IT is a scheduling option
Updated August 20, 2019

IT is a scheduling option

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 6 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with EMS Software

EMS is a technological solution to centralize academic scheduling at WSU. We also use for event scheduling.
  • It works well with scheduling events and has many features to execute events on campus
  • EMS provides a central location to see all academic events and nonacademic events happening on campus
  • EMS has a robust report tool
  • It is difficult to implement and learn how to use the system. The user interface could be improved.
  • It only optimizes location, which is only part of developing an academic schedule. I would like to see it optimize time as well.
  • The funding structure for the company is not very good. The customer feels like they are nickeled and dimed for everything. I would consider going elsewhere because of the funding structure.
You do not have listed Coursedog or Section as alternative products. Section by Digarc has more functionality than EMS for academic scheduling. And, Coursedog is far superior to EMS for academic scheduling. Both applications integrate better with banner and have better analytic suites for academic schedule planning.
The product has created more work for our academic departments rather than less work. Going back and forth between EMS and the database system is time-consuming and frustrating. There is no predictive analytics to help departments schedule courses. Academic scheduling if far more complex than just optimizing on location.
The system is complex but it is an extra cost to access the API and back tables...very annoying. Funding structure has got to go.
It is well suited for event scheduling but struggles with the academic scheduling. There is a much simpler system that could be used to schedule academics.