FastPIPE & FastDUCT Mechanical Estimating Software

Pros

The ease of use, the software and the technical support make this a great product. Steve, has been there to answer and assist every step of the way. The software cuts my estimating a project by 75%. I've using the Fastpipe for almost a month and I've pushed 6 bids. That would not have been possible with the assistance and help of Steve. Thanks for a great product.

Cons

I don't have anything negative to say about the software nor the tech support. One thing that could be great is online courses.

Pros

The product catalog is full of good product and easy to find. There's a lot a scale to choose from. You can modify you plan to do the as build.

Cons

Would like to have an option for Canadian prices. When you are in mode takoff, you cannot minimize the window.

Pros

Gone are our days of doing takeoff manually. For a plumbing project of any size this saves hours and hours of time as well as increasing accuracy. Worth every penny we paid for it.

Cons

It can get expensive once you start getting a lot of users, but other than that it is great and we are not to that point yet anyways.

SA recommended 5 estimation programs for us. I started by getting pricing on all 5. The least expensive choice lacked an object library for the materials we use in plbg & HVAC, so I moved on to the next higher priced choice, which was FastPipe & FastDuct. We scheduled a web demo, and our estimators liked it, so we bought it. It was much more affordable than any of the remaining 3 choices. To be fair, the other products had extra features, but none that we really needed, so I'm convinced we got the best bang for our buck.

Pros

The UI is intuitive and fairly easy to learn. FastEst support is the best I've experienced for any software product!

I believe this is the highest quality estimating system you can buy. The support is awesome, problems resolved within an hour at most. easy to learn... I could go on but at a minimum give theses guys a chance if you are looking to buy a system.

Pros

This program allows me to estimate with speed and confidence. I have the right material and labor every time. Great for young estimators and old dogs like me. Packed with everything I need and lots of features. With this program I can tackle any project that comes my way. I can't tell you how impressed I am without you thinking I work for the company. But the truth is the truth and this program is the best I ever used.

Cons

If it was only FREE but I digress. It would be nice to have more mark up functions such as clouding.

Great product, great service. Non-complicated, in less than an hour, you will be building an estimate.

Pros

I have used several different "top brand" programs during my ongoing 30 yr career as an MP estimator and project manager. Programs that varies in the ranges, from digitizer to on screen take off. The pipe & duct programs are so easy to use, you almost wonder - can this be true. We're programmed to work harder, not smarter. FastEst changes all that. Estimating efficiency and accuracy is what FastEst provides for me, not to mention the affordable price and options you can select for your particular needs. The other very, very important selling point is that when I have an issue and call the help line.....the person who answers the phone helps you right then - your issue is resolved. NONE of the competition does that, you place your call, they take your info then hopefully someone calls you back timely. FastEst customer service is the best.

Cons

That my competitors may discover FastEst.......
I'd like to push one button for the material price updates and be done. Currently we get our materials quoted anyway as most of our bids are sizable.

I'd recommend this product in a second (especially to a plumber). Customer service is fantastic, and it just works. As a matter of fact it's one of the better designed pieces of software I've ever used.

Pros

Clean, well thought out and efficient design. Well supported, reasonable price (comparatively),flexible payment options.

Cons

This is a program designed for plumbers (FastPIPE) if you come from a different background the learning curve will be a little steeper as you need to know your fittings and such.

Pros

Everything. There is no specific requirements to use this software , everyone will be able to use this one.

Cons

it might be a complexity to read the results from the take offs. A little bit complicated to update the product list.

Likes Best

the bid breakdowns are perfect for pricing and putting together a proposal anything you can think of they have it included and can change percentages to your companies liking

Likes Least

software is a little intimidating when it comes to adjusting their material pricing to your buy pricing but the tech support definitely does a great job navigating you through your concerns

Recommendations

do your homework and do the online trials and training for this and the other estimation softwares out there to get a feel for what suits your needs best.

Likes Best

Easy to navigate, it becomes a second nature,watching the videos help as well someone is there to answer any questions that you may have. I wish there was a section that help on pricing for your trim that would take a snap shot of the blue prints so you could copy and paste text off the print and be able

Likes Least

Typing out everything copy and paste option off digital prints so I can send off for pricing right away from my supplier.

Recommendations

I won a job right out the box $641,000 job using this program. It works

Likes Best

The software is easy to use and learn. Everyone I've spoken to has been eager to help and there is always someone available.

Likes Least

Do not have any complaints about the software or vendor.

Recommendations

I tried several before deciding. So I would say to really try them before you buy. Some advertise easy options or operations that are difficult or cost more to add.

