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Trimble GC WinEst

Trimble GC WinEst

Overview

What is Trimble GC WinEst?

With thousands of users world-wide, WinEst estimating from Trimble GC is a database-driven construction project management solutions on the market. It looks and feels just like Excel with familiar Windows navigation, including drop-down menus and ribbon bars.Behind the covers is…

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Users have found WinEst to be a valuable tool for preparing estimates in their construction projects, replacing older methods such as …
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The Best

10 out of 10
November 13, 2018
Incentivized
We use WinEst as our estimate software across the company. The majority of users are in PreCon but as operations comes in, they learn the …
Continue reading
Read all reviews
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Pricing

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What is Trimble GC WinEst?

With thousands of users world-wide, WinEst estimating from Trimble GC is a database-driven construction project management solutions on the market. It looks and feels just like Excel with familiar Windows navigation, including drop-down menus and ribbon bars. Behind the covers is a…

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  • No setup fee

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  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

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Product Details

What is Trimble GC WinEst?

With thousands of users world-wide, WinEst estimating from Trimble GC is a database-driven construction project management solutions on the market. It looks and feels just like Excel with familiar Windows navigation, including drop-down menus and ribbon bars.

Behind the covers is a database with multiple work-breakdown structures (WBS) and filters that can be customized to the user's preferences so that estimating data can be sliced and diced and presented in different ways. WinEst estimates can be standardized for multiple project types to reflect the user's corporate brand. The estimate templates extend to the item and assembly level, as well as to labor and equipment rates, including base rates and benefit rates. According to the vendor, this helps firms standardize estimating best practices for all project types and self-perform work.

Trimble GC WinEst Technical Details

Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationNo
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(5)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Users have found WinEst to be a valuable tool for preparing estimates in their construction projects, replacing older methods such as Excel and macros. With its simplicity and flexibility, WinEst has become an indispensable asset in the estimation process. One of the key advantages of the software is its ability to easily switch between formats and assign Work Breakdown Structure, allowing clients to view information in their preferred way. This feature saves time and streamlines communication with stakeholders.

WinEst is particularly useful for estimating complex projects, producing bid packages, and developing databases. It has become a go-to solution for finding new subcontractors and managing bids within multi-person or multi-company projects. Once users become familiar with its features, they find the interface easy to use, enabling them to create accurate estimates even for projects with specialty items not already in the system. The software's stable background eliminates concerns about calculations and Excel formula errors that plagued older methods.

Furthermore, WinEst's content manager offers a highly dynamic yet organized system for creating uniform reports. It has become the primary estimating software used by pre-construction departments across various companies. While some users feel that the software is shifting away from its strengths as an open platform leader in construction estimating, many still rely on WinEst for its simplicity, flexibility, and stability in managing their estimation tasks effectively.

Users have provided several recommendations based on their experiences with the software. First, they suggest that the software is user-friendly and does not require domain expertise. It is reported that navigating through the software is intuitive and easy, making it accessible to users of varying technical backgrounds.

Secondly, it is recommended to save files frequently while working in the software. This is seen as a precautionary measure to avoid any potential loss of work in case of unexpected system issues or crashes. Users also suggest reaching out to support for tips and tricks on how to optimize the software's functionality.

Additionally, users recommend assigning a team member to review past estimates and create a database for import. This practice helps streamline the estimating process by leveraging historical data and reducing manual efforts in re-entering information. Furthermore, investing time in learning and utilizing the software's full capabilities is seen as beneficial, while also advocating for company-wide adoption to maximize its potential.

