Alfresco Reviews

Alfresco's pricing starts at $100,000, which is costly for smaller projects. Licensing is perceived as expensive, especially when additional integrations increase costs. Clients typically migrate from other systems, incurring setup and migration expenses. The Enterprise Edition is richer in features compared to the free Community Edition, offering advanced capabilities like clustering and graph workflows. Despite some users finding Alfresco cost-effective, others view it as mid-range with significant licensing considerations.

• "The license for Alfresco is expensive - not the maximum, but close. There are also extra costs once you start building integrations, as implementation seems to be very costly."
• "There are costs for any upgrade or additional functions."
• "If you buy Alfresco through a partner, there is usually a OEM licensing option."

Alfresco is primarily utilized for content management, document storage, and workflow integration. Many use it to store transaction-related documents such as signed forms, invoices, and purchase orders, linking them to ERP systems. It supports unstructured document management, records management, and process management across departments. Organizations implement it for document searches, metadata management, and customization, aiming for a paperless office, and automate manual forms for efficient document handling. However, some find it less user-friendly compared to previous systems.

Alfresco's customer service is praised for being responsive and helpful, with assistance available from both their team and community. Technical support receives mixed feedback; some find it fast and professional, while others report delays and reliance on community forums. Many users appreciate the expertise and amiable demeanor of the team despite internal workflow challenges. For some, re-sellers or partners offer quicker support. Alfresco Enterprise users have a ticket system that generally provides positive outcomes.

Setting up Alfresco varied among users. Some found it initially challenging due to required familiarity with different areas like server installation and database configuration, while others found it straightforward. Improvements after release 6.2 and available guides simplified the process. Basic setup options cater to less technical users, while advanced installation requires more expertise. Many highlighted the importance of training and the helpfulness of available documentation in easing the setup process.

Alfresco demonstrates strong scalability across web, application, and database layers, effectively managing organization growth. It supports clustering, load balancing, and separate scaling for different components, often involving Apache servers and SAN for data management. Users note scalability challenges in older versions, especially when handling large document volumes, which may require expert assistance. However, there have been reports of no major issues, with minor adjustments needed for resource optimization. Alfresco's scalability remains a notable feature.

Alfresco demonstrates strong stability, especially in recent versions, with issues primarily tied to older clustering methods and scaling for extensive document loads. Certified administrators are essential for optimal setup. Some instability appears under heavy requests, which can be managed by proper JVM parameters. Major enhancements involve migration and framework adjustments, requiring caution during upgrades. It holds a stability rating of eight out of ten, favored for its robust performance by many users.