After a year of minor updates and tweaks, Bid4Build Enterprises has released a major update to its Enterprise and Lite construction estimating software packages. The latest installment, version 3.5, boasts more than a dozen new features - many of which fall outside the realm of estimating.

For starters, Bid4Build Version 3.5 is now compatible with Microsoft Vista and Access 2007, as well as VirtualBoss Construction Scheduling and Project Management software.

But that’s not all. “This [update] is a combination of some specific features that customers were looking for, as well as things that we developed on our own,” Charles Molloy of Bid4Build said in a recent chat with ConstructionSoftwareReview.com. “We realized that customers want functionality while not spending a lot of money.”

Some of the new functionality that Malloy alluded to is listed below. (Click on the links to see a screenshot.)

• Quick Start Advanced Menu Navigation System –The new UI provides users a step-by-step outline on how to create and manage an estimate from start to finish. To go along with the walkthrough, video tutorials explain how to perform each function. “We found that people don’t want to read documentation,” Molloy said. “This way, every operation is broken down by a single video stream.”
• Expression Calculator – In addition to numerous preloaded calculators, this tool allows contractors to “build” their own calculators depending on the specifications of the job. A wizard is available within the application to help users define and calculate various dimensions. According to Molloy, this feature first appeared in HomeTech software; Bid4Build added it at the request of several customers.
• Advanced To-Do List — This is a task management tool that allows a contractor to track multiple estimates. It will also prompt a user when an action is required on a project.

While the Lite edition offers a scaled-down version of the Enterprise software, it, too, received a comprehensive update. Both versions can be downloaded from the Bid4Build Web site, with the Enterprise edition going for $395 and the Lite fetching $199. Existing customers who subscribe to Bid4Build’s yearly customer service and support package should note that version 3.5 can be updated for free, Molloy said.

The Bid4Build site also offers more information about the new features of Bid4Build 3.5 and a side-by-side comparison of the Enterprise and Lite Bid4Build offerings.

(Editor’s note: This is the first blog post by Keith Kessinger, who will be helping us out on ConstructionSoftwareReview.com throughout the summer and fall. Welcome aboard, Keith!)

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 17th, 2008 at 3:04 pm and is filed under Construction software new releases, Estimating software. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.