Item: Accruent EMS
Rating: 9
Author: Jennifer Springstead

Overall Satisfaction with EMS Software

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

It is being used across the organization but with four separate databases. Academics use it for course scheduling, and Athletics, Event Management and the Medical school use it as well. Some problems we've had include not being able to report on a global scale and not knowing what other departments are doing or areas might be available for use. It's been a problem having different web applications for people to log into depending on the space they are requesting. The API’s are not developed to sync with the systems so each group has to put their own information into EMS.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Ease of Use
Reporting (if system is set up correctly)
Visual views of bookings
Ease of bookings

Cons

More API’s especially with Buildings and space management systems
Adding emails to out of the box reports for contacts
Ability to split the screens within EMS so you can have multiple windows open at a time

Return on Investment

Don’t have enough experience to answer the ROI... yet.

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft Project

I have used scheduling programs for like Primevera and Microsoft Project but not as an event system scheduling software. The system was on the campus before I started here. Since learning the system, I've been pleased with the customer service and looking forward to the system becoming part of the Accurent Fabric.

Scalability

I'm still learning the product. I have plans for it to help the University stream line the multiple computer scheduling programs and tracking of usage on the campus. I am hoping the scalability is greater than a 6 once we are able to migrate to one system on the campus.

Product Configurability

Configurations are easy to understand once you are in the system for a while. In addition, the help and the help desk have helped with adjusting the configurations.

Likelihood to Recommend

It is well suited for the scheduling of classes. It is little challenging to understand at first, but if the parameters are set up correctly it will quickly assist in the scheduling of classes to rooms.

Comments

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Jeanine Heming
commented 5 years ago
Hi, We've been using EMS since 1997 and I've supported it since 1998. I just wanted to ask a couple of questions to hopefully help: 1. Why are you using four databases? We use one database for everything including academic scheduling for 13 colleges, events, catering, two campuses, recreation and club sports, etc.. I'd look into combining the four databases into one database. You can easily keep all of the areas separate from each other without overlap. It would definitely make your life and everyone else's easier! We also integrate with Banner. In addition, we have a ton of weird configurations that EMS has risen to the challenge for. 2. Have you considered using the EMS HR Toolkit instead of the EMS API? We have implemented it and have been using it for several years now. We've also integrated Campus Labs Engage for student organizations where student officers get accounts in the EMS Web Application. We developed this in-house, however, without the API. Oh - you should be able to open more than one instance of the EMS Desktop Client. We do it all the time. I hope this helps. Jeanine Heming Application Systems Support Administrator Kennesaw State University

Learning another Accruent system