eTakeoff vs. HCSS

When quoting projects are required where there is not much time and more precision is required. In these circumstances eTakeoff is spectacular. And it allows to integrate with BIN systems to have a better performance. The important thing is also that it does not limit you when making the necessary estimates.

Incentivized

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

• Client Server Solutions that allows to work simultaneously on the several footprints projects
• Integration with Construction Management Software's like Sage 300 CRE - Estimating
• Compatible with mobile devices like Microsoft Surface
• Savings upon the printing process to start the measurement phase
• Simplifies the amount of materials with only a pack of PDF footprints, granting the calculation of the material lists

Incentivized

• #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.

• Measurement summary list could have more intuitive ways to organize measures.
• The server-client and project sharing needs to be easier.
• The reference of a measure from other drawings is a process that need to be simplified.

Incentivized

• 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.

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

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.

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.

eTakeoff is much more dynamic, more up-to-date, it has more functionalities and integrations that allow us to be more focused on project development. I would recommend promoting the platform more and creating a community of users to share their experiences and grow with the use of eTakeoff. I could also recommend a section where the user can be guided in real time.

Incentivized

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

• I strongly recommend to declare a design and scaling plan before making the purchase the eTakeoff Basic license has several limitations that will drive you to make a forced upgrade before even kicking out the app for the estimators
• Affordable at a regular cost considering that Autodesk Solutions like Revit will be a much higher fee per services.
• The ROI can be achieved after the first 6 months of the initial set up of traces, custom settings and list of items to be used on the construction project.

Incentivized

• 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