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Finding the right document automation software for you and your team isn't easy
Document Automation Reviews Team | Last updated: 6 February 2021
Finding the right document automation service can take a lot of time and money.
Unfortunately, your time will be stretched in 2021. You're bouncing from online meeting to meeting, reading and responding to dozens of emails, and maybe juggling children who would otherwise be in school.
To save you time, we’ve compared 6 popular document automation companies. We've assessed them based on the following criteria:
Criteria to Assess Document Automation Software
Can I Include Whatever I Want in My Documents?
Will My Documents Look How I Want?
How Long Will it Take to Learn the Software?
Will my IT Team Consider the Software Secure?
Is the Software Well-Maintained?
Which Sectors Use the Software?
If I Need Training and Support, Will I Get Help?
Will the Sales Process Focus on Me?
If I Switch Software, Can I Take My Data With Me?
All of our reviews are based on these nine criteria. With these criteria in mind, read below about the 6 document automation software providers that you should consider in 2021.
Dox42 Document Automation - Best Sharepoint Document Automation 2021, Best Manufacturing Document Automation 2021
Document Automation Reviews Team | Last updated: 6 February 2021
Executive Summary
Dox42 Pros
Dox42 integrates with Sharepoint, which is rare among document automation providers
Dox42's Database functionality is exceptionally strong and fully featured
Dox42 Cons
Dox42 inserts Excel charts into documents as images (lower quality, less zoom-able) rather than vector format (higher quality, zoom-friendly).
The Word and Excel addins are functional but could benefit from better design.
You may see some dialog boxes in the Excel addin that haven't been fully translated from German to English.
Can I Include Whatever I Want in my Dox42 Documents?
Pros:
You can change text based on Sharepoint and Excel data (dynamic text)
You can include or exclude sections of text based on criteria you specify (conditional text)
Template text can flow freely. Thankfully, Dox42 does not require everything to always be in the same position. The only real limits to template flexibility are a result of what is possible in Microsoft Word.
You can generate multiple documents at the same time using Dox42 (i.e., batch processing)
Cons:
No substantial corporate brand compliance features
Will My Dox42 Documents Look How I Want?
Dox42 automates content within Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Powerpoint. The quality of the outputs are therefore largely up to the user’s capabilities with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Dox42 Can generate PDFs based on content in Microsoft Word:
How Long Will it Take to Learn Dox42 Software?
Dox42 is easy to use because it is Microsoft Office-based, including Microsoft Word, SharePoint, and Excel. If you are already familiar with Microsoft Word, you should be able to pick up and use Dox42 with ease and speed.
Will my IT Team Consider the Software Secure?
We are currently seeking information from Dox42's about the security steps they have taken and whether all information communicated between your PC and their servers is encrypted.
Is Dox42 Software Well-Maintained?
Dox42 has a Microsoft Word addin:
Some of the Word addin's dialogue boxes are functional but not always consistently or intuitively designed. For example, some dialog boxes open in tiny size and need to be expanded to be usable:
Dox42 has a Microsoft Excel addin:
You may occasionally notice some Excel dialog boxes haven't been fully translated from German to English:
Dox42 has a Microsoft PowerPoint addin:
Sometimes upon first opening dialog boxes the buttons are cut off, although manually expanding the dialog windows fixes the issue:
Dox42's installation procedure may appear cumbersome at first, but stick with it. After unzipping the contents of the Office Addins installer, for example, you'll be presented with four installation folders:
Inside each folder are files and more folders, although the setup.exe file was all we needed to use to get the Word addin installed:
Which Sectors Use Dox42?
Dox42 is flexible and can work for many sectors, but it's user base is most concentrated in Manufacturing and Finance.
If I Need Training and Support, Will Dox42 Help?
Dox42 has a Learning Resources page containing a mix of video tutorials, demos, and discussions. The page can feel slightly disorganized, and it's not always easy to find what you need.
Yes. Dox42 makes use of data you already own and control in SharePoint and Excel, so if you want to switch to another document automation provider you can.
Yes, we do. Especially if you want to automate documents using SharePoint, speak German, and work in the manufacturing or finance sectors.
Something to consider...
What one or two sectors does the document automation company specialize in? No company can focus on every sector. When new features are considered or bugs fixed, you'll be more likely to benefit if you're in a major sector the company focuses on.
