Sage 300 Construction Reviews

“costly setup and security concerns”

Pros

Customer support is something I found this software does exceptionally well which matters since we end up relying on it quite a bit. I also liked how strong it is for creating estimates and managing quotes, thanks to its unlimited customization options. On top of that, the built-in accounting features and financial reporting add great value to the overall suite.

Cons

Biggest downside is how expensive it is, both to buy initially and to keep the license going over time. It also takes a lot of effort to get started with and isn't very user-friendly unless you go through repeated annual training. On top of that, it runs as remote software rather than a web-based platform or local installation which means your data is being accessed from a completely separate computer and that raises some real security concerns.

“all-in-one project visibility”

Pros

For me, having financials, job costing and project details all tied together in one system was the biggest advantage. It saved us a lot of time and significantly reduced mistakes compared to managing everything across separate tools.

Cons

Part I liked least was the interface which can feel a little outdated and isn't instantly simple. New users usually need some training before they feel completely comfortable getting around the system.

“Great reporting once learned”

Pros

In my experience, once you get used to its quirks, the software becomes fairly easy to use. It works really well when you know your way around it and I found the reporting to be quite great overall.

Cons

Interface isn't very simple and feels outdated. I also really dislike how inconsistent the CRE modules are something as basic as list views should be uniform across all of them, for example.

“excellent value and support”

Pros

From what we've seen, the suite is very easy to use and the automation features help speed up our processes considerably. We also felt it delivers strong value for the price and the customer support team has been great to work with.

Cons

The part that could use some improvement is report creation. The reports themselves turn out very well but whenever you need something specific, you usually have to reach out to support for help.

“fast offline tabular processing”

Pros

I noticed that it handled information very quickly and returned it in a highly tabular format which was extremely useful for us. Another advantage I appreciated is that it didn't require an internet connection to function.

Cons

Customizing reports was pretty challenging and combining or linking data across modules was difficult. There were also plenty of chances for things to fall out of sync with the general ledger.

“powerful reporting insights”

Pros

Over the past six months, we've seen the reporting tools bring significant value to our company. We can analyze and monitor nearly anything we need which has been a major benefit for our team.

Cons

If I had to point out one downside, it would be that the platform feels a little dated. That said it works well with the other software we rely on so it hasn't been a big enough concern to make us consider switching.

“flexible reports and customization”

Pros

We found that it adapts well to different needs and I appreciate the wide range of reporting options available to set up.

Cons

There's definitely a learning curve when it comes to building reports and getting comfortable with the software.

“better navigation and customization”

Pros

After switching from Viewpoint, we found this system much simpler to work with. I especially liked how easy the interface is and how much easier it is to customize documents and contracts.

Cons

Getting everything set up with our standard documents took a little time but even that process ended up being easier than with the system we used before.

“gets better every year”

Pros

Right from the start, I found the software very user-friendly. We began using it years ago when it was still new in the construction industry and even then, it outperformed our previous program. Over time, we've seen it continue to improve and become even better.

Cons

Initial setup process was not quite as convenient as I expected it to be. That said the reports are very strong, although customizing certain items especially rails in our case, can be a bit limited. We usually end up running several reports to pull the numbers we need anyway.

“Simple and user-friendly tool”

Pros

In my experience, everything feels convenient and I found it very easy to understand and use.

Cons

Only downside is that I need a VPN to access it.

“powerful features but steep learning curve”

Pros

I found the software to be highly comprehensive and the customization options are extensive enough to meet a variety of needs.

Cons

It is too complicated to get started on your own and you really have to pay for additional support before you can actually use it properly. The FAQs are not enough to help you manage by yourself.

“simple to use yet limited”

Pros

From my perspective, it's quite easy to use and I appreciate the broad range of email generation options it offers.

Cons

This tool requires a remote desktop connection in order to work which is a drawback I think.

“Versatile multi-department fit”

Pros

For our company, having one system that multiple departments can rely on, from payroll to estimating, has been a major advantage. We also experienced a very smooth rollout and training process which made adoption much easier. I found the Info Assistant module especially useful since it allows us to run reports across any module without tying up another license.

Cons

Tracking down the exact inquiry or report you need can be a little challenging at times. The inquiry printouts also feel outdated and look like something produced on a typewriter from the 80s. On top of that, having a cloud-based version would make the software even better.

“Efficient reporting options”

Pros

We have access to plenty of functions for pulling a wide range of reports and I find it easy to check specific numbers when needed.

Cons

Interface isn't very user-friendly and it takes some time to get comfortable with how everything works.

“Helpful purchasing but frustrating logins”

Pros

I find it really useful to have vendors and purchases organized in one place especially since that's the part I rely on most for handling purchasing.

Cons

Login issue is the problem. If I leave my computer on instead of shutting it down before I go home, the system kicks me out when I try to log in the next day and I have to fully restart my computer. Everyone else I work with runs into the same problem too.

“flexible modules yet dated performance”

Pros

From an accounting perspective, I found it handled most of our needs and it was just as capable as a payroll management system. One of the stronger aspects we noticed about 300 CRE is the level of third-party support available, with plenty of add-on tools for document control, time tracking and reporting. We were also able to customize it quite a bit to fit our business needs. I appreciated that most modules support CSV imports which made moving data between systems much easier especially when working with backup documents.

Cons

Our users' biggest frustration was the system speed. No matter what server hardware we used some reports and processes still took several minutes to complete and even after trying multiple recommendations from customer support, the issue never really got better. Over time, despite the annual updates, the 300 CRE version started to feel more and more outdated, with a UI and overall design approach that seemed stuck in the early 2000s. Pulling information out of the system can also be very challenging since the built-in export options are limited and working with the ODBC drivers is difficult even for technical users. On top of that, configuring 300 CRE to behave like a proper client-server application is complicated and the update process usually meant our IT team had to spend an entire evening updating both the server and every workstation individually. Accessing it from outside the company intranet is difficult as well.

“Tool that really delivers!!”

Pros

As an extension of the IT accounting software, I found this tool creates excellent synchronization between accounting, invoicing and project management. It keeps everything connected the way it should and makes the overall workflow much more effective.

Cons

To really get the most out of it, the software needs to be updated regularly.

“Simple and practical daily use”

Pros

With proper training and regular use, I noticed the system feels simple and becomes quite simple to work with over time.

Cons

It is a bit expensive compared with other open-source programs and people over 50 would benefit from more training.

“full project control”

Pros

For me, being able to handle a project from beginning to end within one system is a major advantage.

Cons

The software is pretty strict about how information has to be entered. It doesn't always feel as user-friendly as other programs I've used before and fixing or changing entries can be frustrating.

“really handy and reliable”

Pros

From my experience, the features in this software have been very helpful and I find it both practical and easy to use.

Cons

I honestly don't have much to complain about, it's just excellent.