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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    ECI MarkSystems

    Score9.8 out of 10
    N/AAn end-to-end residential construction management software that links all platforms from prospect to warranty and offers a unified view of projects. It is designed and constructed for production and semi-custom home builders to manage all phases of new residential construction from prospecting to warranty.N/A

    HCSS

    Score8.5 out of 10
    Mid-Size Companies (51-1,000 employees)
    HCSS is a construction software suite. It includes functionality for bidding, time card and project management, safety, planning, scheduling, equipment management, and data warehousing and reporting. Each module can be purchased separately. The suite can be hosted in the cloud.N/A
    Pricing
    ECI MarkSystemsHCSS
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    ECI MarkSystemsHCSS
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoYes
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeRequired
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Features
    ECI MarkSystemsHCSS
    Reporting & Analytics
    Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of ECI MarkSystems and HCSS
    Feature
    ECI MarkSystems
    8.5
    1 Ratings
    10% above category average
    HCSS
    -
    Ratings
    Dashboards7.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Standard reports8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Custom reports9.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Data exportability10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Construction Project & Field Management
    Comparison of Construction Project & Field Management features of ECI MarkSystems and HCSS
    Feature
    ECI MarkSystems
    9.6
    1 Ratings
    23% above category average
    HCSS
    5.1
    34 Ratings
    40% below category average
    Document sharing10.01 Ratings5.018 Ratings
    Collaboration & approvals9.01 Ratings5.020 Ratings
    As-built drawings10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Mobile app10.01 Ratings7.029 Ratings
    Submittal design and management10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Checklists8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Specifications10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Change orders10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Plan distribution & viewing00 Ratings5.010 Ratings
    Plan markups & sharing00 Ratings5.07 Ratings
    Issue tracking & punchlists00 Ratings5.014 Ratings
    Photo documentation00 Ratings5.026 Ratings
    Jobsite reports00 Ratings6.031 Ratings
    RFI tools00 Ratings3.01 Ratings
    Estimating
    Comparison of Estimating features of ECI MarkSystems and HCSS
    Feature
    ECI MarkSystems
    10.0
    1 Ratings
    28% above category average
    HCSS
    -
    Ratings
    Job costing10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Cost databases10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Cost calculator10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Bid creation10.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    ECI MarkSystemsHCSS
    Small Businesses
    CMiC Construction Platform
    Score7.5 out of 10
    CMiC Construction Platform
    Score7.5 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    Autodesk Build
    Score8.6 out of 10
    Autodesk Build
    Score8.6 out of 10
    Enterprises
    InEight
    Score7.4 out of 10
    InEight
    Score7.4 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    ECI MarkSystemsHCSS
    Likelihood to Recommend
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    10.0
    (39 ratings)
    Usability
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    7.0
    (3 ratings)
    Support Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (35 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    8.2
    (32 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    ECI MarkSystemsHCSS
    Likelihood to Recommend
    ECI Software Solutions
    Out of all the software I have been exposed to, ECI MarkSystems really is the most user friendly for not only the builder but for trade partners as well.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    HCSS
    Our operation uses several pieces of what we call specialty equipment (not used every day on every job). The foreman when finished will give a location of where this equipment is left, this many times can be very vague and lead to a lowboy driver trying to block around to find the piece or driving down a street he cannot get turned around in. With the GPS devices, the driver can pinpoint exactly where the unit is and if he has room to turn around at that location.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    ECI Software Solutions
    • ECI MarkSystems
    • ITK
    • Insearch
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    HCSS
    • #1 is support! HCSS is by far the best software support of any product we have ever used. Unlike most software companies HCSS utilizes their support calls to help upgrade their software. When you here them tell you that they will write down a particular issue you come across during a support call if they can't help you then and there they will research and get an answer to you extremely fast. If the software will not do it, you can bet there is a good chance it will be on the list of enhancements you will see come out in the near future.
    • Estimating software is very extensive. Their software is capable of handling the smallest estimate all the way to the largest joint venture estimate. It has advanced features that make it extremely useful for analyzing job materials, subcontractors etc.
    • HeavyJob is an extremely useful tool for the field to keep the office up to date with job costs. Everything is at the Foreman's fingertips on Tablets to allow the information from the field to get uploaded to HeavyJob manager which then can export to accounting. We are also able to give our Foreman the ability to deal with the Daily and weekly safety needs (Tailgate Meetings, incident Investigation, observations etc.) right on the Tablets thru HeavyJob.
    Read full review
    Cons
    ECI Software Solutions
    No answers on this topic
    HCSS
    • All their apps are on mobile devices. Although there is not a clear company policy on Android versus iPhone. Updates for features lag behind on Android. Some apps are exclusive to one platform making it hard to fully interconnect all programs.
    Read full review
    Usability
    ECI Software Solutions
    For our particular organization, we are semi-custom, which can make things a little more complex but we have almost always been able to find a solution due to its flexibility.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    HCSS
    As mentioned, user interface appears messy and complicated at initial onset. Training is necessary but becomes easy to maneuver through after solid daily use.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    ECI Software Solutions
    No answers on this topic
    HCSS
    I have never had a bad experience or heard of one in 4 years of doing business with HCSS. That is unheard of even with the hurricanes and flooding in Houston area it feels like HCSS was always there and willing to help in every way.
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    ECI Software Solutions
    No answers on this topic
    HCSS
    I was not employed with PPI upon implementation. I would prefer to reference my previous statement, that each company needs to evaluate its culture and address your implementation accordingly. The purchasing company should assign an employee as point person and really take charge of not just the technical side of the implementation (HCSS pretty much handles that), but focus on company culture and training.
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    ECI Software Solutions
    I haven't used any other tools, but I can say that ECI BuildTools has been great for our organization.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    HCSS
    Other estimating products I have used consist of ICE/MC2 and MS Excel. ICE was not a good fit for our company, as they have awful technical support and offer very poor training. MS Excel is great for simple estimates where there is not a lot of data being compiled. However neither hold a candle to the power of HCSS Heavybid
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    ECI Software Solutions
    • Setting up the system as intended over the last few years has make workload much better, VPOs have been significantly reduced, etc.
    • We have greatly reduced the amount of options, but implementing replacement options.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    HCSS
    • Because of the codebooks (bid item codebook for DOT's specifically), we're able to carve off significant time in "stick-building" estimates
    • It's very easy to train newer estimators with HeavyBid due to the abundance of resources available on HCSS Academy and elsewhere (i.e. Arthur Nix's material)
    • The KPI's and Insights that Pre-Con offers helps us to make better decisions on Bid Day.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    HCSS Screenshots

    Screenshot of HeavyBid - build the structure of an estimateScreenshot of HeavyBid - manage sub and material quotesScreenshot of HeavyBid - create professional bid proposalsScreenshot of HeavyJob - manage a job site from a mobile deviceScreenshot of HeavyJob - capture job site photos from any deviceScreenshot of HeavyJob - review, edit, and approve time cards from a mobile device