CMX 2004 - Plumbing & HVAC
CMX 2004 - Plumbing & HVAC
CMX 2004 - Plumbing & HVAC
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Accubid Systems<br />
Software solutions<br />
Your estimate is on time, you<br />
haven’t made mistakes, and you<br />
didn’t have to transcribe notes or<br />
retype data. Your clients are pleased<br />
because you addressed their questions<br />
and requests while they were with you.<br />
Relax and bask in the glow of a job well<br />
done.<br />
This could be your reality if you use<br />
Accubid Systems’ newest estimating and<br />
change order tools: Pocket Bid and<br />
Pocket ChangeOrder.<br />
These software programs run on any<br />
handheld computer that uses<br />
Microsoft’s Pocket PC 2002 operating<br />
system, or its successor, the Windows<br />
Mobile 2003 operating system. Both<br />
programs use commands familiar to<br />
Windows users, and both can synchronize<br />
and share with their desktop<br />
cousins:<br />
• Pocket Bid works seamlessly with<br />
the Accubid Estimating Version 6 product<br />
line.<br />
• Pocket ChangeOrder integrates<br />
with Accubid’s change order management<br />
software, ChangeOrder and<br />
ChangeOrder Pro.<br />
Pocket Bid gives you the ability to<br />
perform a complete estimate, generate a<br />
bill of materials, and produce a final<br />
price, right on the job site.<br />
Pocket ChangeOrder allows price<br />
changes while you’re still at the job site,<br />
so your clients are not kept waiting. You<br />
can also download projects onto Pocket<br />
ChangeOrder to allow for on-site project<br />
management.<br />
While other handheld estimating<br />
software focuses exclusively on takeoff,<br />
Pocket Bid and Pocket ChangeOrder<br />
provide a complete solution from takeoff<br />
to bid summary and/or final pricing,<br />
including extension. Both can update<br />
from Pocket PC to desktop and back,<br />
unlike some solutions that can only<br />
update in one direction. Both support<br />
the complete Accubid desktop database<br />
and can contain multiple databases and<br />
projects simultaneously.<br />
As the user interface for both programs<br />
is similar to the desktop interface,<br />
users experienced with Accubid’s<br />
desktop software will not need much<br />
time to adjust to the pocket-sized<br />
versions.<br />
The new Accubid Pocket Bid and<br />
Pocket ChangeOrder programs are<br />
designed for handheld PCs.<br />
Pocket ChangeOrder was a hit at the<br />
November 2003 ISH North America<br />
show in Las Vegas. It won first prize at<br />
the New Software Product Showcase!<br />
Estimating 6<br />
Accubid has been busy in the office, as<br />
well. Released in January, Estimating<br />
Version 6 enhances Accubid’s family of<br />
desktop estimating solutions.“Version 6<br />
reflects our continued commitment to<br />
lead the way with estimating software<br />
that provides cutting-edge features<br />
while still remaining intuitive, fast, and<br />
easy to use,” reports Giovanni Marcelli,<br />
president and CEO of Accubid.<br />
Version 6 affects three products<br />
scaled to meet the needs of large and<br />
small mechanical contracting firms –<br />
Accubid Pro, BidWinner Plus, and<br />
BidWinner. The software includes a<br />
number of exciting new features and<br />
enhancements to increase accuracy and<br />
productivity:<br />
• Power Substitution allows you to<br />
quickly change material throughout the<br />
bid by substituting items and related<br />
components within existing takeoffs<br />
(Accubid Pro only).<br />
• Temporary assemblies can be created<br />
on the fly and saved as part of your<br />
job instead of your material database.<br />
• Print preview saves you time and<br />
paper.<br />
• The Schedule screen can now be<br />
sorted to control the order in which<br />
jobs are listed, and filtered to control<br />
the jobs that appear on the list.<br />
• A new Job Info screen lets you keep<br />
track of the bid details, contact information,<br />
and related job files. You can<br />
also store links to bid documents, blueprints,<br />
and walk-through photos.<br />
• Regardless of the Estimating 6<br />
solution you choose, all work seamlessly<br />
with Pocket Bid.<br />
Accubid is the leading provider of<br />
estimating, billing, and change order<br />
software for mechanical, electrical, and<br />
structured cabling contractors. Over<br />
10,500 active users employ Accubid<br />
software solutions at over 3,500 companies<br />
across North America.<br />
Accubid offers proven solutions for<br />
all aspects of the construction process,<br />
from estimating to purchasing to project<br />
management and billing. Accubid<br />
also offers a wide range of professional<br />
development courses and product<br />
training labs.<br />
Circle Number 130 for More Information<br />
28 <strong>Plumbing</strong> & <strong>HVAC</strong> Product News – March/April <strong>2004</strong> www.plumbingandhvac.ca