Top Products 2008 - Commercial
The goal of the Top Products—as requested by our readers—was to identify the leading technology products on the market today, in no way are the editors of Constructech saying these are the only viable products on the market available today.
Quite to the contrary, these products are a mere sampling of the most innovative and successful products at the disposal of the construction industry. What we can assure you, however, is the products listed on the following pages are indeed among the best for commercial construction.
In our inaugural search for Constructech’s Top Products our panel of editors took into consideration multiple factors during the judging process. This included the product description, our determination about the product’s overall usefulness/uniqueness to the construction industry, and the customer growth rate for this particular product in the market throughout the past few years.
Another important factor we took into consideration was the collective knowledge of the industry from our panel of editors. An accurate assessment of a product goes well beyond what is submitted on an entry form. Reporting on technology on a daily basis, our editors are very familiar with the needs of the commercial construction market and of the vendors in the marketplace.
As with many of our awards programs we received multiple entries from companies that we had never heard of prior to this program. While the descriptions of the product and sampling of customers seemed interesting on some of these applications, we did not feel comfortable tabbing them as a Top Product based simply on an awards entry. In other words, we want to be your eyes and ears for the valuable technology solutions in the market and not just award companies simply for entering.
Therefore, the staff may very well have overlooked a few products that are indeed very useful and innovative for construction, but the editors are very confident that the companies that are included have a strong place in the construction process.
So let’s look at how the companies have been chosen. Winners have been separated into four categories. New Products features technology applications that have been in the market for less than two years. Enhanced Products features recent upgrades and/or re-releases of applications that have been in the market at least three years. Trusted Products are familiar applications that have been in the market at least three years. Supportive Technologies feature complimentary systems and technologies that play a critical role to enhancing core business applications.
Our editors took the judging process very seriously, which lead to many passionate discussions about what the name Top Products truly means.
With that in mind, we are determined to continuing to refine our process in subsequent years.
One valuable aspect we will be incorporating is to take suggestions from you, our readers, about the products you are using, why you are using them, and what you hope to achieve by using them. After all, we deliberated for a few days on the products, while you are going through the true ups and downs with these products on a daily, monthly, and yearly process. Just think of what you can teach us and what we can share with all of you from these experiences.
Our hope is that you, the readers of Constructech, will play an even greater strong role in shaping and finding the Top Products. For now, we are confident we have kicked off the program with a solid selection of the Top Products for 2008. We are also confident in our selections this year as each vendor has provided sufficient evidence that they are indeed supplying the construction industry with a Top Product.
NEW PRODUCTS:
Contractors Software Group
www.csgsoftware.com
St. Paul, Minn.
The Simple Series
Ideally suited for small to medium-size contracting companies, The Simple Series is an integrated suite of applications that allow contractors to generate estimates, proposals, change orders, over/under budgets, payroll, gantt charts, and task dependencies within a single system.
www.fast-cat.net
Wexford, Pa.
FAST Mobile Document System
One of the toughest tasks project managers face at the jobsite is how to appropriately handle the multiple construction documents and drawings. The FAST Mobile Document System (MDS) is a software solution that helps project managers consolidate multiple paper drawings and documents into electronic forms for total document control. Users are able to communicate changes, annotate documents, record events, and send emails from the field. Documents are stored in a patent-pending matrix, allowing users to digitally navigate a set of plans or specs, linking documents for rapid movement between floors in a project or view information by trades.
Hard Dollar Corp.
www.harddollar.com
Tempe, Ariz.
Hard Dollar Enterprise Edition
Hard Dollar Enterprise Edition is a budget and performance-based project management solution that helps engineering and construction firms manage the interaction of costs, resources, schedules, and cash flow on projects.
www.penta.com
Brookfield, Wis.
PENTA Business Analytics
With the intent of improving the decision-making capabilities of contracting companies, PENTA Business Analytics delivers constant insight into operational performance. The product automatically builds and distributes packages of information, such as graphical, flexible information views, which often contain dashboards. This information can be automatically delivered via email or posted to a server location on a scheduled basis. Publishing these personalized information packages allows critical analytics work to be done anywhere, completely disconnected from your network. Using this product, companies can highlight exceptions by allowing users to view which tasks are over and under budget, and also view summary information on various aspects of a job.
Primavera Systems
www.primavera.com
Bala Cynwyd, Pa.
