Excellent experience with Onware and support from Onware. There is significant time dedicated to teaching how the software works, how to organize documents and provide support when needed.

Onware is easy to use and helpful in document management.

I would want option of assigning RFI's and Submittal to disciplines and/or to people. When creating revisions to Changes or SI's I would want to be able to create a copy of original Change or SI including text and attachments. This would reduce the copy and paste required to duplicate text.

A bit tricky to get the hang of at first, but is important to keeping a project organized and on track.

organization of project documents, timelines for tasks clear, outstanding items clear

difficult to navigate, can’t customize very well, “package” feature for only some types of documents, Progress Claim input process (contractor likes to input by each months progress vs updated project complete amount – this could be an auto updating number/check), multiple progress claims per month (if a client wants to bill main contract and change orders as separate PC numbers), terminology sometimes confusing (next step not always clear, Example for a Change – button could be “next step” and a pdf view of what the document currently looks like, and then asks for the next step such as do you want to do a consultant rec, issue for pricing, issue for change order). Each type of document page looks different (i.e. RFI page looks different than the Change/CO pages), no ability to customize what is visible (such as under Changes main page, to show/hide columns or move them left/right), customize settings by project (add client logos, project logo, colors, etc.) to be visibly different, Show/hide New tab on main page, Clear off action items.

There are many more features within this program that my colleagues, consultants (Engineers of many disciplines) do not like that there is no room to express it's pitfall. This program was created by those I believe working at the University of Alberta, who in my opinion do not have the full depth of the contract administration process. The program they have created is a small window of what they understand in the construction and architectural industry.

That it is a cloud-based program that you can log in to online.

The linked documents is an annoying features in that if you pdf a document such as a quote or change order, it shows up on the document as "attachments" which are not attached to the pdf document. The link is very sensitive, if you hover near the link a new window opens up. RFI: If you are a contract administrator, sometimes you are not always notified via email when a consultant has responded. But before that, the notification does not indicate if the RFI has been sent to the consultant for review or not. The worst is if you pdf the entire RFI with the responses for your files, it can be an unneccsarily 2+ pages long because of poor formatting features from the developer. This features applies to shop drawings as well. Change Notices: has field boxes to write out in to generate forms. However this is not always a good idea as contract administrators have our forms with the legal description and fine print. So in turn we have to attach our own forms on top of copy and pasting the verbiage in the field boxes. This creates double the work and when all pdf'd together, creates more paperwork for the contractor and client. Email notifications: serve little information as to what the notification is in regards to. Submittals: The use of the word "Conforms as Noted" is not a widely used term in the construction industry. Typically it is Reviewed as Noted, Reviewed, Revise and Resubmit, Rejected, Not Reviewed, Information only, Records only - most of these terms are not used.

The use of this software package eliminates duplication of parallel document tracking that previously occurred with conventional documentation processing. This tracking process is now updated in real time as a function of the database software.

We utilize and access this software during Construction Progress Meetings from applicable sites. Having the software accessible with real time updates and universal web access through site infrastructure is invaluable.

I find it inconvienient to not be able to see/print all the linked documents, without having to drill down into the various documents and print hard copies or create a compiled PDF. We have identified this shortcoming to the software in the past, and were advised that this function would be added in future updates. Hopefully, the next update will include this requested function.

Documents stored in one location and tracking of each document is barred none the best reason for Onware. The favorites buttons are useful. Customizing our own forms is amazing! Although this doesn't pertain to software, Onware help support is excellent.

Main menu in v9, in my opinion, is not helpful anymore, I find it confusing. I preferred the previous straightforward main menu that captured my 'to do list'. I dislike the viewer screen and not having the capability to copy text from a previously issued document. New users have a difficult time setting up their account and I'm not familiar with the steps they require to go through therefore I cannot assist them. Many non-internal Onware users are just waiting for an excuse not to use Onware.

