Available in Concerto:

Does your present estimating system offer these features?

• Webseat Licenses are standard: by placing its control key on the Internet, licenses can be shared with others, or assigned to a dedicated user. Benefit: quickly activate your estimating system anywhere in the world from the internet, but remain unconnected while using the program. When you're done, return the license to the internet so a colleague anywhere else in the world can use that license. Also called the "ultimate network". No confidential files or estimates reside on the Internet.
  
  
• Maestro Module: to manage access to all other Concerto modules.
  
  
• Database Manager Module: to create and edit master databases for use by the estimators. If the master database is placed on an office server, regular users can be automatically updated with that master database.
  
  
• Admin Manager Module: to maintain site templates, and manage user access privileges and passwords.
  
  
• Estimating Module: (SOCC) to create, edit and print estimates. Estimates can be saved on a network drive, and shared with other users.
  
  
• Optional submittal Module: (CosmosXP) to create, edit and print client submittals. Data is collated in a single PDF, and can include drawings, equipment lists, schedules, sequences of operations, data sheets, and any other file type.
  
  
• Viewers are available to support users who do not need a full Concerto license, but need to view or print existing estimates.
  
  
• Elaborate Concerto database structure supports a rich variety of reports and detailed cost breakouts.
  
  
• Labor Factors for each of 19 trade tasks are included in each database item, enabling Concerto to perform sophisticated cost scenarios without the estimator needing to guess or know each labor task detail. This avoids the 'guesstimating' that is typical with manual and spreadsheet systems, and even with some simple database systems.
  
  
• "Items" define the cost, labor task factors, and over 200 technical attributes that allow Concerto to provide superior project-specific documentation, without any work required by the estimator.
  
  
• "Kits" are assemblies of 2 or more individual items. Pre-assembled custom Kits allow the user to estimate with larger building blocks, limiting risk and saving time.
  
  
• Items and Kits can be user-created in the estimate if and when required.
  
  
• Existing estimates can be refreshed when the master database has new pricing or labor factors. Concerto warns you when the estimate is not 'in sync' with the latest master databaase.
  
  
• Estimates are stored in compressed individual files so they can be emailed, shared with other estimators or provided to designers or project managers.
  
  
• Adjust labor rates, productivity factors, and other settings to match the current job's reality.
  
  
• Site Templates are prepared by the Site Administrator and each new estimate "inherits" the site template values automatically. Users can change the values when needed, but for a standard estimate, they require zero effort. A separate template is available for: Salaried Rates and Benefits, Field Trade Rates and Benefits, Manpower Supervision, Travel and other Expenses, Base factors (Warranty, material and manpower cost escalation, etc), Overheads, Electrical and Mechanical subcontracts, Target Margins, and Taxes.
  
  
• Copy areas between 2 estimates
  
  
• Copy areas within an estimate
  
  
• Copy systems between 2 estimates
  
  
• Copy systems within an estimate
  
  
• Building type factors to adjust estimates based on experience
  
  
• Check Ratios, specific to the building type
  
  
• New/retrofit Building factors to adjust estimates based on experience
  
  
• Multiple Databases are available. Users can switch between databases while in an estimate.
  
  
• An estimate can be emailed
  
  
• Building Height factors recognize that multi-floor buildings require more field labor due to elevator wait time, tools movement and break durations.
  
  
• Contingency Allowance is available to assemble a job plan that recognizes the need to set aside some time to have a "job completion" contingency.
  
  
• "Areas" allow the estimator to arrange the estimated systems in logical groups.
  
  
• "Area Adjustments" allow the estimator to make task adjustments for a whole "area" that may be defined by a common difficulty-level environment.
  
  
• Systems are placed within AREAS. A user can copy a system within an estimate, hence repetitive or similar systems are quickly and accurately created.
  
  
• Subcontracts (Electrical, Mechanical and 10 additional subcontracts) can be entered for the estimate.
  
  
• User Notes can be entered by the estimator, and printed to support documentation and turnover requirements.
  
  
• Portability plus flexibility because Concerto and all its support files can reside on a notebook computer. Each PC can stand alone or be plugged into the office network to synchronize databases.
  
  
• Databases can be sorted in several ways to help find the correct items and kits.
  
  
• Administrator can maintain databases and master templates to keep all users synchronized.
  
  
• Projects (Estimates) and Databases can be saved across a network and shared with other users.
  
  
• Share databases via the Distribution Centre. Works with both dedicated (Single User) or Webseat versions. A master database can automatically update individual PC's. After being disconnected for a while, a re-connected notebook PC is automatically synchronized.
  
  
• Dynamic Typing© (search-as-you-type) allows users to enter all or part of a part number or other code, to locate matching devices in the database.
  
  
• Target Search© allows the users to find VALVE parts quickly even in large databases; allows him to filter the database using industry-specific criteria. For instance, he can request "All 2-way, electrically operated valves, normally closed, brass body, with 2 inch body".
  
