ADVANTAGE vs. Trimble GC WinEst

Any integrated agency (more than just a single-discipline agency) that's looking for a one-stop shop to manage all aspects of running the business would do well to consider Advantage as the single-source tool to do it all. Single-discipline agencies could probably find a less robust tool that's equally as effective for tracking and reporting.

Incentivized

WinEst is truly built for everyone. Their assemblies/database linking is perfect for self perform and subcontractors while their database management and custom reporting is perfect for GCs. While Excel set the bar, WinEst is on another planet. With the immediacy required by today's markets, WinEst allows you to deliver a superior product while being more accurate.

Incentivized

• Information from site visits is easily accessible.
• Workflow is easy to use

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

• Advantage is hugely cumbersome. There are hundreds of functions I will never use, and that I'm not sure anyone else in the organization uses.
• The user interface could be better. Every time there's an update, there's a small but definitive learning curve.

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

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

We have also used BidClips. I find that Advantage gave us more flexibility with custom estimates & report tracking.

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

• Advantage has everything to do with our company's ability to run an effective back office.
• When you have a company that does a wide variety of concurrent projects, you need a great tool to manage it all. Advantage does that for us.
• As I am unfamiliar with the pricing model (I'm not a member of the team that negotiates this particular product), I can't provide any true ROI from an overall business perspective.

Incentivized

• We've not measured the rate of return but WinEst has made us much more efficient and organized.

Incentivized