Epsillion Document Automation - Best Document Automation Visuals 2021, Best Document Automation for Business Valuation 2021
Document Automation Reviews Team | Last updated: 6 February 2021
Executive Summary
Epsillion Pros
Epsillion's report and presentation visual quality is significantly higher than most other document automation software
Epsillion is good at Excel to Word automation, Excel to PDF automation, and Excel to HTML automation. Linking to charts, tables, and individual numbers from an Excel model is easy and robust, which makes the software a strong fit for Business Valuation firms.
All of your data lives within Microsoft Word and Excel documents you own and control, so you can leave and go to another provider without any hitches
Because Epsillion's API is point-and-click and requires no code, it's probably the easiest to use among all document automation APIs
The only document automation software provider that offers a 90 day money back guarantee
Epsillion Cons
Epsillion is for Windows only. It is Mac incompatible
If you want to use an SQL database, you need to pull your SQL data into Excel first using Excel's native database connection features, then insert Excel content into your Epsillion documents. (Alternatively, you can pay the Epsillion programmers to connect your SQL database to your documents.)
If you want to use JSON, XML or other less common data formats in your reports, you need to ask the Epsillion programmers to implement that functionality because it isn't accessible in the graphical user interface
Can I Include Whatever I Want in My Documents?
Pros:
You can change text, charts, and tables based on content you put into your Excel file
You can include or exclude sections of text based on criteria you specify (conditional text)
Template text can flow freely. Thankfully, Epsillion does not require everything to always be in the same position.
You can generate multiple documents at once from the desktop software's front end (batch mode processing)
Cons:
Epsillion does not offer looping variables in its batch mode
Will My Documents Look How I Want?
Epsillion generates PDFs and HTML content that look professionally designed. These formats allow for total control over fonts, margins, colors, and graphics in a way that Microsoft Word and PowerPoint can't match. The visual quality of Epsillion's outputs is therefore higher than that of other document automation providers.
If brand compliance is important to you, Epsillion is one of your stronger choices.
Here is an example of a real estate research report:
Here is an example of presentation PDF:
Here is an example of a dashboard/infographic:
How Long Will it Take to Learn the Software?
Epsillion is relatively easy to use because it is Microsoft Word- and Microsoft Excel-based. However, the variety of features mean that it can take several hours of practice and training to become an expert user.
Will my IT Team Consider the Software Secure?
Yes. Epsillion's installers are professionally signed and all traffic between your computer and Epsillion's servers is encrypted.
Is Espillion's Software Well-Maintained?
Yes. Epsillion's user interface melds with the latest versions of Microsoft Office and feels up-to-date.
Epsillion's Word addin is modern and fit in with Microsoft Word's user interface.
Epsillion's Excel addin is similarly up-to-date and makes use of both the ribbon and the sidebar to the right.
Epsillion supports high definition screens.
Which Sectors Use Epsillion?
Epsillion is flexible and can be used in many sectors. We believe the two sectors that comprise the greatest number of their users are:
Business Valuation
Real Estate Research
If I Need Training and Support, Will Epsillion Help?
Epsillion advertises unlimited, free, live, screenshare training sessions
Epsillion will give you a free, live demo
Epsillion offers a 90 day money back guarantee, the most generous among document automation providers
Cons:
Epsillion will only let you install a trial version of the software after showing you a proof of concept, but not before
If I Switch Software, Can I Take My Data With Me?
Yes. You store data in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel on your own computers, so if you want to switch to another document automation provider you aren't locked in.
Yes, we do. Particularly if you want professional looking reports and presentations, and you work with complex Excel models (e.g., business valuation professionals).
Something to consider...
What quality of visual output do you need? For some purposes, Microsoft Word outputs will suit your needs. For companies that require strict brand compliance, PDF and HTML outputs tend to allow for the greatest control and most professional results.
HotDocs Document Automation - Best for Document Automation Based on Client Questionnaires 2021, Best Document Automation for Government 2021
Document Automation Reviews Team | Last updated: 6 February 2021
Executive Summary
HotDocs Pros
The ability to create questionnaires/interviews/forms for clients, send them to clients, have clients fill them in, and that information becoming available to you for your documents is very smart and helpful
The HotDocs website shows testimonials from customers in a wide range of sectors, which should give you a good understanding of whether it will work for you in your sector
It can be hard to find the information you need in HotDocs' Help pages
HotDocs's Word addin is starting to look out-of-date
Can I Include Whatever I Want in my HotDocs Documents?
