BQE Core - Time, Billing, Project Management, and Accounting Software

BQE Core has numerous issues

Pros

We went with this software because it was easily accessible but there are so many other downsides. It is new software so the hope is that in time it will become a more stable and effective tool.

Cons

Errors are common. They push updates out the door before properly testing and it creates new issues.

Best all in one service

With their budget and expense tracking it is easier to see where we are currently sitting, where we can cut cost, and have been able to stick closer to our budgets.

Pros

Having all account info, invoices, budgets, access to banks, profitability and performance reports available at all times in one place and on my phone is amazing. I am never unprepared no matter where I am.

Cons

I've noticed that their is a bit of lag when opening some reports or invoices but they may also be sue to my system.

A plethora of features after a heavy learning curve

Overall the pros greatly outweigh the cons, just don't be afraid to contact customer support.

Pros

- Free online walkthrough with helpful staff
- Visually appealing dashboards with a great variety of variations and options
- Effective forecasting tools
- Integrates with a wide variety of accounting software

Cons

- Very difficult to learn all of the different features
- Encountered a lot of issues in the beginning, but customer support was readily available and very helpful

BQE Core is the answer to our time and project management needs

Pros

BQE Core is easy to deploy as they offer support every step of the way. They even step up a training session specifically for our team to teach us how to use each of Core's key features.

Cons

Sometimes the time entries don't log if I click away too fast. Seems like a processing latency issue that needs to be addressed on BQE's end.

Beware, no refunds!!

Buyers beware, unless you are sure you want to use the program for the full amount of time you paid for, do not buy a year in advance until you try it out! Pay a little more for the monthly charges then you won't be gouged for a couple thousand dollars of unsatisfactory product. For the reports and invoices, even though there are multiple templates, they are hard to customize or change most of the formats.

Pros

The program has several features for time and expense reporting and also multiple invoicing templates and reports which drew me to the program at first glance.

Cons

We purchased the BQE software program for a year’s subscription in advance, however, from the start we had extreme issues with the program’s performance. Multiple phone calls and emails were made to technical support to resolve the speed performance and timing out of the program, but it was never resolved. You would think that the tech people would know their software enough to know what caused the slow response time and timing out of their own program! A few weeks later we were forced to purchase another software program in order to continue with our business and discontinued using the BQE software program. We have not used this program since. Several attempts were made to ask for a refund, however, the company refused our refund. Read the contract, somewhere in the middle of about 50 pages, there is an 'all sales are final' clause.

Good project management resource

Pros

- Create projects and individual project phases as independent billing items.
- Assign budgets and tasks on a phase level, allowing for greater delineation of phases.
- Notify team members by email when tasks are assigned.

Cons

- Sorting time entries by individual tasks is not as straight-forward as other programs.
- Dashboard customization is limited.

Still on the fence

Still undecided whether this was a good move for our small business.

Pros

User-friendly for time sheet and expense entry. Does have helpful and useful PM functions. Somewhat intuitive to set up - but if set up is incorrect, be ready to restart from zero. Regular webinars provided which are very helpful.

Cons

Very buggy using more complex functions. Error messages are unhelpful. Can do a thousand thing poorly/with difficulty/with error messages but wish it did just a couple dozen easily and flawlessly. Integration with QuickBooks is a great idea but mostly does not work the way it should. Beware of using anything other than their default storage. Expect regular up-sell emails. Expensive for what feels like beta-testing.

I am a small consulting engineering firm and use this for time accounting and invoicing. Additioanl features and capabilites are available as I grow into them.

Pros

This is fairly intuitive for a non-programming type of user. Results have been good and reliable. Support help has been very good, both from my account rep and tech support. It is good to have backup when things get lost, and BQE has been there. I look forward to exploring other features as my needs grow.

Cons

I have the basic level program and am curious about extended planning tools and features. We will see if these are as intuitive and the basic functions.

Absolutely amazing!

