I saw an ad in the January 2008 Construction Executive magazine for an estimating software company. The text read:

"He thought all-in-one software meant "all-is-well" software. He thought wrong."

And there's a picture of this frazzled guy in a suit going balistic. I love it, and I agree.

Made me think about the landscape of construction software options you are likely coming across in your research. And the opinions offered by the self-appointed professionals (read: sales guys that want to sell you their software) on what you should consider before buying software.

For most small to mid sized construction businesses, having one software system that does it all may sound good in theory, but it rarely works. Imagine a mechanic having one tool that does it all - I picture a Swiss Army knife type ratchet that weighs 100 LBS and does as many things.

So what about the Swiss Army knife of construction software? If it exists, it has to cover a lot of ground, end to end, all facets of your business. It will be comprehensive, complicated, and come at a high price. And for most construction pros we talk to, most of the time, it's overkill.

BuildIT is narrow in focus, by design. We saw the gap in construction software back in 2000 and how an Internet accessible system could span that gap. So we only focus in 3 main areas: scheduling, file management and communications.

We didn't see the need for more/better construction accounting software. Quickbooks (contractor edition) has been around for some time, and is used by the majority of construction pros that have connected with BuildIT. It's a "back office" system, done offline typically, and by a bookkeeper or consultant.

As for estimating software, we make recommendations but again, most are using a spreadsheet that they have developed... and we're not about to build a watered down version of Excel.

The gap - managing the details, the scheduling, the mountain of information that is created throughout the building process, information that needs to be stored, accessed, communicated/shared, and archived.

We also realized another thing... a printed schedule is out of date about an hour after it's printed. We knew that construction pros needed more than a pretty Gantt chart on a piece of paper. They need a real time scheduling system that keeps all key people on track, singing off the same song sheet. That is where BuildIT really shines. The system integrates your jobs with scheduling, contacts, and files... all project related information is in one place, stored securely, and accessible 24/7 by the folks that need to see it and act on it.

OK, if we're a Swiss Army knife, with 3 attachments, then we're somewhat manageable. Or you can buy construction software like the picture above and spend the next year or two trying to figure it out! Then again, it may be the right decision for your company (there's a buyer for every product out there).

Scott Hutchinson
scott@builditsystems.com
1 866 585 5050 ext 1

I was in a car accident last summer. Got rear-ended big time. I heard the guy behind me lock up his tires, then bang.

Here's a photo - so much for that "new car smell" ! 

Six months later, the insurance company gives me a call.

"For your pain and suffering, we're prepared to offer $X - this is the high end of what we typically offer for soft tissue damage".

My lawyer laughed. He said "add $100,000 to that, and you'd be at the high end".

For a minute there, I smiled, and my opinion of lawyers suddenly changed for the better  

Then he said, "it's a game, they'll tell you what they want, so you'll settle, and not call a lawyer. Kind of like a used car salesman. They'll tell you pretty much anything to sell the car - buyer beware."

Then I thought about the stuff we read on websites (construction software websites, besides ours of course !) and take as the gospel truth. Sometimes it's downright amusing. Many times it's a lesson in what NOT to do. Sometimes it gets under my skin. Because I know you're reading it too, and some of you may be taking it as the truth.

Here's a quote I read recently:

"Most people who TRY software X, BUY software X". That came right from their CEO.

Seriously, do you believe that? Is that true of any product anywhere in the world? Let me know if you find something where this is true - I want to speak to their marketing department !

A wise mentor once told me that "the truth is good enough".

So here's the truth with respect to BuildIT: "most people who try BuildIT, DON'T buy BuildIT".

We're so high up the search engine rankings, and our website is referenced in a gazillion directories online, that we get people launching free test drives daily, from around the world. Our competitors even take us out for a test drive - they don't even hide the fact. They're certainly not going to buy BuildIT !

Sales 101 - the sales funnel. 

As in any business, you have leads.

A percentage of those leads, the majority, are "just looking", kicking the tires as it were, doing research, getting an idea of what's out there, shortlisting possible solutions for the boss.

