Elements XS Reviews

There is a lot I like about this software. After having used it for years, I wish now that I'd done more out-of-the-box configuration than customized workflows. The software is good for mobile devices and was redesigned from its previous version for that purpose. The documentation is getting better, and I hope that more users start using the forums. I like the look and feel of the user side and administration side. Whenever a product allows you to customize more, it becomes more complex, which is no one's fault; it's just a universal law. Thus it is with Elements. It's tricky to build even simple workflows at first because there's so much you _could_ do to make a workflow, so they offer those additional, if ill-used, options all the time. And, over time, we do end up using some of those more complex options.

In order to avoid reinventing the wheel, Novotx went for a solution that consumed other products to get stuff done. It can use ArcGIS Server, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS.com, and uses Geocortex Essentials, Reporting, and Workflows to do mapping and customized behavior. As a natural consequence of this, the administrator has to go to a lot of places to make Elements do stuff. Some stuff is done over here, some is done over there, and yet other stuff is done in this other place.

Various UI improvements could be made as well, like which things pop up in other browser tabs versus which things pop up to replace the content I was looking at. Customizing the user experience as an administrator can also be a challenge since it's not all done in one place. And lastly, the word "type" is too frequently and too often for me to full understand what the software wants in parts. Examples in the documentation would be nice.

Lastly, there isn't a great way within the administrative side of the software to document what you're doing, why you set things up this way, or record changes. That has to be done in Google Docs, Word, or whatever other word processor your organization uses.

It is highly customizable and easy to use. Mapping of open tasks is really useful. Being able to update GIS feature attributes when tasks are completed is awesome to save, for example, the last flush date and chlorine residual of a hydrant, so this can be displayed when they click on the hydrant on the map. I like being able to create custom workflows and forms so the tasks can be processed exactly how we want.

This isn't really a con of the product, because all software is unfamiliar when you first get it, but there is a learning curve if you want to create custom workflows for the tasks on your own. Novotx can train someone for this and if you have an employee with some programming knowledge then it would be easier, but not entirely necessary, to train.

Elements is extremely customizable. It is desinged to work with your existing processes and make them more efficient.

In the COVID world, timelines are stretched due to unforeseen reasons. We would have liket the implementation completed sooner, but we are understanding of the changes of the timeline and are happy with the finished product.

When we implemented the Elements platform in 2018 we were on the cutting edge of integrating our billing, mapping, asset management, and mobile work order processes into one platform. The Elements implementation team was there for us through the entire process. Their tech teams have continued to be with us to this day with the many changes and upgrades that have occurred. They continue to have a very quick response time to my tech questions.

The biggest issue I have is that there is no way to create a GPS feature while in the Elements map. I work around this by using my Esri field maps to create the feature and then attach a work order to it. I have to have this function because there are always instances where an unplanned or miscellaneous field event needs to be created.
Also, while using the map, the following and tracking features in the field always seem to be slower as compared to my Esri Field map apps.

It is easy to use and integrate with our other systems (maps, billing system).

It would be nice to have a visual representation of tasks that have recurring maintenance. You can look it up but it would be nice to have the icon have a wrench or other visual representation.

The most impactful features for us are the Work Order Management, the GIS Maps and Inventory Management. These features have become essential to our business processes and procedures.

The reports function, I think can be a bit more user friendly. The ability to export files to xlsx format, but be easier to manipulate is essential to Provo Water Co.