QuickBase - A flexible and easy project management solution
Updated July 18, 2018
QuickBase - A flexible and easy project management solution
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with Quick Base
We have used Quickbase as our primary ERP software for the past several years. We use it to allow our employees to manage top down from the director level to the project manager to the inside field manager to the technician on site. It allows us to capture virtually any type of data (time on site, specific inputs, etc.). It also allows everyone to see the work loads and individual schedules.
- Flexible - It allows for virtually any type of input and in many ways is limited only by the skill of your programmer.
- Segmentation - Allows for as many parents/child tables as necessary allowing you to store your data however you choose.
- Simple - The coding was relatively easy to learn and straightforward.
- Limited user permissions - The permissions in Quickbase are done by role rather than user. It would require creating individual roles for each user to restrict views and also enable views. Dashboards and all tables are limited by roles rather than users.
- Limited support - Quickbase does not have the support that other more widely used softwares do. This cannot make learning the code for difficult solutions even more difficult.
- Single Table Views - I am not able to create multiple table views for the same user. All of the data must be included in the same table and manipulated by the inputs within the table. This is still very flexible, but can be rather cumbersome to code.
- Limited Data Extraction - They have a data cap for .csv extraction. I was required to purchase a third Party ODBC to be able to pull data from Quickbase into Crystal Reports. This solution, however, worked great.
One of the main benefits of Quickbase is its flexibility. You are able to adapt modules and tables on the go and with minimal limitation. It is, however, limited by the standard database Parent/Child relationships, which seem to fluster many, but that should be expected. With proper organization of your tables and understanding of databases Quickbase suffers very few additional limits and all can be worked out or around.
Each software offers its own sets of limitations and strengths. The main strength of Quickbase is flexibility. If I was running a small project based business I would select Quickbase for its ease of change and various possible applications. Some softwares like Sampro require some changes (like field additions) to be to the entire data base. Quickbase is completely customizable.
As I have mentioned earlier, the language of Quickbase is relatively simple and similar to that of Excel. Simple applications could be created by people with limited developing experience, but to create more complex and robust applications it will require time and experience. Application creation can range from a simple application being created within an hour to very complex application requiring days or even weeks. Application creation time is, obviously, dependent upon the individual's experience and ability.
- Building and deploying business applications faster
- Improving our ability to drive insights from our data
- Improving collaboration across one or more teams
- Solving a specific business challenge
- Building and deploying an application (or multiple applications) that meets our exact needs
I have developed, maintained, and updated numerous Quickbase applications. The code and the organization thereof has always been simple and straightforward. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the specific setting for a desired output and you will spend some time searching through the many different settings pages, but once you locate it you will be able to achieve the desired outcome every time. The support for the Quickbase code and settings is also somewhat limited when compared to other larger more widely used softwares, which can be frustrating when trying to find answers, but over all it has been a positive experience.
Using Quick Base
50 - We use Quickbase in a variety of functions from the beginning of the Project cycle to the end. We have our admin people doing data input and making phone calls. Our technical group managing technicians and on site work. Our accounting group doing billing. And all of that work is able to be managed and supervised by our project management and executive teams.
1 - Quickbase requires a computer savvy person who is at least comfortable with excel, but the quality of your Quickbase applications like Excel workbooks will depend on your Quickbase developers creativity and logic. Simple apps can be put together easily by a novice, but to develop more complex applications you will want someone experienced with basic coding. The coding is simple and easy to pick up and there is plenty of documentation to support Quickbase, but it is not something that should be juggled by many people and you should settle on one person to manage your Quickbase ERP.