Then there is that smaller percentage of leads that are serious, in desparate need of a solution, and we are the best match. They buy (immediately, or eventually with further research), and they benefit.

Like I say, it's like OJ Simpson's glove - it's just gotta fit.

But to get to that point, you've got to put your solution out there, and have folks test drive it.

Haven't started your free test drive yet? No prob, click the big GREEN button in the top right of this page, and you'll be on the inside in minutes !

Scott Hutchinson
scott@builditsystems.com
1 866 585 5050 ext 1

I was reading a competitor's newsletter the other day. They were talking about their pricing.

"...pricing as low as $ XX per project per month..."

Clever. Penalizing those with more projects on the go. The more success you have, the more you pay the piper.

It got me thinking.

There's a lot of fine construction software out there (some real duds too), and each company puts their spin doctors to work on how to share pricing with you, the prospective buyer. And each company is trying to figure out how to extract as much $$ from your wallet, and still make you feel like you're getting great value.

They'll marginalize the cost (dollars per day, dollars per project) and hide some of the extras. Some will "bait and switch" you, get you on board, then upsell you to the package/module you really need.

Here's the formula, simple and sweet:

You'll buy when PV > 10C (that is, "perceived value is at least ten times greater than cost").

For instance, when you pay BuildIT $795 for a 1 year subscription, in your mind, if you don't see $8 - $10K in your pocket by year's end, you'll go elsewhere (or stick with your free legal pad or spreadsheet).

When we started BuildIT many years ago (an eternity in Internet Age years), we sat around a small particle board desk and tried to figure out what we should sell our first release for. We knew it had to be greater than 0 (we weren't registered as a non-profit). We came up with a number, and surprisingly, people bought.

Over time, we've refined the application, figured out the language of our customer, added more valuable time-saving tools to the system, and one other thing:

We've drastically reduced our price.

Why?

We understand a few things that the other guys are having a hard time figuring out.

1. We can't be all things to all people. BuildIT is not an "all in one" solution. It is a tool which helps you in 3 main areas: scheduling, online file management, and communications. Because we have a narrow focus, we can have a narrow price point as well. The big guys that offer complex, enterprise suite solutions, well, their pricing is also complex, and enterprise level (read: big money).
2. You'll pay for many features you won't ever use. You'll pay thousands just to get started. And you'll pay equally as much if not more in getting ramped up, training, lost time during the transition. And sadly, the thing you bought may end up on the shelf in the back room just next to your year-end file box from 1998.  We know that simple and rudimentary is a good thing. It means those on your team with the least amount of technical aptitude (that may be you) have a shot at using BuildIT with success. Get them using the email system, and viewing the schedule on a regular basis ... and the battle is half won. Simplicity and ease of use - it's definitely the ace up our sleeve.
3. We've kept our company simple, not adding layers of staff, management, overhead, boardroom furniture, stuff that our competitors get YOU to pay for. We don't spend $1000's on advertising, expensive trade shows, playing trains/planes and hotels. We don't have "distributors" - there's no need for that added cost. We are the envy of the industry - just Google: construction scheduling software, and look who comes up on the first page.  Our competitors are still trying to figure that one out.

4. We've made the system easy to use, and easy to learn, at any time of the day, in any time zone. This allows us to price BuildIT ridiculously low, so pricing is the least of your hurdles to getting started with us.

BuildIT pricing: $795, for 1 user account, 1 year term discounted.

Or if cash flow is a priority, pay $85 per month.

Of course we have some other items on the menu, but they're optional.

So, whether you're doing 2 projects this year, of 200, you'll pay the same price.

We're honored to be competing with packages that are in the $5K plus range. I often refer our test drivers to those packages. See what's out there at that price.

Your PV (perceived value) of BuildIT will skyrocket in their shadows.

Scott Hutchinson
scott@builditsystems.com
1 866 585 5050 ext 1

Nope, sorry.                                      

It's a question that pops up from time to time. And it sounds cool. But, do you really want what you think you'll be getting?

Two separate software companies, two separate design teams, two separate histories... and an often rickety bridge to connect the two!?

