In-Eight, The Final Frontier
Updated December 07, 2022

In-Eight, The Final Frontier

Chad Opper | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Modules Used

  • Estimate

Overall Satisfaction with InEight

We use the software as our primary estimating tool to procure work for our company. There is still one user with our firm who uses excel spreadsheets to estimate projects. The In-Eight program has helped our firm to bid more work which has given the company more opportunities. When I started with the company four years ago they were biding just over 100 million dollars in our market sector. That number has steadily increased over the past four years. This year we have bid almost 300 million in contracts, I don't think we would have achieved this without In-Eight.

Pros

  • Ease of tracking cost throughout the estimate - The software enables the user to quickly pull up reports and verify, crew hours, equipment hours and the total cost of these items. We can look at our labor and equipment budget on a project in a matter of seconds.
  • Pay item and Proposal Screen columns - This enables the user to quickly look at the overall estimate from a cost and margin standpoint. There are a lot of features to choose from in the columns which give the user choices to share in a group setting when reviewing the final bid proposal. some key elements that we like to use are: Total Cost, Margin, Forecast Qty, Subtotal Amount, Subtotal Description, Lock Price, and Rounding Precision.
  • PBS Screen - This screen is a great resource for quick snapshots at direct and indirect costs on a project. We also use subcontractor and vendor status frequently.
  • Job Properties - This is ultimately one of the best features in the software, it lays the groundwork for each project and gives any user the background for the project.

Cons

  • It is hard for someone who does not use the software to understand. I have found over the years that if you do not use In-Eight on a daily basis it is very confusing to show a non-user what is going on.
  • It takes a long time for someone to be proficient in the software, I have a college graduate from USC who has a high learning capability and he struggles with it.
  • Understanding the information on the screens, a lot of people have a hard time digesting the information on most of the pages.
The program exceeded my expectations when I first came over to Orion Construction. The company was using excel spreadsheets for their estimating needs and although it was working for them, I knew moving forward the In-Eight software could prove more useful. We have been able to bid larger and more complex projects using the software.
I was proficient in using the software before I moved over to Orion four years ago, once the program was set up there has not been a huge need for support. getting the software set up and continuing to install updates have been easy with your customer support. There is not a lot more for me to offer.
I haven't used any other similar products.
The In Eight software is best suited for large business models that require a lot of information at your fingertips. The program enables larger firms to adequately bid complex projects that require multiple estimators working in the estimate at the same time. The software would be less suited for smaller firms that can put an estimate together in a relatively short period of time by just using an excel spreadsheet. My advice would be that if your company is going to grow above $20 million per year in gross revenue, you should be looking at using some type of estimating program.

InEight Feature Ratings

Evaluating InEight and Competitors

Yes - The company was using excel to estimate projects when I came on board. Part of my job was to set up and integrate the Ineight software in estimating. Excel is still used by some of the project managers for budgeting and time and material sheets. One senior estimator is still using excel but he is retiring in 2023 and does not have the capacity or desire to learn the Ineight program.
All of our large projects are estimated using the Ineight software. It has streamlined the estimating process and replaced using excel sheets. The Ineight program dwarfs the capabilities of excel for functionality. There are too many benefits to list here.
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
  • Product Reputation
  • Prior Experience with the Product
I might have looked into other softwares given the opportunity. Ineight and excel were the only estimating softwares I had used prior to coming over to Orion. It was more streamlined for me to install and integrate Ineight for Orion's needs. It would have taken a tremendous amount of time and resources to look at several different estimating softwares with the executive team. It might have taken a full year to make a selection, install it and integrate into the company.

Using InEight

I would give it an 8 out of 10 because the software can be a bit cumbersome to new users. It also takes a long time to set up the library and input all of your companies needs so that the software will provide the level of service required to estimate projects. However, once the software is set up it is a powerful tool. We only use a portion of what the software is capable of delivering.
ProsCons
Like to use
Relatively simple
Well integrated
Consistent
Difficult to use
Requires technical support
Slow to learn
Lots to learn
  • The Pay Item Screen
  • Exporting Reports
  • Copy and Pasting
  • The CBS screen where you build your estimate
  • Price breakdown structure screen
  • Quote register and comparison screen
Yes - You can use Ineight remotely through a VPN from any computer that has the software on it. I use it from my laptop in various locations, you just need a good wifi source.

Integrating InEight

  • Excel Spreadsheets
  • Accounting Software
Ineight works well with excel, I believe most Ineight users use the excel features built into the Ineight estimating software. We use these functions to generate reports for estimating meetings, labor and equipment reviews and to generate cost budgets. These tools enable our executive level staff as well as our management staff to promote sound business decisions on projects as well as analyze the current market trends.

From an accounting standpoint the software can be integrated with certain accounting functions. At my previous employment, we were able to write code and export our cost estimate budgets from Ineight straight into our accounting system. This provided a streamline directly from estimating to accounting.
  • File import/export
This was a challenge when I started with Orion, only I and two other peers are using the software, however, we have five individuals in management reviewing bids in the In-Eight program. Now, with more time under our belts the system is gaining more traction as a whole from everyone. We recently hired another individual who is familiar with using the Ineight software.
My advice would be if you are going to use the Ineight software, make sure everyone who will be reviewing estimates from your firm is trained in some way shape or form.

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