Avis clients sur McCormick Electrical Estimating

A good solution for small to medium sized electrical bids

Commentaires : After working in Accubid Classic for 7 years, I inherited this software when I moved to a new company about 18 months ago. Overall it is a great tool for estimating, but it does have it's limitations. I think it's a best fit for smaller electrical contractors that do not have to do complex breakdowns in their bids. I do particularly like how easy it is to create assemblies in the database. Where we really struggled is with the roll up portion of the software. In the end, we just used McCormick for takeoff and loaded extension reports into our own Excel spreadsheet to wrap the projects up. While we are keeping the software, we have just moved to Accubid Anywhere, which although its a bit complex at first, will offer a complete solution to our needs.

Avantages :

Ease of takeoff, Can modify and create assemblies quickly, Muliple assembly and item windows make finding thing easy.

Inconvénients :

Roll up tool is limited. Audit trail can be confusing. Moving takeoff to different labels can be cumbersome. Not capable of multiple breakdowns or cost allocations.

McCormick Estimating

Commentaires : I have been using an estimating program to help with my Plumbing Estimation since 1990. I had previously used (2) other types of programs before I decided to try the McCormick 4000 Platinum system. I began working for this Plumbing Company in March of this year, and this Company was not using any type of estimating program. Our first order of business was to begin a search for what appears to us to be the best system on the market. We bought the McCormick System in April and I have been using it since the day we received it. Since I have been using estimating take-off systems for around 25 years, the transition to this system was extremely easy and I have not missed a beat. In the 6 + months that I have been using this system I have learned some of the tricks to navigating the system which is very easy.

Avantages :

Ease of learning how to use this product. They have a very good video tutorials that explain the steps and procedures for how to use this system. Granted, I personally am very familiar with estimating programs, so this transition from the program that I had most recently been using was very easy. I do believe that even if I had not been familiar with estimating programs that the video tutorial, which is very easy to follow, would walk me through how to get set up. McCormick also has a very reliable support system if you have any troubles.

Inconvénients :

I have used (3) different systems over the last 25-years and the only issue I have is that there are types of materials that we may may be using occasionally that are not in the system. These are mainly related to some of the systems we get into for the pipefitting side. This applies to all of the systems I have used. I also wish that these systems had more of the site utility materials in their programming. In comparing McCormick to the other systems that I have used, their library of materials is definitely the most complete and the have a fantastic assembly library.

Stay Away! Archaic software that make money by charging people to sign up and to cancel.

Commentaires : They answer right away because they have to in order to keep any customer base. That's a plus. I guess you have to do that when the software literally crashes for no reason and doesn't let you log back in and it can't do the most foundational things. They should have kept it as a desktop software.

Avantages :

It's fully featured and can do anything you would want from an estimating software. Just expect it to do it slowly, inaccurately, and crash a lot.

Inconvénients :

We spent over 20 hours trying to get their IT to work with our suppliers and link with our current system, but they couldn't get there. We paid for trade-services as per their recommendation, but they were never able to link a supplier to get accurate costing for materials. Without accurate costs an estimating software is useless. It is a clunky file management system that uses an archaic approach of a virtual machine to save the files and run the software. It is also susceptible to crashes that sometimes require support to get back in the software. No matter our bandwidth we had troubles getting any type of responsiveness out of the takeoff software and would have been better to do it in excel. We hired an new estimator that swore buy it, so we purchased it for him. We had to buy 10 hours of training and pay an onboarding fee even though we didn't use any of it. After we realized he was terrible at his job (no wonder he loved McCormick) I emailed to cancel. They charged $500 monthly and it was a couple grand to start for one license. Best part is they refused to cancel my subscription unless I paid $2750. A business that stands behind their product wouldn't have these practices.

