Hi everyone. I'm considering to invest in Workamajig. It looks like it knows everything an agency can ask for in terms of project management. Have any of you used it? Are there any similar products out there? I'm not talking about services like Basecamp. It has to be custom made for agencies. I appreciate your answers.
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Hi Dungeon,
I would recommend staying away from WorkAMajig as they have some shady business practices of using other companies trademarks to advertise on through Google Adwords. I currently have two "WorkAMajig" ads on my term "officezilla" which is a groupware system I own. They just won't stop and have even set up multiple Google Adwords accounts so they can place more then one ad at a time aimed at my users.
I would suggest doing business with someone who is honest in every part of there business.
Thanks gscott! I saw your comment on other threads about the same subject. You really have a personal problem with them don't you? :) Is it illegal what they are doing? If not, I don't see how it's morally wrong.
But, I don't know if this particular issue is a problem for me as an end user.
Things have been worked out so all is well.
gscott-
Uh, buying Google AdWords of competitors is how it is supposed to work.
Not if you get sued over it. Dirty.
A week or so ago I noticed that they had started running three ads on the search term "officezilla" so I decided to go ahead and run an ad on the term "workamajig" and I was amazed when they had a lawyer call me and start sending me letters. This when they are doing the same thing to me (except they are highly aggressive about it, running multiple ads under multiple accounts).
I had to make a decision to stick it out running ads on "workamajig" until they stopped running ads on "officezilla" or forget it and post kind thoughts about "workamajig" throughout the Internet.
I never thought it was a big deal either, until workamajig made it into one.
OK. I see. Do you have any suggestions on alternatives? Thank you
Try basecamphq.com, highrisehq.com
I would also recommend checking out Silent Partner www.esilentpartner.com
Another hosted project management service to check out is Intervals.
http://www.myintervals.com
It was custom made to handle the needs of our web design & development agency, Pelago (http://www.pelagodesign.com). And we have many agencies using it who are very happy with Intervals.
There are lots of other options out there, too, so keep looking until you find a good fit.
Hi everyone,
I'm heading up operations for a small agency (75 ppl) and we have been investigating various softwares for time sheets, project management and expense tracking. We're looking to get started ASAP. Thoughts on workamajig, agency central, etc...
I would welcome an opportunity to take you through a demonstration of SilentPartner. SilentPartner is professional services automation software that fully integrates project management, collaborative tools, and accounting into ONE enterprise-wide work-flow system. We are a competitor of both Workamajig and Agency Central. My contact information is jlangos@medigroupltd.com or you can reach me at 502-767-7971.
You can learn more about our services at www.esilentpartner.com
Thank you
Hey, not sure about this Jason Langos dude, he was working at silent partner, then our agency had a call from him when he was working at Sohnar selling their traffic software... now we recieved a call from him working at paprika, this is all in a course of just over a year... is this guy for real?
Yes, I am for real and I know the job jumping is concerning but such is life sometimes. I was recruited away from SilentPartner to Sohnar but unfortunately the opportunity was not as described or promised. I chose to continue my career with Rebus/Paprika software for several reasons but most importantly because I believe it is a company that I will not be embarrassed to represent. We not only have a great product but fantastic customer support as well. I know the advertising industry very well having worked for Euro RSCG and owning my own agency for several years so I can assure you I have strong industry knowledge along with a strong product knowledge.
Thank you
Jason Langos
502-767-7971 or
615-528-1700
Hi,
You may want to look at Workgroups 2007 at www.meta-comm.com. We provide a comprehensive suite for creative groups.
Bob
check out Advantage, the software is very complete (they just released enhanced project management and other things) and the service is amazing. It is a great bargain. There is also a great network of users. www.gotoadvantage.com.
I wrote them, but nobody replied. Is it a bargain, no pricing available on the site.
we were using advantage - gotoadvantage.com and switched over to workajamajig. we were with workamajig before when they were creative manager pro.
we had issues with advantage and our media department software.
with workajamajig we are having issues as well. the biggest being that with macpro 8 cores with tons of ram, they are excuciatingly slow. so slow that we have to do time sheets on a different computer since on an 8 core mac pro running os 10.5.x it can take 20 minutes to do a single day time sheet. on any other computer it runs perfectly fine. we are on an all gigabit networkt with virtualized windows servers with tons of resources.
not sure what advertising package is the best since it seems we have been through a lot of them. almost every 4 to 5 years we are switching.
to be honest, none of them have been perfect.
I have heard really good things about clients and profits.
that is one i have not personally tried.
if workamajig could fix some of these issues and get the macpro 8 cores working, i would have minimal problems recommending them.
we are an agency of about 75 plus users.
I have done a lot of research into time tracking and project management solutions specifically designed for ad agencies. Here's a list of the best;
-Clients & Profits
-Function Point
-Workamajig
-Time Fox
I prefer Function Point as it is the best value.It has all of the functionality an agency can ask for while being very easy to use. It integrates with any accounting package which is great if you don't want to change your accounting processes. Time Fox is great for very small agencies that don't need a lot of project management tools. Clients and Profits is a good system when it's working (I hear a lot of complaints about the reliability of C&P). Workamajig is the top dog but I have spent hours on their demo and still have no idea what's going on. It seems way to over complicated.
When looking at project management solutions, narrow your choices down to 3 or 4 systems. Make sure to get demos to play around with. Spend 1 hour on each and you'll know right away what system's for you.
Good Luck
Think outside the Sphere!
Thanks a lot! I will check them out and I found a great candidate:
http://www.agencycentral.com/
The best part is that clients can annotate your layouts like you can do it in PS and Acrobat, but through a web interface and on any format file including even video or flash files.
