Distracted by Esker’s missing manufacturing essentials?
Many teams feel stuck wrestling with Esker’s limited production data integrations and lack of manufacturing-specific compliance tools.
This often leads to slow approvals and compliance headaches that delay operations or put audits at risk.
When inefficient document workflows drag down your whole team, you lose precious productivity, spend time on manual fixes, and risk costly errors. Even simple approvals become pain points that chip away at morale, especially as frustrations build over what Esker can’t deliver.
The truth is, you don’t need to settle for constant inefficiencies just because you started with Esker.
In this article, I’ll show you the best best Esker alternatives for manufacturing document management, including platforms like SmartVault, FileCenter, DocuWare, Revver, MasterControl, and more to help you reclaim efficiency.
You’ll find solutions with smoother approvals, deeper integrations, and stronger compliance than Esker ever offered.
Let’s find your solution.
Quick Summary:
| # | Alternative | Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FileCenter → | Budget-conscious small teams | |
| 2 | SmartVault → | Teams needing better collaboration | |
| 3 | FileHold → | Users wanting ISO compliance | |
| 4 | MasterControl → | Manufacturers focused on compliance | |
| 5 | Document Logistix → | Users needing flexible workflows |
1. FileCenter
Feeling boxed in by Esker’s complex workflows?
FileCenter uses a cabinet-drawer filing system that mirrors how you’d organize paper documents, making it much easier for your team to get up and running.
Unlike Esker’s database-heavy approach, FileCenter offers intuitive setup and lower training barriers for small manufacturing teams. This means your staff can file, search, and retrieve critical manufacturing documents without specialized IT or weeks of onboarding.
Switching is simpler with FileCenter.
You get a straightforward, desktop-focused alternative that addresses frustration with Esker’s overly intricate document handling.
What sets FileCenter apart is how it brings order to manufacturing approval documents with its familiar cabinet-drawer structure. Your team can digitize files and scan right into organized folders without wrestling with complicated workflows.
Plus, integrated OCR means every scanned record becomes searchable. If you’re always searching stacks of paper in Esker, FileCenter’s scan-to-PDF and intelligent search will save hours in daily operations.
On top of that, the one-time perpetual license frees you from ongoing subscription costs, letting you own your solution outright while controlling long-term spend. Combined, these features make FileCenter ideal for budget-conscious manufacturers that want a reliable, easy-to-adopt option instead of the complexity of Esker.
FileCenter just lets you work the way you want.
Key features:
- Cabinet-drawer organizing perfectly mimics paper workflows so your manufacturing documents are filed intuitively, making user adoption easier compared to Esker’s complex digital taxonomy systems.
- One-time license eliminates future recurring subscription costs and gives you full ownership, which is a budget-friendly approach for smaller manufacturing teams versus ongoing Esker fees.
- Built-in scanning and OCR convert paper into searchable PDFs immediately, automating file digitization and retrieval—a big upgrade if you’re stuck using multiple tools with Esker.
Verdict: FileCenter is a top Esker alternative for document management in manufacturing, thanks to its easy cabinet-drawer structure, integrated scanning, and a perpetual license model. If Esker’s cost and complexity worry you, FileCenter offers budget-friendly paperless approval workflows—especially for small manufacturing environments needing simple, reliable control.
2. SmartVault
Worried Esker’s limitations are slowing your approvals down?
SmartVault steps in with unlimited secure cloud storage, branded client portals for external collaboration, and a connected desktop app—features designed to cut friction for manufacturing workflows.
Unlike Esker, SmartVault puts a major focus on giving your team straightforward cloud access and unlimited document storage. If you’re struggling with storage tiers or find Esker’s sharing options too inward-focused, this change matters a lot. Your documents remain accessible at all times, with built-in backup so you can stop worrying about volume caps or extra fees.
SmartVault can make data migration simpler.
Here’s how SmartVault solves your main document management pain points as an Esker alternative.
You get unlimited cloud storage for all your production files, plus external partners can securely access documents through your own branded portal. The connected desktop app feels like working from your local file system—so your team avoids the learning curve that can come with Esker’s web-first interface.
