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BID2WIN Estimating & Bidding Software
 | 3 Reviews (5.0/5) |
BID2WIN is a construction cost estimating and bid management system for heavy construction contractors. It helps companies calculate material and labor costs, track vendor and subcontractor correspondence, manage documents such as requests for quotations (RFQs), and of course, manage bids. It has an international customer-base with over 5,000 users.
BID2WIN offers integration with Excel, the Department of Transportation (DOT) electronic bidding system, and its sister project management product, BUILD2WIN. It also integrates with several other accounting and project management systems including Viewpoint, Oracle, Dexter + Chaney, Foundation, Maxwell Systems and more.
BID2WIN is designed specifically for earthwork, paving, utility, and other types of heavy/highway contractors. It is being used on a wide variety of projects ranging from bridges and tunnels, to marine and railroad, to landscaping and golf course projects. It is best suited for medium- and large-contractors performing $5 to over $500 million in revenue annually. BID2WIN boasts that the system can have anywhere from one to over one thousand users utilizing the program at the same time.
BID2WIN is built on the Microsoft .NET and SQL Server platform. They are a Microsoft Gold Partner, Oracle Gold Partner, and Viewpoint Development Partner. It has won several awards, including the Constructech 50.
3 Reviews of BID2WIN Estimating & Bidding
Overall rating
Romero is a certified SDB General Construction Corp. specializing in: design-build, general contracting, fine grading, aggregate placement, asphalt paving, concrete paving, curb & flatwork, aggregate crushing/recycling, based in the northern San Diego, California area.
Prior to BID2WIN we were using customized Excel spreadsheets on an ad hoc basis. What compelled us to switch to BID2WIN was the ability to have a centralized database on which all of our estimators could draw. That, and the fact that BID2WIN keeps our resources and our bids organized.
We were very impressed with BID2WIN's customer service and the fact that we can call them up anytime and have one of their support reps log on to our computers and fix a problem. The company wants to go in the direction of the consumer; they're willing to customize the package to our operations and they want to implement it the best way they can to benefit us.
One of the biggest reasons we went with BID2WIN is there support department. Whenever we call up they are like bull dogs; they get on a question and they wont let go until it's solved.
BID2WIN saves our company time and money in several regards. First, it has standardized our estimating and bidding. Our estimators are all using the same program. Our bid proposals all look the same and there's no opportunity for anyone to be using an incorrect cost with any of our resources. Also, BID2WIN's built in error checking lets us quickly determine if we've omitted any costs or missed any aspects of the bid.
My favorite feature is the ability to update a bid globally when we have material changes or labor or equipment rate changes. We can go into a very large bid and make the update and have it take effect everywhere.
We use Maxwell's StreetSmarts and the integration with BID2WIN almost saves us a body at the office. Right from BID2WIN I can export my budget, cost codes, purchase orders – everything we need to set up the job.
I would definitely recommend BID2WIN to some of our colleagues in the field. In fact, we've done so in the past!
Prior to BID2WIN we were using customized Excel spreadsheets on an ad hoc basis. What compelled us to switch to BID2WIN was the ability to have a centralized database on which all of our estimators could draw. That, and the fact that BID2WIN keeps our resources and our bids organized.
We were very impressed with BID2WIN's customer service and the fact that we can call them up anytime and have one of their support reps log on to our computers and fix a problem. The company wants to go in the direction of the consumer; they're willing to customize the package to our operations and they want to implement it the best way they can to benefit us.
One of the biggest reasons we went with BID2WIN is there support department. Whenever we call up they are like bull dogs; they get on a question and they wont let go until it's solved.
BID2WIN saves our company time and money in several regards. First, it has standardized our estimating and bidding. Our estimators are all using the same program. Our bid proposals all look the same and there's no opportunity for anyone to be using an incorrect cost with any of our resources. Also, BID2WIN's built in error checking lets us quickly determine if we've omitted any costs or missed any aspects of the bid.
