FastPIPE estimating tool: time saver for bidding!!
February 05, 2019
FastPIPE estimating tool: time saver for bidding!!
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with FastPIPE
FastPIPE is being used in all facets of HVAC Piping estimating. Takeoffs, labor, material costs, and also being used for change orders and other job budgeting along with its companion FastDuct. The entire estimating team is using the software. In some cases, I was training PE's and estimating assistants to use the software for bid preparation. It addresses consistency in takeoff, it is also a quick and easy way to detail how your estimate is based, and to adjust costs and labor factors quickly.
- FastPIPE was very fast to learn, very straight forward and user-friendly. It's easy to use and teach new interns and project engineers how to quickly takeoff sections to backup change orders or assist in heavy bid load.
- It's fantastic at keeping up to date on price changes. I'd get updates often, and they were usually within 2-3% of our discount prices with local vendors. In the few instances it wasn't, FastPIPE was very easy to adjust or factor for project costs.
- Is great at being able to pull up reports and graphs and track different materials and labor costs for factoring. We bid on a lot of high rise residential buildings, so we do takeoff by floor. It would give detailed reports per page as opposed to just a lump sum. Very detailed so it was easy to adjust per our project approach.
- It was a trick or two learning how to upload prints correctly, I think that interface could be a bit easier, but it's already better than most of the competition.
- Might be nice to have easier labor factoring, in case we want to pre-load our own instead of MCA time factors for piping labor
- It would auto update upon opening occasionally. It's fairly fast, but I prefer to OK that in case I just need to come up with something quickly and don't want to wait.
- Best impact is time saved. It's so much faster to do bid takeoff and hit the ground running
- Being able to 'draw in' on design-build and being able to print my takeoff has been helpful when turning the job over so the field install understands the approach taken to get the job.
- Ease of use and learning has made it much more cost effective to bring new people up to speed.
I've used the quote soft piping takeoff as well, and it's just not as easy to use or update. Basic methodology and interaface is similar, but it's more 'clunky' to use, is harder to keep updated and to upload PDF's for takeoff, and it's just not as streamlined or user friendly. Akin to comparing driving a truck to a sports car. The Fast Pipe is really smooth and easy to function in.