Woodpecker

Pros

Ability to automate my document drafting and integrate them with MyCase, and actually use the automations directly within MyCase.

Cons

Sometimes it wants me to save over templates due to similarities. Basic version only gives you 10 slots to save templates.

Pros

I especially like the fact that it is integrated directly into Word.

Cons

Training on template management is critical as it is easy for new users to get confused and overwrite templates or fail to save template changes.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Choosing Woodpecker

Switched From

Reasons for Switching to Woodpecker

Pros

The sales pitch. We believed it. Had no idea it was in beta testing

Cons

They never told us the software was in beta testing, and that when they released updates that it would essentially make all of our documents crash and have to be revised. It takes weeks to get a solution.

Pros

It was an easy program to learn to use. After building templates, the time spent drafting and editing documents has drastically decreased. I can spend more time on the legal issues of the documents instead of wasting time double checking the parties names, his/her, he/she, etc.

Cons

When I build a template I like to start at the beginning and work my way through the document. Sometimes after building the template, I find that I forget a field. It would be nice to insert a field back up where it was forgotten instead of at the end of all the fields.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Switching to Woodpecker

Pros

Easy to use, better functionality (like conditional clauses) than many of the far more expensive options.

Cons

Occasionally, I have had recipients of documents created in Word with WoodPecker fields tell me that they were unable to edit the form filled terms.

Alternatives Considered

Reasons for Switching to Woodpecker

Pros

Auto populating repeating fields across a document. Saves me so much time. And the person(s) completing the form usually just have to sign without entering the same information repeatedly.

Cons

Should broaden their presence on various automation platforms (it's just Zapier at the time of this review)

Field bindings sometimes get messed up, requiring the user to recreate fields (not very often).

Pros

If you're willing to put in the time to familiarize yourself with the software and create the templates, Woodpecker can save so much time and significantly reduce the risk of careless drafting errors. The customer service at Woodpecker is phenomenal - they will walk you through any issues that come up almost immediately.

Cons

The only downside to the software is that it does require an input of time and effort to understand the functionality of custom fields and certain unique work-arounds. However, that is the case with most things in life. Once you develop a general understanding of the software, most things feel intuitive. Additionally, if I'm ever stuck on anything, the customer service team responds almost immediately which makes the initial input of time and effort much more bearable.

Pros

Easy to use, intuitive, plain language for adding variables

Cons

Horizontal sidebar spacing in word is buggy
The sidebar should automatically expand sufficiently so the user can hit the plus symbol to add choices to field variables
Instead it’s necessary to manually widen the sidebar when adding entries
Should be better way to preview the selections
Focus on sidebar as opposed to a popup box limits functionality due to space constraints

Pros

I have been with this product practically from conception. They really understand the repetitive nature of legal work and how to save us time. Get your letters, motions, pleadings, lines, agreements, etc. that you use often set up on time, and off you go. Even the initial set-up is relatively simple, even for a lawyer! Get this product and save yourself a bunch of time (i.e., money).

P.S. Even their customer service is extremely responsive. I truly hope this does not change. If I have an issue, I can email or open a chat message, and usually get my matter addressed promptly if not immediately.

Cons

Not really sure. Maybe I would like the macros to be a little more intuitive in setting up. And add some obvious single selection categories such as states, months, etc. without me having to build them each time. But this is being very picky.

Pros

So easy to use
Great time saver
Fast and easy integrations with a MS Word, Google Docs and etc.

Cons

I can`t say anything bad about Woodpecker

Pros

The ability to create questionnaires that can be shared with your clients to independently generate documents as needed that get sent to you and your client for review.

Cons

There is a slight learning curve in understanding how your documents are stored on your computer versus in their cloud storage system.

Pros

It is so easy to create fields in documents, with just one click. There is also a nifty support chat that pops up when you are using it, just in case you have questions, or just to suggest a tip based on how you are using it, which saves even more time. It is brilliant software.

Cons

Integration was good, however I have not tried to see if my assistant can also access yet, hoping she too will be able to use these wonderful templates and save time in producing documents for clients.

Pros

1) Template creation was user-friendly, and drafting documents using the software is incredibly efficient. (As previously mentioned, I'd historically automated my templates using Doxsera, but found the template creation process to be much more labor and time intensive and frustrating, not to mention that the interface is antiquated).
2) I'm a Mac devotee, and Woodpecker runs smoothly as an extension on Word for Mac. (Running Doxsera required that I use Parallels, Windows, Word for Windows – lots of clunky and expensive software I do not need with Woodpecker.)
3) Woodpecker's customer service is excellent- incredibly responsive, encouraging, kind, and most importantly, they resolve any issue quickly and creatively. (When I'd used Doxsera, each time I reached out for tech support, they always wanted to charge me and made me like a major inconvenience.)

Cons

A bit of a learning curve. Wish that the fields filled in with the formatting I want more smoothly

Pros

The ability to create online intake questionnaires very quickly is a plus. Woodpecker will auto-populate questions for use in a questionnaire-based upon the data needed from your client to complete the word document.

Cons

I do not have any cons with the software at this time.

Pros

- Light, robust add-in tool that works in lawyer's most familiar environment - MS Word
- Works across multiple document sets (can save as form Templates)
- Offers API functionality - key for adding interoperability to other systems
- Product features are clean, simple, and easy to implement.
- Automated customized function that converts a form into a ready template (a little early on the tech, but hopeful it will be very useful in the future after machine learning is dialed in)
- Conditional field formatting including all Excel functions and IFF tech (If ... Then conditional statement use)

Cons

- Some bugs to work out (e.g., entering default information into fields does not always recognize when automating first time around;
- Lack of a platform or centralized storage mechanism.
- No copy + paste feature of fields.

