Solid Edge vs Macola

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Our analysts compared Solid Edge 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.

Solid Edge Software Tool
Macola Software Tool

Product Basics

Solid Edge is a comprehensive computer-aided design (CAD) software suite specifically designed for manufacturing companies. It offers a robust set of tools for 3D modeling, assembly design, simulation, and design management, making it well-suited for engineers and designers who need to create and manage complex product designs. Users frequently praise its intuitive interface, efficient workflows, and seamless integration with other manufacturing software. Popular features include synchronous technology for flexible modeling, design for manufacturing capabilities to optimize production processes, and built-in collaboration tools for enhanced teamwork. Compared to similar products, Solid Edge is often regarded as a cost-effective solution that offers a strong balance of features and ease of use. Pricing is typically subscription-based, with different packages available to accommodate varying needs and budgets.

Pros
  • Intuitive interface
  • Efficient workflows
  • Seamless integration
  • Flexible modeling
  • Design for manufacturing
Cons
  • Limited customization
  • Occasional performance issues
  • Steeper learning curve
  • Fewer advanced features
  • Subscription-based pricing
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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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$600 Monthly
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$995 One-Time
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Chromebook
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Linux
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Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

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

Product Insights

  • Advanced Technology: Utilize the system interface with AI technology and a smart 3D model search engine to produce designs and make products swiftly. 
  • Cabinet Panel Design: Perform quick 2D layouts of industrial dashboards with precision to ensure complete management of all design procedures. 
  • High-Quality Files: Generate detailed documentation and diagrams out of 3D models and designs at a rapid pace to ensure product designs are up to par. 
  • Expedite Numerical Control (NC): Accelerate NC programming via a searchable post-processing repository, milling and roughing for quick, accurate product building. 
  • Simpler Simulation: Streamline and approve designs with strengthened simulation flow and structure, which permits better models and faster construction time. 
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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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  • Data Management: Protect and govern product information and techniques, guarantee quick information retrieval, share product data and handle other accessories to enhance quality and diminish costly errors. 
  • Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM): Review the impact of shape changes with project variant comparisons and gauge outcomes with numbers, charts or graphic animations. The user interface is straightforward with coherent tutorials, templates and guides. 
  • 3D Design: Implement this attribute's array of tools such as augmented reality to perform secure sharing and assist in digital collaboration, 3D rendering to draft photographic-like models and subdivision modeling to form suitable shape developments. 
  • 3D Printing: Execute the generative design extension to implement robust design traits and topology technology to draft and print intricate shapes. This component also permits sending blueprints to cloud-based 3D printing companies to get real-time quotes, pricings and lead-time comparisons. 
  • Electrical Design: Envision all electrical areas of designs in a 3D atmosphere, direct wiring and other components in the design models and study these plans to cipher the suitable wire lengths and harnesses. 
  • Simulation: Initiate finite element analysis (FEA) to approve part and assembly designs. 
  • Cloud-Based Collaboration: Access your computer-aided designs (CADs) on any mobile devices such as phones, tablets, PCs, Macs and Chromebooks. Consists of on-demand updates and CAD file sharing. 
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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

#53

among all
Manufacturing Software

#15

among all
Manufacturing Software

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User Sentiment Summary

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Good User Sentiment 49 reviews
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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.

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3.7 (15)
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4.1 (30)
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3.4 (4)

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Intuitive Interface: Users often find Solid Edge's interface to be easy to learn and navigate, even without extensive CAD experience. Icons and menus are well-organized and logical, making it easier to find the tools you need.
Efficient Workflows: Solid Edge streamlines design and engineering processes with features like synchronous technology, which allows for quick and flexible editing of models without the need for traditional history-based modeling constraints. This can significantly speed up the design process and make it easier to make changes on the fly.
Seamless Integration: Solid Edge integrates smoothly with other manufacturing software, such as CAM, PDM, and PLM systems. This helps to ensure data consistency and streamline workflows across different stages of the product development process.
Flexible Modeling: Solid Edge offers a variety of powerful modeling tools that allow users to create complex and intricate designs with ease.
Design for Manufacturing: Solid Edge includes features specifically designed to help users create designs that are optimized for manufacturing. This can help to reduce production costs and time-to-market.
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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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Limited Customization: Some users find Solid Edge's interface less customizable compared to other CAD software. This can make it difficult to tailor the workspace to specific preferences and workflows.
Occasional Performance Issues: Users report occasional performance issues, especially when working with large or complex models. This can lead to delays and frustration.
Steeper Learning Curve: While Solid Edge's interface is generally considered intuitive, its advanced features can have a steeper learning curve for beginners. This may require more time and effort to master the software fully.
Fewer Advanced Features: Compared to some high-end CAD software, Solid Edge may lack certain specialized features that are essential for niche industries or highly complex designs.
Subscription-Based Pricing: The subscription-based pricing model can be less appealing to users who prefer perpetual licenses or have limited budgets.
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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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User reviews for Solid Edge come in two distinct flavors: those smitten by its user-friendliness and streamlined workflows, and those yearning for the deeper control of its bigger rivals. For the first group, Solid Edge is a "breath of fresh air" compared to the "clunky behemoths" like Autodesk Inventor. One engineer gushes, "Switching from Inventor was like trading a tank for a sports car. Solid Edge is agile and intuitive, I don't get lost in menus anymore." This ease of use is a major draw for beginners and design teams, making it a "Goldilocks of CAD software," perfect for a broad middle ground. However, power users often feel limited by Solid Edge's "training wheels." They miss the precise customization and advanced features found in CATIA, longing for the "granular control" that lets them push design boundaries. As one user admits, "Solid Edge shines for everyday tasks, but for pushing the envelope, I miss the surgical precision of CATIA." This trade-off between user-friendliness and ultimate power is a constant rumble in Solid Edge reviews. Where Solid Edge truly steals the show is in its seamless integration with other Siemens offerings and its laser focus on manufacturing. "Integration with NX is flawless," beams one designer. "It's like a symphony, not a cacophony of programs." This streamlined workflow translates to tangible benefits, as another user shares, "Solid Edge's design tools consider manufacturability from the get-go. It saves us headaches and money down the production line." Ultimately, Solid Edge user reviews paint a picture of a software that prioritizes accessibility and practicality. It may not offer the raw power of CATIA or the niche capabilities of hyper-specialized tools, but for those seeking a balance of ease, efficiency, and production-ready designs, Solid Edge holds a unique charm. As one user puts it, "It's the perfect middle ground - powerful enough for most jobs, and intuitive enough for any team member to pick up."

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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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