My favorite feature is the ability to update a bid globally when we have material changes or labor or equipment rate changes. We can go into a very large bid and make the update and have it take effect everywhere.
We use Maxwell's StreetSmarts and the integration with BID2WIN almost saves us a body at the office. Right from BID2WIN I can export my budget, cost codes, purchase orders – everything we need to set up the job.
I would definitely recommend BID2WIN to some of our colleagues in the field. In fact, we've done so in the past!
Overall rating
About a year ago, our company was still estimating with spreadsheets. Our system was effective for acquiring work, but didn't really allow for much integration with scheduling, project management, or accounting software. We also had problems with collaboration between estimators on a single estimate. Limitations with spreadsheets forced us to occasionally create multiple estimating files in order to allow more than one estimator to work concurrently on a single project.
A more troubling problem was the increasing disparity in spreadsheets from different estimators. Personal preferences led to individual changes on each spreadsheet revision, in both appearance and function. This was problematic during file integration, but also through transitions among staff. Our project managers and superintendents struggled to coordinate projects between different estimators, who sometimes presented the same information in different formats.
Realizing that the problems and flaws in our system were only going to get worse, we began to investigate potential software solutions. We decided to go with BID2WIN because the software addressed all our needs at a reasonable price point, and provided all the features of other systems as well as a lot more.
We've been using BID2WIN for about a year now, so we're still newbies, and still finding new ways to harness its powerful tools to our advantage. Make no mistake, it IS a powerful tool, and the only regret I have is that we didn't make the move years ago.
Implementation of BID2WIN Is not just "installation." It's a collaborative process that entails considerable effort from the client, and from different levels of the BID2WIN implementation and training team. They don't just dump the software on your server. They require considerable effort and involvement from you, the client, but the time and effort you invest into it will be returned many times over.
BID2WIN Software had us up and running pretty quickly, and we immediately realized the savings in time. The import features, item and task templates, and RFQ process make building an estimate almost effortless. The process only gets faster and easier as we gain familiarity with the programs, and as our databases grow. The time we save in building estimates can now be utilized to learn the intricacies of the project, and fine tune our efforts accordingly. We don't get every job we bid with BID2WIN. That isn't a goal, and never was. What utilizing BID2WIN does do is lead to better cost accuracy - which, of course, is the single most important aspect of estimating, and the construction business as a whole. Anyone can be a low bidder. What's great is to be the low bidder, while knowing exactly what your margins are - and that's just for starters.
BID2WIN addressed all of the issues we had with our spreadsheet estimating. The system allows multiple users to modify a single estimating file concurrently without the need for multiple bidding files, so true collaboration can take place. BID2WIN also immediately standardized our estimating process.
These days, we can easily transfer project responsibility from any estimator to any project manager or superintendent, knowing that the information stays consistent in both content and presentation. But beyond that, BID2WIN's myriad reports allow people of different responsibilities to extract their information in virtually any form they want. BID2WIN effectively addressed our crucial need to standardize our process, but the tool also maintained the positive aspects of individualization.
My favorite aspect of BID2WIN is the effortless and sleek integration it affords us. Once we are a successful bidder on a project, we can export BID2WIN files and load them into our accounting, project management and scheduling software programs. Within minutes, we have a resource-loaded schedule to hand off to the project manager and superintendent; cost estimates loaded into our job costing; and purchase orders and subcontracts printed, loaded into our accounting program, and ready to distribute to our vendors and subcontractors. There is no redundancy, duplication of effort, or clerical errors, and the task is done in minutes. It still amazes me.
As a business owner, the old adage that "time is money" should be a mantra, and the time savings we have derived from the implementation of BID2WIN has already paid for its acquisition costs. With our ability to generate a larger volume of estimates, and with greater cost accuracy, we are also more profitable overall.
Innovation is another aspect of BID2WIN that makes the company stand out. Many of the product updates and developments to the system come directly from end-user requests and suggestions. The software doesn't just add cosmetic bells and whistles. The developers collaborate with users to add useful tools that provide additional value, and make our jobs easier.