For construction software, here's the formula:

Integration = pain x frustration²

(Where "pain" is the effort you go through to figure it out, and "frustration" is that feeling you get when you slam your fist on the keyboard when it doesn't work) 

While it sounds good in theory, I'm reminded of an analogy: can your Porsche integrate with my Tractor? You're talking two different vehicles, or in the case of software, two different and distinct applications.

Keep the Tractor on the Farm, let the Porsche loose on the Super Highway (work with me on this !).

The fact is, you have one system that is primarily "back office" - your accounting system. And for most folks in the construction industry, that would be Quickbooks Contractor Edition. Accounting, payroll, some pretty sensitive information on your clients, your cashflow, etc. Do you really want that information floating through the Net !?

BuildIT recognized years ago there was a gap. Accounting software was nailed for the most part. And show me a contractor that doesn't use a spreadsheet to create estimates and manage budgets ~ most do. What about the part where tasks need to be managed, and information shared? What about the "slippery items" in your business, that if not dealt with, cost time, money and major aggravation? The gap was filled by a system to help schedule, manage information, (including spreadsheets) and augment backoffice systems already in place like your accounting software.

BuildIT fills that gap.

Your bookkeeper stays happy ~ he/she likes Quickbooks or Simple or Peachtree, what have you, and they aren't too keen on learning something new written by contractors taking a shot at the world of accounting.

You stay happy, because you spent a bunch of hours creating some nifty spreadsheets that work ~ you just need a better way to share them with your team, manage them, track changes, and store them on a job by job basis.

The gap is filled. Put away the whiteboard or legal pad, start scheduling the easy way.

And leave the "integration" thing for those with way more time on their hands.

Reminds me of a time when a friend attempted to "sync" his Salesforce.com contacts with his Outlook and then onto his Blackberry. He ended up deleting all his contacts by accident in the process. Thank heavens for Salesforce.com's "undelete" function. I was called in to save the day. After trying to follow the instructions, I realized why I had avoided making IT a profession, and appreciated BuildIT all the more.

We don't integrate, and life is easier for everyone involved. But we can import data for you (your schedules, contacts, job list) and you can export data from BuildIT into CSV (comma separated values) files. We don't hold your data hostage, you're free to come and go as you please.

Scott Hutchinson
scott@builditsystems.com
1 866 585 5050 ext 1

You've check us out, you've checked our competitors out. 

You've short listed a bunch of applications, some web based, some old school desktop software. You may have even narrowed it down to BuildIT vs [fill in the blank].

Now the big question: How much does BuildIT cost... what's the price?

Answer 1: too much if (a) it's the wrong package for you, or (b) it's the right package, but you're not ready for it.

Answer 2: too little if you're Tom, Dick or Harry. Keep reading...

Tom (not his real name of course) uses BuildIT for a year, then decides to move on to sofware X. They spend $7,500 for 2 licenses. Now they find their new software isn't living up to the claims on software X's website. Tom says it's "buggy", some data even goes missing. I could hear his pain. And to add insult to injury, Tom's web browser seems to be stuck on bringing up BuildIT's login page. With a smile, I suggest to Tom that this could be a sign. We'd love to have Tom and his team back again.

Dick (you guessed it, not his real name) test drove BuildIT the other day, but decided to go with software Z. Rats -- I thought we had him. Software Z had a cool pricing structure. I asked Dick if he was aware that software Z charges per active project per month... he said yes. The per project per month rate was about $500 at the time. I asked Dick how many active projects per month he was doing. 20. You do the math. Ouch!

Harry (again, not his real name) calls me up. He's being hounded by one of the big guys, software Y. I admire software Y, and software Y's salesman. They're trying hard to push this deal through. But Harry is only doing a few projects this year, and software Y would be overkill big time, and with a price tag of $5,000 to get started, and monthly fees of $200, well that's about $7,400 for the year. Harry bought BuildIT instead for $795... and he's getting everything he needed in a scheduling system at a fraction of the cost.

So how much is BuildIT? Well, if you don't get success with the system, then you paid too much at any price. But given what's out there, it's worth a shot at $795 (1 user account, 1 year term discounted, or if cash flow is a concern, go with the $85 monthly subscription). You risk a few $$ and your biggest investment will be time... and we can help accelerate your learning curve so you waste precious little of that.