Pros:
You can change text based on content you put into the HotDocs database (dynamic text)
You can include or exclude sections of text based on criteria you specify (conditional text)
Template text can flow freely. Thankfully, HotDocs does not require everything to always be in the same position. The only real limits to template flexibility are a result of what is possible in Microsoft Word.
Cons:
Limited corporate brand compliance features
You can't update tables and charts in your document based based on your Excel data
Generating multiple documents at the same time (i.e., batch processing) is only available in HotDocs' advanced API
Will my HotDocs Documents Look How I Want?
HotDocs generates Microsoft Word documents. The quality of the outputs are therefore largely up to the user’s capabilities with Microsoft Word.
How Long Will it Take to Learn HotDocs Software?
HotDocs is easy to use because it is Microsoft Word-based. An interview process walks you through the steps of creating your first document (software asks you a question about your document; you answer). If you are already familiar with Microsoft Word, you should be able to pick up and use HotDocs with ease and speed.
Will my IT Team Consider the Software Secure?
HotDocs says that, "All communication between the various components of HotDocs Document Services is encrypted using SSL/TLS. This includes communication from the browser to the web server, fromHotDocs Developer 10.2to the web application, and among all the various parts and pieces of theDocument Services stack."
Is HotDocs' Software Well-Maintained?
HotDocs' Microsoft Word addin looks a bit dated and could use a refresh.
HotDocs is flexible and can be used in many sectors. We believe the two sectors that comprise the greatest number of their users are:
Legal sector
Government sector
We will reach out to HotDocs for confirmation, and will update this section when they provide it.
If I Need Training and Support, Will HotDocs Help?
Somewhat confusingly, if you click on the Knowledge Base link on HotDocs' website, you'll be taken to AbacusNext's support website (AbacusNext is HotDocs' parent company):
There is a link to the HotDocs specific information, but following some of those links simply takes you back to HotDocs website:
We think HotDocs' support documentation could be better organized.
Will HotDocs' Sales Process Focus on Me?
Pros:
HotDocs will give you a free, live demo
Cons:
HotDocs does not advertise a free trial
HotDocs does not advertise a free proof of concept
HotDocs charges for live, screenshare, training sessions
If I Switch Software, Can I Take My Data With Me?
The data you enter into the HotDocs database cannot be downloaded to a CSV file that you can then use with other software. That means your data is locked into the HotDocs system.
Yes, we do. Especially if you want to populate your documents using questionnaires, and want the assurance of a company that has been in the automation sector for decades.
Something to consider...
Does the company offer training videos and screensharing training sessions on demand? Those can be important for gaining the trust and confidence of your colleagues as the whole team learns the new system.
Upslide Document Automation - Best PowerPoint Automation Addin 2021
Document Automation Reviews Team | Last updated: 6 February 2021
Executive Summary
Upslide Pros
Upslide is one of the few document automation companies to focus mostly on PowerPoint
Updating your PowerPoint with the latest numbers, charts, and tables from Excel is easy and robust
You can enforce brand compliance with Upslide's Slide Check feature, which flags and helps you fix misaligned shapes, double spaces, and highlighted text
Finance professionals will benefit from features designed with them in mind, like tombstone credentials, waterfall charts, marimekko charts, and quick CAGR formulas.)
Upslide Cons
Upslide's Microsoft Word functionality is limited compared to other document automation providers
Upslide is for Windows only. It is Mac incompatible.
Upslide's Microsoft Office Addins automatically take the far left position in the ribbons. That may be justified for the feature-packed PowerPoint addin, but the Word and Excel addins do not have so many features that you are likely to use them more often than the standard Word and Excel ribbon buttons.
Can I Include Whatever I Want in my Upslide Documents?
You can include all the normal things you would use in a PowerPoint document, plus dynamic content like numbers, charts, and tables originating in Microsoft Excel and PowerBI.
Upslide is for creating one PowerPoint deck at a time. The software doesn't allow you to generate multiple documents at once (batch mode).
Will my Upslide Documents Look How I Want?
Upslide generates Microsoft PowerPoint documents.
You can use Upslide's Library feature to access pre-saved brand-compliant slides and graphics
The software's Slide Check feature helps to ensure that shapes on slides are aligned, and flags potential errors like double spaces and highlighted text.
