Viewpoint Vista

Vorteile

The software itself is customizable and very good overall. Their knowledgebase is extensive, but the search features in it don't yield correct results as often as they should. Vista is very customizable, which is extremely importane. You can create user defined fields and tables. You can also connect to the data via SQL, Excel, etc.

Nachteile

They have a suggestion box but getting anything implemented takes multiple years the vast majority of the time. Chat support gets a needs improvement. Far too often in the middle of the day no one is available (including today at 2 PM EST).

Vorteile

The software can handle just about anything! It has drastically changed our efficiency company-wide, especially with the projection/forecasting for our project teams. Having our teams getting live data and immediate access helps them more effectively manage their projects.

Nachteile

Some of the features within the EM & IN seem to be less of a priority for functionality and user-friendliness.

Vorteile

It is easy to shut down. That is absolutely the only good thing about it.

Nachteile

To date, I have found nothing I like. I am quite experienced with software of this type, and it is by far the worst I have been involved with.

Vorteile

it is very customizable and has moved to the cloud. A major upgrade from Prim.

Nachteile

Viewpoint doesn't play well with others. it is very difficult to work with in. We have a hard time with integration of systems.

Vorteile

The program is actually very useful in terms of data and information services. Reporting is in depth and there is a wide variety of customization.

Nachteile

We found it 1) cost prohibitive for the size of our business 2) creation of custom documents such as contracts, RFPs and invoices was clunky and cumbersome and required alot of assistance from customer service 3) purchasing all the separate modules seemed cost prohibitive for the size of our company.

Vorteile

It's got a ton of configurability if you have a full dev team ready to sit down and dig in with the subject matter expert for each department.

Nachteile

Their support staff is a 2/10 on most days and there are frequent questions they just don't know the answer to and if you get to that point they just shrug and close your issue. We were railroaded into getting a half baked cloud solution that took us back to the dark ages in performance and it cost 5x what we were paying for on prem. Trimble is the parent company and we have other software for different things from them. This one is the worst. If you have a massive dev team, 5000 spare labor hours and a mountain of cash, then you could benefit from this after the on-boarding process of 30-1600 days. You will be into time and materials billings at the last 90% of your engagement.

In Betracht gezogene Alternativen

Warum Viewpoint Vista gewählt wurde

Zuvor genutzte Software

Gründe für den Wechsel zu Viewpoint Vista

Vorteile

The software has sooooo many options for tracking jobs. All components of a job (AP, payroll, billing, etc) are able to be tracked in Vista. The reporting is easy to track and understand. The options for customization are endless. We are able to create custom reports on the fly to accommodate our needs specific to job type or PM.

Nachteile

There are so many options and features that it can be confusing or hard to learn all the steps. There are so many features that have to filled out when entering data into the system in order to get accurate data out of the system that a new user can feel overwhelmed. For example setting up rates for job cost can easily be entered incorrectly if you do not enter every possible combination.

In Betracht gezogene Alternativen

Gründe für den Wechsel zu Viewpoint Vista

Vorteile

Best Construction software from setting up jobs to close books

Nachteile

Financial reporting is tied to spreadsheet server and FOREX

Vorteile

Really easy to move between companies. It's helpful to be able to pull reports from any company without switching first.

Nachteile

Pretty stable, but they have regular problems when they do updates. This is our biggest complaint.

Vorteile

Customization, does what the company needs it to do.

Nachteile

Sometimes customization can come at the cost of no support assistance.

Vorteile

Viewpoint One web-based project management and financial controls, solid payroll, general ledger and accounts payable package.

Nachteile

Analytics Reporting on Viewpoint One is very clunky, BI is very limited. Dispatch board from the Service Management module needs more flexibility to prioritize calls and tag/flag calls on the board. Projection tools within Project Management module don't provide real time functionality and are not easy to use.

Vorteile

The product is multifaceted with so many options to use for your construction business. As you grow, it grows with you.

Nachteile

Because of the many varied options, sometimes it is hard to navigate all of those options to optimize the use of this software.

Vorteile

I enjoy the interfacing process the most about the software and how multiple items can be entered allowing the using to only Interface or lock these in as required. I also like the amount of reports available to peruse allowing the user to gain a detailed understanding into certain areas of the project.

Nachteile

The software is very old and needs to be updated to provide a modern feel. Often the software feels slow having to sync back up with the server which is disappointing. The Forecasting Module is also particularly tricky to understand and get right without causing an error.

Vorteile

The flexibility and alleged open access for this price range is the best. If it was true and worked, it would be a stellar option for companies that have unique processes that need unique solutions.

