Vista Payroll Reviews

“Paystub access is broken

Pros

One thing it does offer is clickable image shortcuts that help direct me to the section I want.

Cons

Trying to view my paystubs especially for Discount Drug Mart, has been a mess. My name doesn't even show up on the paystubs anymore and I can't locate any of my previous ones either. Honestly the whole experience has been bad and it really needs to be fixed as soon as possible.

“payroll with outstanding support

Pros

This tool keeps up really well with the constantly changing HR and payroll landscape. One of the biggest benefits for us is how much we can tailor the application to fit our needs. Our employees really enjoy the user-friendly Open Enrollment feature and being able to check accruals and pay stubs with just one click is a huge plus. On top of that, it has the best customer support in the business.

Cons

A few parts of the software are still built in COBOL although the company is actively working on rewriting them.

“Been a customer for over 20 years and extremely satisfied with the product

Pros

PDS/Vista remains at the forefront of the ever-changing HR/payroll world. The ability to customize the application according to our needs is highly appreciated. Employees love the easy-to-use Open Enrollment feature and the convenience of viewing their accruals and pay stubs with just one click. PDS/Vista's customer support is unmatched in the industry.

Cons

Some of the programs are still written in COBOL, but PDS is actively working on rewriting them.

“flexible user-configurable options

Pros

I think there are a lot of user-configurable application options built into the platform which makes it possible to handle many changes without needing IT to be involved.

Cons

Reporting still has room for improvement although they do offer analytics.

“Responsive support and multi-state flexibility

Pros

Customer support has been a big plus and I think the software also handles multiple states well.

Cons

Biggest challenge was the amount of time it took to learn Reports and understand the system files.

“packed with features !

Pros

There's a lot of functionality in the software and I like that it keeps getting better with regular improvements and additions. On top of that, every department is highly responsive when it comes to customer needs.

Cons

The initial setup can be a bit tough. Reporting is also challenging unless you have someone familiar with Crystal Reports who can build them effectively although the system does support custom report creation.

“Fresh upgrade and standout support

Pros

The recent move to Vista 7 version gave the system a refreshed, updated look which we've really appreciated. Just as important, the relationship we have with the support team has been incredibly valuable. They're always quick to step in when help is needed and they consistently follow up afterward to make sure everything is actually working. The IT conference has also been absolutely worth the investment. Connecting with other users has given us a lot of useful insight into the system that we probably never would have uncovered on our own. And Honestly not many conferences give you the chance to sit down with the CEO and have a real conversation.

Cons

Creating reports can be challenging at times but we're always able to find a way to pull the data we need.

“payroll updates without duplicate entry

Pros

One thing I really appreciate is that the product keeps improving over time. Updates to benefits flow straight into payroll so there's no need to enter the same information twice. The exit programs also give a lot of flexibility to tailor the software without having to make actual software changes.

Cons

A noticeable gap is the lack of tracking for intermittent FMLA. We had to rely on custom work to handle that requirement, even though it's something every employer needs to stay compliant with.

“Simple payroll tool

Pros

After nine years on the previous version we moved to the Vista 7 platform in September and the updated interface feels much more simple. Our self-service employees really prefer using icons instead of digging through drop-down menus to find what they need. From a payroll perspective, having more information visible on each tab is a big improvement because it cuts down on all the extra clicking. It's also helpful that payroll processes, reports and timesheets are all gathered into one pop-up box.

Cons

A few things that worked perfectly well in version 4.1 don't function the same way in 7. The added screen print buttons are a nice idea but they only print whatever is currently visible on the screen instead of the full page when you have to scroll which makes them much less useful. Another issue is in the timesheet area, when entering deduction or fringe adjustments for just one specific pay period, the system doesn't stay on the same tab when switching between employees.

“flexible and resilient platform

Pros

Out of the many HR and Payroll systems I've supported, this one stands out as the most flexible and resilient I've worked with. It's built in a way that makes installing updates easy while still allowing custom code to be added without disrupting the original base functionality or system integrity. That kind of design really matters when you're thinking about long-term support and maintenance. The customer support is also excellent and feels very personal. The technicians know both me and my system well and they consistently provide helpful insight and timely assistance.

Cons

Reports still isn't my preferred reporting engine although the way it's implemented here seems great and quite resilient. We were still able to build the reports we needed to match our organization's requirements. That said I would still choose SSRS personally.

“All-in-one HR platform win

Pros

Moving from 4-5 separate systems that all had to connect with each other, having one full-service platform that covers the entire employee life cycle has been a huge upgrade. It's really nice to have everything under one umbrella instead of juggling multiple tools. I also prefer the base system approach rather than having to piece things together and pay extra for individual modules. The system is highly customizable which matters a lot for us since some of our processes are pretty unique. On top of that, the implementation team has been excellent and very responsive. I'm also especially excited about the employee self-service features.

Cons

At this point there really isn't anything I actively dislike. There are a few things we can't do exactly the same way we handled them before but we're able to get very close so it hasn't been a major issue.

“flexible security and stellar support

Pros

One of the biggest strengths for me is the number of security layers available, along with how customizable the system is to fit exactly what we need. The customer support has also been outstanding. Every person I've worked with has treated my questions and concerns like they genuinely mattered to them. At no point have I been made to feel embarrassed for needing help or like I should have already known the answer and I'm incredibly appreciative of that.

Cons

Vista 4.1 feels a little less user-friendly than some of the other HRMS platforms I've worked with before although I believe part of that comes from how our initial installation and setup were handled. We're actively making improvements in those areas as we get ready to move to the newer platform.

“cleaner interface but structure could still be better

Pros

Compared with version 4 this one feels cleaner and more simple to use. I like that upgrade itself went off without any issues and the IT team was a huge help throughout the process. They really knew what they were doing.

Cons

Position structure is still very tough and hard to update.

“powerful customization and reporting

Pros

One of the biggest strengths has been how flexible the customization is, along with the backend reporting. Having SQL capability was absolutely essential for our organization and this software delivers on that.

Cons

Applicant tracking side could definitely be better especially with the candidate drop-off we're seeing. Requiring people to create a profile before they can apply adds extra friction and it would be much better if that step wasn't necessary.

“Dedicated HRMS with flexibility

Pros

For me it is flexible and full-featured HRMS solution. This is PDS's core product line, unlike vendors that also split their focus across payroll, project accounting, accounts payable and other areas. It's clearly the company's main specialty and bread and butter.

Cons

One downside is the older COBOL reports that are still part of the system. That said they were in the process of being replaced in 2017.

“comprehensive HR features

Pros

It covers the full HR lifecycle really well, from recruiting and benefits to payroll, taxes, time tracking and more. The vendor stays current with tax law changes, at least in the US and continues to adopt newer technology while still supporting users who are not as advanced technically. For me another big advantage is how flexible the system is since super users can make their own customizations and higher-level changes can be made to support even very specific or complex business needs.

Cons

Our team inherited Vista HRMS after it had already been implemented and it became clear that the staff had not received enough training to use the system the way they needed to. From what they shared, the training they got felt rushed and was hard to fully understand. Because the implementation was handled through a third party instead of directly, we did not have the opportunity to work with PDS ourselves and I think that contributed to the training gap. I would not say this is entirely the vendor's fault especially knowing my users but if given the option, we would definitely prefer to work directly with PDS.