McCormick Vs. Accubid

Commentaires : After recently aquiring this software for our Company, I couldn't feel more confident with our decision. As with most people, our choice came down to either Accubid or McCormick. Both are great programs but we decided to go with McCormick because it is cheaper and does essentially everything Accubid does. Further we were told that McCormick support is exceptional and so far that has held true. They are extremely fast at helping us, (almost instant) and we have had zero issues that they haven't been able to solve for us in minutes. Since the setup and learning curve of McCormick and Accubid are initially pretty large, we believe that the help and support we are getting from McCormick at no extra cost is exceptional. They truly care about our needs and help us achieve a smooth transition. PS. We are located in Canada and we have no issues with the McCormick system and their database.

Avantages :

-Exceptional Customer Service -Only need one program to run everything. Whereas you need 3 separate licences and programs with Accubid to get the complete experience. -Cheaper by quite a bit than Accubid if you consider the additional programs you must purchase. (McCormick has built in change order management) -Easy 5 step Bid process with easy to use On screen take off built in. -Free upgrades for the first year and significant discounts thereafter.

Inconvénients :

-Operates on a 32-bit system which is outdated so may have difficulty installing on 64 bit system if you are not tech savvy. Easily solved with McCormick support though. -Database is not as extensive as Accubid, but we have to modify assemblies anyway to suit our needs so this wasn't a big concern. -Lack of refine feature in Auto-count which Accubid has. (This allows for refined search to weed out unwanted fixtures faster.) Therefore Accubid autocount is better than McCormick but if you play around with match % and set it closer to 80% we get no issues.

Owner/User for 38 years

Commentaires : I purchased the DOS Program in 83 License No [SENSITIVE CONTENT] had just bought back the program from En-Data. I re-wrote the database 84-86, expanded the database in the Windows program, I continue to expand and re-fine the program while continuing to use all the DOS commands that the program contains, the DOS program was all keyboard commands and input, no mouse so takeoff is very fast, that background plus windows makes this program 2nd to none. As a freelance estimator my estimate needs to tell a story with little interaction with the client and it delivers every time. I have used the program for jobs as small as a bathroom renovation to a 42 mil data farm with equal ease. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a program that is fast, accurate, and powerful .

Avantages :

Flexibility, able to create and takeoff assemblies on the fly, ability to count fixtures, devices, etc from the keyboard, create extension reports as needed, multiple bid summaries, unlimited workspace buttons, transfer takeoff directly to MS Project for scheduling, easy pricing updates, ability to extend to MS Excel

Inconvénients :

None that I can find maybe tech support might be a little expensive

Probably the best all round software in the industry.

Commentaires : The company is family owned, so you get quick, personal responses to any problems you might encounter. They have been in business since the late 1970's, so they are not strangers to the business. It's not like dealing with some huge, corporate, full of red tape company where the employees don't even know each other. Dealing with support or whatever department has always been a good experience.

Avantages :

Software learning curve is the easiest of the three major brands I have used. Takeoff speed is by far the fastest, which equates to being able to bid more work with fewer people. That is a huge money saver. Tech support is outstanding. This software is the best I have seen at running seamlessly on large networks, as well as stand alone computers. Plus, they offer less expensive programs to start out with, and then you can upgrade as you go.

Inconvénients :

Can't think of anything other than the cost (I'm cheap), but their cost is in line with the rest of the industry.

Great Electrical Estimating Software

Commentaires : What we have found by using McCormick...
1. Our ability to be more aggressive with our electrical bids.
2. Being able to provide working drawings for design build projects to the field associates and /or Architects.
3. Project managing from start to finish

Avantages :

What I like the most is, the fact that you can build the project that you are estimating in McCormick, (all devices, boxes, wires, connectors, wire nuts, screws, and etc.), then be able to plot the assemblies on the drawings & do the circuiting on the drawings, and then extend an provide a proposal for the project. The other feature that I like is if we are awarded the project you are able to create working field drawings from the DEP (Design Estimating Pro) and get a material list from the extension.

Inconvénients :

nothing really comes to mind, McCormick is easy to use and understand.