Pros

We switched to Core just over 6 months ago after struggling with a competing service for years. Core is very intuitive to use and easy to enter time and expenses for each internal and external project!

Cons

So far so good! My only critique is that I wish the dashboard had more customization available and that I could create specific widgets for various project metrics.

So far this is the best time and project management software we've encountered!

Pros

We migrated to Core after using several other project and time management services over the past few years. Core is easy to navigate and train our staff how to accurately enter and track time for each project, expense tracking, resource allocation and overall integration with our Quickbooks software.

Cons

Core is one of the more expensive project and time management services we've used. But the lower priced competitors left us wanting.

Best time and project management program we've used

Pros

- Time entries can be viewed in both Time Card and Time Entry views, depending on user preferences
- Expense tracking and allocation to specific projects
- Adding notes to time entries helps our accounting processes
- Works with Quickbooks

Cons

- Requires extensive setup time for initial deployment.
- Task assignment to other users isn't straightforward.

Been on Core about 2 months

Don't use their accounting module, just use their practice management

Pros

Saas based, logical navigation, good user interface, many reports

Cons

Billing is somewhat cumbersome for accounting practices with clients that are both fixed fee and hourly; workflows were not designed with accountants in mind

Amazing ArchiOffice

Pros

I like the concept and features of this software, It helps to me to monitor the projects of my team. Very easy to use and organize.

Cons

Need additional time to learned this software but it is easy to use. Billing idea is great and useful.

Our new favourite time and expense tracking software

Pros

We've used several time and expense tracking services over the years, and Core is by and large the best program we've used. It's layout is easy to understand and navigate, and the expense tracking is seamless.

Cons

We have no negative comments regarding Core since we started using it seven months ago. So far it has lived up to our expectations.

Don't use this software!

I wasn't going to renew because I couldn't get the information I needed for breaking down my revenue sources. I was promised that the reports would be improved and do exactly as I needed. This was not true. After literally hours on the phone, they told me that in fact no - I couldn't get the reports I was promised. Shortly thereafter, all of my work in progress disappeared. I again worked with support and sent a back-up. They printed me a partial copy of the WIP but it would all have to be re-entered. I didn't renew. Now, I can't get a copy of any old billing invoices unless I pay the renewal fee. I spoke with a manager and basically, it's not their problem because I no longer have a current subscription. This is a horrible company to work with.

Pros

I liked the work in progress reports. Until all of my WIP disappeared. I also liked the ability to customize invoices.

Cons

The salespeople have no idea how the software works and will guarantee the software can print reports that aren't available.

6 months in and it blows us away!

Pros

The time and expense features are the key reasons we started using Core over 6 months ago. It has simplified our accounting process by billing directly to projects and saved time on generating invoices.

Cons

It took a while to configure when you have a large running list of projects. We ultimately had to get support from BQE to setup our database initially, and it took several weeks to get through that process.

Excellent project management software for a small surveying business

Pros

Ease of use for a land surveyor that had little project management experience at the start.

Cons

Can't think of anything

Good time and project management/account solution for businesses

This is one of the top business management software solutions that we've encountered.

Pros

We switched over to Core after using several other project/time management and accounting programs over the past several years. Since the switch to Core, we've been very happy with the results and the ability to automatically indicate to employees when they are overbudget on projects/tasks.

Cons

There is a bit of learning required on the user's parts before they know where to input time, expenses, and deliverables.

Awesome and easy to use

Pros

BQE is awesome it makes things so easy when entering time and billing clients. Before we got BQE we would do everything by hand, when switching over it made thing go 10 times faster. Its a great software.

Cons

little glitches here and there but the customer support is so fast and responsive and the are willing to fix the software glitches.

It works

Pros

It does the job. It can be a bit wonky and sometime you aren't sure if it's saving or freezing. Doesn't really have helpful features - like auto populating commonly used activity ID's. Very basic features.

Cons

Mobile app isn't great but allows you to update time when offline - which is helpful when you're updating on the subway. Customer service is not great but their account managers are on top of billing issues.