We play in the sandbox with some great software developers who are putting out some great apps. But for a tenth or less the cost of some of them, you can get the features you need in BuildIT to help you organize your business, schedule your work, share information with the folks that need it, and communicate more effectively.

Try BuildIT first. Take advantage of our 30 day full money back guarantee. If you're not satisfied, or if you really need more bells and whistles, well, software X, Y and Z are standing by !!

Scott Hutchinson
scott@builditsystems.com
1 866 585 5050 ext 1

"This is our office management system, and helps us with scheduling, contact management and communications to our customers, vendors and subcontractors. Since coming on board with BuildIT, we have reduced our dependency on sticky notes and loose paper around the office, and are better able to track tasks and appointments. We really appreciate the ability to access job information, email, and our contact database from home, office or while on the road. We can also send text messages from the system to our subcontractors. These advantages are revolutionary for a small construction business like ours. The system also allows us to keep our subcontractors and vendors accountable - we can query the system for emails sent to a particular subcontractor and prove that we communicated to them on a particular matter if they claimed otherwise.

Our business is a million times better than it was last year since coming on board. Unlike other software companies we have spoken with, the team actually knows what they are talking about; they take time to understand our business, and when we have made suggestions for improvement, they have acted on those changes quickly. Our encouragement to others considering this system is that this is a tool, and it needs to be worked in order for you to realize the benefits. That means using it regularly, and taking the time to educate yourself on all that it has to offer.

I would just add that we have looked at much more expensive systems that have more bells and whistles. In fact I was concerned that the simplicity and cost effectiveness of this might mean that it was a substandard system. What I have found to be true is that a lot of the "bells and whistles" of other more expensive systems are not usable or affordable for a small to medium builder who does not have the resources to devote an entire employee or employees to data entry and manipulation."

Beverly Morrison, Owner
Steve Morrison Custom Homes

If you're in the market for construction scheduling software, you likely have come across, or may even own, Microsoft Office Project (MS Project). And you may even come across other construction scheduling software programs that claim they integrate with, or work in conjunction with MS Project.

The question you should ask is: "What is the best scheduling program, or "system", that will help solve your problems and meet your company's objectives?"

BuildIT makes it easy for you to view multiple project schedules on one page. This is the single greatest advantage over MS Project (Standard and Professional versions). Couple that with a fully integrated contact and document management system, and a communications package that allows users to easily share schedule information with folks outside your organization, and you have a powerful system designed with your business and needs in mind.

Unlike MS Project, BuildIT is designed primarily for small to mid sized firms in the construction industry. We speak your language. We don't hide the solution behind a whole bunch of tech talk. For instance, here are few capabilities we found on MS Project's website (Greek to us):

~ Top down budgeting
~ Resource with multiple level skill attributes
~ Collaboration with shared enterprise resource pool and availability
~ Cube Building Service for custom OLAP reports

Ouch, I'm already confused, and I've been in this industry for almost 20 years !! Don't you just want a simple construction scheduling tool?

The good news is, you won't read anything confusing on our website, no big fluffy words or phrases that stop you dead in your tracks. And, you can start a BuildIT test drive account in minutes, and dive right into creating a simple schedule for your current or future project.

No headaches about getting one software program to work with / sync / integrate with another. For most folks, that is a recipe for a migraine. Plus, why do all that when one simple web based application will do the trick? With BuildIT, there is no software to install, no downloads, no patches or upgrades, and no steep learning curve.

Probably the best promotion of BuildIT for your business is MS Project's product demo. Click here for the link.

They've done a great job on the video (I wish we had their budget to do our videos ) ... but I think you'll find MS Project has more that is NOT applicable to your business than is. One project manager once told us "you could run a small country with MS Project". But hey, our customers are just trying to run construction projects with less issues and more control. With BuildIT, enjoy a short setup, and get done what you need to in a fraction of the time.

And try calling us on our toll free line ... you'll get a real live person, and the help you need to get started fast.

Scott Hutchinson (scott@builditsystems.com)
1 866 585 5050 ext 1