CMiC Construction Platform vs. GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
CMiC Construction Platform
Score 7.7 out of 10
Mid-Size Companies (51-1,000 employees)
CMiC Project Management is a construction project collaboration and management solution. It centralizes project-related communications and documents onto one platform, and connects the job site with the back-end office.N/A
GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
Score 5.4 out of 10
N/A
GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel is a construction and estimation software offering from CPR, Inc.N/A
Pricing
CMiC Construction PlatformGeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
CMiC Construction PlatformGeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
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
CMiC Construction PlatformGeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
Top Pros

No answers on this topic

Top Cons
Features
CMiC Construction PlatformGeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
Human Resource Management
Comparison of Human Resource Management features of Product A and Product B
CMiC Construction Platform
6.1
29 Ratings
24% below category average
GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
-
Ratings
Employee demographic data4.919 Ratings00 Ratings
Employment history6.723 Ratings00 Ratings
Job profiles and administration7.319 Ratings00 Ratings
Workflow for transfers, promotions, pay raises, etc.6.618 Ratings00 Ratings
Organizational charting5.513 Ratings00 Ratings
Organization and location management7.213 Ratings00 Ratings
Compliance data (COBRA, OSHA, etc.)4.618 Ratings00 Ratings
Payroll Management
Comparison of Payroll Management features of Product A and Product B
CMiC Construction Platform
6.3
23 Ratings
18% below category average
GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
-
Ratings
Pay calculation6.723 Ratings00 Ratings
Support for external payroll vendors4.814 Ratings00 Ratings
Off-cycle/On-Demand payment7.614 Ratings00 Ratings
Benefit plan administration6.316 Ratings00 Ratings
Direct deposit files7.220 Ratings00 Ratings
Salary revision and increment management7.019 Ratings00 Ratings
Reimbursement management4.714 Ratings00 Ratings
Asset Management
Comparison of Asset Management features of Product A and Product B
CMiC Construction Platform
4.5
18 Ratings
51% below category average
GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
-
Ratings
Tracking of all physical assets4.518 Ratings00 Ratings
Reporting & Analytics
Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of Product A and Product B
CMiC Construction Platform
7.3
55 Ratings
11% below category average
GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
-
Ratings
Dashboards7.642 Ratings00 Ratings
Standard reports6.654 Ratings00 Ratings
Custom reports6.945 Ratings00 Ratings
Data exportability8.152 Ratings00 Ratings
Construction Project & Field Management
Comparison of Construction Project & Field Management features of Product A and Product B
CMiC Construction Platform
6.4
105 Ratings
15% below category average
GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
5.0
1 Ratings
39% below category average
Plan distribution & viewing5.966 Ratings00 Ratings
Plan markups & sharing5.262 Ratings5.01 Ratings
Issue tracking & punchlists5.680 Ratings00 Ratings
Photo documentation5.776 Ratings00 Ratings
Jobsite reports5.887 Ratings00 Ratings
Document sharing5.988 Ratings00 Ratings
RFI tools7.789 Ratings5.01 Ratings
Collaboration & approvals7.294 Ratings00 Ratings
As-built drawings5.353 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile app7.663 Ratings00 Ratings
Submittal design and management7.384 Ratings00 Ratings
Checklists5.646 Ratings00 Ratings
Meeting Minutes6.750 Ratings00 Ratings
Specifications5.938 Ratings00 Ratings
Change orders8.059 Ratings00 Ratings
Estimating
Comparison of Estimating features of Product A and Product B
CMiC Construction Platform
6.1
55 Ratings
29% below category average
GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
-
Ratings
Takeoff tools4.320 Ratings00 Ratings
Job costing7.751 Ratings00 Ratings
Cost databases8.042 Ratings00 Ratings
Cost calculator7.029 Ratings00 Ratings
Bid creation3.628 Ratings00 Ratings
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User Ratings
CMiC Construction PlatformGeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
Likelihood to Recommend
7.8
(114 ratings)
7.0
(1 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
8.5
(7 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Usability
6.2
(6 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Availability
9.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Performance
7.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
4.8
(96 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
In-Person Training
7.5
(2 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Online Training
8.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
7.5
(5 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Configurability
8.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Product Scalability
9.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
9.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
9.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
CMiC Construction PlatformGeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
Likelihood to Recommend
CMiC
CMiC is a robust platform best suited for large companies with resources for implementation and management of the program. One analogy is CMiC is like a droid phone where the user must decide how to use all the features of the program (as opposed to an iPhone where most configuration decisions are made for the user). Smaller companies with limited resources can struggle with CMiC both with the expense and configuration.
Read full review
CPR, Inc.
