Apple iCloud vs. PairSoft

Our growing organization uses about 95% Apple hardware. The Apple iCloud functionality across our organization ensures interfaces and synchronization that makes information workflow seamless. The cost structure and limited AI functionality keeps us dependent on products like Microsoft and Google and unable to put all of our cloud "eggs" into the Apple basket.

Incentivized

PaperSave is ideal for any fundraising company. Its ability to import spreadsheets from queries and import documents into constituent records is an invaluable tool for a fundraiser. Though the program sometimes has its hiccups, overall it serves its intended functions quite well.

Incentivized

• Syncing files, appointments, Notes and contacts. If I'm away from home, and set an appointment using my phone, that appointment automatically updates real time to my home laptop and vice-versa.
• It stores files (e.g photos) nicely
• Once it's set up, it's fairly easy to use.

Incentivized

• Meta data assignment to documents
• Easy UI

• Customization - iCloud is great at the stuff it does well. But it lacks features that some competitors (in Google Drive or Dropbox) do really well. API support for third-party apps is really great for some other people.
• Remote use - Managing or accessing information from iCloud while not on one of your logged-in apple devices can sometimes be an issue. From a work computer for example. It doable, but the experience is much less user-friendly.
• Ability to edit documents on the cloud similar to google docs or some other competitors

Incentivized

• The interface could be updated.
• The program sometimes will continue to run in the background after Raiser's Edge is closed.
• Initial use can be a little confusing to learn.

Incentivized

It's so seamless that I can't imagine another product doing a better job synchronizing all of my devices. I simply do not think about it at all. Everything happens behind the scenes and I'm confident that Apple keeps my data safe and secure. I'm a happy customer as far as this is concerned. I have not had a bad experience with this service.

Incentivized

While it may be great to use with other Apple products, I find it's an absolutist-style workflow to be debilitating and to lead to many problems. When you sign into the cloud, it completely takes over your device in many ways that you don't notice at first until there is a problem.

Incentivized

PaperSave is extremely easy to use and integrate into any fundraising office. If your company is using Blackbaud products, PaperSave will integrate seamlessly with Raiser's Edge and Raiser's Edge NXT. The ability to save documents to records seems like such a simple concept, but because Raiser's Edge doesn't offer this function in its own program, PaperSave is a life saver.

Incentivized

Occasionally, large files that haven't yet been synced require a few minutes to pull down but I've rarely noticed delays. It does a good job of keeping data cached on my local machines while updating them with changes from other machines transparently.

Incentivized

Similar to what I mentioned earlier in this review, the main pro of PaperSave for my company is its Raiser's Edge integration. The program loads immediately as soon as Raiser's Edge is launched so there's no need to open separate programs. The documents and queries loaded from PaperSave into Raiser's Edge were simple to upload and read.

Incentivized

Apple customer service is fantastic. iCloud is built with Apple in mind and its design is extremely intuitive and user-friendly. Additionally, whenever our team has encountered issues, the speed of Apple support has been more than timely in addressing our issues and solving our request. We have encountered relatively few issues in my time with the platform and this only improves our overall score for those who keep the platform stable.

Incentivized

Google Drive is similar to Apple iCloud, but since I prefer Apple products and have operated within the Apple ecosystem for many years, I use iCloud. Some clients who don't use Apple share documents with me in Google Drive so I have experience with the product, but I prefer iCloud. I do think photos syncing is superior in iCloud.

Incentivized

PaperSave works well in part due to its database integration functionality. It allows our team to use Raiser's Edge (our main tool as it's our constituent database) without having to constantly switch back and forth between programs. It's simple enough for new staff members to learn as part of their on-boarding process and hasn't caused any major issues for our team.

Incentivized

• Apple's iCloud service can run very slow in countries where they aren't very focussed, like India.
• Apple did not back up videos over the cloud for a long time and needed manual sync. You will see similar issues like not allowing mobile data for some tasks.

Incentivized

• Productive transaction documentation.