Likes Best

Pricing is right.
The ease of access to customer service
Portability
FastPipe's willingness to:
- create special reports
- add products to database
- solve problems immediately
- answer questions regarding upcoming features
- add features

Likes Least

Although FP is eager to do custom reports, they will drop on the list behind new features and upgrades.

Recommendations

A demo is not enough - you need to have a trial period to really understand ease of use. Determine what you really need from the program before you start looking at software.

Likes Best

Ease of learning.
Comprehensive materials price service provided.
Availability to many industry standard labor data bases and accuracy of Fast Est Materials labor data.
Assemblies,
Reports available exportable to Excel. Ability to import data from other takeoff.
Ability to copy plans from Fast pipe to Fast duct or vice versa, saving time for job setup,
Customizable Bid workbook to fit company needs,
Ability to feed into combined Pipe and Duct workbook from either Fast Pipe or Fast Duct program,
Takeoff tools within program, ability to replicate visuals and paste for repeated patterns, Scaling options great
Customer support is the best I have ever experienced
Cost of programs and yearly support fees are very competitive. Absolute best bang for the buck.
Ease of copying take for show and tell purposes
Program is entirely flexible to be used in network configuration or stand alone.

Likes Least

Nothing to not like. The product is the best software I've used in my career.

Recommendations

Key is using trades people for your estimating team. They need to have a medium level of computer literacy. This program is user friendly allowing tradesmen to takeoff and apply their intuition as they develop their estimate. Its easy to create takeoff methodologies that allow for fast executive review of estimates. Key element is to have everyone in the company using the reporting workbook tool. Commitment of management to using the entire program tool set is important. This eliminates errors of human transposition of data (to another old standard company spreadsheet) Time saving is enormous.

Likes Best

Easy to learn software. The support is excellent. You can call them at anytime and they will help right away. Pay month to month. Plus they gave us a great deal because we already had Fastpipe.

Likes Least

The only comment I have is the duct software is not as sophisticated as other software in some area's. But the cost of Fastduct makes up for this small shortfall.

Recommendations

Always ask about how much support costs. Fastduct has cost us nothing for support. I've been on the phone with them for over 7-8 hours in the first month of owning this software.

Likes Best

FastEST Estimating Software has worked well for me over the years. The support staff is always responsive and helpful.

Likes Least

There is nothing negative to say about this product or vendor. It really is great. One funny thing is that the name gives the impression that everything is going to go really fast. I joke with my coworkers and say it's actually more like accurate-est.

Recommendations

I recommend choosing a tradesperson to train for an open estimating position. It is easier to train a tradesperson how to use tools such as estimating software than to train a non tradesperson essential trade knowledge.

Likes Best

Best estimating program Ive ever used and and Ive used them all. Fast, accurate, excellent customer service. A+++

Likes Least

I can honestly say I have no complaints. This product works as advertised.

Recommendations

I have used this program for at least 10 years and it gets better all the time. Don't spend your money and time with any of the others out there. I have personally used Quick-Pen, Estimation, Easy-est, Quote: but the one I bought for my company was Fast-pipe/duct.

Likes Best

Very user friendly and if you do run into trouble the customer service is absolutely unbeatable. When I updated to Windows 10 I was having some issues at 10pm on a Sunday Night. Not only did I get a call back but they had me up and running in a few minutes!

Likes Least

I have no complaints about the product or the company. They are the best.

Recommendations

The people at FastEst are always willing and more importantly able to help with questions or issues you may have. They are knowledgeable not only on their product but the industry as well.

Likes Best

I like the amount of fittings, the updating of material and pricing and the ease of takeoff on it

Likes Least

I have overall been very satisfied with it, I haven't had any issues with it and like that I get updates on pricing changes etc

Recommendations

I like the ease of operating and quality of the program

Likes Best

What we like about the FastPipe program is one the initial cost is lower than most we have reviewed. We like the ease of data base catalog additions. We are a specialty process piping contractor with alot of special materials. We have added these to our catalog and his really sped up our estimating time. The on screen takeoff and custom options available are another very nice feature

Likes Least

sometimes the import drawings feature doesn't work as well as would like. Drawings dont come thru clear enough to read and we have to try different things and re import

Recommendations

call contractors that are using this system to get first hand details about the pros and cons of the software

Likes Best

I have been using FastPipe for almost 3 years and love it! It is very easy to learn - in a few day you will be using it comfortably. I used a big name estimating program for 8 years before this one that was really hard to learn, and if you did not use it every day, you would forget things. The vendor has a great support staff that know the product. You will almost always get a live person when calling, and if you have to leave a message, they will usually get back to you in a hour or two.

Likes Least

I do not have any dislikes of this product. I use it every day and love it!

Recommendations

Ease of use and support is key. I use it 5 days a week and love it.