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
Read full review
Pros
CMiC
  • The user interface is similar to that of other project management software applications so folks in our company that had previously used other applications have been able to switch over fairly easily.
  • I really like the software and it was much less expensive than other applications.
  • I like the mobile application so that our superintendents can view the documentation on their phones.
  • I really like the punch list capability mobile field, however, we have a hard time getting our superintendents to use it for some reason.
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CPR, Inc.
  • Convenient estimating
  • Streamlines the price quotation process
  • Standard cost application
  • Overhead calculation and pplication
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Cons
CMiC
  • Needs to be more user friendly on the mobile side of the platform. Ease of use is key here.
  • There is not much instruction or support in standing up some programs like deploying ECM for outlook, making Collaboration Gateway work, or setting up the system for getting Plans available on the mobile devices.
  • Security configuration is extremely detailed and spread throughout the system. It is extremely hard to make adjustments to a person's security unless you know exactly where to look, which requires years of experience but shouldn't.
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CPR, Inc.
  • Only CSI construction cost database data
  • Only works with Microsoft Office (Excel)
  • The online help system has limited functionality
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Likelihood to Renew
CMiC
This is a platform that would continue to be in the best interest for our company. I just hope that CMiC support removes the gaps between the enhancements that they create to better the system to what they currently have
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CPR, Inc.
No answers on this topic
Usability
CMiC
I believe it isn't easy to use and is unintuitive. Undecipherable error messages appear throughout the application without indicating what is wrong or how to correct it, in my experience. The terminology on the screens is specific to Canada, which adds to the confusion.
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CPR, Inc.
No answers on this topic
Reliability and Availability
CMiC
Sometimes since this is a cloud based product the system can become slow but we haven’t had any issues of availability without CMiC first letting us know it would be down
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CPR, Inc.
No answers on this topic
Performance
CMiC
Reports are pretty shown to run but general pages typically load pretty quick.
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CPR, Inc.
No answers on this topic
Support Rating
CMiC
The support team [has] been in touch with our deployment team and has given them effective guidance up to completion. It has helped us in [the] best methods of resource allocation and secure record-keeping process. We have tracked all our billing information and made the right payments with documentation and avoided [unnecessary losses]. [The] support team has [to] lead our teams to the right channels and empowering our team with the right skills for maximum production.
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CPR, Inc.
No answers on this topic
In-Person Training
CMiC
The training was on system functions and not really how best to use it for our business. It would have been nice to be provided recommendations for use rather than just a blank slate of functionality.
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CPR, Inc.
No answers on this topic
Online Training
CMiC
I felt the training was good and the trainers knew the software.
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CPR, Inc.
No answers on this topic
Implementation Rating
CMiC
Lots of confusion between sales and implementation regarding what was included and not included...the security encountered a "bug" and made it extremely difficult to set up roles and individual responsibilities
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CPR, Inc.
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
CMiC
CMiC Construction Platform is the best price point in the market. Others are revenue-based billings, and the annual fees reflect as such. CMiC Construction Platform support staff is generally amazing and offers real-time support on critical issues. The imaging and workflow functions are real-time savers. CMiC Construction Platform is generally a smaller and in touch organization that treats your team like their own and stays with you after the purchase.
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CPR, Inc.
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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Scalability
CMiC
CMiC has several key features that can either work together or independently depending on your companies needs.
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CPR, Inc.
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
CMiC
  • Better project visibility, surely. I can step into a former project and see how well/poorly it was run.
  • Forecasting underway - nearly complete with year 2.
  • Cost status tracking - this has been valuable, especially when figuring out how much of a liquid budget is left over.
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CPR, Inc.
  • Allows us to quickly bid on small projects
  • Allows us to pay less for accounting / finance professionals
  • Allows us to standardize our cost structure
Read full review
ScreenShots

CMiC Construction Platform Screenshots

Screenshot of CMiC FIELDScreenshot of CMiC AnalyticsScreenshot of CMiC Drawing ManagementScreenshot of CMiC FIELD