BID2WIN has been everything we had hoped for, and more. We highly recommend this solution to anyone except our direct competition. We'd love to maintain the competitive advantage it affords us.
A more troubling problem was the increasing disparity in spreadsheets from different estimators. Personal preferences led to individual changes on each spreadsheet revision, in both appearance and function. This was problematic during file integration, but also through transitions among staff. Our project managers and superintendents struggled to coordinate projects between different estimators, who sometimes presented the same information in different formats.
Realizing that the problems and flaws in our system were only going to get worse, we began to investigate potential software solutions. We decided to go with BID2WIN because the software addressed all our needs at a reasonable price point, and provided all the features of other systems as well as a lot more.
We've been using BID2WIN for about a year now, so we're still newbies, and still finding new ways to harness its powerful tools to our advantage. Make no mistake, it IS a powerful tool, and the only regret I have is that we didn't make the move years ago.
Implementation of BID2WIN Is not just "installation." It's a collaborative process that entails considerable effort from the client, and from different levels of the BID2WIN implementation and training team. They don't just dump the software on your server. They require considerable effort and involvement from you, the client, but the time and effort you invest into it will be returned many times over.
BID2WIN Software had us up and running pretty quickly, and we immediately realized the savings in time. The import features, item and task templates, and RFQ process make building an estimate almost effortless. The process only gets faster and easier as we gain familiarity with the programs, and as our databases grow. The time we save in building estimates can now be utilized to learn the intricacies of the project, and fine tune our efforts accordingly. We don't get every job we bid with BID2WIN. That isn't a goal, and never was. What utilizing BID2WIN does do is lead to better cost accuracy - which, of course, is the single most important aspect of estimating, and the construction business as a whole. Anyone can be a low bidder. What's great is to be the low bidder, while knowing exactly what your margins are - and that's just for starters.
BID2WIN addressed all of the issues we had with our spreadsheet estimating. The system allows multiple users to modify a single estimating file concurrently without the need for multiple bidding files, so true collaboration can take place. BID2WIN also immediately standardized our estimating process.
These days, we can easily transfer project responsibility from any estimator to any project manager or superintendent, knowing that the information stays consistent in both content and presentation. But beyond that, BID2WIN's myriad reports allow people of different responsibilities to extract their information in virtually any form they want. BID2WIN effectively addressed our crucial need to standardize our process, but the tool also maintained the positive aspects of individualization.
My favorite aspect of BID2WIN is the effortless and sleek integration it affords us. Once we are a successful bidder on a project, we can export BID2WIN files and load them into our accounting, project management and scheduling software programs. Within minutes, we have a resource-loaded schedule to hand off to the project manager and superintendent; cost estimates loaded into our job costing; and purchase orders and subcontracts printed, loaded into our accounting program, and ready to distribute to our vendors and subcontractors. There is no redundancy, duplication of effort, or clerical errors, and the task is done in minutes. It still amazes me.
As a business owner, the old adage that "time is money" should be a mantra, and the time savings we have derived from the implementation of BID2WIN has already paid for its acquisition costs. With our ability to generate a larger volume of estimates, and with greater cost accuracy, we are also more profitable overall.
Innovation is another aspect of BID2WIN that makes the company stand out. Many of the product updates and developments to the system come directly from end-user requests and suggestions. The software doesn't just add cosmetic bells and whistles. The developers collaborate with users to add useful tools that provide additional value, and make our jobs easier.
BID2WIN has been everything we had hoped for, and more. We highly recommend this solution to anyone except our direct competition. We'd love to maintain the competitive advantage it affords us.
Overall rating
Our company was looking for a flexible estimating package, since our old software system was out of date and had not been maintained to keep up with our business. We are a precast manufacturer, and BID2WIN was flexible enough to allow us to create templates that work for our business. The estimators had a smooth transition from the old software to BID2WIN because of its ease of use. Now our estimators tell us they couldn’t see us using anything else.
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