ETAP vs Macola

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Our analysts compared ETAP vs Macola based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Manufacturing Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Macola Software Tool

Product Basics

ETAP is a comprehensive software solution designed to manage and optimize manufacturing processes. It is particularly well-suited for industries that require detailed electrical power system analysis and management, such as manufacturing plants, due to its robust capabilities in modeling, simulation, and real-time monitoring. The software offers significant benefits, including enhanced operational efficiency, improved safety, and reduced downtime through predictive maintenance and fault analysis.

Popular features of ETAP include load flow analysis, short circuit analysis, arc flash analysis, and dynamic system simulation. These features enable users to design, operate, and automate their electrical power systems with precision. Users have praised ETAP for its user-friendly interface and the depth of its analytical tools, which often surpass those of similar products in the market.

Pricing for ETAP can vary widely based on the specific modules and features required, as well as the scale of deployment. It is typically offered on a subscription basis, with costs potentially ranging from a few thousand to several tens of thousands of dollars annually. For precise pricing tailored to individual needs, it is recommended to contact SelectHub for a detailed quote.

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Macola provides business solutions to small and medium-sized distribution and manufacturing companies. It increases the accuracy and speed of managing a business and streamlines operations in complex manufacturing and distribution environments. It allows users to configure workspaces at user level without consultants or developers. It also streamlines processes such as workflows, automation and document management. 

It enhances how customers interact with the businesses, improving accuracy, speed and reliability. It offers access via mobile apps and the web, business intelligence, and automated workflows.


