ArcSite

I use ArcSite to prepare field drawings for Cogeneration projects in NYC

Pros:

Easy to use and packed with features! Photos, scale drawings from my iPad, checklists, notes, scanning existing drawings, you think of it... the feature is there!

Cons:

I wish it integrated with Zapier because I would like to export drawings directly to my database and assign tasks to team member accordingly.

Intuitive drawing software

Comments: Extremely satisfied customer. Accurate and timely drawings to clients allow me to do more with my time. Platform makes it easy to create and deliver quality, professional drawings to clients and share with co-workers.

Pros:

Intuitive drawing software. Arcsite allows me to create custom drawings to scale for our clients. The drawings help customers gain comfort in how the product will look and perform. I can easily make adjustments/ updates to the drawings. I was able to upload our proposal forms to Arcsite and add the drawings to forms. It gets easier over time to use. I am able to create and store shapes that can be used again and again on different drawings. I can copy similar drawings and make quick adjustments. Being able to store drawings over time and reference them as needed is a huge feature for me. Also, sharing drawings could not be easier -- you can export in different formats with one click. We share drawings internally, clear detail has helped with company communication. Support was very timely, particularly in the beginning to ensure I got off to a good start. The rep got back to me quickly with answers to questions and also provided suggestions to improve efficiency on Arcsite. Updates are made that improve my ability to deliver professional and accurate drawings to the client. Extremely satisfied customer, I use Arcsite everyday.

Cons:

Perhaps in the beginning I might have had something to note here -- but I honestly don't have any cons. Patience and spending time on Arcsite makes the next visit a little easier.

i measure homes for cabinets, remodel and new. its a good program and gets the job done

Comments: quicker measures on the job and easier to read numbers ( ala no handwriting)
saves time and therefore money

Pros:

i like how easy it is to import drawings to the website. i like how easy it is to draw a basic room plan

Cons:

the forms that get created need to download with the drawings like the photes you take do if that happened that would be great!

CAD for non-CAD users

Pros:

Extremely precise but also extremely easy to use. Quick sketches to convey a concept or verify a solution are a breeze to create. I love that this tool isn't burdened by all the baggage inherent in pro-quality CAD tools. This tool opened up an opportunity for exploring solutions to problems I'd encounter as a project manager for residential construction projects. I was able to develop more fully a previously untapped vein of creativity that I probably wouldn't have discovered or utilized otherwise.

Cons:

Two issues: Integration & 3D I really wish it could integrate more tightly with other tools. The developers seem to believe the tool is positioned in the context of managing a collection of construction drawings - along the lines of products like PlanGrid. Maybe it meets that need for some users, but it doesn't begin to meet the requirements of that category in my opinion. I use PlanGrid everyday and would LOVE for Arcsite to be able to layer on top of the PlanGrid document library -- justlike RFIs or Photos, or Issues. If they could bring the same level of simplicity and precision to drawing in 3D, bridging between 2D and 3D. I've started using Shapr3D for iPad which is a brilliant app for drawing in 3D. But like most CAD tools, it assumes the user is already well-versed in the underlying techniques & concepts. (not to mention it's more geared for drawing things that will be fabricated or 3D printed). I long for a 3D solution that is as easy as ArcSite but as powerful as Shapr3D.

Leagues ahead of anything else I used

Comments: Going into customer meetings for new fire and security systems with no drawings has always been a challenge. Using pen and paper was our only option. Trying other "drawing apps", I found them to be very limited in what they offered.
However, with Arcsite, this blew the competition out of the water in terms of shear versatility and functionality. I was able to create drawings either from importing PDFs, taking a photo, or even drawing them myself. The integration and support offered by Arcsite really enabled us to integrate our own fire and security device symbols into the app to allow me to effectively mark up drawings with devices whilst walking site, thus saving lots of time.
The addition of allowing embedded photos into the drawings is a massive help, as it really allows for additional information to be captured which often is too difficult to just put into words.

Pros:

I love how versatile the software is on my ipad in that i can import drawings, take a photo to use as a drawing, or even draw out a building layout from scratch. It really has I believe set us apart from competition and has wowed customers

Cons:

How when file sizes get larger than around 500kb, the app beings to struggle and becomes sluggish

Excellent for our business and our lives. Wonderful customer support too!

Comments: Both business and life benefits. I use this for work and I use this for home building projects.

