ePS Pace Reviews

Suite products not equal, making in-house support challenging

Comments: Overall, although much has been done to integrate Pace with Process Shipper and Printstream (products we use every day), there are still software issues, especially with Printstream and Process Shipper. I appreciate the products in the suite and the effort that is being made to enhance the integration within the suite, and I feel EFI is on the right track and committed to making the suite better and stronger.

Pros:

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.

Cons:

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.

EFI Pace - Good results in first 2 years

Pros:

The flexibility of the software to achieve whatever goals we have in mind. The ePacestation module, Questionnaires (with Item Templates), and the API module have been very key for us and returned lots of value.

Cons:

Historically, when some core functionality has been identified as having an issue or a bug, there have been delays in getting stuff functioning correctly. Most notably, we've had trouble getting consistent/accurate results from Metrix and from the CRM Outlook plug-in.

Alternatives Considered: Lift

Reasons for Choosing ePS Pace: printIQ had severe and unacceptable performance issues that were not resolved over time.

Switched From: printIQ Core

Reasons for Switching to ePS Pace: At the time, it seemed like Lift wasn't as mature a product compared to Pace. Given our experience with unstable technology via our previous MIS provider, our decision biased consistency and reliability over other qualities/attributes.

In need of improvement

Comments: Overall I don't think this system is at its peak. There are some fundamental issues that need to be worked out before release of a version and more time should be spent making sure the initial release of the latest version is fully stable and working in a real world environment before being sent out to all. On a personal note all of these trials and errors have been a great learning experience for me which although frustrating has definitely added to my personal growth.

Pros:

There is a lot of flexibility in your capacity to read from the database. The database structure is pretty clearly laid out and accommodates the needs for customization well. The paid customization options have allowed our company to build in the features that were most important to us while adding features that made many users jobs much easier.

Cons:

The constant battles to resolve small issues have been very frustrating. The bigger battles to resolve accounting and inventory problems has been very frustrating as well. We also are a Printflow user and have found the integration was not well executed and left us regretting our decision to use the two programs in tandem. Support although many times very helpful can also be very unhelpful especially when the only thing they can say is that maybe some day the development team will get to fixing our problem.

My Pace Review

Comments: Overall experience is a 7 due to lack of help from service

Pros:

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.

Cons:

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.

Pace with additional modules

Comments: Overall we are very excited about the opportunities the additional modules will provide us to streamline and smooth out our workflow.

Pros:

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

Cons:

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.

Alternatives Considered: LIFT

Reasons for Choosing ePS Pace: functionality, all in one approach, ability to access and review the data to judge performance.

Reasons for Switching to ePS Pace: The Pace product was further developed. We didn't feel like we would be developing as we went, just adapting the software to our process.

Too Difficult to use and clunky

Comments: I have seen no real benefits. We have more people doing estimating than ever before, because Pace is so clunky and takes so long to do anything, and they still can't all get the hang of Pace. The part of our company that still uses the previous outdated software that we had before Pace, can get jobs put in and billed in one-tenth of the time it would take to do in Pace. Literally. It is like buying an expensive Backhoe to drive through city streets, when a small Honda would work much better.

Pros:

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.

Cons:

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.

Using PACE

Comments: It takes a little work to understand the system, but once you get it, it is a fairly efficient system.

Pros:

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.

Cons:

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.

EFI Pace

Comments: Customer Service used to be better, seems to be impersonal now that we don't talk to a live person when an issue comes up that used to be solved immediately.
Not a big fan of the cost of the "Connect" at the Wynn in Las Vegas. Rooms are overpriced (although very nice) much more reasonable rooms are available in Las Vegas. If costs were better contained we could send more to each conference.

Pros:

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

Cons:

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.

PCE Review

Pros:

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.

Cons:

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.

The Suite to Beat

Comments: We have invested in all the pieces of the Mid Market Print Suite and the flexibility of the software has allowed us to continue to grow year over year. Our experience has been very good but we also dedicate a sizable amount of time to maintenance and customization's on the platforms. The software platform is only as good as the support team and the EFI team is always prompt and responsive to our needs.

Pros:

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.

Cons:

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

Oversold and Underdelivered

Comments: Oversold and under delivered. Management team stubborn and unreasonable. If we could turn back time we would of definitely not bought this software. On a positive note the implementation and support team are very knowledgeable and helpful.

Pros:

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

Cons:

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.

Better for offset printers, than for "sign shops" that use a large variety of production methods.

Pros:

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).

Cons:

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.

EFI Pace

Pros:

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

Cons:

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.

EFI Pace

Comments: I love pace. It is very robust and does not crash.

Pros:

I love pace. It is very robust and does not crash.

Cons:

If you need something from the EFI team is generally becomes an "enhancement" and can take months to be implemented.

Had Pace for many years and use with quoting

Comments: we need a simple, easy system with our setup- and EFI works fine for our needs

Pros:

ease of use. With our setup and what we need to quote and bill jobs, EFI Pace works great and happy with it

Cons:

less updates and easier to have a change made specifically for us

I've had better

Comments: Do headaches count?

Pros:

Very robust and intuitive. Covers al lot of areas and would be a great asset to bean counters. Great for running reports- Customer service is helpful

Cons:

extremely cumbersome and confusing. Hard to use. There is no flow to the program. I don't think the programmers actually talked to anyone that was involved in estimating when designing the system.There are better estimating programs out there

Pace Implementation

Comments: Overall, implementation and professional services was good but required lots of time to implement. Support needs more communication with services.

Pros:

API, ability to customize, and object model

Cons:

Lack of documentation and support and workflow instructions

Review

Pros:

Easy to use. Able to navigate through multiple windows throughout the entire suite.

Cons:

Did not like when things were changed that did not need to be changed.

Too big for its own good

Pros:

The estimating software is the best part of the software

Cons:

The accounting system is not very user friendly and cumbersome to use

Suite of good products

Pros:

Pace to PrintStream fulfillment and PrintFlow

Cons:

Difficult to do all accounting functions and report writing is a major challenge.

Good platfrom

Pros:

imposition for wide format printers and setting up additional instances.

Cons:

It takes too much time to learn how to use

EFI Pace Review

Pros:

For the front end user, it's pretty user friendly.

Cons:

Very difficult to navigate the back end set-up, reports, etc.

Just not easy enough to use

Comments: aweful

Pros:

Reporting capability is extremely powerful.

Cons:

Not intuitive, too difficult a set up too hard to use

It’s tough to change your MIS system

Comments: It’s been ok

Pros:

If all worked as smoothly as advertised it would have been very robust

Cons:

Implementation was difficult and very time consuming

fast and easy

Comments: Overall I liked working this sofrware. It's pretty simple and fast

Pros:

EASY TO WORK TROUGH with. It has pretty simple, basic steps that makes it easier and faster to use .

Cons:

TO MAKE CHANGES ON PO'S . For exapmle I have to change the ship to information each time. But, other than that everything else works good.