Primavera P6
Primavera P6 ties scheduling, resources, costs, and contracts together under a single Web-based platform. Expanded functionality allows users to track and initiate work flows around RFIs (request for information), submittals, and change orders, and track status.
www.udatechnologies.com
Auburn, Ala.
ConstructionSuite 2007
Designed for small to medium businesses, UDA ConstructionSuite combines estimating, job costing, QuickBooks integration, items database with Craftsman Costbook quotes, scheduling, comprehensive contracts and specifications, ConstructionNet CRM (customer-relationship management), and more to deliver a very comprehensive and user-friendly project management system for construction professionals. The high level of integration across technology applications provided by the UDA ConstructionSuite system gives users complete control. With powerful project management tools fully integrated with new ConstructionNet technology, users can make connections across projects, contacts, estimates, schedules, contracts, reports, and more.
TRUSTED PRODUCTS:
www.cmic.ca
Toronto, Ont.
CMiC
In the world of construction-specific ERP systems, CMiC is among the leaders. The suite of products integrates financials, project management, human capital, asset management, and CRM (customer-relationship management). CMiC Financials allows users to access all current and historic customer and vendor transactions; manage payable and receivable activities; and even manage payables across borders with multi-currency processing. CMiC Project Management allows users to track and control costs, manage the subcontracting process, and efficiently manage billing methods. CMiC CRM manages marketing, sales force automation, proposal generation, subcontractor qualification, and service. CMiC Integration incorporates imaging and document management and provides a workflow module that optimizes the flow of information across an organization.
www.construction-imaging.com
Rocky Mount, N.C.
Chameleon
Chameleon is a document imaging solution designed for small to medium size construction companies. The product captures, routes, and keeps within easy access all documents in a construction office. Applications are available for accounts payable invoice routing and approval, job files management, HR, and more. Any image may be instantly accessed by searching indexed values. Integrated with construction accounting systems eliminates double keying. Its routing system routes all documents and creates an audit trail that logs all documents sent, waiting, approved, and entered within the system. Its scalability allows additional cabinets and users to be added at any time.
Construction Document Manager
Construction Document Manager captures, routes, and stores within easy access job documents such as RFIs (requests for information), RFPs (requests for proposals), change orders, submittals, checklists, notices, contracts, insurance certificates, warranties, timesheets, photos, and other content. Configurable indexes allow for wide-reaching queries, ensuring a reliable retrieval of the document and supporting documents needed.
www.esubinc.com
San Diego, Calif.
TRACKpoint
As one of the leading project management suites tailored specifically for subcontractors of all trades, TRACKpoint brings a centrally hosted PM environment to this segment of the market. Users proactively track labor from the field and conduct a range of project tasks, simultaneously generating, logging, and tracking critical project documentation in one step. Users access realtime project data and manage multiple projects from any PC using a standard Internet connection. All project information is stored in one location on data servers, which are backed-up daily with the latest security encryption. eSub also makes archive data available via a CD. The company is looking to enhance its line of offerings to customers by partnering with third-party solution providers in such areas as estimating, among others.
www.hcss.com
Houston, Texas
HeavyBid
HCSS’ HeavyBid
estimating software is used by more than 20,000 infrastructure estimators who estimate and bid heavy/highway,
earthwork, utility, and related construction. There are three levels of HeavyBid to accommodate any size contractor, from the small contractor up to contractors bidding multi billion dollar joint ventures. The product can create an unlimited number of estimates at any size; interface with more than 35 accounting packages and Dept. of Transportation systems; contains bid-day quote capability; allows users to change resource cost and have it apply throughout the entire estimate; and HCSS provides 24/7 instant support. The product contains import/export capabilities with Microsoft Excel, helping to create a user-friendly working environment for workers of all skill levels.
HeavyJob
The HeavyJob field management software is focused on helping foremen/superintendents record daily jobsite information, daily timecards, equipment hours, progress quantities, material receipt usage, and daily notes using a laptop. The software program allows users to run what-if scenarios to determine how to perform certain tasks better. They are also able to attach photographs, electronic forms, and daily diary notes that are easily searchable. In addition, the system is able to transmit timecard hours electronically into payroll, eliminating data entry during the payroll stage.
www.isqft.com
Cincinnati, Ohio
Private Construction Office
As a foundation for the iSqFt Construction Network, the Private Construction Office allows general contractors to securely host project documents, including plans, specs, and addenda online and communicate with bidders throughout the bidding phase, providing them with access to all necessary bid information. Invitations can be sent using the contractor’s private vendor database and they can also take advantage of the iSqFt Construction Network to find and reach out to additional bidders in markets across the country. General contractors use the Private Construction Office to reduce inefficiencies throughout preconstruction process and eliminate costs associated with document reproduction and shipping.
www.meridiansystems.com
Folsom, Calif.