Additionally, SmartVault’s robust security and access controls work especially well when you need to share sensitive production data outside your operation. This unified approach to collaboration and storage means your switch from Esker can boost control and accountability. Plus, the cost savings from reduced signature fees can add up fast—one manufacturing client saved thousands with SmartVault’s plan.
It just gives you more control and flexibility.
Key features:
- Unlimited secure cloud storage for all documents ensures you never run into storage limits or surprise costs, perfect for high-volume manufacturing documentation and compliance requirements.
- Branded client portals for external sharing streamline collaboration with clients, suppliers, or auditors, delivering a better-controlled sharing experience than Esker’s internal process tools.
- Connected desktop app for local file experience lets your team work with cloud files from a familiar interface, so adoption feels easier compared to Esker’s fully web-based workflows.
Verdict: If you need a document management software for manufacturing that improves on Esker’s limits and makes sharing easier, SmartVault is a strong alternative. With unlimited storage, streamlined external portals, and average eSignature cost savings of $2.50 or more, it drives both operational and cost efficiency.
3. FileHold
Looking for a smoother path to manufacturing compliance?
FileHold delivers ISO compliance features and deep Microsoft integration, helping you address Esker’s weak spots around audit trails and collaboration for production documents.
Unlike Esker, FileHold empowers you with advanced version control, specialized ISO compliance tools, and robust integration with Microsoft 365. This means your document changes are always tracked, and your quality processes meet industry standards without manual headaches.
Choosing the wrong system risks your whole operation.
Here’s how FileHold changes the game.
FileHold brings you enterprise-grade document management that goes further than Esker’s broad compliance promises. With ISO-ready audit trails and unlimited version history, your manufacturing approvals become traceable and recovery-proof.
If your team lives in Microsoft Office, SharePoint, or Teams, you’ll appreciate how FileHold offers a deeply embedded workflow with familiar Microsoft tools so your transition from Esker won’t slow your daily routines.
Additionally, you can run FileHold on-premises or in the cloud—giving you flexibility whether your IT prefers local control or SaaS simplicity. For manufacturers, this means audit readiness and process reliability as you scale, not endless workarounds.
Robust control with less friction.
Key features:
- ISO compliance features tailored for manufacturing ensure your document workflows, version history, and audit trails are ready for ISO and industry-specific audits—filling gaps Esker leaves open.
- Granular version control with full traceability provides unlimited document histories and robust rollback, protecting your quality workflows better than Esker’s standard versioning features can.
- Deep Microsoft 365 and SharePoint integration delivers unified document creation, editing, and approvals from inside Teams or Office—eliminating adoption risk for teams already living in Microsoft environments.
Verdict: FileHold stands out as a best Esker alternative for manufacturing document management, especially if you care about ISO compliance, granular version control, and native Microsoft integration. If you’re already using Microsoft 365, you’ll find FileHold fits seamlessly, making your approval cycles audit-ready and focused.
4. MasterControl
Looking for an easier way to maintain manufacturing compliance?
MasterControl steps in where Esker can’t, offering GxP document control for regulated manufacturing, linking every record directly to your critical production workflows and compliance obligations.
Unlike Esker’s broader automation, MasterControl combines integration with purpose-built manufacturing compliance features that speak directly to your industry pressures—especially regulatory requirements and rigorous audit trails.
This means your compliance headaches get solved at the root.
With MasterControl, you get a document management platform fully tailored to manufacturing. The GxP document control module manages SOPs, batch records, and change control with deep compliance in mind.
You’ll appreciate how its Electronic Batch Records replace those paper-based production logbooks, giving you audit-ready digital tracking. Integrated training management ensures employees are always up to date on revised procedures, so regulatory gaps are a thing of the past. Migrating production and quality records from Esker becomes far less daunting with specialized pre-validated modules already aligned with FDA and ISO requirements.
Additionally, MasterControl isn’t just about compliance—it helps ensure consistent production quality too. The training management module links every document change with required staff certification, so no critical update slips by unnoticed on the shop floor. When you combine this with batch record automation, your approval cycles become quicker and much more reliable.
If compliance is your top priority, this is it.
Key features:
- GxP-focused document control built for manufacturing delivers industry-specific compliance you won’t get from Esker, with granular audit trails, role-based permissions, and automated version tracking essential for regulated workflows.
