Ventus

From GUI to Ventus; A success story!

Comments: I would like to know more about Ventus. The demo was detailed, and it was cool to see the updated version of GUI.

Pros:

Ventus has a huge array of updates and advancements for the staff in the office and the techs in the field. The system seemed user-friendly and easy to navigate depending on tasks.

Cons:

The colors in Ventus were hard on the eyes from time to time.

Alternatives Considered: BuildOps CRM+

Reasons for Switching to Ventus: We are existing customers and thought the transition would be smooth.

Work In Progress

Comments: We were lacking in the inventory/bar coding processes and are slowly becoming better at using this feature. It made Physical Count a lot faster. I know we will see better tracking between warehouses once everyone gets it under control. Also, the ability to transfer estimates to a job or service ticket will change things for us and make us more efficient.

Pros:

Pros-One software for all facets needed to operate a business. The staff at VMS make you feel like family and are personally vested in your success. Bar coding capabilities. Ability to transfer Estimate to Job Cost and Service. The ease of searching is great. Docu - ability to attach all documents. Vast number of reports, very diverse in what you can pull. Ability to save to queue to have a history of all transactions.

Cons:

Cons - No user's manual. Inconsistency between modules in where to go to search really just inconsistencies between modules period (Ex. some modules you go through Tasks to execute things, others you can do directly from the screen you are in). Can't set zero quantities doing a cycle count for a portion of inventory. Lack of synchronized data (Ex. PM Inquiry -must execute function to make sure it is current; Job Cost - when changing contract through JOB BUDGET/COST SUMMARY - it does not update contract amount in Job File) Passwords - need ability to set override capabilities for specified actions. Daily Password needed for everything under Options. Lack of automatic GL entry or notice that one is needed if a user performs a transaction that needs to have a GL trans done (ex -physical count, inv adj) Lack of "locked for editing" warning when accessing something that someone else is currently in.

Ventus

Comments: The people are great. Not always very good at getting back with you. Feel like a small fish and not as important in comparison to other companies that use the software so we sometime get bumped.

Pros:

The program has a lot to offer. Can be an all inclusive software system.

Cons:

No or very little training on the software. No idea how to use most of it. Not consistent from one module to another. EX. spell check in service billing but not in accounts receivable billing.

Comprehensive Software Solution for Streamlining Service and Construction!

Comments: Ventus provides a comprehensive solution for managing various aspects of our business, including construction, service, billing, accounting, and mobile technician management. It allows for seamless integration across different business functions, making it easy to keep track of projects, financials, and field operations in one place. The mobile app for technicians ensures real-time updates and communication, enhancing efficiency and reducing response times. While the software is robust and offers a wide range of features, there might be a learning curve initially, especially for users unfamiliar with all-in-one platforms. Overall, it significantly streamlines processes, improves data accuracy, and enhances collaboration across teams, making it an invaluable tool for businesses in the service and construction industry.

Pros:

Ventus has modules that address the majority of our business application needs in one piece of software. It gives us the ability to instantly dispatch P1 tickets to our remote technicians and gives them the ability to invoice instantly. It also gives us the ability to manage construction projects from start to finish.

Cons:

There have been many improvements to reporting in the application, but I would like to see a dashboard that would give us quick data visualization options.

Your One Stop Shop

Comments: We have been able to drastically reduce the time for our inventory with the barcoding solution. We have gone from 2 weeks of a 8 person team to 2 days with a 3 person team. We are getting accurate counts, transfers and costing. It has eliminated duplicate item files for the same product (you can use cross reference to link multiple skus to the same item). The job costing has allowed us to run more efficiently and know when we are going to do way better (or way worse) on an estimate. The service reports help us understand which technicians are profitable and which need help. They are always improving and coming out with new features and add-on's to help with processing.

Pros:

I like most that the software contains almost everything that we need. It has service for our dispatching and bill of service. It has job costing for all of our larger projects. It has Payroll, Inventory, Accounts Payable, Purchase Orders, Equipment Controls, Call Management, Estimating, Order Processing for over the counter parts sales and Accounts Receivable. You wont need anything separate to run your day to day transactions. The Dispatch board is our FAVORITE part. You can schedule your technicians, maintain contracts with billing, bill by time and material, fixed dollar or flat rate.

Cons:

There is few online add options. For example, when you need to make a new inventory item, you have to go to the item maintenance file. So you have to leave the screen to you are and go somewhere else - however, you can keep the tabs open so don't loss what you are working on. Some of their add ons (like e-time) don't really work for technicians that are multi-taskers (work both on jobs and service tickets).