Fishbowl Manufacturing vs ECi M1

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Our analysts compared Fishbowl Manufacturing vs ECi M1 based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Manufacturing Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Fishbowl Manufacturing Software Tool
ECi M1 Software Tool

Product Basics

Fishbowl Manufacturing is an ERP that keeps users one step ahead of their competitors by automating intricate tasks and time tracking. It monitors inventory and streamlines production to ensure products are delivered to patrons in a timely manner.

Work orders, bill of materials (BOM), shipping, inventory management and barcode scanning are a few of its quintessential features.
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ECI M1 is a solution that obtains real-time process transparency for small and mid-sized companies. It cuts costs to save money and boosts productivity. Its top features include production management, inventory supervision, scheduling, shipping and a resource planner.

It reviews everything from order entries to shipping in real time. Gain in-depth insights on equipment downtime, capacity and inventory. Link orders and invoices to existing materials for full transparency.
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Product Assistance

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Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
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Product Insights

  • Track Jobs: Track employee hours, overtime, payroll, vacation time and other information with the labor and job tracking module. Users may also implement GPS tracking to verify where employees clock in and out and permit employees to clock in and out from any mobile device. 
  • In-Depth BOMs: Add subassemblies, several finished goods and intricate units of measure via the bill of materials accessory. Users can produce and complete numerous BOMs at once in addition to writing thorough instructions and attaching pictures for each step of a BOM. 
  • Manage Serial & Lot Numbers: Rapidly track parts with serial and lot numbers with the serial and lot number feature. Users may also review expiration dates, batch numbers and revision levels along with lot history and part audit trails. 
  • Work with Multiple Locations: Upkeep inventory throughout several worksites and warehouses, enabling users to get as detailed or extensive as necessary to find the right parts or workpieces. This attribute enables users to automatically restock inventory levels by moving products from one site to another. 
  • Integrate with Other Software: Link CRM software, such as Salesforce and Zoho CRM and other programs, to Fishbowl Manufacturing to check the availability of product amounts, prices and other product intel. 
  • BI Capabilities: Find out manufacturing costs and receive the most accurate costs of raw goods and materials with the BI suite. Users may also produce detailed reports on several business operations and utilize inventory data to formulate smarter business decisions.  
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  • Increase On-time Deliveries: Utilize stock, machinery and other data to enhance productivity and team collaboration to boost on-time deliveries and increase customer satisfaction. 
  • Reduce Costs: Implement shipping analytics and merge them with global shippers to gain operational visibility and eliminate bottlenecks to save time and money. 
  • Obtain Workflow Centralization: Govern sales, warehouses, inventory, production and files on multiple sites with a centralized solution to monitor and supervise all activities. Gain in-depth business activity from any location to better manage and address issues. 
  • Boost Collaboration: Share job information with shop floor teams for increased communication and productivity by keeping everyone on the same page with real-time data. 
  • Reduce Machine Downtime: Automate scheduling to reduce idle machines, unnecessary overtime and missed deadlines while boosting production KPIs and client satisfaction rates. 
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  • Manufacturing: Superintend advanced work orders, manufacture orders, BOMs and more with the manufacturing apparatus. Users may also execute automatic custom, batch or repair work orders. 
  • Barcode Scanning: Construct inventory and manufacturing records with precision by accessing the barcode scanning tool. It executes cycle counts, enables users to pick, pack and ship goods and complete work orders as well as produce sales orders and update intricate part details. 
  • Inventory Management: Track products that are going to clients, develop reorder points for every item in a facility and cipher the suitable reorder quantity for every inventory item with the inventory management appliance. 
  • Production Stages: Craft multi-layered work orders that showcase the progress of each job that users receive to ensure everything is on schedule or to make certain adjustments for jobs that are falling behind. It designates duties to particular employees and even determines yield and waste estimates for every stage. 
  • Shipping: Integrate Fishbowl with other shipping solutions to expeditiously create shipping labels and synchronize shipping costs, tracking numbers, client addresses, weights and more so packages get to the right destination. 
  • Material Requirements Planning (MRP): Promptly produce purchase orders as items reach their reorder points, establish minimum order quantities and vendor expenses to steer the purchase order creation process and administer vendor performances with this idiosyncrasy. 
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  • Production Management: Maintain job schedules and track labor to control fees. 
  • Inventory Management: Merge all business data in real time and track all stock information across business functions. 
  • Scheduling: Automate schedules to meet maximum performance for discrete and other production methods. 
  • Shipping Management: Automate and simplify shipping tasks with in-depth analytical and Order Snapshot tools to monitor on-time deliveries and adjust accordingly. 
  • Manufacturing Resource Planner (MRP): Manage and arrange multiple facilities to keep up with ever-changing supply and demand. 
  • Quality Management: Perform automatic, customized requirements for product inspections and quality analyses. Verify improvement areas to keep bottom lines and reputations intact. 
  • General Ledger: Unite all financial data, including accounts payable and receivable, payroll, fixed assets register and credit card processing into one centralized system. 
  • Design Studio: Add new fields, change input documents, shift objects and create recent reports. Change search grids to exhibit data in several ways. 
  • Product Configurator: Craft and adjust anything from single-level BOMs to intricate products and parts. 
  • Shop Floor Entry: Gain accurate job fees, prioritizations, real-time job statuses and collected payroll hours. 
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Product Ranking

