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GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel vs. Pipeline Suite

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel

    Score5.4 out of 10
    N/AGeneralCOST Estimator for Excel is a construction and estimation software offering from CPR, Inc.N/A

    Pipeline Suite

    Score8 out of 10
    N/AN/AN/A
    Pricing
    GeneralCOST Estimator for ExcelPipeline Suite
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    GeneralCOST Estimator for ExcelPipeline Suite
    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
    Features
    GeneralCOST Estimator for ExcelPipeline Suite
    Construction Project & Field Management
    Comparison of Construction Project & Field Management features of GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel and Pipeline Suite
    Feature
    GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
    5.0
    1 Ratings
    42% below category average
    Pipeline Suite
    8.5
    1 Ratings
    11% above category average
    Plan markups & sharing5.01 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    RFI tools5.01 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Plan distribution & viewing00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Issue tracking & punchlists00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Photo documentation00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Jobsite reports00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Document sharing00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Collaboration & approvals00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    As-built drawings00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Mobile app00 Ratings7.01 Ratings
    Submittal design and management00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Estimating
    Comparison of Estimating features of GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel and Pipeline Suite
    Feature
    GeneralCOST Estimator for Excel
    -
    Ratings
    Pipeline Suite
    8.2
    1 Ratings
    8% above category average
    Takeoff tools00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Job costing00 Ratings9.01 Ratings
    Cost databases00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Cost calculator00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Bid creation00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
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    GeneralCOST Estimator for ExcelPipeline Suite
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    Score8.6 out of 10
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    Enterprises
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    Score8.9 out of 10
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    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    GeneralCOST Estimator for ExcelPipeline Suite
    Likelihood to Recommend
    7.0
    (1 ratings)
    8.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    GeneralCOST Estimator for ExcelPipeline Suite
    Likelihood to Recommend
    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
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pipeline Suite
    Pipeline Suite is a very niche product, but for anyone who has ever dealt with the construction bidding process, you can understand the need for it. With Pipeline Suite, it is so easy to request bids, share documents and plans, and coordinate schedules for submittals. We are able to prequalify sub contractors and vendors at a faster pace as well with the product
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    CPR, Inc.
    • Convenient estimating
    • Streamlines the price quotation process
    • Standard cost application
    • Overhead calculation and pplication
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pipeline Suite
    • Sharing documents and plans with project stakeholders is a piece of cake.
    • The product makes tracking the status of bids so much easier.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    CPR, Inc.
    • Only CSI construction cost database data
    • Only works with Microsoft Office (Excel)
    • The online help system has limited functionality
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pipeline Suite
    • The onboarding process was difficult for us just because we had some pretty disorganized databases.
    • The product is pricey for small to medium sized firms.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    CPR, Inc.
    No answers on this topic
    Pipeline Suite
    I have found that the customer support team has an understanding of the construction bidding process. They have been able to see issues through our eyes, so to speak, not just through the eyes of a software company. They have always been very timely in their responses and seem to go above and beyond to solve issues
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    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.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pipeline Suite
    I don't have a lot of personal experience with SmartBid, but from what I hear from other colleagues, Pipeline Suite makes it easier for subcontractors to access documents/plans and to respond to bids. The interface and design of Pipeline Suite is more modern and the user experience is a major upgrade from SmartBid
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    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
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pipeline Suite
    • We have been able to respond to more bids using Pipeline Suite.
    • Our proposals are more accurate and organized, which has made our projects come under budget more often.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots