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Autodesk Build vs. BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    Autodesk Build

    Score8.2 out of 10
    N/AAutodesk Build, based on the former PlanGrid, is construction productivity software. It includes tools to collaborate, collect, and manage project information throughout the project’s construction and operations lifespan. It enables document centralization and tracking.

    $39

    user per month

    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product

    Score7.9 out of 10
    N/ABuildingConnected is an online preconstruction platform supporting communication and collaboration with contractors, subcontractors, and real estate owners. The platform supports bid management with cost tracking and analytics, relationship tracking, alerting, and unlimited bid invitations. BuildingConnected was acquired by Autodesk in 2018.N/A
    Pricing
    Autodesk BuildBuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    Editions & Modules
    Nailgun
    $39
    user per month
    Dozer
    $59
    user per month
    Crane
    $139
    user per month
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    Autodesk BuildBuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    Free Trial
    YesNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    YesNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    Autodesk BuildBuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    Considered Both Products
    Autodesk
    Chose Autodesk Build
    PlanGrid is very similar to Procore but offers a slightly more straightforward user interface and seems not to be loaded with extra options that rarely would get used like Procore. PlanGrid is a much smoother software than Submittal Exchange or CMiC due to that same interface. …
    Incentivized
    Autodesk
    Chose BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    BuildingConnected is 100x better than Smart Bid!! Much more flexibility and options!
    Incentivized
    Chose BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    We use BuildingConnected for our bidding process mainly because of their database feature. Procore does not offer a database outside of using your own. PlanGrid, Dodge & PanTerra have databases, but they don't seem to be as broad as BuildingConnected. SmartBid actually has some …
    Incentivized
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    No answers on this topic
    90%
    Would buy again
    9 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    No answers on this topic
    89%
    Delivers good value for the price
    8 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    No answers on this topic
    90%
    Happy with the feature set
    9 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    No answers on this topic
    86%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    6 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    No answers on this topic
    89%
    Implementation went as expected
    8 Answers
    Features
    Autodesk BuildBuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    Construction Project & Field Management
    Comparison of Construction Project & Field Management features of Autodesk Build and BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    Feature
    Autodesk Build
    6.5
    58 Ratings
    16% below category average
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    3.6
    16 Ratings
    72% below category average
    Plan distribution & viewing7.057 Ratings1.315 Ratings
    Plan markups & sharing6.057 Ratings1.311 Ratings
    Issue tracking & punchlists5.052 Ratings8.06 Ratings
    Photo documentation9.049 Ratings7.08 Ratings
    Jobsite reports9.037 Ratings6.13 Ratings
    Document sharing8.056 Ratings1.316 Ratings
    RFI tools5.039 Ratings1.28 Ratings
    Collaboration & approvals8.043 Ratings1.26 Ratings
    As-built drawings5.043 Ratings1.26 Ratings
    Mobile app3.055 Ratings1.03 Ratings
    Submittal design and management00 Ratings1.25 Ratings
    Checklists00 Ratings1.23 Ratings
    Meeting Minutes00 Ratings6.02 Ratings
    Specifications00 Ratings8.92 Ratings
    Change orders00 Ratings6.92 Ratings
    Human Resource Management
    Comparison of Human Resource Management features of Autodesk Build and BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    Feature
    Autodesk Build
    -
    Ratings
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    8.0
    1 Ratings
    5% above category average
    Job profiles and administration00 Ratings8.01 Ratings
    Reporting & Analytics
    Comparison of Reporting & Analytics features of Autodesk Build and BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    Feature
    Autodesk Build
    -
    Ratings
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    1.2
    3 Ratings
    146% below category average
    Dashboards00 Ratings1.12 Ratings
    Standard reports00 Ratings1.23 Ratings
    Custom reports00 Ratings1.23 Ratings
    Data exportability00 Ratings1.13 Ratings
    Estimating
    Comparison of Estimating features of Autodesk Build and BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    Feature
    Autodesk Build
    -
    Ratings
    BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    6.2
    13 Ratings
    25% below category average
    Takeoff tools00 Ratings1.25 Ratings
    Job costing00 Ratings7.06 Ratings
    Cost databases00 Ratings6.04 Ratings
    Cost calculator00 Ratings8.05 Ratings
    Bid creation00 Ratings8.912 Ratings
    User Ratings
    Autodesk BuildBuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    Likelihood to Recommend
    7.0
    (70 ratings)
    1.3
    (16 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    9.0
    (1 ratings)
    Usability
    5.0
    (2 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    9.0
    (52 ratings)
    8.9
    (7 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    Autodesk BuildBuildingConnected, an Autodesk product
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Autodesk
    PlanGrid performs really well in all aspects of construction from the general to the sub/trade. The platform distributes and communicates project documentation in an extremely user-friendly manner. As with most software, it is cheaper the larger the scale of the project. In situations where the project is relatively small, and the trade contracts are also of relatively low dollar value, the product can be cost-prohibitive.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    When receiving RFQ's from companies within a manageable distant from our location, it has been very helpfull. Receiving RFQ's for projects outside of our work area, it is just a waste of time. The projects available are well organized and give date due of proposal.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Autodesk