  
• Valve Sizing allows the user to accurately and quickly size control valves based on basic or advanced criteria (as available), and to display the matching valves. This can be combined with Target Search© so that valve criteria can be specified, and a valve capacity (Cv) sized, resulting in the closest match possible.
  
  
• Detail, Summary and Database reports can be produced for any estimate quickly. The standard and consistent report layout helps users and their management get a handle on estimate reasonableness and contents quickly.
  
  
• Generally, all required features and adjustments ensure that your bid accurately reflects your anticipated costs. Accuracy is Concerto's most important goal. Speed is a welcome by-product.
  
  
• Free updates and enhancements are provided under the support plan.
  
  
• PC Requirements: modern Windows machine, Win 2000, NT or XP-SP2 or later, mouse, Internet connection available for automatic updates, need 1024 x 768 resolution or higher, 512 MB memory (2 MB recommended for Administrators). Apple PC with equivalent Windows emulator. Network: Windows or Novell with Windows machine and storage available.
  
  

 Advanced features:

• 999 Systems capacity available
  
  
• Booking Wizard captures data required to book a project into the accounts.
  
  
• Additional 'Suite' reports (Total 77)
  
  
• On-screen variance (cost difference between 2 estimates)
  
  
• De-activate Systems so they temporarily 'disappear'
  
  
• De-activate Areas so they temporarily 'disappear'
  
  
• Substitution of estimated devices with other devices
  
  
• Popup immediate overview of estimated system, its area, and estimate totals
  
  
• Apprentice labor assignment for Electrical and Mechanical trades
  
  
• Templates: 99 templates are available to accommodate easy switching between estimating factors (labor rates, travel factors etc) for different customer types, geographic locations like neighboring states, etc.
  
  
• Job booking feature
  
  
• 5 Booking reports
  
  
• Booking export file
  
  
• Disposition module: historical record of projects, to provide historical analysis
  
  
• Planning module: export detailed job plan to Microsoft Project
  
  
• Assign project planning by Job Phase: add timing to the plan
  
  
• Assign project planning by Area: add structure to the plan
  
  
• Assign project planning by System: add structure to the plan
  
  
• Launch external Word, Excel (and other) files from the estimate
  
  
• Typical systems quantity: simplifies data entry, and supports Cobb-Douglas task repetition refinement
  
  
• Automatic Engineering Adjustment: adjusts for repetition of multiple design tasks
  
  
• Automatic Programming Adjustment: adjusts for repetition of multiple programmer tasks
  
  
• Subcontract entry by system: electrical and mechanical subcontracts can be entered at the system level
  
  
• Subcontract calculation by system: electrical and mechanical subcontracts can be calculated at the system level using subcontractor labor rates, markup and overhead rates
  
  
• System-level Subcontract can be chosen 'as calculated' or 'as entered' globally
  
  
• Make refinement adjustments at the System level
  
  
• Allow attachment of any file to a system. May be used to attach MS Word documents (Sequences of operation), MS Excel files (Schedules), AutocadTM or VisioTM drawings, or any other file type
  
  
• Assign estimated systems to a library for future re-use, complete with attachments
  
  
• Create new estimated systems from the available libraries. Libraries have advanced search capability
  
  
• Client Presentation feature to share estimate data with clients, showing adjusted labor and material costs
  
  
• Project size adjustments: small and large projects have category-specific adjustments that reflect experience with project sizes
  
  
• Project Management manpower calculation available based on salaried trades supervision
  
  
• Project Management manpower calculation available based on job duration
  
  
• Minimum labor hours can be specified for each category in the event of a really small estimate
  
  
• Local skills proficiency can be applied to recognize site-specific and building type-specific strengths or skill-needs of the staff and make estimate adjustments accordingly
  
  
• Revenue profiles (by building type) can be specified to support fact-based labor planning
  
  
• Panel tasks can be redirected to technicians or to electrical / mechanical shop tasks, so panel preparation can be done in a panel shop at lower pay rates and in fewer hours.
  
  
• Electrical and Mechanical tasks can be adjusted for panel-mounted devices
  
  
• Detailed variance reports (financial, manpower and material details) are available
  
  
• An intelligent ALERT warns the user of potential oversights or unusual settings that may need attention
  
  
• 2 estimates can be merged
  
  
• Weighted schedule of values breakout reports are available to support invoicing and illustrate cost elements.
  
  
• Unit pricing breakouts load all costs in material line items so they represent an appropriate portion of the estimate total
  
  
• Cost Detail and Manpower Summary report details can be exported in an MS Access file for external use
  
  
• Multiple reports can be combined into a number of custom management reports for easy selection
  
  
• In addition to the Global notes, User notes can be made for every individual System
  
  
• Technician (commissioning) has 3 (instead of 1) available categories
  
  
• A bid list keeps track of the pricing and conditions quoted to various customers
  
  
• A valve Schedule can be created
  
  
• A point schedule can be created