Pros
  • Strong inventory management
  • Robust financial reporting
  • Customizable to specific needs
  • Scalable for growth
  • Long-standing industry presence
Cons
  • Steeper learning curve
  • Limited mobile accessibility
  • Potential customization costs
  • Dated interface (in some versions)
  • Compatibility concerns with newer tech
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$700 Annually, Quote-based
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$995 One-Time
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Improved Efficiency: ETAP streamlines manufacturing processes by automating routine tasks, reducing the time and effort required for manual operations.
  • Enhanced Accuracy: By minimizing human error through automated data entry and calculations, ETAP ensures higher precision in production planning and execution.
  • Cost Reduction: Optimizing resource allocation and minimizing waste, ETAP helps lower operational costs and improve profitability.
  • Real-Time Monitoring: ETAP provides live updates on production status, enabling managers to make informed decisions quickly and effectively.
  • Scalability: The software can easily adapt to the growing needs of a business, supporting expansion without significant additional investment.
  • Regulatory Compliance: ETAP assists in maintaining compliance with industry standards and regulations by ensuring accurate record-keeping and reporting.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Advanced analytics and reporting tools in ETAP offer valuable insights into production trends, helping to identify areas for improvement.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: By providing a centralized platform for information sharing, ETAP fosters better communication and collaboration among team members.
  • Predictive Maintenance: ETAP's predictive analytics can forecast equipment failures, allowing for proactive maintenance and reducing downtime.
  • Inventory Management: The software optimizes inventory levels, ensuring that materials are available when needed while avoiding overstocking.
  • Energy Efficiency: ETAP helps monitor and manage energy consumption, leading to more sustainable manufacturing practices and cost savings.
  • Customer Satisfaction: By improving production quality and reducing lead times, ETAP contributes to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Flexibility: The software supports various manufacturing methodologies, including lean manufacturing and just-in-time production, allowing businesses to choose the best approach for their needs.
  • Risk Management: ETAP helps identify potential risks in the production process, enabling businesses to implement mitigation strategies proactively.
  • Resource Optimization: By efficiently managing labor, materials, and machinery, ETAP ensures optimal use of resources, enhancing overall productivity.
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  • Improved Financial Control: With the general ledger, users can manage core financial information leading to better financial control and decision making that can lower costs and minimize human error. 
  • Streamline Operations: Centralized document creation and management with secure and role-based access lets users streamline operations. This helps users monitor and manage their business operations. 
  • Monitors Business Activity: It monitors business data and executes actions through triggers that can be pre-set by the user. This leads to lowered costs, better productivity and higher revenue. 
  • Ensure Smooth Distribution: Macola maintains inventory in real time, making sure that users avoid overstocking and stockouts. This ensures that investment in excess inventory is reduced while boosting inventory efficiency overall. 
  • Manage Customer Data: It comes equipped with a pre-built platform to manage companies’ relationships with their customers. 
  • Process Payments: Macola has powerful accounting and finance capabilities that enable users to process orders and manage payments. 
  • Critical Job Functions: Macola allows workspaces to be created for specific jobs, such as a human resource workspace, a sales workspace, an order processing workspace or a finance and accounting workspace. 
  • Optimize Time: The personalized workspaces that can be created within Macola help lower the time needed to perform tasks by providing users with critical data and functions. 
  • Always Accessible: Personalized workspaces can be accessed from anywhere at any time using browsers, tablets, smartphones and client servers.
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  • Load Flow Analysis: Provides detailed analysis of power flow in electrical networks, helping to optimize system performance.
  • Short Circuit Analysis: Calculates fault currents and helps in designing protective devices to ensure system safety.
  • Arc Flash Analysis: Assesses potential arc flash hazards and recommends safety measures to protect personnel.
  • Transient Stability Analysis: Evaluates the system's ability to remain stable under transient conditions, such as sudden load changes or faults.
  • Harmonic Analysis: Identifies and mitigates harmonic distortions in the electrical system to improve power quality.
  • Protective Device Coordination: Ensures that protective devices are properly coordinated to minimize system downtime during faults.
  • Motor Acceleration Analysis: Analyzes the impact of motor starting on the electrical network, ensuring reliable operation.
  • Reliability Assessment: Evaluates the reliability of the electrical system and identifies areas for improvement.
  • Load Shedding and Restoration: Automates load shedding and restoration processes to maintain system stability during emergencies.
  • Real-Time Monitoring: Provides real-time data on system performance, enabling proactive maintenance and quick response to issues.
  • Network Topology Processor: Automatically updates the network model based on real-time data, ensuring accurate analysis.
  • Geospatial Information System (GIS) Integration: Integrates with GIS to provide a visual representation of the electrical network, aiding in planning and analysis.
  • Data Exchange and Interoperability: Supports data exchange with other systems and software, facilitating seamless integration into existing workflows.
  • Customizable Reporting: Generates detailed, customizable reports to meet specific regulatory and operational requirements.
  • Scenario Analysis: Allows users to simulate different scenarios and assess their impact on the electrical system.
  • Energy Management System (EMS) Integration: Integrates with EMS to optimize energy usage and reduce operational costs.
  • Training and Simulation: Provides a platform for training personnel and simulating various operational scenarios to enhance preparedness.
  • Compliance Tracking: Helps ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations through automated tracking and reporting.
  • Advanced Visualization Tools: Offers advanced visualization tools to help users understand complex data and make informed decisions.
  • Modular Architecture: Features a modular architecture that allows users to add or remove functionalities based on their specific needs.
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  • Accounting and Finance: Macola gives users a real-time financial overview of their company. Using the general ledger, users can manage the business’s financial core, cut costs, reduce human error and improve decision making. 
  • Accounts Payable and Receivable: This feature of Macola ensures that the flow of raw materials, services and supplies does not get disrupted, resulting in a good reputation with the vendors. It also helps manage credit and activity to help maximize cash flows. 
  • Excel Add-ins: Macola and Excel link dynamically, allowing users to access data in Excel. It is not necessary to export data and it offers dynamic and immediate reporting capabilities. 
  • Monitoring Business Activity: Macola monitors users’ business information and scans users’ operations every minute. It can send email alerts, update databases, generate reports and initiate workflows. 
  • Business Process Management: Macola comes with document management, customized workflows and CRM capabilities. These features ensure that users store information securely and centrally so that it can be accessed from anywhere, streamlining customer interactions. 
  • Customer Relationship Management: This feature organizes customer data in a single database. Users’ clients, vendors, employees and business partners are connected via Macola, allowing them to capture customer experiences. Users can understand, monitor, maximize and manage sales performance. 
  • Inventory Management: Macola ensures the right products are in stock. It helps also helps users avoid overstocking and stockouts. 
  • Order Entry: It facilitates order entry processes. It also accepts quotes and orders, validates credit and calculates prices. The system supports pickups and shipping by recommending lots to be picked along with order lines. It generates shipping documents like packing slips, labels and bills. 
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Product Ranking

#57

among all
Manufacturing Software

#15

among all
Manufacturing Software

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User Sentiment Summary

Excellent User Sentiment 81 reviews
Good User Sentiment 49 reviews
91%
of users recommend this product

ETAP has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 91% when considering 81 user reviews from 1 recognized software review sites.