    • Plangrid is the best SaaS I have seen for ease of uploading construction plans and automated organization of those plans.
    • For companies that are not using other products for mobile access, the Plangrid mobile apps are perfect to allow people on and off site to share and collaborate in many phases of construction project documentation.
    • Plangrid has a very responsive technical support team (although it is pretty much email only).
    • Plangrid's website layout is easy to use and understand and allows new users to jump right in and do basic to moderate tasks without little training.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    • Helps keep track of multiple jobs at once
    • Helps sort your bid invites into won/lost/pending/archived etc.
    • It is a central location where general contractors can put all their updated files and addendum
    • Lets you see which contractors are bidding the same job so you can coordinate your estimating
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Autodesk
    • The photo attachment process is a bit complicated. In ProCore (another similar software I've used), you can upload photos directly into RFIs for your reference, or into e-mails. For PlanGrid, you have to first upload the photo into the documents tab, then link them into the RFI. It's not intuitive and can add confusion to the documents tab.
    • Photos can't be directly uploaded. Between different devices and colleagues, it's possible you'll get an important photo outside of the PlanGrid photo capture feature within its app. Again, it's complicated for users to use.
    • In their new drawings viewer, the icons for actions do not have icons available. I had to use them all in order to understand what they meant, and I'm fairly tech savvy. I'm not sure if a new person to PlanGrid will pick up on each icon's abilities very easily.
    • There's no all-in-one solution in CM, but PlanGrid is fairly barebones, and I don't believe it has any ability to connect to other software. There's no ability to take meeting munites; you can hack the field reports feature to accomplish this, but it's clear that was not the intent of the designers.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    • There was a previous glitch where bid forms have been updated by subcontractors that have accessed a former version are not able to access the updated/new bid form.
    • I would like to see the ability for BuildingConnected to automatically send a bid reminder to bidders at a set amount of time prior to the bid date.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Autodesk
    We are at the point where we have shown our teams what is possible with this software. We cannot take it away and go back to the way we used to do things. I think that they would push back on us to give them access to something electronic. It is a good program that we will continue to use
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    No answers on this topic
    Usability
    Autodesk
    Hard to get the hang of this software, but with time it become very repetitive and easier to navigate. I have used this software for over a year now and the constant updates by Autodesk have made the software better and better to use at work. This allows me to use this tool more effectively
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    Very easy to use.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Autodesk
    Online chat during business hours is extremely helpful. The Plangrid staff has gone above and beyond many times to help us. One time they even offered to completely rebuild our 900+ sheet project so I could slip sheet a few old drawing revisions! This undoubtedly would have taken hours on Plangrid's end. They are always responsive and are continually improving, listening to user feedback.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    Though I haven't had to utilize any live support at BuildingConnected, I know others at my company have and have had good success with them. They seem to be very responsive and since the software is so simple, there are not that many pitfalls or hurdles that you need to work through to accomplish your task.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Autodesk
    No answers on this topic
    Autodesk
    Quick and easy. Pretty much menu-driven
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Autodesk
    Plangrid, while not serving the external document distribution function, is unrivaled for internal document distribution and sharing in the construction industry. The speed at which documents are navigatable, the ability to download your projects for viewing without an internet connection, and the document mark-up and photo tools place it head and shoulders above the competition.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    Have used BlueBook Construction, which has a smooth, quick search for local contractors. Still, they don't allow us the client project creation. I even had issues with them displaying proper project descriptions based upon was receiving inadequate and or erroneous bid proposals, and the engagement manager was not flexible in resolving the problem!
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Autodesk
    • It helped us "wow" a joint commission survey in 2016 and have a successful survey because he loved how we could access plans on an iPad, check suite sizes, and didn't have to carry around huge, heavy sets of life safety plans.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Autodesk
    • Allows our company to accurately estimate the cost of a project.
    • Helps us to reach out to qualified subcontractors based on past experience and history with our company.
    • Contains bid leveling capabilities to ensure that all proposals cover a full scope of work.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    Autodesk Build Screenshots

    Screenshot of No confusing folders - all your plans at your fingertips.Screenshot of Easy overlay to visually detect changes or clashes.Screenshot of Track issues directly on the plan, including descriptions, photos, cost, and schedule impacts.Screenshot of Mark up plans for instant communication between field and office.Screenshot of Attach any kind of construction documents to your plans, including 360 photos.Screenshot of Track, review, and submit all your field reports on a mobile device.