Deputy Manager, Quality Assurance at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Great designation feature that assists us with our required flow symbols
Pros and Cons
  • "A good designation feature."
  • "Inventory feature could be improved."

What is our primary use case?

Mostly, we're using the solution for working with objects and network diagrams and all the charts. I'm the deputy manager of quality assurance and we are customers of Visio. 

What is most valuable?

Most of the time we're dealing with designation so that feature we find very easy and useful because we have a continuation for the required flow symbols. It also provides access for profile pics for the designation. Sometimes there are other options, such as timelines, that I also use but less often. 

What needs improvement?

The inventory feature could be improved. On projects, there are sometimes inventory tasks that are lacking. Imagery could also be improved. I'd also like to see increased visibility. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for 15 years. 

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of the solution improves from version to version, although sometimes it doesn't feel very user friendly. Inserting visual formats creates issues with stability. That aside, it is stable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability is good. At the project level, we have supposedly 1,000 users that interact with Visio. It's used extensively. 

How are customer service and support?

I'm satisfied with the technical support. The documentation is reasonable.  

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was not complex because we had support and Visio assisted us with the deployment although it was actually carried out by our own company. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The fee is per license and there are no additional costs.  

What other advice do I have?

I'm comfortable using this solution and I would recommend it. 

I would rate this solution an eight out of 10. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Ricardo Camacho - PeerSpot reviewer
Executive Director at Pilares Consultores
Real User
It's stable and the setup is straightforward, but the price is too high for some South American markets
Pros and Cons
  • "Installing Visio is straightforward."
  • "The price could be lower because it is too expensive in South America when paying in dollars or euros."

What is our primary use case?

I use Visio to go to meetings on Zoom.

For how long have I used the solution?

I use Visio all the time.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Visio is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Visio is scalable.

How was the initial setup?

Installing Visio is straightforward.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The price could be lower because it is too expensive in South America when paying in dollars or euros.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
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Visio
March 2024
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IT strategist at Convergent Wireless Communications
Real User
Top 10
A diagramming and vector graphics application that makes it easy to communicate ideas
Pros and Cons
  • "Visio makes it easy to communicate your ideas from several areas of your imagination across several domains."
  • "The price could be better."

What is our primary use case?

I use Visio for all my network diagrams. For example, I think of certain concepts that I need to communicate with my clients. I use it for this purpose. I also am an adjunct professor at one of the universities in Bangalore. Suppose I want to create a big chart or a mindmap; that's when I use Visio.

What is most valuable?

Visio makes it easy to communicate your ideas from several areas of your imagination across several domains. People like to imagine it and describe things in document form, and I think Visio could really help with that.

If you have any questions, it will take you through the concepts step-by-step, so you can also educate yourself.

What needs improvement?

The costs could be better.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using Visio for at least 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's quite a stable solution.

How are customer service and technical support?

As far as I know, it doesn't need technical support.

How was the initial setup?

Installing Visio is very simple. It doesn't require much effort. You can install it even if you don't have a brain. I think it took me about ten minutes to implement it.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Visio is expensive. It would be better if Microsoft can provide this as an option with Office 365. Microsoft 365 users can include Visio as part of the subscription model.

If Visio were affordable, people would realize its value. It becomes another revenue generator for Microsoft. The investment will pay off.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend it to new users. Today, Visio can be used by many more people because it helps in many ways. For example, when you use Office Suite Spreadsheet or PowerPoint, the extent to which you can do diagramming is limited in terms of dimensions.

On a scale from one to ten, I would give Visio an eight.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
IT/Business Architect at a financial services firm with 51-200 employees
Real User
Stable diagramming and modeling software, but lacks database integration
Pros and Cons
  • "Architecture modeling software with satisfactory standard features. It's also stable and effective in facilitating communication with others."
  • "Integration with other applications need improvement. Having the functionality to integrate with databases will also make this solution better."

What is our primary use case?

We use Visio for architecture modeling. We also use it to facilitate communication with other people.

What is most valuable?

The feature I like most about Visio is that it acts as a facilitator of communication, as it displays information that's easier to understand.

What needs improvement?

The only area for improvement we see in Visio is its integration. It could be improved, but in terms of features, we are really satisfied with the standard features of this solution.

An additional feature I'd like to see in Visio in the future is database integration. It would be good if it could be integrated with a database or data system to better manage the data, which would also help it communicate better with other applications.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using Visio for seven years now.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We didn't experience any performance issues with Visio. It's a stable solution.

How was the initial setup?

The setup and implementation of Visio went smoothly.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The popularity of a product is an indicator of its price. Because of the popularity of Visio, its price is on the higher side.

What other advice do I have?

I don't have an intensive experience with Visio on architecture.

Within our organization, there are more than 20 users of this solution.

We are satisfied with Visio, but we are not intensive users of it. We have not been able to try out all of its features.

We didn't have a chance to contact technical support because we have not experienced any performance issues from this solution.

