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BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product vs. RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product

    Score9.4 out of 10
    N/ABuildingConnected is an online preconstruction platform supporting communication and collaboration with contractors, subcontractors, and real estate owners. The platform supports bid management with cost tracking and analytics, relationship tracking, alerting, and unlimited bid invitations. BuildingConnected was acquired by Autodesk in 2018.N/A

    RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)

    Score10 out of 10
    N/ARSMeans data, from Gordian (formerly Costworks) is a construction and estimation software offering acquired by the Gordian Group in 2014. It includes cost books and construction project estimating software tools.N/A
    Pricing
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productRSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productRSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productRSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    Considered Both Products
    Autodesk
    No answer on this topic
    The Gordian Group, Inc.
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    90%
    Would buy again
    9 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Delivers good value for the price
    89%
    Delivers good value for the price
    8 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Happy with the feature set
    90%
    Happy with the feature set
    9 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    86%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    6 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Implementation went as expected
    89%
    Implementation went as expected
    8 Answers
    No answers on this topic
    Features
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productRSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    Human Resource Management
    Comparison of Human Resource Management features of BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product and RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    Feature
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    8.0
    1 Ratings
    13% above category average
    RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    -
    Ratings
    Job profiles and administration8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Reporting & Analytics
    Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product and RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    Feature
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    1.2
    3 Ratings
    146% below category average
    RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    -
    Ratings
    Dashboards1.12 Ratings00 Ratings
    Standard reports1.23 Ratings00 Ratings
    Custom reports1.23 Ratings00 Ratings
    Data exportability1.13 Ratings00 Ratings
    Construction Project & Field Management
    Comparison of Construction Project & Field Management features of BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product and RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    Feature
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    3.6
    16 Ratings
    72% below category average
    RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    -
    Ratings
    Plan distribution & viewing1.315 Ratings00 Ratings
    Plan markups & sharing1.311 Ratings00 Ratings
    Issue tracking & punchlists8.06 Ratings00 Ratings
    Photo documentation7.08 Ratings00 Ratings
    Jobsite reports6.13 Ratings00 Ratings
    Document sharing1.316 Ratings00 Ratings
    RFI tools1.28 Ratings00 Ratings
    Collaboration & approvals1.26 Ratings00 Ratings
    As-built drawings1.26 Ratings00 Ratings
    Mobile app1.03 Ratings00 Ratings
    Submittal design and management1.25 Ratings00 Ratings
    Checklists1.23 Ratings00 Ratings
    Meeting Minutes6.02 Ratings00 Ratings
    Specifications8.92 Ratings00 Ratings
    Change orders6.92 Ratings00 Ratings
    Estimating
    Comparison of Estimating features of BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product and RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    Feature
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    6.2
    13 Ratings
    20% below category average
    RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    7.8
    1 Ratings
    3% above category average
    Takeoff tools1.25 Ratings6.01 Ratings
    Job costing7.06 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Cost databases6.04 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Cost calculator8.05 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Bid creation8.912 Ratings7.01 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productRSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    Small Businesses
    CMiC Construction Platform
    Score7.5 out of 10
    CMiC Construction Platform
    Score7.5 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Autodesk Build
    Score8.6 out of 10
    Autodesk Build
    Score8.6 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Revit
    Score8.9 out of 10
    Revit
    Score8.9 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productRSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    Likelihood to Recommend
    1.3
    (16 ratings)
    9.0
    (2 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Usability
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    Support Rating
    8.9
    (7 ratings)
    5.0
    (1 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    -
    (0 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productRSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Autodesk
    When receiving RFQ's from companies within a manageable distant from our location, it has been very helpfull. Receiving RFQ's for projects outside of our work area, it is just a waste of time. The projects available are well organized and give date due of proposal.
    Incentivized
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    The Gordian Group, Inc.
    Well Suited: Construction cost estimates for new larger projects where the construction will start within the next 6-9 months. Budgetary estimates for future buildings through its square foot models. Not Well Suited: Not accurate enough on small projects where labor, travel to sites, and OH&P are a higher percentage of unit costs than on larger projects where these costs are spread out across more units.
    Incentivized
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    Pros
    Autodesk
    • 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
    Incentivized
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    The Gordian Group, Inc.
    • CostWorks is very good at generating quick and valid estimates for standardized facilities such as office buildings, schools, etc. It allows you to validate other cost estimates at the UniFormat level when doing an estimate validation.
    • CostWorks' database of detailed line-items is a very resourceful asset when it comes to finding a very specific line-item. Sometimes, when using Success or MII, I will have CostWorks open on the other screen so I can find an item that the other softwares just don't have and build it into the other software from the CostWorks entry.
    • CostWorks does a very good job of generating reports that are both well-developed and have enough detail at the summary level to be able to sit with a client or a project manager and have them follow along and understand without being overwhelmed with detail and numbers.
    Incentivized
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    Cons
    Autodesk
    • 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.
    Incentivized
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    The Gordian Group, Inc.
    • small project costs where labor is a bigger portion than materials on cost
    • markup factors on governmental projects
    Incentivized
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    Usability
    Autodesk
    Very easy to use.
    Incentivized
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    The Gordian Group, Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    Support Rating
    Autodesk
    Though I haven't had to utilize any live support at BuildingConnected, I know others at my company have and have had good success with them. They seem to be very responsive and since the software is so simple, there are not that many pitfalls or hurdles that you need to work through to accomplish your task.
    Incentivized
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    The Gordian Group, Inc.
    I've never had the need to discuss CostWorks with a vendor.
    Incentivized
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    Implementation Rating
    Autodesk
    Quick and easy. Pretty much menu-driven
    Incentivized
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    The Gordian Group, Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    Alternatives Considered
    Autodesk
    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!
    Incentivized
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    The Gordian Group, Inc.
    CostWorks is a unique software for estimating as compared to the other softwares I have listed above. PACES is mostly used for federal modeling and really cannot be compared to Costworks. It has its own developed modeling database and has its own quirkiness and issues. MII has been developed for the USACE and utilized a user-developed folder structure and RS Means Database. I use CostWorks along side this software to find line-items that are not in the MII RS Means Database. Success has been developed for NAVFAC and again, utilizes a user-developed folder structure and RS Means Database. When I use this software, I ALWAYS have CostWorks open on the other screen as Success' RS Means database is extremely lacking when it comes to the number of detail line-items. Timberline is by SAGE and I use it mostly for DOS and FAA work. Of the 3 RS Means Database softwares, this one has the most detailed database for reference, however, there are times when I do have to look up an item that Timberline does not have and the first software I open is CostWorks.
    Incentivized
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    Return on Investment
    Autodesk
    • 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.
    Incentivized
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    The Gordian Group, Inc.
    • I don't really see any "negative" impacts on my business or my ROI by purchasing CostWorks. It's a valuable tool that we use, however, some of my colleagues do not use it or use it very infrequently.
    • I find it well worth the cost even though we don't develop complete estimates in CostWorks due to client dictated softwares.
    • It has provided very quickly-built estimating models that let our team and project managers know that the RFP or the task that they are contemplating bidding on or starting to work on is actually feasible to construction given the budget and directive.
    Incentivized
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