Prolog
Thousands of medium-to-large general contractors, architects, engineering firms, and owners looking for project-management software have turned to Prolog. This product covers such areas as collaboration, purchasing management, cost control, document management, and field administration. Many users track key performance indictors, helping them monitor all levels of profitability and performance across the company. Delivered via the client/server model, Prolog allows users to manage multiple projects in a single database, generate summary reports and queries across all projects, and perform project audits, among other tasks, across all levels of the company from a profitability and performance standpoint, and improve document control, among other tasks.
Proliance
As an infrastructure lifecycle management solution, Proliance is designed for managing the plan, build, and operate phases of complex capital projects, programs, and facilities. Proliance combines project and portfolio management, facilities management, business process management, and business analytics under one enterprise system. Through this single application, these organizations can track the performance of entire capital projects and facility portfolios. Focusing on deployment, Meridian developed the Proliance Starter Pack, which includes a collection of Solution Accelerator components and domain experience designed to provide an advanced starting point for implementation deliverables.
site|folio
www.sitefolio.com
Seattle, Wash.
site|folio
site|folio is a Web-based portfolio management application that provides users with a centralized and customizable solution for managing a portfolio of construction projects and building sites.
ENHANCED PRODUCTS:
www.bid2win.com
Portsmouth, N.H.
BID2WIN 2007
BID2WIN Software has recently upgraded its Windows-based estimating and bidding solution, used by more than 5,000 construction professionals worldwide. BID2WIN 2007 features more than 300 user-requested enhancements. Among the new features is cost groups, which allows users to group like items and tasks and utilize similar cost structures for all of them. Another new feature is the ability to split RFQ (request for quote) groups among multiple subcontractors or vendors, allowing users to mix and match to get the best deal. And an upgraded tree view in subcontractor and vendor management allows users to simultaneously view all items, tasks or materials for a single subcontractor or vendor.
www.corecon.com
Huntington Beach, Calif.
Corecon 2007
Corecon 2007 is a Web-based estimating, project management, and job costing system. Corecon provides a very scalable and secure solution by using Microsoft’s .NET 2.0 platform, including SQL Server 2005. This allows users to access project data from the field, main office, or at home using a browser or wireless device. Its latest upgrade includes built-in dashboards and more than 450 reports, along with more robust documentation and collaboration features. Partnerships with Microsoft Office Accounting, Inuit QuickBooks, and SAP make this an ideal software suite for both small and large contractors.
www.ibeamsystems.com
Boise, Idaho
iBEAM OnSite Construction Camera
Keeping an accurate eye on the jobsite helps contractors ensure progress is being made, while also deterring theft and vandalism. iBEAM OnSite is a remote-controllable Web camera that lets viewers monitor activity live and build an historic record of the project. 1280 x 960 photos are uploaded to iBEAM’s server every 15 minutes. Optional wireless bridges connect the camera to Internet without running cables. Recent enhancements include higher-resolution images and time-lapse movies, and support for multiple archived views. These latest enhancements require an equipment upgrade on behalf of the user.
iSqFt
www.isqft.com
Cincinnati, Ohio
Internet Plan Room
Subcontractors subscribing to the Internet Plan Room have full access to public construction projects, including all plans, specs, and addenda. Recent enhancements include project search tools, which automatically identify key project information and notifies users.
Maxwell Systems Inc.
www.maxwellsystems.com
King of Prussia, Pa.
Construction Business Management Software Solution
Through acquisitions of Quest Solutions and Estimation product lines, Maxwell Systems now offers customers integrated estimating and job cost/accounting. This helps ensure pricing accuracy, correctly translates bids, and reflects actual costs.
Viewpoint Construction Software
www.viewpointcs.com
Portland, Ore.
Viewpoint V6
The recently released Viewpoint V6 is built entirely with the Microsoft .NET framework and employs Microsoft SQL Server database. These improvements are designed to help ease the rate users can enter and retrieve information. In the area of document management, Viewpoint V6 provides a tool for attaching, indexing, and routing documents throughout the organization.