OpenGov Permitting & Licensing Reviews

Cloud based and great for our field staff!

Pros:

We love viewpoint for photos and documentation storage. We like the fact it is awesome to share information quickly for in house documents. We appreciate having something that is staying with the technology moves we are seeing grow so rapidly.

Cons:

With this being a fairly new program most of the problem we run into we can get an answer from the support team within a few house. Hoping in the future documents can be edited and signed through this storage system.

Feedback from Lower Makefield

Comments: It's been great. We've had an 80% reduction in folks stopping in for help and a 50% reduction in phone questions.

Pros:

Easy to use for applicants and on the municipal end. Can be easily customized to fine tune the process.

Cons:

Very few issues with the software. It didn't take long to get local builders on board with the process. We do still need to assist folks who are very uncomfortable with computers.

Very disappointed with Cloud based system

Comments: I was on the team to review new permitting software for the City of Portsmouth about 5 years ago. After reviewing multiple systems and having an onsite demo we all picked Viewpoint as the number 1 choice This was before it was a web based program since one of the requirement in the RFP was in could not be a cloud based program. For some reason the city decided not upgrade at that time. The City then decided to go with Viewpoint Cloud without consulting with the original team. In my opinion the cloud based system was a major step backwards. Also I think there are much better cloud base permitting systems available.

Pros:

As a plumbing mechanical inspector I like the fact that we can schedule the inspection in the system and when I leave the job I can record inspection results in my vehicle on tablet. Saves a lot of time on recording manually or returning to office and entering into system. I like the fact that all communication is done in the permit and the results can be shared with other inspectors by using the @.

Cons:

The integration with Outlook is terrible. It creates another calendar that cannot be edited to add appointments not related to Viewpoint inspection and you can not customize the amount of time for an inspection. It schedules to 1/2 hr. and some inspections we schedule are for 1hr. Also once an inspection is scheduled you can not schedule another inspection for that permit until you sign of on the scheduled inspection. Some contractors would like to schedule multiple inspection for the same permit at once. The contractor database should be built into the software and not an add on. There is a problem with running reports. I did contact support months ago and was told that it is an issue with the system but it still has not been resolved. Better reporting was one of the main reasons we purchased the system

Best software implementation I have ever experienced in local government

Comments: It has been, hands down, by far the best software implementation that I have experienced in my sixteen years in local government. This product didn't just provide a new permitting platform, it significantly improved our operations and lessened the time necessary to review permits for our customers. It dramatically increased the number of online permit applications we receive, and resulted in a 10x increase in the number of electronic payments.

Pros:

The ease of use and obvious care that was put into the user interface and user experience. Both the back end and customer facing portions of this software are very easy to use. Employees were essentially able to train themselves with very minimal direction on how to navigate Viewpoint, and customers were wowed by the use of use that encouraged them to submit applications to us electronically and make electronic payments.

Cons:

When we first implemented Viewpoint nearly three years ago the product was young in its maturity and we had to make some compromises because of its somewhat limited functionality. Viewpoint has evolved a lot in the last three years, however, and we have found that the benefits of the overall product far outweigh any remaining issues.

Excellent Software with Ease of Use for All!

Comments: This software has allowed us to go completely paperless, has streamlined the permitting process, cut down on foot traffic into the office as well as phone calls checking on the status of permits. Customer Service has been very good, always quick to respond.

Pros:

This software is very easy to use and set-up. It has helped streamline our permitting process and has allowed better interaction with our applicants. Contractors love this software due to it's ease of use and that they no longer have to make it to our offices to pull apply for permits, they can now easily do it from their home and/or office.

Cons:

Would like to see the attachments revamped to allow for folders to be added or renaming of files easier. When you have a large project sometimes attachments can be confusing to the office and to the applicant. Would also like to see the fees for applicants be connected, so you don't have to go into each application and change the same fee type, this is very time consuming.

Excellent Choice

Comments: Our implementation went very smoothly, and the interface was both simple and intuitive. The team does a nice job of adding functionality on a regular basis.

Pros:

The flexibility of the design allows us to customize our request forms, workflows, and screens to fit our requirements. And it allows us to adapt the process and adjust as new requirements emerge.

Cons:

I didn't buy stock in the company from the jump.

Review

Comments: I really like the processes with ViewPoint from Plan Review down to Inspections. I like how all pertinent information is captured in the system and I like the look.

Pros:

Value and ease of use. The software is intuitive and my staff and most customers like it.

Cons:

Lacks obvious functionality when it comes to email addresses. Limiting a permit to only one email address creates a lot of problems for customers and staff. Critical users cannot see their inspection results.

Marc Tate - Westerly RI

Comments: We were part of the State of Rhode Island push to have an online E-permitting system. This allowed us to take online submissions and credit card payments. It has cut down our data entry time and provided public access to our information.

Pros:

Being a SAAS product is the best feature of the software

Cons:

Very limited reporting options - AN EXPORT TO EXCEL IS NOT A REPORT - I had to write a program so that my users were not recreating reports every day. Viewpoint, like every other permitting program I have ever used, should have basic canned reports that could be run as needed.

