Bonterra ETO

Formerly ETO by Social Solutions

The only recommendation [I have is that] in the Total ETO stage [you need] to be specific about the capacity to oversee singular clients by bunch participation. When you have the boundaries defined it's alright. The only [issue is that it's] not as natural as a bookkeeping page style.

ETO Social Solutions should be avoided until they start caring about the problems generated by their software. In regards specifically to the ARMS suite utilized by the entire state of California, until the ETO software learns how to speak with SOMS, and unless it can be customized by knowledgeable people who consult with front-line users. It is not appropriate to provide the state legislature with bad data. I have 6 years of experience with it and I have multiple sources of agreement from fellow users throughout the state.

ETO by Social Solutions is well suited for our program as it allows us to gather the necessary information to improve upon our mission services.

Very helpful for tracking client records; leaves much to be desired as a reporting tool.

I believe if you truly want to track outcomes ETO gives you the ability to do this very well. If you just want a case management software this maybe more than what you need.

I can see from an education perspective how it would be an incredible fit. The functionality is all there and growing. From a CAC perspective, it's still a work in progress, especially for larger CACs where lots more services are provided and the lines between programs blur a bit more. I think that ETO is becoming more user-friendly for CACs and Social Solutions is moving in the right direction too. I can't wait for some of the new features to roll out and be able to use them in our system. I really do think that will improve our user experience significantly.

Its reporting feature is very useful and allows direct care staff to run reports independently to better manage their caseloads. The level of navigation that is required is problematic though, especially when staff is attempting to collect the data while with the families are waiting. It distracts from them building a strong relationship.

I have a difficult time imagining a scenario where this would be an optimal solution. In our current program that is using ETO, we have many external partners that need to be involved in client care. However, the external partners refuse to use ETO because it is redundant to their existing systems (and we cannot link ETO to their existing databases). Our staff operating this program are largely field-based. ETO is a barrier for them because they can't use it on their mobile phones, and there is no offline capability. Many of the buildings that our clients meet with their providers in (such as hospitals and long-term care facilities) are old buildings that block cell signals and don't have WiFi. It's severely burdensome for staff to have to take notes on paper when meeting with clients in these settings and then have to type it into ETO later.

It is a powerful tool for non-profits of a larger size but a dedicated admin is a must. Smaller organizations without a dedicated admin would be better served by a different product.

Being able to use a database is better than not. Meaning there are still nonprofit agencies that are not using databases, and ETO is a great solution. When speaking with other agencies that do not have a database in place, I always suggest Social Solutions as an option for them when determining their data needs.

Really powerful, but not necessarily easy to use.

More suited: organizations that track outcomes for several clients, especially that keep clients for set periods of time.
Less suited: organizations that might only interact with a client one time.

Tracking clients and progress with follow-ups, good case management suite.

Most appropriate for shelter bed tracking and social work case management. It is good for tracking relevant participant information, setting a process for staff to follow, providing communication for all who work with the participant.
Less appropriate for tracking casual labour work placements. Although we are currently using ETO for this, it was not designed for it and is not the perfect solution. We have it rigged up so that Entities are employers and Participants are workers.
Some problems with this include:

• Cannot put an alert that pops up for an employer (Entity)
• When a participant is cross-referenced in an entity touchpoint (such as a work order), this touchpoint does not show up on the participant's dashboard or touchpoints.
• Long waiting times for reports.

It is also less appropriate for scheduling appointments. As mentioned previously, there is no interface between outlook and ETO that is not beyond the expected software costs of the average Non-Profit organization. This is a vital function that needs to be included.

It is well suited for storing demographics and touchpoints.

I think ETO can be a very good solution for mid-sized and larger nonprofits. I think it is especially well suited for organizations that are trying to do more with their data (making innovative decisions, gaining insights). But in order for an organization to be successful with ETO the organization will need to be prepared to invest resources in a lot of staff training to gain the full benefits. I feel like ETO is better than anything else I've seen in the social sector and Social Solutions seems dedicated to making continuous improvements so it will likely get even better. However, that's going to come with a cost, so an organization is going to need to be ready to invest a lot more resources than a lot of non-profits are used to investing in order to reap the benefits of the system.

It is well suited for an organization that has a data department. ETO does require a significant amount of time and someone dedicated to data management.

ETO is well suited for tracking outcomes for funder requirements.

Well suited for non-profit organizations with capacity to administer a complex software and a commitment to data use. Ideal for non-profits with various funders and programs because of ETO's level of customization.

For any organization that needs a solution that is highly flexible, configurable, and stable, ETO is something I would definitely recommend.

I think if an organization is dedicated to providing the investment, both financially and with human capital, then they can be successful. It takes a lot of time, both in planning and in training, in order to build a system and get staff onboard to effectively use all the features that are included in the system. If an organization is relatively small, the software may be more than what the organization needs, or if an organization is not able to invest in time and money then they will not have a successful implementation.

ETO by Social Solutions is well suited for Case Management. The touchpoints done for participants can be as simple or detailed as you want. Also, we found that the collections feature is great for our purposes and allows us to track cohorts or groups of participants.

ETO is well suited for case management, casenotes, confidentiality, and usability. ETO wouldn’t be helpful as a financial management tool. We have had workforce and housing programs that needed administrative support, and in this way that have found ETO to be limited.

Social services and case management are areas where it could be used well. It also has a HMIS package that is helpful that allows for quick HUD reporting to SAGE.