Item: PandaDoc
Rating: 7
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

PandaDoc is currently being used by one user, mostly for sending out proposals and obtaining potential clients' signatures. This allows to convey all the information we need in a detailed quote, and to obtain formal approval from our clients.
We also tentatively use it throughout our projects to obtain approval on selected milestones (example logo or website design approval). This creates a "no turning back" and helps manage the scope of our projects.

Pros and Cons

Timely notifications of document opens and completions.
Assigning a signature field to a recipient.
Flexible folder structure for saved documents and templates.

New version doesn't integrate well with Xero.
Setting up templates can be very long and complex.
Unable to easily change the order of pages.

Return on Investment

Added consistency for our proposals (branding & content).
After initial setup, saved about 2 hours of work per new proposal.
Went from 0 positive feedback on our proposal look and feel to about 1 in 8 recipient sharing positive feedback/satisfaction.

Document Creation

Would give this a higher rating if it wasn't so time consuming and complex to set up the templates in the first place.
In other words, once it's set up, it's a great time saver, but the team needs to put the time and effort in in order to get there. We just rebranded and are dreading the templates makeover!
Templates are the top 1 tool saving us time as our plan doesn't have all the features.

Streamlining Communication

Our clients do not seem to like using the commenting section and choose to ask questions via email.
But the eSignature has been great. They may say "yes" over the phone or in an email but we kindly direct them to the document to be signed and it avoids backing out (which had indeed happened before PandaDoc!).
Real-time notifications are also useful and we've learned to trust that if there's no email confirmation it's simply not done yet... no need to waste time logging in and having a look there. Although the document activity can be beneficial there too to see if they're accessing the document, sharing it etc.

Professional Quality

The look and feel ends up being up to the user. PandaDoc makes the experience of receiving the document more professional for our clients but the look and feel is really up to our designers.
If the templates aren't created with skills and care, I don't believe they can provide a truly professional look and feel.

Innovative Uses

Employee contracts!
Milestone approvals during projects.
End-of projects debriefs and feedback/rating collection.

Alternatives Considered

Quotient

PandaDoc offers more design flexibility and ended up being more cost-effective. It is also "easier on the eye."

Other Software Used

Xero, ClickUp, HubSpot CRM

Key Insights

Do you think PandaDoc delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with PandaDoc's feature set?

Yes

Did PandaDoc live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of PandaDoc go as expected?

Would you buy PandaDoc again?

Yes

Likelihood to Recommend

Best suited for people looking for a low cost tool that will send simple documents requiring a signature. Anything more complex or requiring many templates to be created should use the upgraded plan, which becomes less cost efficient.
Either way though, PandaDoc adds a level of professionalism to your documents for collecting signatures/approvals.

Cost efficient tool that gets the job done

Overall Satisfaction with PandaDoc