We love Zuora!
Updated March 16, 2016
We love Zuora!
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with Zuora
Zuora enables recurring billing and flexible pricing for HMH Consumer web, iOS, and soon, Android applications. We integrate Zuora with our front end web based registration systems, and our general ledger system. It is not used enterprise wide, but is critical for the Consumer division.
- Zuora's Subscription modeling, particularly around pricing flexibility, is very well thought out. Whenever Marketing wants to try something new for pricing / discounting, we are able to support their requests.
- Zuora's Revenue Recognition and GL integration is great. Many legacy GL and ERP systems do not do revenue recognition well across all use cases, including returns, discounts, and credits. Zuora has thought all of this out very very well.
- Zuora's APIs and technical integration is very well thought out. This allowed us to integrate our eCommerce, Access & Entitlement, and GL integration with few issues along the way.
- Zuora is more focused on a B2B scenario, and always creates A/R when billing. In the case of a B2C business, we do not know if a customer will choose to renew when faced with a decision. Before the fact billing, and then the customer choosing not to pay that bill, is not AR for us. Therefore, we would like to see some type of Proforma functionality, so we can bill ahead of time without financial booking until they pay. Another option could be to allow payment to be collected without an invoice generated first.
- Allow Payment Run to be initiated via API.
- Allow Month End Close to be initiated via API.
- klopotek and Aria
Zuora has many advantages over Klopotek, particularly in the fact that it is a SaaS solution, and it does not have legacy code baggage weighing it down. Also, Zuora is very focused on what it is, and not focused on what it is not. Klopotek tries to be a Publisher workflow and order to cash system. Regarding Aria, we chose Zuora over Aria in the RFP process, mainly because Zuora seems greatly more simple to use and implement vs. Aria.
Using Zuora
IT, Product Management, Customer Service.
3 - Need to understand technical implementation details of our setup, financial principles as we have implemented, and Subscription life cycle.
- Zuora is the billing and subscription management engine for our digital subscriptions registration websites.
- Customer services uses it to provide credits and refunds for customers.
- We use Zuora to manage coupons and discounts.
- Coupon Management.
- Institutional Recurring Billing
- More types of Subscription offers.
- It has helped us provide more creative pricing and discounting offers to our consumers.
Evaluating Zuora and Competitors
Yes - SAP. Recurring Billing options not flexible enough for Consumer Subscription business.
- Product Features
- Product Usability
- Product Reputation
- Vendor Reputation
RFP process led to feature by feature comparison. Plus, the onsite presentation by Zuora was much better than the competition.
It's difficult for me to say, as I was only involved at the very end of the process.
Zuora Implementation
- Implemented in-house
Change management was a big part of the implementation and was well-handled - Introducing a new system responsible for invoicing and financial functions, along with Subscription management, was a big change for the company. However, when the reasons why we were going this direction were explained, people were on board and came together.
- Integration with our ERP Financial System.
- Implementing Discounting.
- Comprehensive Testing.
Zuora Support
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Quick Resolution Good followup Knowledgeable team Problems get solved Kept well informed Immediate help available Support understands my problem Support cares about my success Quick Initial Response | None |
Yes. At year end, I was under the gun to fix some orders in our system in order to reconcile with our Financial system within our rules. I was able to get our implementation consultant on the phone, who was long off our account, and he helped me well after hours to fix the data. It was very helpful, both personally and for my company.
Using Zuora
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Like to use Relatively simple Easy to use Well integrated Consistent Convenient Feel confident using | Lots to learn |
- Month End Close.
- Product and Price Setup.
- Account / Subscription Maintenance.
- Reporting.
- Refunds and Credits can be a bit overwhelming the first few times. It is easy now, but takes some time.