Project Estimator vs Viewpoint Spectrum

Likelihood to Recommend

If you are considering purchasing this (very expensive) software, there is a 100% chance you are doing so because you have been awarded a Government contract that dictates you use 4Clicks Project Estimator. There are plenty of easier to use estimating packages out in the world, but you can't use any of them if you have a contract that requires 4Clicks.

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Tim Corbett

General Manager

Infinite Energy Construction, incConstruction, 51-200 employees

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Spectrum is well suited for general contractors and any organization that needs a robust accounting system with the added features like equipment management, employee kiosk, work orders, purchase orders, etc. Other than the project management module, Spectrum addresses all the needs of a construction company. With their new software, TEAM, this address project management and can be added to the Spectrum suite. Spectrum is most likely too robust of a system for a smaller contractor or subcontractor. I would think best used by medium to large size companies. The nice part about Spectrum is you can pick and choose which modules work for your company.

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Verified User

Manager in Corporate

Construction Company, 201-500 employees

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Feature Rating Comparison

Project Estimator

5.2

Viewpoint Spectrum

6.6

Takeoff tools

5.0

4.5

Job costing

2.0

7.7

Cost databases

7.0

7.2

Cost calculator

6.0

7.1

Bid creation

6.0

6.4

Project Estimator

—

Viewpoint Spectrum

6.7

Plan distribution & viewing

—

7.3

Plan markups & sharing

—

6.7

Issue tracking & punchlists

—

7.0

Photo documentation

—

7.5

Jobsite reports

—

6.7

Document sharing

—

7.4

RFI tools

—

7.3

Collaboration & approvals

—

6.6

As-built drawings

—

4.5

Mobile app

—

6.9

Submittal design and management

—

6.1

Pros

The estimates it produces are simple and easy to follow. The formatting is good.
The tech support provided is very attentive.

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Tim Corbett

General Manager

Infinite Energy Construction, incConstruction, 51-200 employees

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The ability to customize phase codes allows us to better dissect projects after completion to see what went wrong and what went right.

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Sean Heaton

Project Manager

Building Controls & ServicesConstruction, 51-200 employees

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Cons

The software feels 20 years old. It has not kept up with modern times, and practically functions like an old DOS program.
Clunky interface, arcane commands.
Even their training info focuses on hotkeys like this is 1995. Even though I am of an age to remember computers in 1995, the younger generations of managers/estimators are not. It is time to bring the software into the new century!

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Tim Corbett

General Manager

Infinite Energy Construction, incConstruction, 51-200 employees

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The general ledger module, specifically cash account, has eliminated the ability to post cash receipts and cash payments (A/P) in a lump sum. Therefore, reconciliations and cash-flow reporting and accumulation of valuable data are extremely unproductive and inefficient.
The inflexibility of voiding transaction in A/P after entered. You must create credit, then match the original input to credit in order to eliminate it outstanding and all reports.

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Verified User

Professional in Finance and Accounting

Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing Company, 51-200 employees

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Support

No score

No answers yet

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Ask the community to sound off

Viewpoint Spectrum 9.6

Based on 2 answers

Honestly, they have one of the best support networks I have ever dealt with. They are growing so yes, there are new people, but you also deal with the same support reps that have been there for years! The employees really are knowledgeable and "get it". They also have a GREAT online network where you can post to discussion boards and browse topics for help support. I rarely have to call in anymore because there have been numerous times when I'll do a search of the discussion topics and find someone else who was also experiencing the same problem and see the solutions that other customers have come up with!

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Marjie Maguire

Sr. Payroll Accountant

Walsh Mechanical ContractorsConstruction, 51-200 employees

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Alternatives Considered

WinEst uses much the same database (RS Means/Gordion type) and has a similar interface. It is a bit cheaper.

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Tim Corbett

General Manager

Infinite Energy Construction, incConstruction, 51-200 employees

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I don't have any comparison here. We stacked Spectrum to Vista when we purchased Spectrum. It was owned by Dexter and Chaney at the time. So the two we tested are now both owned by the same company.

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Verified User

Manager in Information Technology

Construction Company, 201-500 employees

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Return on Investment

As stated before, if you are buying this software, it is because you have a contract forcing you to. While it does work, it is clunky, awkward, and very expensive.
The price of the software and databases has always been high, but with the fairly recent acquisition of 4Clicks by Gordion (who also bought RS Means for their databases), there is literally no competition. Prices will continue to be very high, with no check on how high they can go.
Again, can't fault 4Clicks tech support, as I think it is the best in the industry. They know their product and they respond to issues immediately. Considering what we spend a year for this product, however, you would expect nothing less.

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Tim Corbett

General Manager

Infinite Energy Construction, incConstruction, 51-200 employees

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Cash management module and bank account reconciliation results in approx 8 hours saved time at end of month reconciliation of an operating account with pages of transactions.
Accounts receivable reporting and customer files are extremely useful in the collection process rather than keeping manual resources.

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Verified User

Professional in Finance and Accounting

Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing Company, 51-200 employees

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