BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product vs GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel

Likelihood to Recommend

BuildingConnected is a great tool for construction managers and general contractors working over a wide area that rely on collecting multiple bids. BuildingConnected does a great job at presenting new contractors that may fit the bill for who you need to look at and price a job. Its simple interface allows you to easily see who the main point of contact is at a company, and place comments for your team to review after corresponding with these companies.

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Verified User

Project Manager in Engineering

Construction Company, 201-500 employees

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Specific scenarios where GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel is well suited include:

Small to medium sized contractor who typically works on small to medium sized projects with limited complexity
Contractors who value low prices over full functionality (this software application is very affordably priced)
A new contractor or new contracting accounting / finance professional who would appreciate the specific limitations imposed by the software

Specific scenarios where GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel is not well suited include:

Larger contractors who think about and price projects in line with typical commercial design and construction
Residential projects (the software is much better suited for commercial lease buildouts, for instance)
A contractor whose finance department already uses full-suite accounting software

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Jeff Looby, CPA

Associate

Credit SuisseBanking, 10,001+ employees

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Feature Rating Comparison

BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product

GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel

Plan distribution & viewing

Plan markups & sharing

Issue tracking & punchlists

Photo documentation

Jobsite reports

Document sharing

RFI tools

Collaboration & approvals

As-built drawings

Mobile app

Submittal design and management

BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product

GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel

Takeoff tools

Job costing

Cost databases

Cost calculator

Bid creation

Pros

Helps keep track of multiple jobs at once
Helps sort your bid invites into won/lost/pending/archived etc.
It is a central location where general contractors can put all their updated files and addendum
Lets you see which contractors are bidding the same job so you can coordinate your estimating

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Matthew Smith

Estimator and Project Manager

Century Exteriors Inc.Construction, 11-50 employees

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Convenient estimating
Streamlines the price quotation process
Standard cost application
Overhead calculation and pplication

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Jeff Looby, CPA

Associate

Credit SuisseBanking, 10,001+ employees

View all 1 answers on this topic

Cons

There was a previous glitch where bid forms have been updated by subcontractors that have accessed a former version are not able to access the updated/new bid form.
I would like to see the ability for BuildingConnected to automatically send a bid reminder to bidders at a set amount of time prior to the bid date.

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Melanie Dodson

Preconstruction Manager

NOVO ConstructionConstruction, 1001-5000 employees

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Only CSI construction cost database data
Only works with Microsoft Office (Excel)
The online help system has limited functionality

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Jeff Looby, CPA

Associate

Credit SuisseBanking, 10,001+ employees

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Usability

BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product 10.0

Based on 1 answer

Very easy to use.

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Diane Coughlin

Office Manager and PM Assist

SD Clifton Construction, Inc.Construction, 11-50 employees

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No score

No answers yet

No answers on this topic

Support Rating

BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product 8.9

Based on 14 answers

They are constantly reaching out to see if there is anything they can teach us. It can be a bit aggravating when it is constant, but I know that they have our best interest at heart. They also had all of us do multiple Skype meetings with a support rep to make sure we understood the software.

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Verified User

Analyst in Other

Construction Company, 201-500 employees

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No score

No answers yet

No answers on this topic

Implementation Rating

BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product 10.0

Based on 2 answers

Quick and easy. Pretty much menu-driven

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Diane Coughlin

Office Manager and PM Assist

SD Clifton Construction, Inc.Construction, 11-50 employees

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No score

No answers yet

No answers on this topic

Alternatives Considered

Have used BlueBook Construction, which has a smooth, quick search for local contractors. Still, they don't allow us the client project creation. I even had issues with them displaying proper project descriptions based upon was receiving inadequate and or erroneous bid proposals, and the engagement manager was not flexible in resolving the problem!

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Marcel Cicort

Estimator

Davaco LPConstruction, 1001-5000 employees

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GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel is cheaper, easier to use, more streamlined and is easily installed and up and running. The flip side to the ease of use is the limited functionality, somewhat outdated cost bucketing profile and general lack of sophistication. The add-in also does not talk with full suite accounting software which requires additional reconciliations if used within a large organization.

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Jeff Looby, CPA

Associate

Credit SuisseBanking, 10,001+ employees

View all 1 answers on this topic

Return on Investment

Allows our company to accurately estimate the cost of a project.
Helps us to reach out to qualified subcontractors based on past experience and history with our company.
Contains bid leveling capabilities to ensure that all proposals cover a full scope of work.

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Verified User

Employee in Professional Services

Construction Company, 1001-5000 employees

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Allows us to quickly bid on small projects
Allows us to pay less for accounting / finance professionals
Allows us to standardize our cost structure

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Jeff Looby, CPA

Associate

Credit SuisseBanking, 10,001+ employees

View all 1 answers on this topic

Pricing Details

General

Free Trial

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Free/Freemium Version

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Premium Consulting/Integration Services

—

Entry-level set up fee?

No

General

Free Trial

—

Free/Freemium Version

—

Premium Consulting/Integration Services

—

Entry-level set up fee?

—

Rating Summary

BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product

GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel

BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product

GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel

BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product

GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel

BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product

GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel

BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product

GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel

Likelihood to Recommend