- Electronic Batch Records digitize production processes by replacing paperwork with digital logbooks and work instructions, offering better traceability and shop-floor visibility for faster, error-free approvals.
- Integrated document-linked training management automatically updates training assignments based on document changes, keeping your team always in sync with new compliance rules and production procedures.
Verdict: MasterControl is a compelling alternative to Esker for manufacturing document management, especially if compliance is non-negotiable. Pharmaceutical companies report maintaining robust FDA and ISO compliance while cutting errors and approval cycle times by up to 45 percent with MasterControl’s integrated QMS and batch records.
5. Document Logistix
Wish approvals in manufacturing weren’t so rigid?
Document Logistix jumps ahead with digital mailroom automation, a flexible workflow designer, and multi-format document support—features that speak directly to Esker’s biggest challenges in production environments.
This means you can adapt workflows to unique manufacturing needs instead of feeling boxed in by Esker’s standard automation. You also gain far richer document handling, including critical formats that Esker may overlook.
Here’s how Document Logistix sets up your team for success.
Instead of struggling with Esker’s limited integration and workflow inflexibility, Document Logistix lets you design custom processes built around your exact manufacturing documentation needs.
With digital mailroom automation, it automatically ingests and classifies every incoming document—whether supplier invoices, quality records, or machine logs—feeding them directly into your chosen workflow. The visual workflow designer offers customization far beyond Esker’s pre-set paths, making it easy to tailor approvals, escalations, and compliance checks to your shop floor realities.
Document Logistix also natively manages CAD files and complex engineering drawings—files that can trip up standard document management tools. Combine this with robust audit trails and version control, and your manufacturing approvals move quicker and stay compliant.
You get to keep your production running at full speed.
Key features:
- Digital mailroom automation for all document types enables automatic capture, classification, and routing of not just invoices but also supplier records, engineering docs, and more critical to manufacturing.
- Highly flexible visual workflow designer for customization gives your team full control to shape document lifecycles for any process or approval, unlike Esker’s often rigid, transactional automation.
- Native support for multi-format engineering and production documents means your CAD files, drawings, and specialized documents are just as searchable, auditable, and controlled as traditional paperwork.
Verdict: Document Logistix stands out as an Esker alternative by letting you build bespoke manufacturing approval workflows and handle every file format, from invoices to complex CAD docs. If you want document management built for your operations, Document Logistix brings the flexibility and customization Esker often can’t match.
6. DocuWare
Esker misses the mark for comprehensive manufacturing workflows.
DocuWare tackles manufacturing needs with intelligent document capture, highly customizable workflow automation, and ERP integration—all areas where Esker users typically feel boxed in.
You won’t be stuck with finance-focused automation that overlooks your production department’s requirements. DocuWare takes your intake, approval, and audit trails beyond Esker’s limited scope, so you can finally align document processes with actual manufacturing demands.
That’s a breath of fresh air for manufacturing teams.
DocuWare makes your workflow smarter from the start by automatically capturing, indexing, and storing every production record and invoice from both digital and paper sources. This means you’re not limited by Esker’s narrower intake process, so you can consolidate quality checks and production docs in one organized system.
Here’s how powerful workflow automation comes into play: you get drag-and-drop tools to design complex cross-departmental approvals, letting you automate production, quality, and compliance review steps that Esker’s finance-centric setup lacks. Your team can adapt the flows as your business evolves, instead of feeling trapped by rigid, out-of-the-box workflow templates.
Additionally, DocuWare connects directly with your ERP system, so production and quality data synchronize seamlessly with document records. This unified approach cuts out double entry and frees you from silos—plus, your audit trails are always up-to-date for compliance.
Efficiency with true manufacturing focus.
Key features:
- Smart document capture and indexing pulls in production orders, QA forms, and invoices from any source, offering broader and more automated intake than Esker’s document capture tools.
- Highly configurable workflow automation lets you design and automate multi-department review and approval processes—especially beneficial for manufacturing teams needing more than basic P2P workflow.
- Deep ERP integration for manufacturing synchronizes documents and data across your production, quality, and finance systems, creating a real-time, unified information hub for all your records.
