DataRails Reviews

Pros

One thing I really like is how flexible Datarail is when it comes to working with Excel files. Also it is great that I don't have to depend only on their widgets or formulas to build dashboards.

Cons

Well I feel like there are a few features that need improvements to make things a bit easier to use, but it's nothing thats causing major issues. As it is mostly about having more options in the widgets and dashboards to make them more versatile.

Pros

I love that I can create a template in Excel and then hand off the weekly updates to someone else, which really helps cut down on costs. It's such a simple but super useful feature that makes managing tasks so much easier.

Cons

I actually enjoyed the implementation process. Even though there were some frustrating moments, but that was mostly because we all had a bit of a learning curve including our implementation specialist. It took some figuring out to nail down exactly what we wanted to achieve as a business and how to make it happen, but it was worth it in the end.

Pros

The support we received from the customer support team was quite very helpful and quick at the same time. As we never have to wait for hours to get the assistance.

Cons

One flaw I have noticed is that storyboards don't integrate well with PowerPoint. It's something I hope gets improved.

Pros

Flexibility with Excel is very important for me and the good thing is that Datarails offer it. Also it is easy to use and scalable.

Cons

The integration with Sage is not perfect and it needs some workarounds to get things running properly.

Pros

Datarails installation process was quite simple. Also I find the price of it quite reasonable and the support has been great too. They also keep adding new features, which is a bonus.

Cons

As a typical Excel user, it took me some time to get used to DR formulas. And I feel like it would be great if I could simply copy and paste Excel formulas into DR and have them automatically translated into DR formulas.

Pros

It is quite flexible and easy to use. and every time I have worked with their support team, it's been a great experience. They've always been quick to respond and very helpful with all my questions.

Cons

I would like it even more if it had a team that could help us recreate our financial package from Excel into Datarail. That part can take up so much time, so having some help with it would definitely make things a lot easier for us.

Pros

DataRails implementation of Excel is superb, but one thing I will admit is that it can take some effort to really get things running efficiently.

Cons

One thing I did not like is not being able to easily tell what type of user you are or what access you have. Also it is annoying when you're trying to get something done and you are looking for an option, only to realize you don't even have access to it. Plus the whole thing with File Boxes, Data Mapping, integrations and configurations can be really confusing as it all feels kind of jumbled. A bit more clear guidance would definitely help.

Pros

If you need to stick with Excel, Datarail is perfect for that. Their technology lets you use your spreadsheets, formulas and financial models without any issues. Also the implementation process was also highly intuitive, making it easy for us to get started with.

Cons

The tool's customizability is like a double-edged sword. For example it offers great flexibility, but it also requires a fair amount of technical proficiency to use it properly as it is beyond standard use cases.

Pros

One of the things I love is the option to create and store multiple reports in one easily accessible platform. With the volume of reports our team produces, it's so helpful to have everything in one easily accessible platform.

Cons

There are some limitations when it comes to the types of dashboards we can create in the system. For example, there are some files we just can't aggregate because of the data type, which is a big deal for a lot of our reports. Also the file mapping can also get a bit confusing, especially when extra columns are added and we need to adjust the mapping. When our historical data doesn't match up exactly, it is caused issues for us in the past.

Pros

Datarail very well integrates with all our important business applications and offers powerful reporting and dashboarding capabilities. Also it integrates well with Excel, allowing advanced data manipulation and analysis.

Cons

During the early stages of installation, we came to know about a limitation in the volume of data we could effectively process and analyze with Datarails. However, the implementation team was there to help us reconfigure workflows, limit the data exposed to Datarails and ultimately find a good, workable solution.

Pros

Customer support was the best I have ever experienced and onboarding experience have been excellent too. Refreshing integrations is easy also easy and the Excel-based formulas are user-friendly.

Cons

Personally, I find it difficult to handle a large volume of data and perform complex calculations.

Pros

I find it quite comprehensive and simple use. Also, the support we got from our implementation partner was great as he definitely made the whole process much enjoyable for us.

Cons

There are few issues and inconsistencies with the UI that annoys me. Plus, not being able to manually edit it when needed is a major issue for me too.

Pros

Am pleased by the fact how user-friendly Datarails is and how quickly we were able to get up and running.

Cons

I don't get the chance to use it as much as I would prefer. So for now have nothing to say when it comes to cons.

Pros

The ease of creating daily, weekly, and monthly reports is what I like the most about Datarails.

Cons

The implementation process and learning curve were quite time-consuming and difficult for me, especially since I had never used a system like this before.

Pros

I value the flexibility it offers in reporting and the recognition it gives Excel that Excel is a powerful tool and Datarails makes it even better.

Cons

Unlike Hyperion, I have found that this one doesn't make it as easy to pivot dimensions in hierarchies for reporting. It is something I miss because it made things much quicker.

Pros

There are so many aspects of Datarails that I like. Firstly, the simplicity it offers in report creation and in the installation process. Additionally, it serves as an excellent collaborative tool.

Cons

There are a couple of areas that could be improved such as the dashboard functionality is quite limited compared to tools like Tableau. Also I would like to have more features in terms of graph types and customization options. Moreover implementing API connections should be made easier. We have been struggling to establish a live connection between DataRails and our ERP system for some time now.

Pros

Once I had it set up, DataRails proved to be an effective tool for managing both regular and ad hoc financial reporting. Also it has saved us a lot of time by streamlining the construction of standard reports, allowing me to focus more on in-depth analysis.

Cons

Setup process for the environment is too long and confusing. Troubleshooting errors can be time-consuming, especially when dealing with large input files (any change to the Data Mapper requires updating all files within a File Box) or when multiple inputs have different mappers (attempting to create uniform mappers across diverse input structures can be frustrating). Unfortunately, there is no readily available resource that properly explains the data flow or provides comprehensive guidance on constructing a Data Mapper tailored to specific needs.

Pros

Datarails, being Excel-based, offers a wide range of templates and dashboards. Also, it allows users like us to conduct large analyses on the platform, simplifying complex tasks.

Cons

The learning phase took longer than I expected, but fortunately, there is an on-demand video bank that makes it easy to access learning materials.

Pros

Once you get the hang of using the system, it completely changes how you look at reporting. The first time we build out a report, it does take a bit of time, but after that we can refresh them in seconds to get the latest data. No more wasting time creating pivot tables over and over again!

Cons

It took me some time to familiarize myself with the system and understand its powerful features. Thankfully, there are plenty of helpful links available for self-learning.

Pros

Datarail's direct integration with Excel has made it very easy for our team to get up and running with the system. It gives us the flexibility of Excel without the hassle of dealing with huge data tables or having to pull data through SQL just to make it look right. What I really like is that Datarail is always improving. They keep working closely with their customers to make sure their software evolves and meets our needs. There is almost no limit to the types of data Datarail can provide and after using it for two years, our satisfaction just keeps growing as they keep making improvements every month.

Cons

The strength of Datarail with Excel is also its major con. The reports are only as good as the logic we build into Excel which means we have to do a lot of data checks to make sure everything is accurate. Luckily, Datarail makes those checks much easier to manage. Plus I really want to love the Dashboards and Storybook features but I feel like the graphing functionality still needs some work. The dashboards do have an amazing variance analysis tool but it could use some updates and more resources to really make it work the way it's supposed to.