All reviews of EFI Pace

Benefits:

I love in integration with Digital Store Front and the ease of use that it can be for the customer. Pace itself can be a great tool if setup correctly.

Drawbacks:

I came on board to fix Pace as it was never fully setup correctly by the previous administrator. We even bought a test server to fix all the problems with Pace but have discovered that any manually changes that are made have to be manually made in the live server and with our almost top down redo of the system, that will be a task for sure when I get to that point.

Benefits:

The base architecture of the system makes it extremely flexible combined with the customisation and api delivered an out of the box / bespoke solution that is hard to beat.

Drawbacks:

Integration of the various EFI components software packages is complex and the structure of EFi with each product having "business owners" within EFI and no one seemingly employed as integration specialists between the components feels like a missed opportunity. Put another way Within EFI no one owns the glue between the pieces of the jigsaw.

Benefits:

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.

Drawbacks:

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.

In sum:

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 The part of our company that still uses the previous outdated software that we had before Pace, can get jobs put in and billed in one-tenth of the time it would take to do in Pace.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.

Benefits:

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

Drawbacks:

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

In sum:

We run our whole buisness with this software from customer contact, online store fronts, estimating, job tracking, scheduling, billing and all accounting. It's great software.

Benefits:

We were able to upload much of our existing information directly into Pace.

Drawbacks:

Reporting abilities - many default reports did not work properly, and to "correct" them we were told it was a customization. When working in Pace Station, the inability to link tables / objects for reporting has been very frustrating.

Benefits:

API, ability to customize, and object model

Drawbacks:

Lack of documentation and support and workflow instructions

In sum:

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

Benefits:

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

Drawbacks:

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.

In sum:

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

Benefits:

I think it is easy to use, anyone can navigate the basics of it. I think it is organized.

Drawbacks:

At the same time its easy to use, it can also be difficult at times. I think sometimes things are hidden in odd spots in the software. And sometimes there are errors that you are unable to figure out alone.

In sum:

I was never formally trained on it and have learned to navigate basic Estimating/Tickets by myself. I think it is easy to learn but has its road blocks in functionality, I think there are somethings that easily trigger errors that are hard to fix. My experience has been primarily positive and customer support is helpful if I need them.

Benefits:

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.

Drawbacks:

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.

In sum:

Overall, using EFI Pace, once you're into it you just keep learning. As an administrator, it's easy to manage user request for queries and reports.

Benefits:

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.

Drawbacks:

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.

In sum:

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.

In sum:

We have had this system live for over 5 months and it is the most difficult, user unfriendly piece of garbage our there. The demo they show you is all shiny and nice, but once you get into it, it is really a piece of crap. The reports come out as un-editable PDF's (instead of word or open office so you could edit them). If you need anything customized that's more $$$. They will nickel and dime you to death. If you like to figure things out on cocktail napkins and spread sheets and then override the prices that this trash gives you, than this is your program. Too bad we can't give minus stars.

Benefits:

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.

Drawbacks:

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.

In sum:

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

Benefits:

The best part about the software is that you can build it to fit the needs of your business. The robust data collection allows us to provide our customers with invaluable reporting to help them make strategic decisions about future print work and quanities

Drawbacks:

There are certain elements of the customized reporting features that limit the ability to access certain data from different levels of a job order.

In sum:

EFI allows me to manage and keep track of our customer's iinventory, provides many tools to help with our internal business management and billing.

Benefits:

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

Drawbacks:

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.

In sum:

It's been okay. Certainly the connectivity to DSF and the ability to import jobs via .xml from a customer have been a huge value to us. Updates and upgrades have been unpredictable. Often, things were broken in an update that had previously worked fine.

Benefits:

The new look of scheduling and Data collection is amazing. Such an advancement in user interface and function.

Drawbacks:

Not receiving an updated manual. I know that help is there, but it isn't always easy to navigate help to find what you need.

In sum:

Market Direct Storefront is a great selling point for many customers.

Benefits:

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.

Drawbacks:

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.

In sum:

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.