Verdict: DocuWare stands out as a robust Esker alternative for manufacturing document management. Its intelligent capture, extensive ERP integration, and truly adaptable workflow automation let you gain control over all production documentation—far beyond Esker’s P2P/O2C focus. If you want scalable, department-spanning approvals and compliance tracking, DocuWare delivers.
7. Revver
Hit a ceiling with Esker’s workflow limitations?
Revver brings advanced full-text search, built-in e-signatures, and secure client portals directly into your document approval flows to address Esker’s lack of flexibility for manufacturing document management.
Unlike Esker, Revver gives you more intuitive document search and rapid approval workflows designed to speed up how your team finds, routes, and signs files on the production floor.
The difference can feel dramatic.
Instead of wresting with Esker’s rigid search functions or drawn-out approval steps, Revver keeps you moving.
You get a cloud-based system that lets you quickly search any document—even PDFs—by keywords or filters, which means you spend less time hunting for the specs, compliance forms, or work orders you need.
Plus, the e-signature integration helps you keep every manufacturing approval digital and in-line, so there’s no waiting for paperwork to bounce between apps or emails. Sharing documents with suppliers or auditors through dedicated portals also means external collaboration happens inside a single secure system, bypassing the limitations of Esker’s internal-first structure.
Revver’s blend of fast search, e-signatures in workflow, and secure external portals all work together to help your team stay productive with minimal training or ramp time.
Your approval bottlenecks finally get out of the way.
Key features:
- Full-text and advanced search capabilities let you instantly locate technical documents, compliance files, or production records—eliminating the slowdowns Esker’s more rigid search setup can cause.
- Integrated e-signature in the workflow enables your team to route, approve, and sign off on manufacturing documents in one platform, keeping every approval cycle streamlined.
- Secure external client portals for suppliers and auditors enable direct document exchange outside your company, improving collaboration with manufacturing partners and delivering a secure audit trail.
Verdict: Revver is a compelling Esker alternative for manufacturing document management. Users report measurable productivity gains and rank its document control and value higher than similar tools. These advanced search, e-signature, and client portal features directly solve the workflow and compliance pinch points Esker users face.
8. Doccept
Wishing your manufacturing approvals didn’t feel so complex?
Doccept’s focus on multi-user access controls, audit trails, and automated approval workflows means you can finally solve those compliance headaches Esker never fully tackled.
Instead of dealing with static user permissions or incomplete audit logging, you get robust document control and deeper transparency for manufacturing records that keep compliance tight and process bottlenecks at bay.
Here’s what sets Doccept apart.
You can use it to bridge approval gaps and overhaul document management—way beyond what Esker’s transaction-based limits ever let you do.
Doccept steps in as a flexible alternative designed with manufacturing in mind, helping you bypass Esker’s integration headaches and security gaps.
Multi-user access controls give you granular document permissions, ensuring only authorized staff can access or modify your sensitive manufacturing documents. With this, you avoid the rigid user roles that Esker forces, and gain centralized visibility.
Doccept also delivers comprehensive audit trails and detailed document history out of the box, so you always have an immutable record for compliance audits. This means less time tracking approvals and more peace of mind.
Add in automated workflow approvals that mirror your real production review processes, and you can connect your team while eliminating approval lag, making onboarding smoother for new users switching from Esker.
More manufacturing compliance and less process chaos.
Key features:
- Granular multi-user access controls for security give you precision over who can view, edit, or share specific manufacturing documents, keeping your sensitive data locked down and audit-ready.
- Complete audit trails and document history tracking maintain thorough, time-stamped logs of every action—improving regulatory adherence and providing peace of mind for compliance reviews.
- Automated workflow and approval routing tools help streamline production processes by automating document reviews and sign-offs, significantly reducing bottlenecks versus manual or complex Esker setups.
Verdict: Doccept is a strong alternative to Esker if your manufacturing team needs tough compliance, easier workflow automation, and audit transparency. You can implement it in weeks and benefit from flexible multi-user security and comprehensive audit logs, which make complex reviews and regulations far less stressful.
9. DocStar
Frustrated by Esker’s limited integration with your shop floor?
DocStar prioritizes intelligent document processing, ERP/MES unification, and automated compliance—all areas where Esker can leave you feeling boxed in.
Here’s where DocStar stands apart: its AI-driven capture and classification lets you automatically process incoming manufacturing files—no manual steps needed even when facing complex or varied paperwork.
