BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product vs. SmartBid

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
SmartBid
Score 8.3 out of 10
N/A
SmartBid is a construction bid management software for general contractors. SmartBid provides a web-based and mobile platform to streamline their bid project data, documents, and subcontractor communications. It also supports user permissions control for data security.N/A
Pricing
BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productSmartBid
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productSmartBid
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoYes
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional DetailsAs a cloud-based solution, our clients can scale their access annually depending on the number of users. Subcontractors invited to bid or prequalify in the system receive access at no cost.
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productSmartBid
Considered Both Products
BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
Chose BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
We use BuildingConnected for our bidding process mainly because of their database feature. Procore does not offer a database outside of using your own. PlanGrid, Dodge & PanTerra have databases, but they don't seem to be as broad as BuildingConnected. SmartBid actually has some …
Chose BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
SmartBid is very similar to BuildingConnected. In our case it just depends which general contractor has BuildingConnected vs SmartBid. I can say that building connected has brought us more/new estimating opportunities by updating our profile - indicating what division we …
Chose BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
I'd say that BuildingConnected is by far the best software I've used in the industry. It's much more aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly, and just a better overall product than Procore, iSqFt, & SmartBid. Those sites all seem to be lacking in at least one of those categories …
Chose BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
BuildingConnected is one of my favorite bid management softwares because of its ease of use and simple interface. At a quick glance you can easily see where your project is, who is planning on bidding, and what values submitted bids equal out to. BuildingConnected makes it …
Chose BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
BuildingConnected is user-friendly and easy to understand. One of the key successes for communication within the bidding process is for a dialogue not only from within our company, but also with the subcontractors that we are reaching out to. Nearly all subcontractors we have …
SmartBid
Chose SmartBid
SmartBid is by far the most aesthetically pleasing of the software I've used in the field. It is incredibly competitive in terms of price and ease-of-use and is one of my favorites to use. I use SmartBid as well as other programs, but SmartBid is always one of my first choices.
Chose SmartBid
SmartBid is used by more of the contractors that we happen to do lots of work with. It has basically the same features. However, SmartBid will let subcontractors view all the jobs a general contractor is bidding, even ones we were never invited to. So it has the potential to …
Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productSmartBid
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
SmartBid
-
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
SmartBid
-
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
SmartBid
7.6
4 Ratings
2% above category average
Plan distribution & viewing4.615 Ratings7.04 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 Ratings8.04 Ratings
RFI tools3.48 Ratings6.03 Ratings
Collaboration & approvals3.96 Ratings7.02 Ratings
As-built drawings3.26 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile app1.03 Ratings10.01 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
SmartBid
-
Ratings
Takeoff tools3.15 Ratings00 Ratings
Job costing7.06 Ratings00 Ratings
Cost databases6.04 Ratings00 Ratings
Cost calculator8.05 Ratings00 Ratings
Bid creation8.812 Ratings00 Ratings
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User Ratings
BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productSmartBid
Likelihood to Recommend
4.3
(16 ratings)
8.0
(6 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
8.9
(7 ratings)
9.6
(2 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
BuildingConnected, an Autodesk productSmartBid
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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ConstructConnect
SmartBid is also very useful for conducting sub-contracting analysis and management simulations in the didactic field. The procedures for sharing documents are helpful, but the graphic can be improved. Many forms can be pre-filled. This helps a lot in saving time and money! SmartBid is great for exporting and/or sending single or mass emails. However, as mentioned, it would be useful to simplify some pre-construction processes and improve the overall communication
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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
Read full review
ConstructConnect
  • It's very easy to set up a job and manage who receives solicitations. You can also keep detailed notes on who've you contacted and see if they're actually downloading and reviewing the documents.
  • You can add a confidentiality agreement clause which they must accept before accessing the documents. It then stores this information if it ever needs to be accessed. This is much cleaner and easier then sending out a NDA form and having the subcontractor return it before actually sending drawings/docs.
  • You can send Invitations to Bid and set it up to continue sending these ITB's until the subcontractor responds. However, this can also be a negative point because once you set up a delayed ITB, it doesn't update as the subcontractors view and respond to the ITB's. So if a sub is "Not Responded" and you set up a delayed ITB to fire off every day for 5 days, and the sub responds after day 2, that sub will continue to receive ITB's for all 5 days.
  • Uploading drawings is quick and easy. It's especially convenient if you link to one of your cloud services such as Egnyte, Google Drive, etc.
  • The search tools are quick and easy and often very accessible from any page.
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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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ConstructConnect
  • We have seen intermittent problems with notes disappearing.
  • Ability to have more than one project bidding open at the same time/on multiple windows.
  • Mobile apps.
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Usability
Autodesk
Very easy to use.
Read full review
ConstructConnect
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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ConstructConnect
SmartBid has an excellent support team that is always at your service. Any problem I've had (when I've even had them) has been resolved almost immediately, along with tips on how to avoid them in the future. If you're looking for a program with excellent customer service, look no further than SmartBid.
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Implementation Rating
Autodesk
Quick and easy. Pretty much menu-driven
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ConstructConnect
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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ConstructConnect
SmartBid is used by more of the contractors that we happen to do lots of work with. It has basically the same features. However, SmartBid will let subcontractors view all the jobs a general contractor is bidding, even ones we were never invited to. So it has the potential to bring more opportunities.
Read full review
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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ConstructConnect
  • It is a big time saver compared to sending out individual emails.
  • It saves time in having multiple individual databases for company contact info.
  • It ensures that everyone is getting the same information.
Read full review
ScreenShots

SmartBid Screenshots

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