Sage Estimating vs. SharpeSoft Estimator

Sage Estimating was initially created for the construction industry and many of its current users use it to estimate buildings, but it has adapted quite well for the oil and gas industry. If the user is willing to invest the time and energy to develop and maintain their database, I can see it working for any industry. It is very easy to adjust and adapt the database as estimating methods and project designs change. As an example, our accounting department sometimes changes the way projects are reporting in our accounting software. Because I can go through our 9000 line item database in a couple of days, I am always ahead of the curve and can report my estimates in the format they require.

Incentivized

SharpeSoft [is] designed to be a day-to-day hard-bid estimating program. It is easy to learn and use, yet very powerful. I would not recommend this product to hourly service providers.

• Same format Spreadsheet
• Ability to adjust by percentages
• Ability to separate phases into categories

Incentivized

• Handles complex bid formats and bid submittal structures such as using bid alternates and non-tax bid schedules.
• This software is one of the easiest programs to learn and effectively use.
• This software is reasonably priced, but very powerful.
• Project support is timely, intimate, local and professional.

• The program has a fairly antiquated user interface such that someone working in it may not feel like they are working with advanced software.
• Sage Estimating has absolutely no remote access capability outside running it in a Citrix/RDP environment so users have to be using a fat/full client vs. any hopes of access on a mobile device.

Incentivized

• They need to put a search bar in the item master list so you can easily find work items.
• They could make the alternate package easier to use.
• The should find a way to allow the user to define at least one cost type in the program.

It is a good product and meets all of our needs

Incentivized

Sage's support of Estimating is adequate though frankly we rarely need it. Outside of more complex operations such as upgrades and installation problems the program itself is so straightforward that we do not usually have any "issues" and questions that are more about usability can easily be answered in online forums. We trust Sage's capability to answer these questions if needed but rarely use it.

Incentivized

For our needs and after completing a valued score card SAGE has always exceeded our min. requirements

Incentivized

I think SharpeSoft is the best estimating product on the market for our type of work. It is reasonably priced and is very reliable. We have had very few problems with the software and the upgrades and support staff and reliable.

• Manupulation of existing data is very user friendly thanks to "Database Manager".
• A bit pricey

Incentivized

• Using SharpeSoft has grown our business by allowing us to accurately bid more projects.
• The ease of use allows estimators of all ages to quickly become skilled at consistently bidding work