Customer support is excellent. I've always gotten a response back. Overall experience is satisfactory

1. Sometimes when writing reports, the formatting can be glitchy. For example, let say I wrote a report (report #1) where I pasted photos/pictures into the body of the text rather than attaching it as an image. Reason for this is that if the image is attached, the thumbnail that shows up on the report is too small and contractors can't see it. They usually take hard copies to site, not an electronic copy that enables them to download the photos. Then let say I start up report #2 and I import items form report #1 into it. I won't be able to delete any items on report 2 that had pictures associated with it in report 1. 2. Please allow for strike throughs of text to show up in report. Currently if I do a strike through of text in report, the strike through will not show up after it is PDF'd

For big projects this is the go tool definitly. My experience with this product is nothing but great. Streamlined documentation communication records....

Easy to use, transparancy, connect the team that works on the project

I would like to be able to mark up document without downloading it to my PC and returning it back. But this is just as possible improvement. No cons really.

Keeps everything under one roof. Can send large files in one issuances compared to through email. Works best if contractors use it as well.

Contractors are not willing to change from their system to ours. Makes us have to enter the things we receive from them as they won't do it. When returning submittals back when they are revise and resubmit, we keep them open to keep a record of upcoming revisions we should be getting. Although it just says open in Onware and counts against us as not done yet even though we are waiting on a revision from the contractor. A button for return and aviating a revision would be nice as we only have issue or return.

As a large design, it provides a secure file/data storage system, that is auditable and accessible from anywhere.

The ease of sending out communications is less time consuming then the standard paper/ email work route. Having the ability to produce reports out of each module is very helpful. Having all contract administration documentation stored in one location and being accessible online, from anywhere, is very helpful.

It can be difficult to persuade contractors and other consultants to use the program, as they usually have their own software they are using. An interface with 'other' common management software would be a great asset. Better utube learning videos would be helpful. More intuitive interface/documentation would be helpful. Ability to customize report outputs would be helpful.

Work flow has increased! And it's wonderful knowing where each documents sits & whose hands it is sitting in. The overall experience has been positive, once we understood how the software worked and what its limitations were.

The software provides a clear work flow, with excellent document control aspects (date stamps, etc.). Interface is fairly user friendly and the linking of documents is fantastic- no more hunting for all the pieces!

The software was re-formatted to suit what our team needed, but with that came a lot of unexpected bugs/work-arounds until the next scheduled software version release, which could take a few months. There are situations when technical support is needed, however there is a time difference between where support is located and where we the users are located.

A centralized program that is relatively easy to use (as far as proprietary software goes), that seems to be fast, and rarely experiences outages.

It's faster. Looks nicer. Things are easier to find, and descriptions of functions and buttons are better. One centralized Onware for all products is nice too, instead of each company having their own Onware.

No option to edit history items in Submittals once they've been sent, or via them individually (except the "View" option, which is a bit clunky). The "Send" button in Submittals confuses a lot of people. Maybe it should be changed to something like "Next" or "Proceed"? Just an idea.

Contract Admin organization

With a good pdf editer, it's very efficient for marking up and returning shop drawings or RFI, sketches. Also, no remembering who get sent what. Process your document, shop drawing, Site Instruction, etc. and issue. With the distribution set up properly at the beginning, all who need the information, get the information.

Pull down menus and text boxes. When scrolling down in either of them, when you get to the bottom, if you go 1 click more than the last item, the pull down will close and the entire page scrolls. It needs to be set up so when in a pull down menu or text box, the it and the overall page are locked. Until you pick your choice or click outside either area, the page will not scroll away from you.

Time saving, reporting, clarity of documents flow.

Time-saving, flexibility to work anywhere just need an internet connection, data flow between documents. Searching and documents filing. Reporting. Ability to build companies including all fixtures (electronic signatures, company logo etc.). Predefined emails subscriptions. EXCELLENT HELPDESK SUPPORT!

Only one thing I would love to have is its contract title indicated in the body of financial documents. We are awaiting Onware 9 to provide the ability to create own documents layout if required. Hope the fixture will be captured.

