Sumac - Avis

Flexible and good value. It provides just the right structure yet flexible enough to customize for emerging needs.

Could use more ease of use features. WOuld love to have documents stored on individuals so that all users can access.

Sumac provides a customizable platform for managing our programs and services, tracking communications and case management. We are planning to expand our use and utilize more modules and expand our use of existing ones. The software is growing with us as we move a team into an online Case Management model after 30 years of pen and paper. We have set it up so we master uses one at a time and have eased the transition of staff. This has been a blessing as I have worked with other organizations that have lost staff as an out of the can software full of bugs was implemented with little room for transition.

While for some the customization may be a challenge the benefit is huge. If you do not have someone to work with to complete the customizations there is an affordable option available working with the Sumac team.

The email component does not allow for, (or I have not figured out how to), multiple emails, so we only use it for mass emails as the responses can only go to one address.

I think the history tab, where I can see an entire person's donation, membership and communication history in one place.

I don't like that it's not terribly flexible and that the web integrations aren't mobile compatible. I also don't like that online membership purchases require a log in before purchasing, which is a barrier to getting more people.

It integrates everything. With Sumac we can generate output to determine trends or targets, even deficiencies, by combining seemingly unrelated data. There's no data-based relationship we cannot explore and mine for fresh insights.
I like that it is held off-site so that we do not have to worry about additional data security. Of course, this also makes our Sumac data available anywhere, anytime.

Some of the modules have a steeper learning curve, but I don't see how that's avoidable. The biggest deficiency for me is that I would love an ap (application). Personally, I work with an iPad and right now I cannot access Sumac with that platform.

I especially like the facility for reporting. I like how it interfaces with other programs such as Excel and Simply Accounting. I also love how it does automatic credit card transactions.

I can honestly say that It has been rare that I have had issues with this program. It has always been because of my lack of knowledge of it's capabilities. A phone call will usually clear up any issues I have.
The only problem we have encountered is to link our website donations to the program. We are still not sure where this glitch lies.

It is customizable to our needs (mostly). Some of the features we would find beneficial are not available.

We have encountered a number of bugs over the past few months in working with our trainer. She has been awesome in documenting and reporting them but the training time it ends up taking up in trying to find work arounds or confirm that it is in fact a bug is frustrating.

User friendly interface and the customization feature "grow your own". Support staff are helpful and I love that training videos are provided as well.

I would love to see the development of connecting related emails directly to the database contact records so that the added steps of using the "communication" function were not needed.

Excellent features and value for the price, especially for not for profit organizations who do not have a lot of funds but really need and can benefit from this software. Excellent customer support, not a long wait either.

Sorting and queries are complicated and not as automated or easy as I would like and there are some limitations.

Sumac is anti-intuitive.Functions do not follow a logical sequence. There never seems to be a video for what I need to do. Support has never recommended a video. The remote support doesn't work. One has to manage the telephone and manage the computer at the same time, while trying to follow instructions. There must be a better way. People learn in different modes, Sumac provides only one. Watching someone complete the sequence is not the same as performing it for a kinesthetic learner.

I have found Sumac to be the answer I was looking for to manage both clients and donors. After initial set up it was easy for my team to use and update information. The training videos are very helpful and available at any time.

Sometimes the glitches when updates happen, but IT support walked us through how to handle it and once we saved the process it was not an issue.

So easy to customize! I am not computer savvy and I was easily able to customize fields for a variety of programs and services we offer.

I find I need help building specific searches but thankfully tech support is always there to help me out.

The new reports are fine. The data entry is easy. I like that it is in the cloud. The telephone support is very helpful.

You can not export to excel. You cannot delete mistakes. You are not able to make custom reports, with name, address and donation amount.

It has the ability to generate Charity Receipts
It is usable as a stand-alone customer relations program

Generating Charity Receipts is not an easy task - coding is always an issue
The software cost is not designed for smaller charitable organizations
Terminology for reporting is not consistent with the accounting/bookkeeping profession

it's pretty user friendly and it's easy to get used to even if you don't have database experience from prior use

sometimes the filters take awhile to load and it also takes awhile to log on but other than that no problem

Sumac is powerful and customizable. With a little prep work, we were able to take limited information from our (separate) box office and turn it into a strong patron database that we can slice into innumerable segments for precise messaging and campaigns.

I was also quite pleased to see feedback I'd made to Sumac turned into a real product feature.

The interface is a little cumbersome, but not unusually so for a software in this category.

it is so intuitive, friendly and usable. I have no complaints about the software.

There is nothing about Sumac that I don't like. We have referred you to three other agencies and they now use it. We need a finder's fee!

It did seem to have a lot of options. I found that the short period that I did look at Sumac (we purchased it, but in the end did not use it because some of the other issues outweighed continuing the use of it). It had decent records, and I liked that you could enter a lot custom ifnormation

The biggest thing I did not like was in order generate the tax receipts was you needed to use Mail Merge. In fact, that was the one reason we did not use the program long term. It was too time-consuming.

Lots of features. Like that you could manage contacts, take payment and sync with accounting software.

It wasn't intuitive to use. Couldn't figure out aspects without reading the tutorial.

Sumac provides very helpful support. They are only a phone call away and sometimes you are able to speak with someone immediately.

Nothing - I need to get used to the system. As with any new to you system it takes a little time to get used to it and the more you use it the easier it becomes.