Lastly, reviewers believe that the software is suitable for fast-paced estimating environments. They are of the opinion that its efficiency and ease of use can greatly benefit those working in such environments by speeding up the estimation process and improving overall productivity.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-2 of 2)
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November 13, 2018

The Best

Aaron Graves | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use WinEst as our estimate software across the company. The majority of users are in PreCon but as operations comes in, they learn the system. We chose WinEst for:
1) Its stable background. No more worrying about how markups, escalation, GCs are being calculated. You also remove the common occurrence of breaking excel formulas
2) Ability for uniform reports - takes your deliverables to the next level.
3) Highly dynamic yet organized content manager.
  • WinEst allows for uniformity and clarity. Having the ability to mange your views, reports, assignments etc. allows for bid teams to put together a highly detailed estimate quickly and efficiently.
  • Being able to develop database items ensures that every bid you produce will have the same look and feel - important for repeat clients.
  • Winest also allows for simple importing of takeoff from programs like OST. WinEst's feature that allows for multiple users to edit the estimate at the same time is unbelievably useful.
  • WinEst allows for a huge amount of flexibility. The built in functionality and reporting preferences allows you to create any sort of reporting format you can imagine.
  • At times, WinEst controls feel counter intuitive. Also the tools available for actually developing the database can feel clunky. This means that if you do not take the time to create a robust import file, you will spend a serious amount of time fixing your errors.
  • WinEst is also an object based database which means that it is difficult to do mass dumps of information (mainly takeoff) into the program. While this is great for ensuring that everything is done purposefully, it does lead to extended hours of data entry
  • It takes hours upon hours of use before you begin to realize the true potential. The sheer number of tools is overwhelming and their help resources are very basic and only explain how to correctly enter the data but not the feature's best use cases.
WinEst is truly built for everyone. Their assemblies/database linking is perfect for self perform and subcontractors while their database management and custom reporting is perfect for GCs. While Excel set the bar, WinEst is on another planet. With the immediacy required by today's markets, WinEst allows you to deliver a superior product while being more accurate.
Construction Project & Field Management
N/A
N/A
Estimating (5)
86%
8.6
Takeoff tools
30%
3.0
Job costing
100%
10.0
Cost databases
100%
10.0
Cost calculator
100%
10.0
Bid creation
100%
10.0
Human Resource Management
N/A
N/A
Payroll Management
N/A
N/A
Asset Management
N/A
N/A
Reporting & Analytics
N/A
N/A
  • WinEst has created a simple path for delivering clean estimates time and time again no matter what the user is
  • WinEst has allowed us to analyze data on a level previously unattainable
WinEst simply blows excel and Timberline out of the water. The shear depth of functionality is unparalleled. Not only does WinEst deliver a better product, it also shortens the amount of man hours required for each bid, alternate, pricing exercise, etc. On top of this, it has a number of redundant safeguards for catching errors that the others don't have.
April 03, 2017

Why WinEst?

Andy Ruda | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
WinEst is our primary estimating software used by our pre-construction department.
  • It's very flexible when building an estimate and selecting items to include. You can either click your way to the datebase or quickly copy and paste similar items.
  • The numerous ways to view and estimate whether it's by CSI, Uniformat, Master Format, or any view you'd like to see. One of ours is by program area, i.e. Sitework, Tower, Parking Deck, etc. After that, you can sort by Bid Package, CSI, etc. Quick buttons can be created far all the views you'd need which allows changing between views a breeze.
  • The visual interface is pleasing and easy to read.
  • It's easy to create your own database using Excel. Once you tag an item with unit costs, sort codes, etc., Winest will import it. You can also build it manually within the program but Excel was faster.
  • As with other estimating software I've used, WinEst needs to make reports easier to do. You can make reports with your own headers and such but creating those templates is very difficult to create unless you're a programmer.
  • Initially, we had some database sharing conflicts with our server that needed to be overcome. I believe Winest has since improved this though.
  • Could really improve the takeoff function. It has an OST integrator but it's an afterthought at best. Using OST directly is a must.
I use WinEst in all stages of estimating from conceptual to GMP.
  • We've not measured the rate of return but WinEst has made us much more efficient and organized.
  • MC2 and Timbeline
I'll take WinEst over MC2 and Timberline any day. My ranking would be WinEst number 1 followed by Timberline (Windows), Timberline (DOS), MC2.
SmartBidNet
Yes
Being relatively new to the product we wanted that safety net. May drop it in the future.
Doug Quinn was our trainer and travels all over the country. Whenever I have an issue I shoot him an email and he quickly responds as soon as his training gets a break.
Yes
Yes. Also, they are very responsive to added features we request.
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