B2W Estimate vs. Newforma Project Center

We are long-term users of the B2W system. We believe it is the best choice for paving contractors. It is easy to learn and continues to offer even deeper ability as estimating prowess grows. The system allows us to update quotes that were given in the past and to stay on top of our costs as changes occur, so our data is up to date and accurate. Know your costs and you can make money!

Incentivized

Newforma is a great tool to collaborate with large teams and between firms. It allows for great documentation of transfers, activities, and other procedural aspects of projects that require collaboration between disciplines, for example, MEP, electrical, architectural and technology. For internal use, Newforma has been great for communications tracking and archival, as well as for record-keeping of all the users in a team or number of teams. Many great options are features are unused due to a lack of training or exposure to them, for example, the graphical viewers that can preview CAD, Revit, and other formats, or the markup tool available with the desktop client.

Incentivized

• Allows management to update costs for each individual item, equipment, labor, PR taxes, benefits, materials, etc.
• Allows management to see how aggressive estimators have built an estimate to evaluate risk.
• Allows monthly changes in fuel prices and liquid asphalt to quickly update the system for all.
• Allows management to override margins for overhead and profit to match backlog and need for work versus budget.

Incentivized

• Newforma sits on top of our previous filing system (Windows Explorer). This was very important to us because we didn't have to change the project numbering system in order to fit Newforma's design. Also, if we were to decide we didn't like it, we could easily revert back to our previous methods.
• Newforma does a great job of indexing information, making searches much easier by being able to use keywords instead of knowing the exact file location. No more traversing through countless folders before finding what you need.
• Newforma keeps a read receipt for everything that you submit through it for issue tracking, and keeps an easy to read record of your workflow.

Incentivized

• We request changes to the software as issues crop up and the B2W process changes as needed.
• A time-out function should be added to knock dormant users offline and allow other users access to the limited number of licenses the company owns.

Incentivized

• I have found it difficult to locate audits.
• Some users have issues while uploading project data.

While I have never asked for support myself, a Newforma representative has been in the office annually to give training seminars and info sessions on how to fully use the product. I find this essential to keep the product relevant and make sure everyone knows its full capabilities and an important part of customer support.

Incentivized

A good competitor against other similar solutions and support is excellent.

Incentivized

• We make money year after year by having accurate quotes and costs basis.
• We have easily accessible records to look in the past at jobs won or lost.

Incentivized

• Newforma makes it easy to transfer, share, archive, and search extensive data sets in a single GUI
• For it to be effective, all users in a team must receive a basic training and use it consistently
• Adoption in the industry is good (A/E); many teams use it consistently. Learning to use it once produces time-saving in subsequent projects

Incentivized