My advice to people who would like to try Visio is that it may not be the best solution in the market for architecture modeling, or for other modeling purposes, but it is effective in facilitating communication with others.

With one being the worst and ten being the best, I'm rating Visio a seven.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Facility director at a aerospace/defense firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
Very fluid, very interactive, designed to reduce the manual work for basic flowcharts
Pros and Cons
  • "Very interactive with an intuitive interface."
  • "As a user, it, unfortunately, lacks recognition by Microsoft products."

What is our primary use case?

My primary use case of this solution is for process mapping and a little for organizational charts. We are customers of Visio.

What is most valuable?

The solution has a fairly intuitive interface. When it comes to process mapping, the best thing about it is that it's already configured for swim lanes and for drag and drop and easy manipulation of the objects and connection lines. It makes it a very easy-to-use solution. In comparison, if you're using PowerPoint, you have to manually size things and then adjust the font and it's very tedious trying to get everything connected. In contrast, Visio is very fluid, very interactive, and designed with features that reduce the manual work for basic flowcharts.

What needs improvement?

As a user, it would be helpful if Visio was in a native format recognized by Microsoft Word products, but that's not the case.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using this product for 20 years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable. We're a global company although I'm not sure how many in the company use this product on a regular basis. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward and the solution is intuitive enough that you can begin using it immediately. 

What other advice do I have?

I rate this solution eight out of 10. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Portfolio Architect at a insurance company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Uncomplicated installation, many templates available, but modern update needed
Pros and Cons
  • "Visio has allowed us to create good diagrams for our technical employees to consume. The solution provides templates, is straightforward, and has tools for the easy creation of diagrams."
  • "The solution could improve by making it more modern."

What is our primary use case?

We use Visio in my organization to create architecture diagrams.

What is most valuable?

Visio has allowed us to create good diagrams for our technical employees to consume. The solution provides templates, is straightforward, and has tools for the easy creation of diagrams.

What needs improvement?

The solution could improve by making it more modern.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have used Visio for approximately 15 years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Every group in my organization can use Visio and approximately 150 people use it. It is a tool that design engineers and architects teams use most. We have approximately 150 people that use it.

How are customer service and support?

I have not needed technical support.

How was the initial setup?

The installation is not complex.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The price of Visio is reasonable.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Visio a seven out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Real User
Top 20
Creates impressive diagrams that we use in digitalization projects, but its initial setup is a bit complex
Pros and Cons
  • "The diagrams Visio creates are quite impressive in the sense that we can cooperate with more colleagues in one task and see the flow of the process."
  • "The solution's initial setup was a bit complex for me."

What is our primary use case?

We use Visio for some digitalization projects we have.

What is most valuable?

The diagrams Visio creates are quite impressive in the sense that we can cooperate with more colleagues in one task and see the flow of the process.

What needs improvement?

The solution's initial setup was a bit complex for me.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Visio for two to three months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the solution a seven out of ten for stability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Visio is a scalable solution. Around ten users, including the major project manager and their colleagues, use Visio in our organization.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We have some minor experiences with monday.com. Although its pricing plan and features were quite impressive, it was not good for us.

What other advice do I have?

When we have to estimate for the annual budget planning to control costs, it is very important, as a government agency, to have some kind of KPIs, like total ownership costs and different types of efficiency KPIs. We were able to monitor our processes in a custom-made dashboard. At the moment, we would like to improve the level of integration because the solution is used very isolated and needs a lot of workaround.

Around two to three people, including engineers and IT specialists, are required to deploy and maintain the solution.

Overall, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Managing Director at a computer software company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Customizable, and integrates well with SharePoint, but the database modelling has deteriorated
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features are that the user experience is simple, and it's customizable."
  • "The database modeling has deteriorated significantly in the more current versions."

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features are that the user experience is simple, and it's customizable. You can customize it and connect it to data.

It has also many features that allow it to integrate Visio with SharePoint, which might be very useful in many applications.

What needs improvement?

In earlier versions, there was better database modeling. The database modeling has deteriorated significantly in the more current versions.

In Version 2000, the database modeling was pretty decent. Since then, it has deteriorated and a lot of the functionality has disappeared from Visio.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Visio for five years.

I am working with the latest version.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Now it is stable. In the past, it wasn't perfectly stable. with richer functionality, at least for the databases, but right now it's pretty stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability has limitations. It could not model large sets of entities. 200 is probably a reasonable limit.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is easy. It took a maximum of 15 minutes to deploy but it can be less. 

Yesterday when I installed it, it only took five minutes.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It's cheaper than other solutions.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution as a starting point and as a benchmark to evaluate other tools because it is much cheaper. Also for starting modeling, database modeling, other UML, as well as other templates for modeling and business process modeling.

It integrates well with SharePoint.

It's a good tool to start working with and to use it as a benchmark with some more expensive tools. If those tools don't provide more features than Visio then they are not worth investing in.

I would rate this solution a six out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
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Updated: March 2024
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Visio Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.