There have been a lot of new players enter the Facility Management Software space serving churches. Some of these products are actually really good. Some have REALLY cool features. But...most charge per user per month. I just don't get it!
OK...I get the "business" reason why. The more users, the potential increase in bandwidth and data storage for servers. But to me, a USER BASED subscription penalizes a church for growing numerical or staffing. If a church has 50,000 SF and they double in attendance...but doesn't add more square footage, they have to increase staff to maintain a building that now has more utilization leading to more cleaning and wear and tear.
When we launched eSPACE (MINISTReSPACE in 2008), the most popular event and facility scheduling software on the market was Event U. At that time, and even to today, they charge by "resource" which is kin to USER BASED pricing. If you added 25 more tables or 5 summer interns, etc. you pay more per month. That just feels mercenary to me.
That is why eSPACE Event Scheduler and Work Order & Asset Management has UNLIMITED users. Our pricing is based on elements such as the number of schedule-able spaces, number of fixed assets and the number of locations (think multi-site). I really wrestle why we should charge more for users. We WANT churches to have as much buy-in and utilization as they desire. We have found that organizations that have dozens or even hundreds of users are operating much more effectively and efficient by having more people with access to the software.
In the Work Order realm, there are some really good software options. I have been impressed by Akita Box, UpKeep and FMX. Dude Solutions also has some interesting features, but most of those solutions implement a USER BASED subscription price. Also, eSPACE is the ONLY facility management software that:
- Church centric...over 95% of our subscribers are churches
- Developed by church facility specialists for facility professionals...not just a cool tool for a market segment that needs serving
- Provides a Life Cycle Calculator if you subscribe to the paid subscriptions.
- Offers integration with your HVAC, Door Access and Digital Signage
- Integrates with approximately 15 of the most utilized ChMS tools (Church Management Software)
- Offers a FREE online community focused on all things Church Facility Management.
- Offers onsite Facility Condition Assessments and deferred maintenance identification
OK...I am clearly biased. But I am 100% convinced that the eSPACE solution is the BEST for any and every church!
Let us know if you want to explore how eSPACE and Cool Solutions Group can assist your organization to be efficient, effective and intentional with the facilities entrusted to you to steward.
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