Nachteile

The cloud option is a complete joke, really. They're trying, but I don't know that Vista will ever work well on a cloud server. They have purchased a lot of complimentary software companies, and if they could get it to all work well, it would be an awesome product. The problem is they are patching together a lot of old products like it's 15 years ago. A true cloud built platform will come along and blow them out of the water on value. They really don't know how to make this thing work right now.

Vorteile

ERP with both PM and accounting functions.
Work centers for focused work flows
quick keys- F3, F4, F5

Nachteile

SM module is an add-on that does not function well with the rest of the program. No updates seem to be done in this module.
Customer service is not good. Chat is usually not helpful and cases are not responded to timely.

Vorteile

Has robust capabilities and custom reporting options

Nachteile

The setup was a nightmare and we still have a few issues that are ongoing after nearly 2 years of using the software.

Vorteile

Integration went well with the help of trainers. It takes several years of using Vista to really get use to it. We are about to move to the cloud version, so there will once again be another learning curve to battle through.

Nachteile

We've found that the standard Crystal Reports are not very good, and writing custom reports using Crystal Reports is not user-friendly.

Vorteile

I like the fact that Project Management and Accounting are tied together ins the same product. This allows for real time financials without duplicate entry of data.

Nachteile

Change Orders in the Project Management module are difficult and frustrate users. This problem alone has lead us to start exploring other options for our PMs. While Viewpoint has a plan to modify this, it is unknown if we can wait until the solution is finally rolled out before needing to implement another option. Also, a simple dumbed down module for Field staff is not available to meet our needs, We bought the product with the intent to implement the Connects product from Viewpoint, but this product has gone away. We tried to implement it initially, but it was far too cumbersome. Viewpoint needs to be more aggressive in its rollout of a web based Project Management module for the PMs and Field staff that aligns with the needs of Project Management of a General Contractor. That would include a more robust option to manage drawings during the course of the job (4 Projects is not it today and not sure if it will be it in the future when it is integrated with Viewpoint.

Vorteile

-Intercompany features allow for easy reconciliation and few entries.
-Drilldown reports allow easy access to individual transactions
-Knowledge Base and Clearview online help are incredible with step by step instructions including screenshots
-Shortcut keys allow for easy lookups and use of a wildcard (*) without knowing the exact description
-Well organized layout of the modules/programs vs. reports
-Able to maintain one vendor master among all companies has helped significantly in our accounts payable department

Nachteile

-There is a large amount of reports but it's hard to determine which one to use and which parameters to use
-Invested time in their financial reporter which is now being phased out and will not be supported in another year
-Security setup can be time consuming (separate program for Reports, Forms, Data, etc.)

Vorteile

The help desk. I use the articles and from chat to get answers.

Nachteile

The Stored Material on the billing. I have no customer that like it and have to do on excel bill. The problem is the previous billed.

Vorteile

Entry of data is easy (Microsoft Access style of entry). Canned reporting features are okay with several exporting options.

Nachteile

The HR side isn't the most spectacular piece of software. There's no easy way to create your own custom reports. Some access issues exist; such as if you have access to HR but not payroll and there are reports HR needs that are tied to payroll, you're out of luck. One such report is the EEO-1 Report which HR typically handles but it's tied to payroll reporting.

Vorteile

The best thing about Vista is the "one-stop-shop" vision they have been striving for. Everything Accounting (AP, AR, Cash Management, GL, Job Billing, Payroll), Document Management (RFIs, Submittals, Purchase Orders, Subcontracts, etc.), Project Management (PM, Job Cost, Service Management, etc.) including a host of other options including Equipment Management, Inventory management, a Business Analytics & reporting feature. It is also highly customizable.

Nachteile

The only downside I would say is that some of the training for customization is considered billable or is outsourced to a third-party developer / partner

Vorteile

The software is stable and is relatively easy to customize to our special needs. The job forecasting feature is very strong. Reports are generated quickly. The GL and Cash Management modules are easy to use. Job Cost is good. I really like the User Database program. Custom Fields are easy to add and remove.

Nachteile

Certain features do not function properly. Changing non-GL related coding can be difficult. Payroll setup is too complex and not logical. The implementation was rigorous and the consultant was inexperienced. The software does not remove/exclude the setup requirements for modules that are not purchased. Project Management is not user friendly, especially Document Management. Support can be very good or not so good. Wait times can be excessive. Payroll daily time entry is not adequate for our needs and does meet the requirements of CA employment law. PR and PM are the reasons I rate the ease of use at 6. The other modules would receive 7 to 9's.

BTW, the renaming to Vista was a bad choice. MS Vista was the biggest operating system failure in history. IT people laugh at the name.

