Infor VISUAL vs. Synoptix

I struggle to identify a scenario where VISUAL is an appropriate solution. We used VISUAL because it was a legacy system and the cost/complexity of changeover seemed daunting. The user interface is poor as is the interconnectedness of the various screens and menus. This might be an acceptable piece of software for a continuous manufacturing environment with little variation of basic design, but we have had to write multiple add-on macros in order to get VISUAL to work effectively for us.

Incentivized

Synoptix has been great for us to allow end users access to the data and information they need to make informed decisions without letting them have full access to all ERP functions. It has also been very easy to create custom reports that meet our needs. It is also nimble enough to create quick reports that are needed with a small turnaround

Incentivized

• Infor Visual has a standard way of addressing business operations: sales orders, invoicing, reporting. It is easy to train operators used to using a manual or other ERP system.
• Material control is easy for production runs, R&D material lists and repairs. The process of receiving, issuing and returning material to inventory is facilitated by standard interfaces that are easily learned by material control operators.
• Engineering changes to bills of material are facilitated by the "engineering Master" flexible editing capability. The version control for the BOM's can be as detailed or vague as the process designed dictates. One item of a BOM or the entire BOM can be changed quickly and approved for production that day.

Incentivized

• Easy report building interface with an query interface that allows financial users the ability to conduct complex queries without difficulty.
• The ability to create reporting that allows us to review in-depth financial review by drilling down into accounts to find transnational data easily.
• Easily maintained and monitored with simple upgrade installations and end point installation.
• Great knowledge base for review and trouble-shooting.
• Highly knowledgeable and easy to work with staff.

Incentivized

• VTA has been extremely unreliable. I would not recommend it. It is not customizable at all. There is no logical way to handle shift differentials which is a huge issue with a company that runs 24/7.
• If you do not have a schedule set up, they cannot clock in. This poses a problem for anyone that gets called in on a shift they don't normally work on.

Incentivized

• It has a poor install procedure which is not standard. It almost requires copying folders from an existing computer to the new install.
• The update process is less than desirable. It seems like Compusoft needs to do a better job of testing before releasing updates.
• The interface is a bit archaic. It looks more like a program from 20 years ago than one used today.

Incentivized

Good Technical and Customer Support during and after implementation tasks. Good Project Plan and Management support for implementation and post implementation. Financial functionality could be more comprehensive particularly with Budgeting and Cash Management. Inventory Management capability was adequate but could be more comprehensive as well. "Out of the Box" functionality was adequate but requested add-ons and enhancements seemed to be a bit pricey.

There is no question that we will continue to use this product for as long as it's available

Incentivized

Because of use cases and easy implementation and the vertical and horizontal scaling.

Incentivized

It didn't take long to learn how it works and has always been easy to navigate and accomplish all that we have needed. Whenever there have been any issues Synopotix has been great to address them in a timely manner and have always been able to resolve the issues we have had

Incentivized

As we have seen the live environment and the use cases where we implement.

Incentivized

Support does not know much about software solutions. As an example, I have struggled for weeks just to set up LDAP that should be fairly simple.

Incentivized

Could have used more hands-on approach. There are multiple webinars and information sessions but until you actually use the system, these are not very helpful.

Incentivized

Good guidance of what steps will halppen.

We unfortunately did not evaluate any other ERP software. VISUAL was a legacy system and we determined that changing systems would be too difficult, and not cost effective. We reached out to our local VISUAL rep who knew how the software functioned, but not how to apply it more appropriately to our business model, so we continued on with what we had rather than looking elsewhere.

Incentivized

Synoptix is more oriented to users as their own developers. You do not need to understand any sort of coding or languages. If you are working in financials you just need to know your trial balance. The menus and programing are so user friendly the programming is "kinda obvious"

Incentivized

• I cannot comment on business impact.

Incentivized

• As a reporting tool it has allowed us to make fact based decisions. We have a significant annual cost with relation to our legacy system and Synoptix provides us with the best tool to mine the data that resides in our legacy system.

Incentivized