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iSqFt

Score9.7 out of 10

10 Reviews and Ratings

What is iSqFt?

ConstructConnect retains the iSqFt brand after merging the company; the platform is ConstructConnect's bidding and digital take off platform focused on helping construction contractors and companies locate bids and earn jobs.

Categories & Use Cases

Top Performing Features

  • Issue tracking & punchlists

    Users can track issues from the field, and create punchlists upon substantial completion.

    Category average: 8.2

  • Jobsite reports

    Users can create and share reports on jobsite safety, daily progress, etc.

    Category average: 8.2

  • Takeoff tools

    Allow users to list the materials and quantities they will need for the project either manually from hardcopy blueprints or electronically from digital blueprints.

    Category average: 7.4

Areas for Improvement

  • Specifications

    Construction specifications, also called specs, are the details for the work that needs to be completed in a construction project.

    Category average: 8.5

  • Document sharing

    Users can share/attach other documents related to construction projects, such as specifications, contracts, drawings, etc.

    Category average: 8.3

  • Collaboration & approvals

    Users can comment, send messages, and/or approve documents.

    Category average: 8.1

iSqFt is a trusted bidding/estimating platform for the construction industry

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

As a subcontractor, we are a user of iSqFt as part of our bidding and estimating process. Our general contractor clients send us bid invitations through iSqFt along with the project documents, specifications, and drawings for each project. The platform allows for sharing documents and information easily with all project stakeholders.

Pros

  • Document Sharing
  • Communication
  • Bid Platform

Cons

  • Integration with other bidding platforms
  • Integration with ProCore
  • Easier access for team members

Return on Investment

  • Allows us to receive project bids from clients
  • Allows potential clients to send us project bids
  • Has gotten us jobs

Alternatives Considered

Building Stack, Procore and SmartBid

Other Software Used

BuildingConnected, an Autodesk product, Procore, PicMonkey, Canva, Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

iSqFt is simple to use and can produce many project opportunities

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

iSqFt helps me keep track of upcoming projects and bidding opportunities in my area. It has projects listed that I may not have been aware of if not through their platform. iSqFt also send emails when new bidding opportunities featuring my scope become available which is a great for someone who is busy bidding projects because it eliminates the time it takes digging through the bid boards to find relevant projects.

Pros

  • preemptively sends emails for new opportunities related to my scope.
  • Has features to narrow down the exact opportunities you are looking for.
  • Has an extremely simple to use web interface.

Cons

  • Create sub categories under other trades that allow to better narrow down the exact jobs you are looking for.
  • Not send repeatetive emails for the same projects.
  • Make the service more affordable to small business's looking to grow.

Return on Investment

  • It has helped increase exposure and the number of General Contractors we can meet and bid with
  • It has caused some wasted time by digging through bids that do not have all the relevant information to issue a proposal
  • It has made bidding opportunities easier by sending them directly to us.

Alternatives Considered

PlanHub

Other Software Used

Procore, AutoCAD, NitroAccelerator

Snail Slow iSqFt

Pros

  • It allows me access to plans and specifications on job that I been invited to bid on.
  • Also keeps track of addendums and the bid date in case they change it.

Cons

  • iSqFt has one major flaw that makes it a pain to use. I go there to get plans and specs. You think a company that sends you plans and specs would have a faster download speed, it takes forever to get the plans and specs. I usually find a way around iSqFt to get the plans and specs.

Return on Investment

  • I have done a lot of take-offs on iSqFt and won a few that I have done on there but like I said, if I can get the plans elsewhere I do.

Alternatives Considered

Procore

Other Software Used

BidClerk, BuildingConnected

iSqFt Makes Bidding a Breeze!

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

iSqFt is used by our estimators, project managers, and general superintendents. As an estimator, I primarily use iSqFt to view bid opportunities, as well as track open and submitted bids. It makes it simple for me to see the latest addenda and RFI responses for my current projects, and I'm able to see how we fared on projects I've already submitted.

Pros

  • Addendum Notifications
  • Project Details (Address, GC, Owner, Architect)

Cons

  • Aesthetics
  • Site Navigation

Return on Investment

  • More Opportunities
  • Better Organization

Alternatives Considered

BuildingConnected, SmartBid and Procore

Other Software Used

Procore, SmartBid, FoxitPhantom PDF

iSqFt on the right foot

Pros

  • Even with a "Limited Access" free account, you are able to see all the necessary files. When using it to just look at a job and download documents, this is all you should need. With more access you can see more projects that are out to bid but as a sales engineer for a manufacturer, I receive the bid requests from my contractors who are bidding there is no need to upgrade my access level.
  • Documents are very easy to download into a .zip file and you can pick and choose which documents you want to download for specific trades. Plus there is a specific tab for Addenda so you don't have to search through the Documents tab. The tabs also show the amount of files in each tab so you can easily stay up to date on current documents.
  • The Dashboard of each job shows the project general contractor and for subcontractors, responding to a bid request is as easy as clicking a button to indicate if you will bud or will not bid. This dashboard also shows location and the project description which are particularly helpful for a manufacturers rep/sales engineer that may not see the project description otherwise.

Cons

  • The formatting and sizing of the font can be a little clunky at times. The main tabs at the top (Home, Projects, Prequalification, Administration) are rather large while the tabs within the project (Dashboard, Details, Bidder/Packages, etc..) are a little small. For those engineers who spend all day looking at computers and have failing eyesight, this can get to be a pain since the format is also spread out while being small font. If you zoom in to read, it cuts out a lot of the other sections you'd like to see.
  • Things are only updated on the project details if they are manually entered. If the company that enters the project into the system only fills out the minimum amount of detail, some of the function of the detail tab is rendered useless. Some of these inputs include value range, number of building, number of stories, total area, etc. which is used by some subcontractors for budget purposes and internal statistics on jobs that are bidding. So what you get out of this section is all that the owner of the projects wants to put in.
  • There is a button to submit an RFQ or general question but you must be a subscriber to the software to enter a question. Otherwise it's a long process of going up the chain of command to submit. This makes it confusing for the team fielding the questions since they are coming from different chains of communication. I've had jobs where my questions were completely missed because of this.

Return on Investment

  • Compared to searching folders in FTP sites for addenda, this is a much easier way to view if there are new addenda right on the home page of the project. This can save a lot of time, especially if the FTP site I am viewing has not been updated to reflect addenda, which is often the case. Then it becomes too late in the bid to submit any questions if required, and sometimes if we miss something regarding our scope in the addenda, we end up eating the cost for it.
  • The fact that this avoid having to send files via email is a great advantage. Different company servers have different limits for max file size so this avoids bounce-backs.
  • Being able to see the full project description in my position as a sales engineer for a manufacturer is a bid benefit. Sometimes the description describes bid alternates that are not described in the spec and that we wouldn't hear about until after we send out our proposal. It is also helpful to gauge if the job is a renovation, expansion, or new construction.

Alternatives Considered

Procore

Other Software Used

Procore