Vorteile

Viewpoint allows you to customize the user experience as much as you want. Things like custom fields, triggers causing updates to tables and custom look ups allow you to customize it.

Nachteile

Not a friendly user interface, looks like it was made in Windows 98. The tables between SM and JC on the back end are confusing if working in SQL

Vorteile

We use this for all of our accounting needs and services. Our company relies on this program more that Vista knows. It's the underrated program that keeps our train moving forward.

Nachteile

At times this can be a little buggy and opening certain modules can take a bit. Some features are intuitive where as other they aren't.

Vorteile

Effective tool for project managers and accounting personnel to track job costs.

Nachteile

Backend modifications require input from consultants and costly customizations.

Vorteile

I like the ease of it syncing with other software's.

Nachteile

There are so many steps to get to where you need to be. The invoices freeze for over 24 hours if you open them twice.

Vorteile

I love how easy it is to just use it and hit helpgul

Nachteile

Customer support could be easier to reach

Vorteile

Forecasting and the PM tools are useful. It is not an intuitive program however and does take training. I feel like most of our staff would benefit from training, but it has not been prioritized yet.

Nachteile

There are too many programs/modules that we do not use. Some seem repetitive, it's not obvious to a new user even where to start. There needs to be better training segments like "Training for PM's, for AR, for AP" etc.

Vorteile

Being able to customize this software to fit our company and project needs has been very beneficial. The project financial management capabilities are extremely useful.

Nachteile

I would like more options for equipment management.

Vorteile

It has many features and groups them all together in one place

Nachteile

Filling out forms and records is an arduous task, the software balks at the user when fields are not filled out in the precise manner that it expects. Often after filling out an entire record, it is deleted because one field is incorrect or missing.

Vorteile

It is a one stop shop that includes all the various aspects of business. It is solid and proven to work together. It is adaptable when needed. We customize everything and Vista does it well.

Nachteile

The more we ask it to do the more complicated it gets. There are a lot of options that we do not use or want. But others may love those same features. Not a big fan of the form searches. Most experienced users tell you to use the GRID search and not the form search. Too many issues.

Vorteile

I like the fact that the software is very easy to use. They have many tools to gain more information on how things are set up and processed in the knowledge based articles. Customer service is very supportive and generally able to fix any issues that may arise. The use of the Employee portal is wonderful as well.

Nachteile

There are defiantly things that can and should be improved. One of those items would be the labor categories and the fact that you can not use the same craft and class code combination in more that one category. This is really inconvenient given our customers want to see time grouped but others want to see them broken out.

Vorteile

The ability to manage security in different ways so only the data you want users to see is a huge benefit. Email capabilities for sending invoices to AR Customers was a huge improvement. The AP invoice approval process saves a lot of time tracking down people to get an invoice approved for payment.

Nachteile

The ability to have more than one MS Invoice Edit batch open with MS Invoices to deliver has been a challenge as the software will send blank invoices to customers. Since moving to the cloud environment with Viewpoint One the users have complaints of lagging data entry times and payroll processing has been slower.

Vorteile

All team members will be able to see the company's supply basket, which includes invoices, quotes, and requests. Enhances the ability to access all relevant data from a single control panel, making transitioning between tasks simpler. Everyone on the crew will receive regular updates and alerts to keep all requests current and under evaluation with Vista.
Vista will also increase supplier-worker communication, hence minimizing the risk of supply chain disruption. To ensure that everyone's entitlements and rights are known, it has kept the supply chain tracking processes on track from beginning to end. This has facilitated open and honest agreements between all parties involved.

Nachteile

The staff was able to get up and running with Vista right away after they had completed the training and familiarized themselves with its capabilities and how to use them. There are no drawbacks here.

Vorteile

Solid back end accounting, robust, customizable

Nachteile

Not as user friendly for the non-accounting person.
Support and maintenance fees increase every year substantially, even though the cost of the software & support may not increase for new users. They know that once they have you, you aren't going to switch easily so the costs continue to climb higher and higher every year. The longer you are a customer, the more you will pay over a new customer.
Support has declined tremendously since the original buyout by Bain Capital and hasn't improved much in the more recent buyouts. It used to be you would receive a call back very quickly, almost never more than 24 hours later for any issue. Now we pretty much fix our own problems and develop work arounds.
We used to have no fears of new releases as bugs were minor - now we never install the most recent releases until later.

Vorteile

The entire software is simple enough to use while at the time time provides best practice functionality and controls. The Vista accounting module is very strong. Their cloud model is stable and secure.

Nachteile

Support can be improved. Although they have many support options, I seldom get an answer on first contact. Many times tickets will go 5-7 days before getting a reply.

