Likelihood to Recommend 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 I use PlanSwift for all my projects - it has just cut my time by a major percentage when it comes to quantifying a blueprint. At times there are funky areas, which are just hard to calculate on paper. It also has a great tool for scaling according to the dimensions, so if a drawing is missing a scale, you can always allot a scale by giving directions and then marking the points. I use this tool to check the scale as well - sometimes the drawings say something but the scale if off and you are left with an incorrect take-off. The dimension tool is a good way to check that. We don't use it much for pricing purposes though, we have found other software which are more robust when it comes to estimation, but we can see using PlanSwift for pricing sometime in the future.
Read full review Pros 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. Read full review Easy to use and intuitive. Accurate data to use for projects, allowing for a central hub for all teams to work from. It's a central stop from take off and plan review all the way to plugging numbers into our estimating. The ability to link through SharePoint, which always access from any user and location. Read full review Cons 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. Read full review Submittals are not user friendly in PlanGrid. In fact, this is the one feature we would like to see improved. Billing is based on how many users you have. It would be very nice if they would do it based on revenue or other factors such as other programs do. Read full review Likelihood to Renew 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
Read full review It's become the go to program for our takeoffs. We have tried others but this is the simplest.
Read full review Usability 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.
Read full review Plan Swift is a user friendly program that makes takeoffs easy to perform. Not a whole lot of knowledge or skill is required.
Read full review Reliability and Availability 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
Read full review Never had an issue
Read full review Performance Reports are pretty shown to run but general pages typically load pretty quick.
Read full review Plan Swift is only as fast as your computer system and internet
Read full review Support Rating 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.
Read full review I have called once needing support. I was asking about the "compare" tool to compare different versions. They told be about their desktop app and I downloaded. They answered quickly, you could understand them, and they took care of my question
Read full review In-Person Training 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.
Read full review Online Training I felt the training was good and the trainers knew the software.
Read full review Implementation Rating 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
Read full review just know what use you want to get out of it. In our case it was just to do area take offs.
Read full review Alternatives Considered 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.
Ejay Gering Vice President of Construction and Field Operations
Read full review Bluebeam is amazing and can accomplish any take-off needs, but you will spend much more time creating your conditions and take off items. It is not as user-friendly as PlanSwift. OST (On screen takeoff). This product is by far better than PlanSwift, as it is amazingly easy to use. However, it is much more expensive. Cloud-based takeoff software -- this kind of software is difficult for me to use because of how slow the pages load and navigate. It's hard to beat that from PlanSwift or OST.
Read full review Scalability CMiC has several key features that can either work together or independently depending on your companies needs.
Read full review Several of our departments can use the take off feature to assist them in their job responsibilities.
Read full review Return on Investment 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. Read full review The estimators' productivity is greatly increased, I do takeoffs in less than half the time with more accuracy and detail captured. Easy sharing of what was taken off, I'm able to ensure everything is captured. Read full review ScreenShots CMiC Construction Platform Screenshots