IFS Manufacturing Reviews

“could be better”

Pros

The process of moving from the non cloud version of IFS to the cloud edition ended up being much less frustrating than I expected. The interface feels much more in line with modern websites and SaaS platforms which gives it a fresher and more current look. That said, with the updated design, less information fits on a single screen so there is definitely more scrolling than before.

Cons

After the move, I'm pretty sure the Function keys are no longer usable which has been frustrating. On top of that some fields now seem to be mandatory even though I do not remember having to complete them in the previous non cloud version. Both of these changes have slowed me down when I need to pull information quickly. I also struggle to view everything I want on one screen especially on a laptop. It's a bit better on a desktop but its still kind of slow when you're switching to table view and working with the scrollbar.

“great fit for our processes”

Pros

One thing I really appreciate about this software is how flexible it is. Instead of forcing us to change the way we work, it adapts to our existing processes and supports them well.

Cons

Sometimes, the sheer number of available options can feel a little overwhelming.

“Powerful integrations”

Pros

Reporting has been one of the strongest parts of IFS Manufacturing for us especially when it comes to building new reports and adjusting existing ones. It also runs faster than the cloud version which makes day to day work more efficient. The system keeps improving with each update and integration is a key advantage. It connects well with Microsoft tools and works properly alongside SAP products.

Cons

We integrated IFS with SAP products and the overall setup went well but small issues still come up from time to time, particularly during account migration.

“My experience with IFS”

Pros

The interface was very user friendly and moving manual data across to generate freight rates was a simple process.

Cons

The pricing per consignment felt too high especially when compared with other services.

“reliable asset tracking”

Pros

From processing purchase orders to tracking assets and running day to day reports, this system performs really well. We were also pleasantly surprised by how effortlessly it connected with our other solutions.

Cons

One area that could be better is analytic reporting since pulling older data can sometimes be difficult. The permissions workflow also feels confusing and we end up having to build a manual workflow for each individual situation.

“A strong program”

Pros

Getting around this product is very easy and the interface is user friendly. It also offers many strong features and connects multiple modules really well.

Cons

Having used this product both as a user and as a consultant, I've been very satisfied with all of its features.

“great analytics feature”

Pros

Reporting in IFS is not complicated and can be handled in several different ways, including through the built in Excel export tool. On top of that the Business Analytics feature lets you build more advanced statements and refresh custom views overnight which helps keep heavy SQL reporting from impacting the production environment.

Cons

Customization options are quite limited, there's no employee self service portal and the system doesn't include automatic approval workflows. The interface is also not very user friendly, the UX needs work.

“love the excel add on”

Pros

I really appreciate how well IFS Applications works with Microsoft Excel. It can be added as an Excel add-on and creates its own separate tab which makes it very convenient to use. Another big plus is that the reports generated through IFS are customizable and can also be transferred to Excel without much trouble.

Cons

There really are not many downsides but report generation can occasionally take a while. If the connection drops even slightly, the system becomes very slow and it's frustrating that there isn't a stop or execute button available to cancel the action once it starts.

“frustrating interface”

Pros

Covers a broad set of functions and we were able to connect it with our internal systems for proficiency testing but honestly the most satisfying part is shutting it down at the end of the day.

Cons

In the way this company has it configured, the interface is painfully difficult to work with and it regularly throws baffling error messages. Today's example was, "External projects must have an activity sequence" on a pre-posting form that didn't even include any field for an activity sequence. That feels completely representative of the overall experience.

“Not very adaptive”

Pros

The support team usually gets back to you fairly quickly. After you get used to the way IFS expects you to work, moving around the system becomes a bit easier.

Cons

Configuration is pretty rigid and it really seems built for certain types of businesses only. Since we do custom manufacturing, a lot of the modules are hard to use in a way that truly fits our needs. Quite a few details were either overlooked by the installation team or set up wrong from the start and we've been dealing with those consequences for the past decade. Making updates or changes is never simple, dropdown or list values can't be archived at all, there are no workflows built into the system and setting up permissions is an absolute nightmare.

