e-automate Reviews

“Full featured Business Tool

Pros

The range of management options available is great. I can handle inventory, invoicing and time tracking all in one place.

Cons

I feel like the interface could definitely use a visual upgrade as I feel like it's looking pretty outdated.

“Great for Scheduling and Technician Routing.

Pros

I can quickly check where each of my technicians is throughout the day which really helps with scheduling and coordination.

Cons

Pulling report data takes far too many steps as it's tedious and time consuming to click through so many menus just to get basic information.

“Works fine for Small Businesses

Pros

E-automate covers everything I need from handling payroll and managing accounts payable/receivable to creating quotes, invoicing and tracking both finances and inventory all in one place.

Cons

The integration options are pretty limited and most of the time we need there team to help us set things up.

“Not worth the price

Pros

I have been using the on premise setup for over 15 years and it's been rock solid. It has all the core features we need to run our service business smoothly and its reliability is the main reason we have stuck with it all these years.

Cons

This company has a bad habit of rebranding software updates as entirely new products just to charge more. After using their system for over 15 years we have seen very few real improvements despite spending tens of thousands each year on update fees. They split everything into separate add ons, each with its own purchase price and yearly fees. The most frustrating part is when they finally release a major update to something we already own and pay update fees for and they rename it, sell it as a new product and increase the annual charges. For example, E info vs E info Enhanced or Remote Tech vs Mobile Tech are basically updated versions of older products. Most companies with monthly fees give you access to the latest version you are paying for but not ECI especially with their on premise software.

“Extremely Complex software

Pros

This software covers everything we need and packs lots of functionality into one platform. For companies like ours with multiple departments, warehouses and different locations, this thing works fine.

Cons

It is far more complicated than it needs to be. Even simple tasks take dozens of steps which gets frustrating fast. Their sales team claims it works for any size business but unless you have multiple locations, warehouses and staff to handle the extra data entry, it's not worth it. Also it is really designed for large companies with multiple departments as smaller businesses will struggle. Data entry is glitchy even during demos from their own reps which is a big problem since accurate data is essential for reporting. Plus the screens are cluttered with fields and tabs making it hard to know which ones actually matter and the layout makes learning the system a nightmare. Auto-fill rarely works and moving between fields and screens feels clunky. You cannot keep one screen open while checking another as you have to start a whole new session which is incredibly annoying. The hosted version also locks you out after just two wrong password attempts and getting back in can take forever.

“Performs well for its intended use but is hard to use otherwise

Pros

It is really helpful for businesses that manage service contracts and ticketing systems. It makes it easier to keep everything organized and running smoothly.

Cons

The integration with other software can be pretty frustrating as it does not play well with third party tools and you end up having to create custom workarounds. Also the text display prioritizes cramming in as much data as possible instead of making it easy to read and understand.

“Origin of all problems and stress

Pros

The installation process is quite simple, just click through the setup wizard. Even when you are dealing with multiple server installations everything remains straightforward and doesn't demand any advanced technical expertise.

Cons

Its pricing structure is awful as you pay a large upfront fee plus monthly charges which feels like getting billed twice. They advertise a lot of features but many require extra payments or are separate programs that barely work with the main system. You end up with a messy patchwork of disconnected apps instead of one smooth platform. Daily use is just as frustrating. I will spend time setting up columns to fit my workflow, only for the system to randomly save or not those changes. Then I am stuck reorganizing everything while a customer waits on the phone. The interface feels outdated and overly complicated compared to something simple like QuickBooks. Even generating a basic P&L report is a chore. Plus invoices look unprofessional because column customization is impossible and customers regularly complain about missing info. People in the office are constantly frustrated with it and the learning curve is so steep that you need extensive training just to handle basic tasks.