How Long Will it Take to Learn Upslide's Software?
Upslide is easy to use because it is Microsoft PowerPoint- and Excel-based. If you are already familiar with Microsoft Office, you should be able to pick up and use Upslide with ease and speed.
Will my IT Team Consider the Software Secure?
There is no substantial cloud component to Upslide, and therefore security should not be a concern with this software.
Is Upslide Software Well-Maintained?
Upslide has a fully featured Microsoft PowerPoint addin, including functionality in the Ribbon and right hand sidebar.
Upslide has a Microsoft Excel addin that can help you create charts and speed up common tasks (like writing CAGR formulas and copying formulas to the right), but its main feature is to indicate that you want a table or chart to link to PowerPoint or Word.
Finally, Upslide has a Microsoft Word addin. Upslide's Word addin can help you choose brand compliant templates and update charts and tables linked to Excel. However, Microsoft Word is not Upslide's focus and the feature set is therefore not as strong as it is in Upslide's PowerPoint addin.
We aren't crazy about how Upslide's Microsoft Office addins force themselves into the 'second from File' position in the Ribbon. You could argue that the unique and feature-packed PowerPoint addin deserves to do so, but it's harder to make the case for Upslide's Microsoft Word and Excel addins. Many users will need the native Microsoft Office features more often than the Upslide Word and Excel addin features.
Which Sectors Use Upslide?
Upslide specialises in the financial services sector. Many features and the terms used for them (like 'Tombstone' credentials and 'CAGR') will be familiar to people who work in the financial services sector.
If I Need Training and Support, Will Upslide Help?
Upslide's website has a very helpful User Guide section. The company has a small YouTube presence, but the short, to-the-point video clips on Upslide's website make up for it.
Upslide does not advertise a free proof of concept
If I Switch Software, Can I Take My Data With Me?
Yes. You own your Microsoft Office documents, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and PowerBI files. If you decide to stop using Upslide at some point in the future, you will still have access to all of your data.
Microsoft Excel is not one of the data sources Windword Studios can draw from
Limited brand compliance features
Can I Include Whatever I Want in my Windward Studios Documents?
Pros:
You can change text based on database content (dynamic text)
You can include or exclude sections of text based on criteria you specify (conditional text)
Some Windward Studios templates allow text to flow freely, others are inflexible and fixed
You can generate multiple documents at the same time using Windword Studios' API (i.e., batch processing)
Cons:
Limited corporate brand compliance features
You can't update tables and charts in your Word document based based on your Excel data source
Will my Windward Studios Documents Look How I Want?
Windward Studios generates Microsoft Word documents. The quality of the outputs are therefore largely up to the user’s capabilities with Microsoft Word.
Here is an example of Windward Studios creating a letter:
Here is an example of Windward Studios updating an investment performance newsletter:
Here is an example of Windward Studios creating an insurance form:
You can see more examples of Windward Studios output in their helpful template library
How Long Will it Take to Learn Windward Studios' Software?
Windward Studios is easy to use because it is Microsoft Word-based. If you are already familiar with Microsoft Word, you should be able to pick up and use Windward Studios with ease and speed.
Will my IT Team Consider the Software Secure?
We are currently seeking information from Windward Studios about the security steps they have taken and whether all information communicated between your PC and their servers is encrypted.
The Windword Studios Word addin looks modern and fits in well with the latest versions of Microsoft Office.
Windward Studios has a Microsoft Excel addin, although the company doesn't have enough information, videos, or screenshots of the addin on its website for us to assess it meaningfully.
Which Sectors Use Windward Studios?
We are seeking more information from Windward Studios and will update this section when we have an answer.
If I Need Training and Support, Will Windward Studios Help?
Windward Studios does not advertise a free proof of concept
If I Switch Software, Can I Take My Data With Me?
Yes. Windword Studios works with SQL databases and other data sources that you own and control. If you want to move to another provider, you are free to do so.
Yes, we do. Especially for people who want to use their favorite programming language and create a wide range of output formats
Something to consider...
Ask document automation vendors about their security practices. The most secure software sits on your PC and doesn't communicate with external servers. The best cloud-based vendors use encryption during data transit and storage, and they delete as much user data as they can, on a regular schedule.