“strong cross department integration”

Pros

It's being used by most departments across our company, including Financials, Manufacturing, Maintenance, Sales, Logistics and Engineering. The integration capabilities are solid and the programming interface is well done. There are plenty of development resources available which helps with ongoing improvements. The latest major release also felt like the most significant upgrade yet.

Cons

Like a lot of ERP systems, the interface includes plenty of items users won't actually use unless IT hides them. If your business has an unusual process that doesn't really match standard industry practices, getting it installed will take extra effort. Support could definitely be better as well.

“flexible features”

Pros

Right from the start, this platofmr has felt very user friendly and easy to work with. The software offers a huge amount of features and one of the best parts is how customizable it is. If a screen is missing a field, it's simple to add one that either pulls from another field in the database or works as a free form field so you can enter whatever information you need.

Cons

Honestly, there is not much for me to criticize with this software. Once in a while, I want to see certain data on a specific screen but when that happens, it is simple enough to add it myself.

“Very customizable”

Pros

It is an extremely capable system with a wide range of features that it offers. It's fairly easy to use and can be customized well to fit specific company needs as well as individual user requirements.

Cons

At times, the English wording in the package can be hard to understand or follow. Support has also been a challenge and finding third-party consulting firms especially in the US, isn't always easy.

“flexible, stable and customer focused”

Pros

The flexibility and stability have both been really valuable for us. The support team at IFS has also been excellent to work with and whenever we've interacted with R&D, it's been clear they genuinely care about their customers.

Cons

It doesn't handle every process exactly the way we'd prefer today but IFS has shown a real willingness to keep improving the product so it can better meet those needs.

“powerful warehouse tracking tools”

Pros

Being able to track, locate and update inventory across multiple stock locations in our warehouse has been really valuable. The search function is also very useful when trying to find specific items. For example, it lets us follow maintenance work orders in detail, not just by which mechanic completed the job but even with minute by minute progress tracking.

Cons

While the search feature lets you find things really well, it takes way too long and there isnt even a cancel option. Because of that, several users end up force closing the program and reopening it instead of waiting for it to respond. The system can also freeze occasionally when too many features are being used at the same time.

“Limited HR flexibility”

Pros

We use one of the IFS modules as our HR management software to store employee records across the division, covering more than 12,000 employees. It's clearly designed for large organizations, supports long term record data tracking, lets you set up multiple business entities and makes it possible to assign access to different users for each entity.

Cons

Its rigid, unfriendly interface and lack of self service make daily HR tasks really frustrating despite the scale that it can handle.

“powerful features”

Pros

Right from the start, I appreciated how user friendly IFS Manufacturing feels. The open database structure is a big advantage and the interface makes integration and automation much more manageable. It also offers a lot of flexibility with unlimited user configurations and customized reporting which is really useful. On top of that there's a broad range of features available so it covers a lot of operational needs.

Cons

The biggest downside is the cost because it's extremely expensive both to purchase and to maintain over time. Support can also be frustrating since ticket processing tends to move slowly and the lack of local support makes things even more difficult when immediate help is needed.

“IFS Review”

Pros

This software offers many features and is very customizable. It feels very complete and covers a wide range of needs.

Cons

On the downside, it takes time to learn and isn't very easy to understand at the beginning. For example, you have to create a pick list, print it, keep the pick list number and then go into the print manager just to finally retrieve the pick list. That workflow feels inefficient.

“fast interface”

Pros

Everything works together across the modules which really helps when it comes to consolidations. The interface responds quickly and since licenses are assigned directly to users, the system is accessible around the clock.

Cons

Something I'd really like to see is better procedures or more support. We run into a lot of error messages and most of the time we're not sure how to resolve them.

“flexible reporting for global teams”

Pros

IFS turned out to be a strong choice for managing and consolidating operations across multiple countries. The reporting module is especially useful because it gives you the flexibility to build reports the way you need them.

Cons

Getting comfortable with IFS took longer than with other software I've used before. When you're working with multiple entities, there are quite a few steps involved which can make the process feel more complex.