Total ETO
Designed by engineers, Total ETO software combines the best of an ERP with a traditional MRP. This solution is a gamechanger for manufacturing looking for ERP functionality in the engineer-to-order or custom design fields. For example, users can release BOM in stages so you don’t have to worry about material changes or redesigns.
Since Total ETO is made for small to medium sized manufacturing companies, it’s not for manufacturers with under 5 employees or enterprise-level productions with more than 500 employees. It’s also not intended for manufacturers outside of ETO and related custom design fields.
- Integration with QuickBooks, Sage and SolidWorks
- Consistent performance across software updates
- Excellent customer service with quick response time
- No native feature for electronic labor tracking
- Limited CRM features
- Developer Total ETO Inc.
- Client OS Windows
- Deployment On-Premises
What is Total ETO?
Total ETO, formerly known as Questica ETO, is an ERP and MRP solution designed exclusively for Engineer To Order (ETO) and Custom Design Manufacturers. This software features a dynamic BOM for each job, integration with CAD systems such as SolidWorks and Inventor, consolidated purchasing, inventory and routing, and accounting integration with systems such as QuickBooks or Sage.
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Target Market
The target market for Total ETO is small to medium businesses includes ETO job shops and custom design manufacturers specializing in:
- Industrial Automation
- Turnkey System Integration
- Material Handling Systems
- Packaging Machinery
- Lifts and Cranes
- Conveyors
- Panels and Controls
The average Total ETO customer has 70-100 employees, though they can serve businesses with anywhere between 5 and 200 employees.
Our Ratings
| Usability - 8.5 | Offers on-premise installation along with some web-based applications on private servers; has a Windows-based user interface; certain functions are web-based. |
| Support - 9.5 | Includes toll free phone support from 9 am - 5 pm EST Monday - Friday; email support requests are also available; the implementation agent will be the primary support contact during the first few years of use. |
| Features - 9.2 | Covers a mix of manufacturing and ERP functionality, such as sales, engineering, purchasing, manufacturing, accounting, and analytics; all features are included in the core package, so no extra modules are necessary. |
| Security - 9.9 | On-premise or private cloud server implementation options; uses open database technology and supports the latest Windows Operating Systems; the software uses a combination of Microsoft Office, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft .NET and SAP Crystal Reports. |
| Value - 9.5 | Plans start at $7,500 per year for 5 users; there are different pricing tiers based on user counts; more users can be added at any time and will be prorated; no free trial available. |
| Performance - 8.5 | Functionality was fast and responsive; no slowness or performance issues. |
| Scalability - 9 | New users can be added to the annual plan at any time; more than 200 employees can complicate the system, making it harder for midsize companies to grow beyond this. |
Dynamic Bill of Materials
Total ETO lets you release your BOM in stages so you don’t have to worry about material changes or redesigns. Creating dynamic BOMs saves time and money for manufacturers by allowing you to release bills of materials before in stages, so parts can move to procurement earlier and keep overall production moving.
In turn, these BOMs make it easier for estimating project costs and creating accurate quotations. Manufacturers can generate detailed and precise estimates by taking into account various factors such as labor, materials, subcontracting, and overhead costs. The quotation feature integrates with project management functionalities, allowing manufacturers to seamlessly transition from quotation to project execution, minimizing the risk of under or overpricing.
Integrations
While covering most ERP functionality, Total ETO integrates with several third-party solutions to cover additional areas. Some accounting options include:
- QuickBooks
- Sage 300
- Sage 50
This software also integrates with different CAD solutions, like Inventor and SolidWorks. In fact, Total ETO is partnered with Autodesk and Dassault. The BOM import tool can support files from:
- SolidWorks Electrical
- E-Plan
- Solid Edge
Finally, Total ETO can link with payroll and time and attendance systems like ADP and Mitrefinch.
All these integrations make it easier to oversee different aspects of the business from one shared location. Project managers can better plan out resources based on what is being reported on in each area of the shop.
What Features Are Missing?
The Total ETO user experience might have been improved with:
- Mobile time tracking: Total ETO has a time-only user license which gives shop workers the ability to track time on projects without having full user access to the software. While web-based tools can be accessed through phones via web browser, there is not a native mobile app available. Having that option could help those time-only workers accurately log project time from their own devices.
Pricing Plans
| Plan | Pricing | Features |
| Starting Package | $7,500 per year for 5 users | This starter plan includes:
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Site licensing is also available. New users can be added at any time in three different roles: full access, read-only, and time-only. The restricted user roles can be added to a package at a lower price than full user access. There are no free trials.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about Total ETO software:
How much does Total ETO cost?
Total ETO pricing starts at $7,500 per year for 5 users. Additional users can be added at any time. The rate for new users is dependent on how many users you already have. There are different user types available at different rates, so you can affordably add read-only and time-only employees. Request a demo to get a quote based on your user count.
Alternatives
Summary
Based on our experience, we recommend Total ETO for small to medium ETO manufacturers with between 75 and 100 employees. Since this solution is designed by former integrators and custom machine builders with firsthand experience in ETO, it is also ideal for those types of manufacturers looking for a single software with all the functionality of an ERP and MRP tools to address ETO-specific processes.
Total ETO would not be a good fit for manufacturing organizations which are especially small or large. It’s not not for manufacturers outside of the ETO or custom manufacturing space. Companies looking for in-depth customization may also want to look elsewhere as those extras can increase costs and implementation time.
User Reviews of Total ETO
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We moved forward with Total ETO because of its integration with Quickbooks. We were promised the software could meet our various, unique needs but once it was implemented, we found that not to be case. To have the software operable, we have numerous work arounds. Already unhappy with the software and not finding any resolution, we were then informed our costs were going to double.
The biggest benefit of ETO is real time data. It used to take days to get a report. Now it’s literally minutes. When we’re running 10 to 12 projects at a time, this is important because I can get all the information I need without bugging people.
As our company has grown, we haven’t had to increase the number of employees in the Purchasing Department. In fact, we’re down from two people to one.
Accuracy of costs is critical. That’s why we went with Total ETO. It’s easy to get people up and running on the system.
Total ETO is extremely responsive. They listen to their customers. They are willing to work with customers to make the changes that are needed. They are not like other software companies that leave you to deal with it yourself.
It allowed us to double sales and increase profits by a factor of five in four years
Total ETO’s service is excellent. They are always very timely in terms of responding to requests.