Pros:

There are two things that I like most about this software: 1. The customization that we have experienced by paying for development has been off the charts. We are able to customize the product we offer to our customers as a result of this. We've never known of an app that does this. 2. The customer support we receive if there are ever any glitches or data loss is astounding. They are fast, professional, friendly, and above all, extremely competent at what they do.

Cons:

I wish there was a way to do a wide spread search of every shape that has a photo in it. When you've placed multiple shapes, it's tough to remember which one you took the pictures in.

Love the App and the Support

Comments: We are way more efficient with the use of this app. We are more accurate, faster and efficient with our time.

Pros:

We were using a very common app that often times would crash losing our work and when we would call for support, there was no help. It was very frustrating. I began the search for a new app and found ArcSite who was up and coming. Even though it is used for many other professions, I am able to use it for my particular small business. When I called them to inquire, they were very quick to respond, walked me through the best way to use the app, listed to me when I asked for new functions, and even after 2 years, if I have a problem, they are super quick to respond. They do not care that I am a small business, and treat me like I am a very large company. My team is so much happier and work is more efficient with this app, and they have the best customer service!

Cons:

Since we are using this app for something that it may not really be intended for, there are some things that I wish we could do on it so that we could finish out our product 100% in ArcSite, but I feel like maybe in the future they will continue to develop it and we may see that opportunity.

Professional Custom Bids!

Comments: ArcSite has given us the ability to create beautiful, quality, custom bids for the work we do on our customers home that is unparalleled. The amount of professionalism detail in our bids has increased our closing rate. We love arcsite!

Pros:

ArcSite is very easy to use. We had our inspectors trained on how to use it within one day. The different features and the ease of creating custom, quality, and highly detailed graphs to match our customers home have been amazing.

Cons:

All in all we have no real complaints. ArcSite gives us the ability to do just about everything we need to. The only improvement that we would love is to have each project automatically upload to the cloud vs having to send it there yourself, but that is being nitpicky.

Excellent drawing software for floorplans and building sketches.

Comments: I enjoyed using the software, and I would love to continue using it. However, the costs were a hurdle that made it hard to justify compared to other sketching software.

Pros:

I really enjoyed using this software on the iPad and drawing building sketches in the field. The ability to change dimensions and have the software automatically adjust other walls at the same time was great. The software was intuitive and easy to use.

Cons:

To be honest, the things I didn't like at first were addressed in updates after I sent feedback to support. The cost of the software for what I use it for is still a big hurdle. It is pricey. I don't know if there is an option for an appraiser level package, but I would consider a hybrid package that offers the basic basic package plus a couple of extras for like $15 (annual billing level). I would like the ability to sketch on pdf and would need to access the drawings from my pc. I don't need everything that the Draw+ package offers, but I need a few more options than what is offered in the basic package. The jump from the basic to the plus package makes it infeasible for my firm to consider. Currently, we use Apex Sketch for our work, and it is a stand alone license that makes the cost much more feasible.

Really like the app, works great for me.

Comments: I use it daily in my work.

Pros:

Not as tedious as other drawing apps. Drawing scale is unlimited. Prints to png,pdf and love it. Love entering distances and angles. Love being able to use it without an internet connection because I am regularly off the grid.

Cons:

Needs alignment tool and auto shape (star, triangle, circle and square/rectangle). Would really be nice if I could re-arrange order of layers. Can't create gradient colors, would be nice.

Suits 89% of my need

Pros:

As Director of a cemetery association, I find ArcSite to be valuable for a variety of functions. Primarily, I use it to map monuments in need of restoration or cleaning, as well as for landscaping issues and concerns. It is easy to upload the maps I need as base templates. Once the templates are loaded, it is effortless to use in the field with the iPad version of ArcSite. I like the reports that it produces, and it intuitively formats the photos and comments.

Cons:

When I upload a document to use as a template, I wish that there was a "make a template" function, as I. wind up recreating the needed form over and over again. It would also be helpful to have the capacity to produce a csv document for database conversion.

This has made my measuring on site very helpful and keeps things organized

Comments: more organization and cleaner drawings witch improves communications and understanding in the job.

Pros:

I like the simplicity of the program. I love that you can add photos and place measurements on the photos or pdf drawings.

Cons:

I wish that there were more items in the list for my profession. I would like more cabinet options I also wish that everything didn't load into their own page. It would be nice when you uploaded a file it came back as one file not each page a separate file.