The difference? You finally get document management built for your specific manufacturing workflow.
DocStar puts powerful automation in your corner right away with advanced AI and deep manufacturing integrations.
If Esker can’t pull in your essential production data, DocStar bridges the gap with AI-powered import, classification, and data extraction right from your invoices, orders, or quality documents. This level of automation removes bottlenecks and eliminates manual oversight; your documents become instantly actionable, perfectly sorted for approvals.
Additionally, DocStar’s direct ERP/MES integration lets you connect your content with the same systems running your production lines. Coupled with automated compliance management, you gain always-ready audit trails and secure storage for every regulatory step—no more scrambling at audit time.
Everything just falls into place for your team.
Key features:
- Intelligent document capture with AI-driven automation speeds up file imports and extraction, reducing the need for manual sorting and saving your team critical hours compared to Esker’s basic automation.
- Deep ERP and MES integration out of the box ensures your document management syncs with core manufacturing systems, streamlining approvals and unifying data without disruptive add-ons or custom workarounds.
- Automated compliance and comprehensive audit trails simplify document readiness for regulatory inspections, making workflows and version control crystal clear while also improving manufacturing compliance over standard Esker offerings.
Verdict: DocStar gives you a robust document management upgrade over Esker, especially for manufacturing needs. By unifying ERP/MES data and using powerful automation, users report substantial time savings and paperless workflows—making DocStar a smart move if you demand control, integration, and compliance beyond Esker’s scope.
10. OpenText
Are your manufacturing workflows still held back by Esker?
OpenText steps in with a full Enterprise Information Management suite that embeds content right into your core manufacturing applications, addressing Esker’s limited integration.
The Extended ECM platform lets you connect documents to every critical process—including production planning, compliance, and maintenance—instead of restricting you to transactional workflows. This adds vital operational context while giving you true control over process documentation and data.
You’ll want a solution that’s truly built for manufacturing.
OpenText solves key pain points by going far beyond transactional document management.
It integrates with all your manufacturing apps, linking technical drawings, work orders, and compliance records right where your team needs them. You’ll also find advanced viewing, annotation, and redaction tools purpose-built for even the most complex manufacturing files—much more than Esker’s basic document viewer.
Here’s where OpenText really stands apart: information governance. Its compliance and audit trail features ensure you never miss retention, privacy, or legal requirements for manufacturing data. Everything from version control to legal holds is covered, so your team can focus on quality and output without worrying about compliance gaps.
With OpenText, manufacturing document control finally feels effortless.
Key features:
- Extended ECM that embeds documents in key apps brings full content integration into your ERP, MES, and production planning tools—delivering more holistic access than Esker’s transactional document handling.
- Advanced document viewing, annotation, and redaction handles technical drawings and manufacturing documentation with intelligent markup and secure redaction, which far exceeds Esker’s limited viewing features.
- Comprehensive lifecycle governance and compliance tools enforce legal holds, retention, and privacy requirements for all manufacturing data—eliminating compliance gaps and strengthening your audit readiness.
Verdict: OpenText stands out as an Esker alternative for manufacturing document management by giving you robust integration, advanced document controls, and enterprise-grade compliance. Manufacturing clients credit OpenText for custom EIM solutions that cut approval cycle times in half and help achieve strict regulatory compliance.
Conclusion
Struggling with Esker’s limited manufacturing integrations?
Many manufacturing teams I talk to are frustrated by Esker’s lack of deep production data connectivity and the missing compliance tools that your workflow really needs.
Making the decision to seek alternatives can feel risky, but finding the right fit brings efficiency gains immediately for your team and gets you closer to the streamlined approvals and solid compliance you’ve been craving.
Here’s the upgrade I’d recommend.
FileCenter is my top Esker alternative because it strips out the complexity, giving you simple, local document management that’s easy for your team to adopt—no steep learning curve or integration hassles.
As an Esker alternative, FileCenter shines especially for manufacturing teams who just want smooth, fast document control without expensive automation or complicated setup. I’ve seen teams transition painlessly and save hours every week.
Ready to make the switch? Visit FileCenter’s website to start your free trial today.
You’ll finally get approvals moving faster.