It's thorough and keeps a good record; however; Contractors and Owners struggle to use it easliy

I can use it from work, home and site. You improved the ability to link all documents types. WE also like the ability to have the info for years after the project

It does not have document control (drawings and spec sections) during the CA stage. These should be added ASAP to compete with Newforma. You also need to add a search feature which searches: SI, PCN, RFI, CO for keywords at once. We often struggle to find a communication and are unsure all forms it was sent within.

Consistent project digital filing, for project data. Cross project reporting on similar types of projects.

Easy of use, accessible within WiFi range. As an administrator access to view, other project user groups, to determine status of processes, on site and live. Easy report generation for financial and reason code reports.

Frequent updates. Password set up for new project and new users within a project can be a little labour intensive, if project have multiple turn over of personnel - longer term project -+30 month projects.

Onware was used by our team on a $500M + multi-building, multi-phase project to manage the change management, RFI, and submittal process only. The software was easy to learn and customizable to project specifics

The submittals module did not seem to be as fluid and intuitive as other modules being used.

Generally saves time when processing a Change once the CCN/PCO/NOC has been issued and reduces errors in copying of information between documents. Central archive and auditing is quite handy.

Document control with task assignments. Central location for all contact information including auditing and reporting

Not all contractors, Owners, or consultants embrace the use of Onware which in turn creates more work administratively. Seemingly simple but at times challenging set up of email subscriptions.

I like the efficiency of Onware and how easily you can link documents from beginning to final change order.

I don't like the many steps signing-in to Onware. I also don't like some of the reports as they don't provide enough information ie. Changes Report not having the Prices. Also I don't like that a Change Order which encompasses several PCNs, the documents are not grouped together with the corresponding PCN and I have to spend time sorting all the documents out.

It is a very effective database for project communications and document controller. The web based software allows all project participants to have access and up to the minute love project information.

The software is setup to restrict access and modifications to items that have already been issued which while great for auditing document trails, it causes grief trying to fix/revise a document that has been issued with a error or missing attachment.

I have been using Onware since version 7 and it has made my life as a contract administrator very manageable. As the team lead for the CA Team at KENNEDY I wouldn't want to try to handle all of our projects any other way. I'm looking forward to all the new features in version 9.

-Control of documentation for projects -Configurability -Collaborative nature of software

Some of the features and interfaces were not intuitive but that appears to have been resolved in version 9.

The ability to customize my home page. There aren't enough pros to fill 100 characters. Not sure why you would create this with a minimum requirement.

It takes way to many steps to get to the pertinent information. The Action Items not changing when they have been revised after they are already red is a pain. I get a lot of push back from contractors and owners about it being awkward and clumsy.

Correct construction documentation.

It's makes the construction documentation traceable, and keeps the communication continuous relate to specific subject.

It's difficult to search information, like a project list for someone. Word editing function need to be improved. It's not functional when making a site visit report, first it's too slow, second, it's not easy to have word and picture together.

1. Better user interface - New version easier to see various menus. Mostly I am in overall PM role and not CA

1. Better interface/operability with other Contract Management software, such as Procore etc. For example, Contractor inputs into Procore, we then input into Onware. So responsibility for work rests with an agreement between two parties. Sometimes we get the lion's share of the work, simply because the contractor doesn't want to use our system. 2. Log in sequence could be streamlined. DASH to Onware login, to Microsoft online work or school, then input password. Why can't we just go to one page and log-in? 3. Text editing easier to cut and paste from Microsoft WORD. 4. Submittals drop down menu. Words are on top of each other.

Once you learn how to use it, it's quicker to process our massive amounts of documentation.

No need to format forms, just write in the fields and Onware generates the forms

When writing minutes, the new task button and Select an Action field remain at the top of the page. It would be fantastic if it would slide down the page as the tasks get added.

Easy to learn and to use. Great for time tracking of all items, and audit feature to determine what happened to missing pieces. Awesome customer assistance.

Contractors have too much access to documents that have not been issued to them. They should not see documents that are only initiated or RFI responses that have not been returned to them, as this causes a lot of confusion.