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

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
Score 6.8 out of 10
N/A
BuildingConnected 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)
Score 10.0 out of 10
N/A
RSMeans 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)
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productRSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
Human Resource Management
Comparison of Human Resource Management features of Product A and Product B
BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
8.0
1 Ratings
3% above category average
RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
-
Ratings
Job profiles and administration8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
Reporting & Analytics
Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of Product A and Product B
BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
3.0
3 Ratings
92% below category average
RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
-
Ratings
Dashboards2.62 Ratings00 Ratings
Standard reports3.23 Ratings00 Ratings
Custom reports3.23 Ratings00 Ratings
Data exportability2.93 Ratings00 Ratings
Construction Project & Field Management
Comparison of Construction Project & Field Management features of Product A and Product B
BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
5.0
16 Ratings
39% below category average
RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
-
Ratings
Plan distribution & viewing4.615 Ratings00 Ratings
Plan markups & sharing4.311 Ratings00 Ratings
Issue tracking & punchlists8.06 Ratings00 Ratings
Photo documentation7.08 Ratings00 Ratings
Jobsite reports6.23 Ratings00 Ratings
Document sharing4.316 Ratings00 Ratings
RFI tools3.48 Ratings00 Ratings
Collaboration & approvals3.96 Ratings00 Ratings
As-built drawings3.26 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile app1.03 Ratings00 Ratings
Submittal design and management3.95 Ratings00 Ratings
Checklists3.23 Ratings00 Ratings
Meeting Minutes6.02 Ratings00 Ratings
Specifications8.82 Ratings00 Ratings
Change orders6.82 Ratings00 Ratings
Estimating
Comparison of Estimating features of Product A and Product B
BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
6.6
13 Ratings
21% below category average
RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
7.8
1 Ratings
5% below category average
Takeoff tools3.15 Ratings6.01 Ratings
Job costing7.06 Ratings9.01 Ratings
Cost databases6.04 Ratings9.01 Ratings
Cost calculator8.05 Ratings8.01 Ratings
Bid creation8.812 Ratings7.01 Ratings
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User Ratings
BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productRSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)
Likelihood to Recommend
4.3
(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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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Usability
Autodesk
Very easy to use.
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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.
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The Gordian Group, Inc.
I've never had the need to discuss CostWorks with a vendor.
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Implementation Rating
Autodesk
Quick and easy. Pretty much menu-driven
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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ScreenShots