AccuLynx vs. WinEst by Trimble

When you want to track your quotes that have gone out to customers so that you can follow up on them, this system makes it way easier to do that. It also makes it way easier to track invoice dates. One area that it is less appropriate is for detailed big public bids where a traditional estimate template is not appropriate.

Incentivized

I use WinEst in all stages of estimating from conceptual to GMP.

Incentivized

• Estimating.
• Customer Management.
• Scheduling Material Delivery/Orders & Labor.
• Tracking job profitability.
• Invoicing.
• Reporting.
• Access everything from anywhere via app, etc. in real time.
• Entire company can communicate with each other.

Incentivized

• It's very flexible when building an estimate and selecting items to include. You can either click your way to the datebase or quickly copy and paste similar items.
• The numerous ways to view and estimate whether it's by CSI, Uniformat, Master Format, or any view you'd like to see. One of ours is by program area, i.e. Sitework, Tower, Parking Deck, etc. After that, you can sort by Bid Package, CSI, etc. Quick buttons can be created far all the views you'd need which allows changing between views a breeze.
• The visual interface is pleasing and easy to read.
• It's easy to create your own database using Excel. Once you tag an item with unit costs, sort codes, etc., Winest will import it. You can also build it manually within the program but Excel was faster.

Incentivized

• Can't have email templates that can be altered per customer
• Getting quote templates to be more flexible has been challenging
• Running global reports have also been an issue as we are only 3 people and dont need it by sales

Incentivized

• At times, WinEst controls feel counter intuitive. Also the tools available for actually developing the database can feel clunky. This means that if you do not take the time to create a robust import file, you will spend a serious amount of time fixing your errors.
• WinEst is also an object based database which means that it is difficult to do mass dumps of information (mainly takeoff) into the program. While this is great for ensuring that everything is done purposefully, it does lead to extended hours of data entry
• It takes hours upon hours of use before you begin to realize the true potential. The sheer number of tools is overwhelming and their help resources are very basic and only explain how to correctly enter the data but not the feature's best use cases.

Incentivized

Until someone shows me something more efficient or has features that are more streamlined and time is saved by all then I am all ears and ready to listen to that presentation. I wouldn't care at this point if I had to abandon QB if the system had it's own integrated accounting system otherwise it has to be able to do all and more of the features of QB and the CRM side also has to have/do more than AccuLynx features.

Incentivized

Very versatile and allows for other people to complete things and someone else to still look at and approve if needed. Great communication ability internally and with customers and with that being the case is a tremendous asset with documentation also. Really a well rounded tool that allows you to do everything needed for a job in one place and have the records to show what was done by whom and when.

Incentivized

They can always improve and we are very successful when calling support. I would suggest they keep their support technicians available later for the west coast contractors who need help at the end of the day. We've come to know many of the techs because we call to offer suggestions but there's a process for us to follow for that.

Incentivized

Doug Quinn was our trainer and travels all over the country. Whenever I have an issue I shoot him an email and he quickly responds as soon as his training gets a break.

Incentivized

JobNimbus you have to customize it yourself and it's very time consuming to get it up and running efficiently and smoothly. AccuLynx is very intuitive and easy to use. This helps so much especially in the construction side. Also, AccuLynx can estimate easily which JobNimbus does not do at all. Buildertrend is good but really more for General Contractors who are builders. Not exterior remodelers.

Incentivized

WinEst simply blows excel and Timberline out of the water. The shear depth of functionality is unparalleled. Not only does WinEst deliver a better product, it also shortens the amount of man hours required for each bid, alternate, pricing exercise, etc. On top of this, it has a number of redundant safeguards for catching errors that the others don't have.

Incentivized

• I am have had a hard time justifying AccuLynx since I am a small business. I hate all the add ons. I do not appreciate that all the good tools cost extra money on top of my monthly payment.

Incentivized

• WinEst has created a simple path for delivering clean estimates time and time again no matter what the user is
• WinEst has allowed us to analyze data on a level previously unattainable

Incentivized