The best studio management / job tracking software for creatives I've seen is Streamtime - check out http://www.previewstreamtime.com. Far easier to use than the others on this site I'd describe it as more "Mac" like in its interface. The support team area great too and always take on our suggestions. They have a cool iphone application and web interface too.
I have never used any of the other creative project management programs. I started a new job in a Communications/Marketing department that uses Workamajig. Boy, oh, boy . . . this software is not "intuitive" at all! For someone who has been raised on Microsoft Applications, this software can be a nightmare. The buttons aren't clearly labeled, and I still haven't figured out how to go back to a previous screen once I've left it.
I would check out www.sohnar.com. Just signed on and it is GREAT!
Stay away from sohnar traffic! we had it and pulled the pin after a month. The software is slow and buggy and very difficult to use. Dont be fooled by their slick sales presentation (some of it is lying about features too we found!) We're now considering basecamp http://www.basecamphq.com , proworkflow http://www.proworkflow.com or streamtime http://www.previewstreamtime.com - all three are good but have different strengths so see what fits for you!
Go with http://www.proworkflow.com - it's awesome project management software. Basecamp is too simplistic...
Workamajig is full of bugs. Be prepared to experience all kinds of problems as they work their system out by testing it on their users.
How long have you been using it?
We've been using Workamajig for several months. Didn't start out with Creative Manager, just went straight to Workamajig.
On the plus side:
1. They are forward thinking in respect to moving toward a fully Flash interface
2. They have built a very robust piece of software (when it works)
Negatives:
1. Program is massively complex: (don't let the name fool you:]
- When pressed for help they will suggest you hire a consultant
- They offer 5 hours of training (negotiate for more, you'll need it)
2. Full of buggs:
- On weekly basis we report system errors to their support staff
- Errors usually center around Flash interface
- They are often harmless annoyances but sometimes will effect productivity
3. The system only works if you work the system:
- Getting your staff on board to a system this complex is very difficult
4. The Workamajig sales staff claims you'll only need 3 months to get up an running:
- That has to be bold-faced lie
- Even if you're used to another application you'll need that time just to get the finance end up
- The amount of tweaking variables you can do will occupy 3 members of your staff for at least ten hours a week for six months to build the system to a point that is functional, not perfect, functional
5. Support:
- If you're on the East Coast be prepared for overnight turn around for your questions via email
- Emergency? Sorry, you'll have to pay extra for phone support
So, if you host the program at your location and hire a consultant to set it up... Go for it. Otherwise, keep looking.
We used workamajig after creative mgr but had so many problems with the flash interface crashing and numerous issues on the finance side that we switched to another popular package. The support with workamajig was awful. As a solution to a financial problem I as told to make a journal entry to retained earnings. What a joke. The program was full of bugs as you said. The package we are implementing now seems to be very solid, easy to use, the support is great, etc. It has a web interface as well, but not flash. That is good thing for us as it does not ever crash in the middle of entering time!!
Our small agency is taking a look at Jig. You mentioned another package that you seem to prefer greatly. Care to mention it? I'd like to check it out before committing to Jig. Thanks
'Guest commentators' are useless - likely competition of the Workamajig folks. Even if they SAY that they're clients, I've found it to be the competition POSING as clients. Your best bet is to TALK to actual clients. That's how we started years ago with Clients and Profits. And that's the way we're going about current research.
Oh yeah, and guest commentators always tell you about some other 'great product'. Yeah sure.
Here is a customer testimonial worth the watch, imo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSl_c5kXUSk
My agency just did the hour demo and the CD flipped out for it.
Signed the contract within an hour of getting it...
I have to admit the demo was impressive and having used Advantage and Infowit, it looked
better than those two combined.
We are not using it for billing or any accounting. Just traffic/scheduling, time management,
and tracking print costs.
Can anyone speak positive or negative to those functions? Especially the scheduling projects and deadlines
since that is what it will be used for most.
Thanks
You're talking about workamajig, right?
Yes I am
T-Rex, we swapped a 70 person company at the end of last year, sure we are having our issues as always since we went from our own canned app to a 3rd party solution. But all in all, they are as advertised, they train pretty well, they are responsive to issues, and for running an app that has several possible uses from some niche agency pieces, through billing, through ( as with us ) a full PPM/billing/traffic agency there are going to be stumbling blocks. So far though I would give them a 7.5/10, and that as much our companys changes to the software as their ability to deliver what I would say is a pretty high level product. If you would like to discuss it further, please let me know.
I'm at a mid-sized agency and we use MarketingPilot. I've used others at previous agencies and they don't compare. MarketingPilot is by far the most intuitive...especially when we bring in new hires that need to be trained. They have the best approval/collaboration solution.
They also have live support and that's hard to find in the MRM industry.
we are running a mid sized 75 plus ad agency and for the most part pretty happy with workamajig. support has been pretty responsive to us.
usually a phone call in requires you leave a message and wait for them to call back. email support issues tend to get replied to quickly, most often the same day.
i just dont' know why they can't figure out how to get the 8 core mac pro running 10.5.x to work smoothly. it is sooooo slow.
once this gets figured out, the small issues we have remaining will pale in comparison to the the speed issues we are having with the 8 core macpros.
other intel machines running 10.5.x have not problems.
best of luck finding a solution that meets all your needs.
i often find myself just settling for now.
You should check us out here Function Point ( www.functionpoint.com ) - we offer a web-based time sheet and project management solution for advertising, design, PR and web development firms. Give us a call and one of our sales people can take you through the system.
I should also mention that we're fun, cool and view each of our clients as partners!
Tate
Has anyone tried CurrentTrack? Please share your experience.
Have anyone tried the creative management software called "infowit"?
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