Pros

Woodpecker seamlessly integrates as an MS-Word add-in that's simple to install, easy to use and a no-brainer value for the price. Light years beyond a typical copy + paste function, Woodpecker is an amazing, godsend-tool that basically eliminates the pain of time-consuming and tedious customized document creation from standardized templates. When we converted our standard proposal, contract and project management templates, our document production workflow time improved by 50%. And now we're transforming our document repository to create new smart templates using Woodpecker's AI. Customer support is great--responsive and useful, seems like they really care about their user community.

Cons

A couple minor hitches with fields, support quickly resolved them.

Pros

Accessing the software and learning how to use it was easy, especially with the short training videos available on the website. It has brought a new dimension of efficiency to our business. The support provided by the Woodpecker team is something that I have not experienced before!!

Cons

The only feature that still needs to be implemented is to have conditionals pull through to questionnaires.

Pros

fast integration of documents and makes my job easier

Cons

Trying to adapt to the new changes between woodpecker and my case.

Pros

Being able to automate repetitive documents by answering questions saves a ton of time. Being able to use one input to fit several formats (June 1, 2022, 1st day of June, 2022, 6/1/22, etc) is key. We can get many times the amount of work done, while essentially eliminating keying errors.

Cons

I am still trying to figure out how to configure the fields for different format outputs (One Hundred Dollars vs $100.00). Eszter has been great to help me get my documents the way I need them. You don't pay her enough.

Pros

What I like most about Woodpecker is that it is easy to use, especially after an initial web session.

Cons

What I did like least was the inability to automatically have a generated document sent to the client, who completes the Questionnaire. The positive is that, as soon as I raised this deficiency, they rectified it. I was really impressed

Pros

We no longer have mistakes in our documents. With the automated logic and customized modules, anyone in our office can create perfect motions and contracts. I wish we would have found this years ago.

Cons

At this time, I love all the features and cannot say there is a least option.

Pros

Intuitive learning curve. Was able to figure out most of the features I needed without having to get help, either online or phone.

It integrates with MS Word and MS Word custom templates VERY easily. Set up was simple.

I can access on my laptop and office computer.

Cons

Editing a template is a little difficult once all the fields have been put in place. Editing around the field locations in a document can be tricky. These are very minor items, however.

Pros

The software itself is not complex yet, as a sole practitioner, I never took the time to set up my own questionnaires to populate the templates. Plus I quite honestly hate that sort of thing. So, the fact that they 100% help you do this - with meaningful questions so as to create the best, individualized document for your practice is huge! This made a tremendous impact by allowing me to cut my document generation time in half. The service and attention to detail is phenomenal.

Cons

I haven't encountered anything yet that I have been unhappy with.

Pros

It makes creating usable document templates easy. It has saved me countless hours of work. If you can fill out an online form you can make a template using Woodpecker. The user interface is easy to use and intuitive. You don't need to be super technical to use it effectively.

Cons

Sometimes the field recognizer is a little odd. I also get some weird cursor jumping but they are super minor things. I love the product.

Pros

Very forward thinking tool and regular. Easy to implement in your day-to-day. Already recommended it to several colleagues in the legal industry. It's nice that is a plug-in vs. an external site so the learning curve isn't as steep for document automation.

Cons

I like that it can now do API calls and would like to integrate this with calendly or a CRM for automated document processing. A tutorial would be nice.

Pros

It is very user-friendly and can be quickly deployed. It is also a great way to automate routine documents we use, accelerate drafting of legal documents and ensure consistency and accuracy.

Cons

I found creating packages of multiple documents required some advance planning.

Pros

I love the fact that I can customize/tailor one document to do/say many different things depending on the features that I use in my initial template. This avoids my having multiple documents as templates.

Cons

I'll let you know when I find one. Everything that I have used and seen in this product works like they said that it would.

Pros

the fact that it allows users to create "variables" within documents and customize such documents by altering the variables' values

Cons

pricing only makes sense if one has a reasonable volume of documents to be customized on a monthly basis.

Pros

Woodpecker takes complex document automation code and makes it easy for anyone to use.

Cons

It takes some time to set up complex documents, but still saves you tons of time down the road.

Pros

The program is very easy to use. The customer support is very good. The same goes for the support by means of manuals.

Cons

That you can't include variables within conditional parts and that the program works as a word add-inn.

Pros

This product is intuitive and user friendly. It was easy to get started with everything and has the potential to streamline a lot of processes in the Human Resources field.

Cons

It is a little bit pricey and is difficult to get buy in from leadership for the premium version.

Pros

I liked the idea of more flexible templates.

Cons

I am usually pretty savvy with software, but this seemed too convoluted. I went back to my regular mail merge systems after a couple of failed attempts to understand how this works.

Pros

I like that it has the ability to plug in to other applications via an API, making it more versatile.

Cons

If I were to pick nits, I would say that the template automator is a little clunky, in that it over picks up things to include as fields.

Pros

I think that this is pretty easy to learn and use tool that's just doing the job right, but it's nothing special or life-changing.

Cons

I don't think there is anything in particular that I dislike in Woodpecker.

Pros

Woodpecker app lives right inside of Word, so once you merge docs you don't have to spend hours reformatting.

Cons

Some of the features aren't fully developed, but they are releasing updates constantly