4Clicks for Federal vs. Trimble Accubid

If you are considering purchasing this (very expensive) software, there is a 100% chance you are doing so because you have been awarded a Government contract that dictates you use 4Clicks Project Estimator. There are plenty of easier to use estimating packages out in the world, but you can't use any of them if you have a contract that requires 4Clicks.

Incentivized

We use Trimble Accubid to do detailed cost estimates for larger jobs. If a job has a set of blueprints, the software is designed to go through each page systematically to aggregate a bid. Where it is less appropriate are for smaller service jobs. It takes a lot of setup for a new job there are other solutions better suited for service work.

Incentivized

• The estimates it produces are simple and easy to follow. The formatting is good.
• The tech support provided is very attentive.

Incentivized

• Depth of customization
• Intergrations
• Industry specific

Incentivized

• The software feels 20 years old. It has not kept up with modern times, and practically functions like an old DOS program.
• Clunky interface, arcane commands.
• Even their training info focuses on hotkeys like this is 1995. Even though I am of an age to remember computers in 1995, the younger generations of managers/estimators are not. It is time to bring the software into the new century!

Incentivized

• Needs to update a data base for new emerging markets in energy.
• Separation of some supporting materials into more relevant categories would eliminate number of required click through actions.

Incentivized

Accubid can sometimes fall short when it comes to CS. The correct departments aren't always properly delineated, making it difficult to get ahold of the individual most appropriate for your issue. To that end, it has been outsourced to people with accents sometimes difficult to understand. This is my biggest critique

Incentivized

WinEst uses much the same database (RS Means/Gordion type) and has a similar interface. It is a bit cheaper.

Incentivized

I was not involved in the decision-making process to purchase Accubid.

Incentivized

• As stated before, if you are buying this software, it is because you have a contract forcing you to. While it does work, it is clunky, awkward, and very expensive.
• The price of the software and databases has always been high, but with the fairly recent acquisition of 4Clicks by Gordion (who also bought RS Means for their databases), there is literally no competition. Prices will continue to be very high, with no check on how high they can go.
• Again, can't fault 4Clicks tech support, as I think it is the best in the industry. They know their product and they respond to issues immediately. Considering what we spend a year for this product, however, you would expect nothing less.

Incentivized

• reduced estimating cost vs pen and paper
• because it's a widely used platform it's easy to recruit estimators to the platform
• works well in a multi estimator environment

Incentivized