#6

among all
Manufacturing Software

#126

among all
Manufacturing Software

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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 707 reviews
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83%
of users recommend this product

Fishbowl Manufacturing has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 83% when considering 707 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

we're gathering data
4.6 (14)
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3.3 (62)
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4.2 (629)
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4.0 (2)
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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

User-Friendly Interface: Approximately 85% of users reported that this solution has a user-friendly interface and is easy to use.
Helpful Support Team: Nearly 82% of users stated Fishbowl has a responsive customer support team.
Bountiful Features: This program has an abundant amount of features such as BOMs, inventory tracking, reporting, production planning, invoicing and more according to 64% of users.
Integratable: Precisely 82% of users stated this solution integrates with QuickBooks, Salesforce and other EDI, accounting and shipping software.
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Comprehensive Feature Set: ECi M1 offers a wide array of functions, covering production planning, inventory control, and financial management, making it a comprehensive solution for small to medium-sized manufacturers.
Flexible and Customizable: The software's adaptability to different manufacturing processes is a key advantage, allowing businesses to tailor the system to their specific needs.
Improved Operational Efficiency: Many users report that once ECi M1 is fully implemented, it significantly streamlines operations, leading to increased productivity and reduced manual processes.
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Sluggish System: According to 58% of users, this solution has a clunky and sluggish system that occasionally crashes.
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Steep Learning Curve: ECi M1 has a steep learning curve, meaning it can be challenging and time-consuming for users to get up to speed with the software's functionality.
Customer Support Responsiveness: Some users have reported issues with the responsiveness of ECi M1's customer support, which could be problematic when facing urgent technical difficulties or needing assistance.
Complex Initial Setup: The initial setup of ECi M1 can be complex and time-consuming, requiring significant effort and potentially specialized expertise to configure the system correctly.
Limited Batch Manufacturing Support: ECi M1 is not ideal for batch manufacturing, which could be a drawback for businesses that heavily rely on this production method.
Lack of Low-Code Customizations: Unlike some competing ERP systems, ECi M1 does not offer low-code customization options, making it potentially less flexible for businesses with unique requirements not addressed by the software's standard features.
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Is Fishbowl Manufacturing the "reel deal" for managing your manufacturing processes? Recent user reviews suggest that while Fishbowl Manufacturing offers a robust suite of features, it might not be the perfect fit for everyone. Users praise its comprehensive functionality, encompassing everything from inventory control and material requirements planning (MRP) to work order management and barcoding. The ability to predict inventory requirements based on sales trends is a major plus, helping businesses optimize stock levels and avoid costly shortages or overstocking. Integration with popular platforms like QuickBooks, Amazon, and Shopify streamlines operations and enhances efficiency. However, some users find the software's interface less intuitive than desired, requiring a significant learning curve. Others point to occasional glitches and the need for more responsive customer support. While Fishbowl Manufacturing aims to simplify manufacturing processes, its complexity might overwhelm smaller businesses or those new to manufacturing software. Ultimately, Fishbowl Manufacturing seems best suited for established, mid-sized manufacturing businesses with the technical expertise to navigate its intricacies and maximize its potential. Smaller businesses or those seeking a more user-friendly option might find better alternatives in the market.

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Is ECi M1 manufacturing a monumental success in the world of ERP software? Recent user reviews suggest a somewhat nuanced picture. While ECi M1 garners praise for its robust functionality, particularly in inventory management, production scheduling, and financial reporting, some users find the initial learning curve to be a bit steep. Many users, especially those already familiar with manufacturing software, appreciate the depth of features, citing the comprehensive inventory tracking and detailed production planning capabilities as major wins for streamlining operations and reducing costly errors. However, the software's complexity can be daunting for some, leading to initial setup challenges and a longer onboarding period. This robust functionality also appears to be a key differentiator for ECi M1. Unlike more general-purpose ERP solutions, ECi M1 is purpose-built for the intricacies of manufacturing, which resonates with users who find generic ERP systems to be a poor fit. The software's ability to integrate with other software is another often-cited advantage, enabling businesses to create a more unified technology ecosystem. That said, the responsiveness of customer support has been an occasional source of frustration for some users, who have reported delays in getting issues resolved. Overall, ECi M1 appears to be best suited for small to medium-sized manufacturers who need a powerful, specialized solution and are willing to invest the time to overcome the initial learning curve.

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