivity.

Certain paths take you to dead ends, like looking at the quantity on hand of an inventory item to see quantity in all locations. Parts created a different times, like job level shipping, are different in use than other areas. Certain functions seem to cause the system to faill or get stuck in certain browsers. Poor use of screen space in current version compared to previous versions.

The customization module truly makes this platform powerful and able to adapt to many business models.

Currently, the CRM module. But, I say this knowing that at it's core Pace is an MIS system - not a CRM. So, I am appreciative they have the module as it allows us to operate with a single system of record and not have to manage multiple platforms or integrations.

Pacestation enquires and crystal reports. Also support from the support team and implementers is excellent

No link to Sage which was promised and now only just delivered and at an additional cost to us. No link to Pageflex which was promised. No seamless link to Fiery. No people scheduling work to list built into data collection. Was told being an Shuttleworth customer that Shuttleworth was being made obsolete very soon (which is untrue) and that transfer would be easy as EFI to EFI which was also untrue.

I like that we are able to use it as an ERP system as opposed to multiple systems.

Reports: Many of the reports that open in Excel basically do just that: open in Excel. The data does not actually generate in Excel properly and it is a major pain to manipulate in a way that can actually be useful. Sorting: It is annoying that the reports cannot always be sorted alphabetically. Reassigning accounts: A salesman taking over a current customer cannot see the customer history. This is a major flaw that has never been addressed to my knowlege in over 30 versions.

I don't think there is much of anything I like about this software for our production purposes

I help manage the Wide Format department here at DCG ONE. PACE - as we are implementing it - is nearly impossible to use for our Production Team. There are confusing job tickets on an almost daily basis. These often result in misunderstanding and therefore late projects and/or re-work. I realize that some of this is likely how we implement PACE but the structure of the job tickets and order submission seems NOT comprehensive, confusing, and not user-friendly in a custom print environment.

We have used Pace for many years. Large printers must have an MIS to efficiently manage production. And that MIS must integrate with ordering systems. Pace integrates with our Market Direct Storefront. Over the years, we made the transition from an internally created accounting system to our first commercially available MIS - Covalent. We then transitioned to Logic. And years ago we transitioned to Pace.

Because integration of ordering software and Pace can be complex, once in a while there's a glitch. Figuring that out can be difficult, but with help from EFI Support we've always been able to do so.

Overall - better than good (but I rarely give out 10's in general). Support - Excellent Integrations - very good>excellent Order processing - good Inventory - mostly good. Raw material is fine. We did purchase Printstream for fulfillment. Estimating/quoting - very good. Thorough, therefore a bit complicated - for professional use only.

UOM management in inventory. Estimating not designed for label printing (but adaptable). We felt like we had to go to Printstream for better finished goods inventory and fulfillment.

Browser based so can be accessed any where. Really easy to find information in to make decisions that are data based. Intuitive and comprehensive.

They are constantly changing the software so there are updates happening frequently. The updates are getting easier.

Pace has a robust API but is not well documented. The Universal Importer feature allows a single spreadsheet to insert, update or delete records in multiple tables. The customization toolkit is very useful to create user defined fields, objects and HTML forms. Item templates allow for automation of repetitive work.

Other EFI products are not as well integrated as they should be (Metrix, Process Shipper).

As an SAAS, it gives you the confidence that it has gone through the strictest quality tests and that it will not conk out on you. I am new to the industry where I first used EFI Pace, but it was straightforward enough for me to learn more about the industry standards by the way it structured the dive-ins and reporting formats.

There is not enough online contents on how to use specific features of the system. They have a community, but it seldom gives you the actual topic you are looking for.

The software is intuitive, flexible and able to adapt to most any situation a printing and packaging company may need. Users train quickly and love the features and reporting that the system is capable of.

Our company is a true one stop shop and Pace is not able to estimate Flexographic Printing.

The software has a ton of functionality built into it. I like that it is all self contained within the Pace Suite of software.

Parts of it take alot of time to navigate. There are multiple clicks through several pages that are required to input and/or access information. It could be more streamlined.

It has everything. We can manage everything from the estimates through to shipping inside Pace with modules. This makes it very effective for our company.

While it does everything, some aspects are not as developed. I would like to see better ways of managing the physical inventories (barcodes and scanners) and bundles modules often lead us away from purchasing something we need (notifcations and API bundled for example, just need notifications)

Generating professional-looking estimates, along with job tickets is the most impactful offering for our production personal (too bad it doesn't offer spell check, LOL).

Much of the software that we use would be more user-friendly for an offset shop...we are a large format digital, screen print, and photopolymer sign shop. Also, setting up contacts for billing/shipping is challenging, to say the least.

It is custom tailored to the printing industry. It saves time in estimating by creating templates for estimates and estimate components. It links different parts of our business together i.e. accounting, job costing, estimating and production. It helps us see where we are making money where we are not making money. It helps us identify projects that suit our capabilities and projects that don't.

It requires at least one person to administer the software and should have two or three that are qualified to jump in if necessary. The software requires substantial set-up time. It is a major investment of time for key personnel. It may be more than a small company can manage.

It allows you to get about any report you could ever want.

The out of box version has too much information and sometimes it makes estimating and entering orders more difficult and it takes longer for new hires to learn the software.