Town of Wellesley

Comments: The overall experience has been positive but there are improvements that Viewpoint should make to improve the system.

Pros:

The program is very intuitive . It is easy to customize to how you want it to operate.

Cons:

The program needs cancelled/void, expired choices for permits. The program needs to allow multiple people on a permit. The Building Code allows licensed designee's. Viewpoint should do the same. The reporting function needs to be improved. Hard to search all parameters that can arise from the Public and internally.

Use and look through the software carefully in demo!!

Comments: At first you trust the company. as time goes by you lose faith in the company itself (not reliable and need to do things yourself) I get a feeling I know more of the software than the workers there.

Pros:

Able to mess with majority of the important functions on the forms myself without needed to go to support, Record/application is under your control, User Friendly, can store documents (limited to file size though), can access anywhere as long as you have a phone.

Cons:

stuff they say is not on product (hence title), expect to write a decent amount of tickets to support, pretty slow on resolving big issues (expect 2+ months), missing simple or fundamental options like giving renew button for applicant (have to go through a campaign, like what?), often document issuing problems, must know a little html language for document creation, "lesson for software" does not help at all (waste of money), expect your difficult questions in a zoom meetings ignored, "Roadmap ideas" take more than a half a year to complete (sometimes partial complete but it says complete), will ask you to be in meetings to say good things and not bad things for sales (basically using you)

This program is very easy to work with.

Pros:

Very easy to use and maintain my work loads. This program has streamlined out permit process and has allowed better interaction with various people across all departments.

Cons:

Sometimes it is easy to look at the plans on paper. Sometimes I need to look at the plans on paper. Still this program has help me a great deal.

Positive Experience, Reporting needs flexibility

Comments: My overall experience has been positive. The user interface is simple and easy to understand. My main complaint is the lack of flexibility in the reporting feature.

Pros:

The ability to "tag" other employees on a permit and to customize each record type is great.

Cons:

The weakest part of this software is the reporting. The pre-defined categories are limiting and it would be more useful if each field of a record type was a reportable field.

One change would be helpful

Pros:

The ability to see what the others in my office are working on, and for keeping a permanent record of correspondence on a job.

Cons:

On the contractor's side, they can only put one email address on a job. It would be nice the design professional, the contractor, and the owner all could receive emails on status changes, comments, and inspections.

User Friendly

Pros:

Very easy to use. We were able to add a few things and tweak a few things to best suit our needs.

Cons:

Sometimes there is an issue when using an i-pad, but I believe that is an i-pad problem.

Ok, but can always be better

Pros:

Ease of use, looking up files. Filing permits

Cons:

Map could have a printable section for mileage patrol. If a project fails a inspection, it should go to yellow or orange, not green after it passes. To let people know there was a issue but has been corrected.

Epermitting

Pros:

Ability to manage property data and review permits

Cons:

Navigation around website very inconvenient

East to use software

Comments: It is easy to track and approve building permits.

Pros:

It is easy to find what you are looking for with the search function.

Cons:

Sometimes it is confusing to find the correct place to upload attachments.

I'm just a user in another Dept...

Pros:

Can access scanned documents like building plans.

Cons:

Poor export functionality. Lack of printed forms and reports.

OpenGov Review

Pros:

Product is easy to use and great for the general pubic.

Cons:

Notifications should be add to help our building department deal with those applying for permits.

REVIEW

Pros:

Combines all permit under one address. Look up an address and you see all permits and inspections.

Cons:

Need to add more inspection type titles.

a-ok

Comments: Over all, it has has been a good product and it allows me to work more effectively

Pros:

I like the ease of data retrieval from any location

Cons:

Because of self reporting, we get varried data entry issues. I wish that there were prespecified fields that would prompt the user. If they say they are "replacing a roof", it would be helpful to know if it is 2 square of 24 square, or instead of "rough and finish plumbing" to know how many wc's, sinks, hose bibs etc, like the state form had.

Haverhill CIty Clerk Review

Comments: Have not found VPC responsive to our needs and also lots of down time.

Pros:

all information is in one place and accessible offsite

Cons:

Very difficult user interface and unable to customize for certain records to the degree we need

User

Comments: Fair to good

Pros:

I have no comment . The public seems to like having the ability to submit for a building permit without coming to tow hall.

Cons:

*Accessing attachments for viewing without having having to go back to beginning *Labeling of permits. Have to open permit to see what it’s for. *access and ability to write my own report / queries * unable to update house photos. Houses have been razed and new houses built but old photos still shown.

Code

Comments: It is very helpful to write comments and check it later before submitting it.

Pros:

It is very helpful to write comments and check it later before submitting it.

Cons:

Editing sometimes is not easy. I wish it has grammar check option.

Permit

Comments: easy to use and great for record store

Pros:

easy to use and navigate to different subject

Cons:

nothing wrong about this software, I like it a lot