InEight vs. iTWO costX

Compared to other Estimating software I have used, InEight has superior capabilities and features. The ability to use a line item or an assembly to create an estimate is an outstanding feature of the program. The ability to create crew rates and use them in the estimate is a handy feature, especially when estimating construction projects.

Incentivized

We are not aware of another software that has fully integrated take-off, subcontractor comparison, estimating and reporting besides CostX.

Incentivized

• Tracking labor and equipment hours to specific estimated scope line items
• Creating detailed work breakdown structures within Estimate and using that same structure to apply cost to during the job
• Creating custom data blocks in control to track progress and create forecasts

Incentivized

• Allows multiple users to work on the same estimate at once. This is huge!! Not only can we team up on a project that has a quick deadline but we can also simultaneously collaborate on database updates.
• Performs your takeoff on CAD drawings or vector PDFs. Your typical takeoff software does takeoff on an unintelligent PDF. I say unintelligent because the process you go through is simply to trace the boundaries of your shape. This is time-consuming and can lead to mistakes. With CostX your cursor will stick to the line lines and takeoff the exact measurement. This has cut our takeoff time by 75%. The best part is that this is done in the same software as your estimating software. There are a few software's that have takeoff and estimating in one but CostX is the only one the provides CAD smart takeoff.
• CostX is a lot like Excel. You have the flexibility to set up your workbooks the way your project team thinks. For example, ours is set up to evaluate labor in two ways; productivity (man-hours per widget) or crew hours (3 guys for two days for a given activity).
• Reports are very flexible and the report writers is much easier than Crystal reports.
• If you subscribe to the full version of CostX this provides the most powerful feature of them all......Auto-Revisioning. This function will compare two sets of drawings, identify the changes on a color coded drawing, ask for you to approve the changes and then update your estimate and takeoff. You can even use this to produce custom print outs for RFI's show your design team what changed.
• Your estimating workbooks are live-linked to your takeoff. As you make adjustments to your takeoff your estimate updates accordingly. The workbook has color coded text to hep your team understand whats behind your estimate; Black = manually input, Blue = rates linked to database, and Green = quantity linked to take-off.
• Full integrated subcontractor comparison. We use to do this in excel to compare multiple bidders across every division.
• This is also color coded for a streamlined review process; green = quote, blue = estimate, purple = plug, and orange = other.
• Built in error checking notifies you if you forgot to normalize an item on your subcontractor comparison.
• In the near future the software will be available online allowing you to use remotely.

Incentivized

• We do not use the search engine since it was last modified. It is no longer user friendly.
• We used to like the way we could change the position of line items. The function has been changed to where it is not user friendly anymore.
• The "Save" and "Delete" options are right next to each other. I have been after Ineight to change these for a long time but they have not.

Incentivized

• iTwo Costx has 3D features that may require enhancement in terms of Look and feel perspective.
• The eye Function section view feature may require enhancement. But I am not sure how much more we can bring it to scale
• Not seen Cloud base service. So that easy to use from any where.

Incentivized

Some features with InEight's TeamBinder are worthy of single use, however the review feature and subsequent revision and version numbering could be improved. We will be aiming to roll out the package to encompass our internal documentation in the near future and will be in a better position to judge the usability after that point in time.

Incentivized

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

Incentivized

Every time I have contacted support, they have gotten back to [me] quickly and with a few solutions. I like that they seem to be US-based, so there is no language barrier when I try to communicate my problem. For the few times, they did not have a solution ready, they told me they would respond later after further research, and they actually followed up! Better than most support I have used in the past with other software.

Incentivized

Since the original inception, I have been required to overhaul the system so that it is more user friendly and combines both aspects of our business, documentation and drawings. Being able to control revision and version numbering has been a key struggle that only staff training has been able to mark this as complete.

Incentivized

I've used SAP for more than 10 years before my current job in this company. The best thing in SAP, is exactly what I have commented before, it's a single one tool, that does all what InEight do. Here at CCC, we have COINS for cost management, and I don't know exactly if InEight would be able to do whatever that COINS does, but what I'm trying to say is that, for systems, as much less external communication, better. InEight is covering a great portion on planning, we will see schedule and estimate, it will definitely improve, so, waiting on that to see.

Incentivized

iTwo CostX is one stop for all needs. Either is Bill of Quantity, Design creation or modification, auto-update. Split Screen during the Bill of Quantity Verification against to section of drawing/Design Eye view feature to look at the cross-section of the drawing.

Incentivized

InEight is a good system that has scaled nicely as the company has grown. the tools are still readily available and applicable for our larger scope of work. It has kept up with the growth of the company very nicely

Incentivized

• We have gone from an $6.5M per year company to over $10M per year since integrating InEight in 2018
• Job costing has really helped us to understand where the money is going and how to manage it better.
• Being able to compare different estimates has sped up the estimation process and allowed us to be more competitive.

Incentivized

• Easy to Collaborate Between the Team members. Saves a lot of work
• Integrate with multiple types of data drawing which saves efforts in converting the design.
• Bill of Quantity export can be done based on the Design section and can share with contractors for Quotes. Instead of just downloading the whole report and then editing for the required pack.

Incentivized