Woodpecker Document Automation - Best for Legal sector 2021, Best Learning Resources 2021
Document Automation Reviews Team | Last updated: 6 February 2021
Executive Summary
Woodpecker Pros
Outstanding selection and organization of learning resources and training options
Specialized for legal sector document automation needs
Woodpecker's large library of legal templates is great for getting started quickly
Specifically targeted to solo and small firms, which is a nice change from software that tries to be everything to everybody
Woodpecker Cons
No substantial corporate brand compliance features
Could be used in other sectors than legal, but the feature set won't be geared towards you
Can I Include Whatever I Want in my Woodpecker Documents?
Pros:
You can change text based on content you put into the Woodpecker database and online forms and questionnaires (dynamic text)
You can include or exclude sections of text based on criteria you specify (conditional text)
Template text can flow freely. Thankfully, Woodpecker does not require everything to always be in the same position. The only real limits to template flexibility are a result of what is possible in Microsoft Word.
You can generate multiple documents at the same time using Woodpecker's "multi-populate" feature (batch processing)
Cons:
No substantial corporate brand compliance features
You can't update tables and charts based based on your Excel data
Will my Woodpecker Documents Look How I Want?
Woodpecker generates Microsoft Word documents. The quality of the outputs are therefore largely up to the user’s capabilities with Microsoft Word.
How Long Will it Take to Learn Woodpecker Software?
Woodpecker is easy to use because it is Microsoft Word-based. If you are already familiar with Microsoft Word, you should be able to pick up and use Woodpecker with ease and speed.
We liked how the software showed us how many instances of a particular variable existed in the report
However, we found that the counter wasn't always accurate, particularly after deleting one or more instances of the variable. The counter seems to be able to count up, but not down.
In the future, to improve documet-creation speed, we would like to see the cursor automatically positioned after a newly inserted variable, which would facilitate further typing or the insertion of additional variables in rapid succession. As it is, for some reason the cursor is placed to the left of newly inserted variables, so you need to manually click to the right to continue creating your document.
Woodpecker's large library of document templates, which you can adapt to suit your purposes, will help cut the time it takes to learn the software. Ready made templates that you can download, adapt, and use include:
Attorney Retainer template
Legal Pleading template
Expert Witness Retainer template
Independent Contractor Agreement template
Non Disclosure Agreement template
Employee Offer Letter template
Advisory Board Letter template
Confidentiality Agreement template
Website Privacy Policy template
Software Referral Agreement template
Accounts Receivable Past Due Letter template
Legal Client Non-Engagement Letter template
Durable Power of Attorney template
Living Will template
Health Care Proxy template
Legal Client Engagement Letter template
Certificate of Incorporation template
10-Day Demand Letter template
Discovery Requests template
Answer to Complaint template
Will my IT Team Consider the Software Secure?
Woodpecker's website doesn't mention security precautions, so we don't know enough to comment.
Is Woodpecker's Software Well-Maintained?
Woodpecker has an up-to-date looking sidebar Word addin.
Woodpecker doesn't have a Microsoft Excel addin.
Which Sectors Use Woodpecker?
Woodpecker was programmed specifically to serve the legal sector.
If I Need Training and Support, Will Woodpecker Help?
The data you enter into the Woodpecker database can be downloaded to a CSV file that you can then use with other software. That means your data is not locked into the Woodpecker system.
Yes, we do. Particularly if you're in the legal sector and an extensive online learning library is important for you.
Something to consider...
If you decide to change document automation companies, will you be able to take your data with you when you go? Or is your data locked in a database? If you need to upload data to their database, ask for an example of a CSV extract from that database; that will show what you can expect to take with you if you leave.
Potential future reviews
We are currently considering the following for potential, future reviews:
https://www.documate.org/
https://www.esker.co.uk/
https://precisely.se/
https://www.docmosis.com/
https://www.ecrion.com/
https://www.pandadoc.com/
https://www.templafy.com/
https://www.lucidpress.com/pages/
https://documentautomation.net/
https://avokaado.io/
https://www.knackly.io/
https://www.activedocs.com/
https://macabacus.com/
https://www.xpertdoc.com/en/
https://afterpattern.com/
Something to consider...
When choosing a document automation provider, ask for examples of all the output formats their software can generate. Some vendors can only supply one or two document types, others may be able to provide PDFs, HTML, Word documents, presentations, Kindle format, and others.
