12d Synergy vs. Bentley ProjectWise

12d Synergy and its ability to handle all file types really suited the engineering industry.

If you need something more than just a file server, my advice: try it, if you like it use it, if you find it is slowing you down try ANY of the many other products out there.

It is capable, it is highly developed, it is better than a file server, but it is not streamlined and is in need of a major overhaul for an acceptable 21st century user experience. I personally have threatened to quit my job if we changed from our current document management system to ProjectWise, this is not because ProjectWise is not a good product, it is because I just want to be able to do my job without wasting time fighting the system.

• 12d model data management.
• CAD data management.

• It works for collaboration
• The backend is customisable to do work that other document management systems just cannot do.

• Limited integration with REVIT.

• many users cannot be in the same file at the same time
• files are not automatically freed upon closure
• copying files to another ProjectWise folder is complicated. There is an option to copy, another to copy to, etc.

We get great support from the app team. They listen to our views and often implement our suggestions - we have nearly exhausted our wish list since it's all been implemented.

Hands down prefer 12d Synergy. Bentley ProjectWise is overly complex, expensive and has a very cluttered interface.

I think ProjectWise is better for technical users than Dropbox, one drive, or SharePoint. It is less intuitive than any of the others though. It is better for restoring files and creating an audit trail than any of the other programs. It is better for sharing large files in a short period of time than SharePoint or one drive. It is also better for larger teams and larger projects than SharePoint or Dropbox.

• 12d Synergy has allowed our business to share resources across multiple geographical locations reducing the need for users to travel for a project or experience slow network speeds whilst working.
• 12d Synergy has allowed our business to have multiple clients and subcontractors access selected areas of a project structure, improving communication and integration across different disciplines.

• It has saved us time in archiving and versioning documents
• It has saved us effort in backing up files and restoring them when mistakes are made
• It has had an overall positive impact on our bottom line by helping with file sharing and collaboration