e4clicks Project Estimator is software that is designed to support the mission of Department of Defense and Federal Government facility owners, contractors, subcontractors, architects, and engineers. The vendor says multiple contracts, including JOC, SABER, 8(a), IDIQ, SATOC, MATOC, IFB, MACC, POCA, BOA, and others can be managed in a single comprehensive program quickly, easily, and with greater accuracy.
Additionally, the vendor says approximately 85% of the Air Force Bases,…
If you are considering purchasing this (very expensive) software, there is a 100% chance you are doing so because you have been awarded a Government contract that dictates you use 4Clicks Project Estimator. There are plenty of easier to use estimating packages out in the world, but you can't use any of them if you have a contract that requires 4Clicks.
The software feels 20 years old. It has not kept up with modern times, and practically functions like an old DOS program.
Clunky interface, arcane commands.
Even their training info focuses on hotkeys like this is 1995. Even though I am of an age to remember computers in 1995, the younger generations of managers/estimators are not. It is time to bring the software into the new century!
Their spell checker creates a squiggly line to tell you that you have a misspelled word, but, doesn't allow you to correct it.
The spell checker lets you add custom words to a dictionary, but, it can only use one dictionary at a time to check spelling. So the default dictionary gets used, and your custom words still show up as being spelled wrong!
You can't select-copy addresses, in order to paste them somewhere else.
Using duplexing on my printer doesn't work right. It works for every other software I own, but not in UDA.
There is a bug in the WIP date range that doesn't pull accurate data.
"Options" in the estimate show only cost, not margin. So if you show your customer that report, you are revealing cost info, not selling price!!
You can't import a PDF into bid notes, even though the premise of UDA is to try to make it a single repository for all your information.
You can't use the arrow key to browse photos in UDA. You need to close, and click into the next one. No inuitive functionality.
The estimating module separates material and labor, in ways that create a very confusing Scope of Work. You need to select the labor item from your database, then separately select the material from your database. You end up with two line items in your Scope of Work for the same thing. Instead of writing, "Supply and Install a new window" you have "Supply a new window" and then "Install a new window." It's hard for my estimator, and confusing for my client.
UDA will WREAK HAVOC on your contacts in Outlook.
It does a terrible job of managing husband/wife or partner/partner situations. You can't mail merge them properly, or, you get forced into combining their contact into into a single contact-- and then how do you know whether the cell phone is his or hers???
There is no good way to credit design fees against the construction contract, if you happen to use that paradigm for your contracts.
There is no way to filter contracts by their date created. So, how do you find your newest contacts for entering them into something such as Constant Contact?
If you try to use integration of QuickBooks(QB) and UDA, your ITEMS list in QB will either get expanded to hundreds or even THOUSANDS of items... or, your POs in QB will get created in a summary form such that they are virtually meaningless.
The "lead funnel" graphic may look cool, but there is not a good way to actually report on the lead status, track the activities and calls that you make, note significant emails that you write, or keep track of when you send out thank-you cards or spiffs/gifts!
They might tell you that these things work, but, after spending MONTHS with UDA, I found out that these problems are deal breakers.
Within their customer service department, the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. They do not use a structure such as Zendesk that so many other great companies use. Even though I was paying for priority support, there were often days going by where I could not get a call or email back to assist me with a support request or provide a tutorial on how to do something. Had I not paid extra for support, this would be acceptable. But when paying for "TotalCare" priority support, there are times when the software had me stuck, and I was stuck for a day at a time waiting for an answer. Sometimes no answer ever arrived.
QuickBooks has great quality assurance and while they don't provide support, their software is nearly flawless. Co-construct provides great support and solves problems. In comparison, UDA Construction Suite is full of flaws, and their customer service department is disorganized and overworked.
As stated before, if you are buying this software, it is because you have a contract forcing you to. While it does work, it is clunky, awkward, and very expensive.
The price of the software and databases has always been high, but with the fairly recent acquisition of 4Clicks by Gordion (who also bought RS Means for their databases), there is literally no competition. Prices will continue to be very high, with no check on how high they can go.
Again, can't fault 4Clicks tech support, as I think it is the best in the industry. They know their product and they respond to issues immediately. Considering what we spend a year for this product, however, you would expect nothing less.