78%
of users recommend this product

Macola has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 78% when considering 49 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

n/a
3.7 (15)
4.54 (81)
4.1 (30)
n/a
3.4 (4)

Awards

ETAP stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Trusted Results: ETAP provides reliable and accurate data and calculations, giving users confidence in their system analysis.
User-Friendly Interface: The software features a graphical user interface that simplifies complex modeling tasks, making it accessible to both new and experienced users.
Comprehensive Analysis: ETAP offers a wide array of tools and modules for performing various power system studies, enabling users to analyze and optimize their systems effectively.
Customizable Reporting: Users can tailor reports to their specific needs, including detailed analysis or concise summaries, facilitating clear communication and decision-making.
Responsive Support: ETAP provides reliable technical support and resources, ensuring users have assistance when encountering challenges or requiring guidance.
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Accurate Inventory Tracking: Real-time visibility into stock levels and locations, minimizing stockouts and overstocking.
Robust Financial Insights: Generate comprehensive financial reports with drill-down capabilities for deeper analysis.
Tailored to Specific Needs: Configure Macola to match your unique workflows and processes, improving efficiency.
Adapts to Growth: Accommodate increasing business volume with Macola's scalable architecture.
Proven Manufacturing & Distribution Track Record: Benefit from Macola's deep understanding of industry-specific challenges.
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Cost: Users have reported that the software requires the purchase of numerous modules. This can be frustrating for users as they may start a project only to realize they need an additional module for a key feature.
Complexity: The software is powerful and feature-rich, which can make it challenging to learn and require extensive training to master. Users have mentioned that getting reacquainted with the software after a period of not using it can be time-consuming.
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Steeper Learning Curve: Initial setup and user training can be demanding, requiring dedicated resources.
Limited Mobile Accessibility: Interface may not be fully optimized for mobile devices, hindering remote work.
Potential Customization Costs: Extensive customization needs may incur additional development fees.
Dated Interface (in some versions): Older versions may have less intuitive interfaces compared to modern software.
Compatibility Concerns with Newer Tech: Integration with newer technologies might require additional effort or third-party tools.
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Is ETAP software the easiest tap into the world of electrical power system design and analysis? User reviews from the last year suggest that it might just be! ETAP consistently receives high praise for its user-friendly interface and robust functionality. Users highlight the intuitive one-line diagram interface, which simplifies the process of creating and analyzing complex power systems, as a key strength that sets it apart from competitors. For instance, one user, who previously used SKM Power Tools, found ETAP to be far easier to use and understand. However, some users express frustration with the pricing model, specifically the need to purchase numerous modules to access specific features. Despite this drawback, ETAP is widely regarded as a powerful and essential tool for power system engineers. ETAP's focus on providing detailed reports and analysis tools is another major plus. Users appreciate the software's ability to generate comprehensive reports, including star graphs that are visually appealing and easy to interpret. This feature is particularly valuable for presenting findings to stakeholders and justifying design decisions. The availability of macros for automating repetitive tasks further enhances efficiency and productivity, making it ideal for large-scale projects. Overall, ETAP emerges as the go-to choice for professionals involved in the design, analysis, and operation of electrical power systems. Its user-friendly interface, powerful features, and comprehensive reporting capabilities make it an invaluable asset for both seasoned engineers and those new to the field. While the pricing structure may pose a challenge for some, the software's exceptional value proposition and industry-leading reputation solidify its position as a top contender in the market.

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For manufacturers and distributors, Macola is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it's praised for its rock-solid core – think Fort Knox inventory tracking, treasure map-like financial reports, and a growth-friendly architecture that scales seamlessly. On the other hand, it's criticized for its learning curve resembling Mount Fuji and a mobile app stuck in a dark labyrinth. Compared to its competitors, Macola lacks the modern sparkle and broader integrations, but its deep industry expertise makes it a master of the manufacturing and distribution tango. Choosing Macola boils down to priorities: if operational power trumps cutting-edge tech, invest the time to learn its intricacies and embrace its classic vibe. For those seeking slick interfaces and mobile magic, Macola might not be the perfect fit.

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