Very useful tool, did most of what I asked of it. Replaced the hand sketches in the truck

Pros:

Had all the functionality I needed to make quick, easy sketches With the ability to put photos in the background with a transparency I can trace all the details I needed before adding the new additions Rep at customer service always did his best to meet my needs

Cons:

Can't change the direction & orientation of the anglular measure. Getting lineweights correct for export was guess and check. Doesn't auto save on cell connection. The dimensions are always in the magnifier Snaps are somewhat buried in the menus to change.

How good is ARCSITE

Comments: We use ArcSite to create lift plane and the ability to screen shot google earth and import the picture or the site you are doing the plan for makes life so much easier.
Also have created a shape library with the cranes all drawn to scale so you can just add to plan and position accordingly.

Pros:

Ease of use The ability to import pictures Create your own shape libary

Cons:

I can't say that there were any cons really

Using Arcsite for Energy Surveys

Comments: I love it. Site surveys are more accurate and having developed my own shapes I don't need to do much ad hoc typing of notes.

Pros:

Easy of use. Speeds up the work process. Better quality site notes for audit.

Cons:

Struggling to find a con; but would be great additions if it included GPS location; ability to create 3D models. Would like the ability to edit drawings on my desktop.

Outstanding design platform

Comments: The online support has been very responsive and great to work with.

Pros:

Great product to draw 2D drawings Very simple to use. We use these drawings for our CNC Plasma as well as fabrication drawings

Cons:

No 3D option No text don’t options More options on spirals and machining

Simple, Must-Have Tool

Pros:

Simplicity. I've used many other programs and coming from a CAD background this is the least "fluffy," with features I do not utilize personally and gimmicky data-driven programs that MS Excel can already do. ArcSite is what I need to share and sell ideas effectively.

Cons:

Measuring tool can be tricky, but there are work-arounds.

Best basic mobile CAD

Comments: Over all experience has been really good. The customer support has been a huge help and he has added many features that have been beneficial to what my company uses this app for.

Pros:

Portability and ease of use, and customer support is fantastic!

Cons:

Lack of options: - snap-to - auto fill - repeat of item around a shape - odd shape(oval eclipse etc.) - most of all: changing a line size will sometimes create a glitch that will freeze the app or change so many other measurements because of what its connected to.

Overall great program

Pros:

Easy to setup and implement with very little downtime. Easy to upload new files into the cloud and exporting is also easy.

Cons:

The pricing for this seems a bit high. Great for our productivity and everything but better bulk pricing for multiple users would be best.

Great software with many toola

Comments: Overall it’s a great program that’s I recommend anyone looking into drawing plans for jobs and or in my case giving estimates

Pros:

I enjoy the ease and accuracy it gives for my plan drawings

Cons:

I do not like that it does not offer a feature to do even the minimal editing on photos cropping etc

Simple to use yet has deep feature set

Pros:

It is very straightforward. We don't use much in the way on the advanced features, just basic line drawings for our paperwork. But it is exactly what we had been looking for.

Cons:

The app will randomly sign me out of my account. It enters a demo mode every so often brings up a prompt to show me what the icons do. Neither of these are huge inconveniences but I figured they are worth mentioning.

great iPad drawing app

Comments: Awesome app with great support

Pros:

very easy to create simple shapes and templates

Cons:

It was too expensive and i couldn't get my employer to pay the subscription

Software is great, easy to use and perfect for onsite drawing of floor plans, etc.

Comments: I have really enjoyed using the software. I have completely replaced my hand drawings and notes with Arcsite and it had been great.

Pros:

Easy to use in field. Simple and auto insertion of doors, windows, etc. Easy to change properties.

Cons:

I would like to see more blocks, and most of the time the blocks that come with software are not to the right scale. No way to close polylines and hatch does not recognize closed polyline that are draw. I have to alter text size quite often even on similarly sized drawings.

DRAWING WITH EASE

Comments: great customer service.

Pros:

Its really easy draw its make our onsite work much easier.

Cons:

My only complaint is that you cant used on the PC to Draw when I'm in the office. this would really make the product 110% perfect.

ArcSite Review

Pros:

Ease of use and being able to drawing in the field on my ipad

Cons:

N/A for how I use the software, again I use the software to sketch drawings in the field to sent to contractors.