Benefits:

It keeps great records. It's easy to pull up old jobs and basic lists

Drawbacks:

Slow and cumbersome. Not very customizable. Boxy. EFI is not fun to deal with. System just isn't smart and it costs way too much

In sum:

We were an early adopter of this system. It was so cumbersome to develop, we didn't end up fully developing it until 2011, and we've been live on the system since 2011 to present. It's better than having no system, that's the best thing I can say about it... it's the bare minimum they expected it to be with way more perennial issues that aren't fixed. EFI is hard to deal with at times. They care about charging you as much as possible. There is no passion for the product, and very very few people at epace who I've met actually have any real knowledge of print. My worst experience with EFI was after a dispute they disabled our system temporarily, which brought us to our knees... completely unfair. The worst part about the system is the estimating module, which is essentially the core module. Plain and simple it's overrated. It takes much longer to do quotes The second thing that stinks is that the system gets very bogged down easily. The servers they give you are slow and can't handle more than a handfull of users. Hitting the refresh or recalculate button can take up to 15 seconds of lag time! You have to hit that several times per quote... it's terrible. The third thing I dislike is that EFI seemingly keeps bugs in their system and inefficiencies that are very easy to fix to either get you to customize the system or to have to keep paying for upgrades, keeping you hoping that they'll fix the bugs that keep screwing up your job tickets and estimates. Fourth, if you buy a module, there is a great chance they'll give up on it. I bought the CRM module, based on their demo, and it was so awful it wasn't even usable. They abandoned the module months later and I had to fight for a year to get a credit for a different module from them... can you believe that!? Then I switched to a different terrible module and they started developing the crm module again. I was also wowed by a fancy demo and a fast talking sales guy. Beware, the modules are very expensive and so are the monthly fees for support. Shortly after we bought the system, they raised all their module prices by about 20%. Overall this system falls so short of where it could be. The only reason they exist is because they've bought the competition... this is it. There is nothing EFI offers beyond a fancy demo. Estimates are very slow. The system is not smart and you'll find yourself over riding it often.. unless you pay big big bucks for customization.

Benefits:

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

Drawbacks:

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

In sum:

Do headaches count?

Benefits:

Reporting capability is extremely powerful.

Drawbacks:

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

In sum:

aweful

Benefits:

Very complete solutions that has all the options available.

Drawbacks:

The software is very costly at time of aquisition.

Benefits:

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

Drawbacks:

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 we would be and it has done the complete opposite. We have WASTED so much money and time with this almost unusable system. They create a system that doesn't work and then want to charge you a fortune to fix it - and what i mean to "fix it" is the way is should have been to begin with. This is where they get you along with their outrageous "maintenance" fees. 5 years into this and i am still in awe of how terrible this system is. Most people can use a system and figure out by common sense....Pace is the complete opposite of common sense. Nothing makes sense about this system. In the accounting portion every little task takes about 10 steps to do what did take us a second in our prior system. EFI has a firm grip on an empty sack that they think is invaluable. They are clueless to the real "working" world.

In sum:

Terrible experience - EFI has drank the Kool aid

Benefits:

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

Drawbacks:

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

Benefits:

Many aspects of the software are very user friendly

Drawbacks:

The back end of the software is difficult to manage, particularly Crystal Reports & permissions.

In sum:

Overall, it has been mostly satisfactory. Certain functions that are infrequently used are difficult to manage, but on an everyday usage, it has been just about everything we could have asked for.

Benefits:

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.

Drawbacks:

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.

In sum:

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

Benefits:

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.

Drawbacks:

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

In sum:

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.

Benefits:

Very robust and built for various use. Storefront is good, but bit hard to setup.

Drawbacks:

Expensive and bit difficult to implement.

Benefits:

The discovery phase forced us to dive into previously overlooked areas of our business. The data that we collected and receive from the software has enabled us to make more informed business decisions with far more predictable outcomes.

Drawbacks:

There are no negative aspects that we have come across

In sum:

Fantastic

Benefits:

Nothing, everything is a nightmare to deal with.. and god forbid you buy a machine from a dealer, you have to jump through all these hoops... Just stay away if you can...

Drawbacks:

Every software stops short enough to make you buy the next package of shit... Just a nightmare to deal with... The list of my complaints is so long...

In sum:

There is not enough options on the market to make this company care about the people using thier products..

Benefits:

works for print flow management / scheduling

Drawbacks:

reporting could use work / excel reports can be more flexible

In sum:

does its job

Benefits:

Data Collection Module Inventory API Customization tool kit

Drawbacks:

More training online Offere Free classes on webinars or YouTube

Benefits:

I like how fully featured it is, and that updates are very regular.

Drawbacks:

The documentation is often poor, or out of date.

Benefits:

Intelligent calculations and plenty of information to report on

Drawbacks:

Implementation was more difficult than anticipated due to issues between our IT and EFI

In sum:

The trainers are very responsive and helpful. Unfortunately that's were the helpfulness ends. The software was difficult to implement as there wasn't much guidance. Once everything was up and running, it works well and does what we want.

Benefits:

Reports and ease of use. You can find different alternatives to usage

Drawbacks:

Not too many things I didn't like. It is easy to use and train others

In sum:

I helped with setup and training