Vorteile

The Project Management/Accounting Integration.

Nachteile

The amount of training it really takes to be successful. Also, if you are not a report writer or large enough company to have one on staff, it can be costly to hire that out.

Vorteile

Vista is very user friendly and offers a solid base of accounting modules as well as the extension of the employee portal for all employees. We have found new users learn the system quickly.

Nachteile

There are a lot of canned reports but if you don’t have someone on staff that knows Crystal Report programming, it makes it difficult. On the other hand, there are options to export the data into Excel.

Vorteile

Vista is so customizable so the software can work they way you run your business. Each module is fully integrated and the ability to import anything you can get into Excel saves time and money.

Nachteile

A few kinks here and there but customers suggestions are listened to and implemented.

Vorteile

The integration with in Modules, Team especially and Mobile Field Manager

Nachteile

We are not fond of the Crystal Reporting and would like to see more reporting

Vorteile

Robust features allow an organization to tailor the software to its needs. There are plenty of add-ons available if something is lacking out of the box.

Nachteile

Support has been somewhat lacking and the payroll reporting that was formerly all in-house has been farmed out to Aatrix. That adds additional cost and complexity that didn't exist when we first went live.

Vorteile

The my tasks ability is great. Everyone is able to set up the menu in a way that makes sense to them. The main menu is well laid out and for the main AP & AR screens are user friendly.

Nachteile

Finding answers in the help section can be very tricky. You need to use the right words/phrases and even then a lot of times you can't get a straight answer or simple step by step directions on what you want done. When entering invoices in AP, due to a system update, you can now enter an invoice over a subcontract or purchase order amount and have the PM approve it. It won't interface to the system, but you have now wasted time of several people for an invoice that previously would not go forward when first entered. Setting up T&M templates is a beast and the help section is not very user friendly.

Vorteile

I like that you can set up your own task list for the items you use the most.

Nachteile

its difficult to find reports, unless you know the name of it, or where it is located. it would be nice to be able to run a targeted search.

Vorteile

We were a Maxwell Streetsmarts users for over 10 years, when Viewpoint purchased Maxwell. At that point we began to shop "other" vendors for the best comprehensive solution for our Heavy Excavation company. As it turned out Viewpoint Vista Softwarewon! We preplanned for nearly 15 months before making the transition. We opted to make the transition at the slowest time of year for "our" company. With our initial planning we were able to schedule training that worked in our company's timeframe, we were assigned a Project Manager who kept us on track. Our go live date was Feb 2016 - of which meant - we went live; hiccups and all! To the credit of Viewpoints Vista team the transition was seamless. We had the correct training from the start, correct leadership within our company, and a VISTA TEAM that moved us forward.
We started out with the essentials, and have since added a few more modules, document imaging, and Mobile Field Manager.
It has taken us awhile to adjust to the reports vrs what we were use to, but have found we can "adjust" reports via the Crystal Report writer ourselves.
As software updates are released, they are easily installable from the end users aspect.
I highly recommend the software as a whole - many ways to get information out!

Nachteile

Cons are not negative to us - just ways to improve! After using the software for awhile and you call into support, and you know more than the support person.

Vorteile

TEAMs and Analytics have been great additions

Nachteile

SQL platform is dated and slow. Very few updates to Vista functionality.

Vorteile

The features of Vista help streamline the process that we had in place previously

Nachteile

There is always a box somewhere else that needs to be checked in order for some of the functionality of product.

Vorteile

After you learn the nuances of the software its a good product. It tracks compliance well, subcontract and change order entry is easy. Good reports to obtain information.

Nachteile

Due to inadequate initial training the previous AP lady thought she could bill an amount on items that were designated as EA (having unit cost and Unit Quantity. As a result, we have had major issues. The support staff said if Viewpoint would fix that issue their support cases would drop exponentially. If they cannot fix it, at least they should not allow the user to be able to perform the function. Although good data on the reports, some are clumsy. At times it is difficult to find exactly what you want to display on a report. Support is great, but when the problem overlaps from one category to another, you can get faulty information. For example...if you have an AP problem, it could be causing a problem in SL but the AP support team won't know to tell you that. We had a major issue that was created as a result of this because it crossed years.

Vorteile

Its both accounting and operations - ease of use - tracks all entries -

Nachteile

I know you can - however having issues with importing budgets

Vorteile

Software is really easy to use. There are a get number of reports out of the box. Reports are really easy to create and manipulate to get you the information that you want.

Nachteile

Software error popups are really vague and do not describe what is wrong which can make hunting down the issue very difficult at times.