Electrical Estimating "Partner in Crime"

Avantages :

I figuratively "partner in crime" due to the nature of being able to land to jobs and dominate my area. Using McCormick has made life so easy in figuring jobs from start to finish. From creating labels, assemblies, and pushing it out in extensions and summaries, I couldn't be more happy with where this program has taken our company. I would highly recommend if you are looking for an easy on screen estimating program McCormick with the DEP screen is unbelievably easy to navigate and work through.

Inconvénients :

The only thing I have had trouble with is an occasional crash, but it isn't detrimental as all work done prior to the crash is never lost. So not much of a complaint just and inconvience.

Productive

Commentaires : McCormick has allowed us to bid more projects since it takes less time to take off a project with DEP.

Avantages :

Since we have started using DEP to take off projects it has cut the time down on how long we take off a bid. This also allows us to hand the project off to our Project managers so they can see how bid was taken off. My Salesman and the entire support team.

Inconvénients :

I don't have to many issues with McCormick. The only issue would be the search feature. Adding notes to the drawings and not being able to point to what the note represents.

Good Estimating Software

Commentaires : We solved the exportation of the bid into the accounting and project software with the McCormick Estimating Software.

Avantages :

When we began using McCormick it would interface with Spectrum Construction Software. This was the tip of the scale for us.

Inconvénients :

In more recent years it seems to be difficult to get it to interface with Spectrum Construction Software. There have been many improvements in Spectrum and McCormick also. We still use both of these, but have since purchased a go between software for the two.

REVIEW OF ESTIMATING PROGRAM

Commentaires : People I don't recommend this product, run away from it.

Avantages :

Like the take off portion with the drawings .

Inconvénients :

Have to call support constantly to open up the program which ends up being a tech support fee. I just want the program to open up and work without locking me out all the time. I wonder if this is a built in function for the program to fail every so often to bring in extra tech support money. Would be nice if the program wasn't always going into lock down mode. Right now I have a useless estimating program because I can't get it to open up.

I learned how to use this product in a week.

Commentaires : I highly recommend this product.

Avantages :

It has all the features to bid a whole job right at your fingertips. It has educational videos built in to the software which is a great help.

Inconvénients :

I was not able to use this to it's full potential. I would have liked to use it for a full electrical job bid.

McCormick Estimating software is easy to learn, and a great way to get bids out quick

Avantages :

I like the ability to set up assemblies of different products to sail through different bids. I also really enjoy the On Screen Estimating Pro to be able to load bids into their system and just click and insert material.

Inconvénients :

Initially using extension and bid summary were hard to grasp the concept of, but through a little teaching it is a very handy tool

President

Commentaires : I have been very happy with the product and how easy it has been to learn.

Avantages :

On Screen Estimating has been a great addition to my company. I really like not having all the stacks of plans floating around the office. The take off has been very easy and tracking the labor units has taken a great deal of stress off me.

Inconvénients :

While navigating the system (where I own the 1000 level) it keeps teasing me with new tabs that when clicked on denies access duen to not having purchased the more expensive program.

Great over all product

Avantages :

Tec support There is plenty of estimating software company's that can get the job done. We tried a few of them and they all glitch with new updates. The biggest difference is in the tec support! When windows updates and you are under the gun to get a proposal out, you will be in good hands knowing that the issue will be fixed in a timely manner.

Inconvénients :

Other then the upfront cost it is great. We started out with the 3000 and as we grew we increased to the 6000.

McCormick Estimating System

Avantages :

This system has great versatility, your able to breakdown the job into as many pieces as need. Easy set up for a schedule of values. Excellent customer service and support.

Inconvénients :

The only issue I have is pricing as we didn't purchase the offered pricing package. We are working with a couple of our vendors to get regular pricing up dates.

Great Estimating tool

Avantages :

It's a great check and balance to doing takeoff because of all that's written in to it. It helps prevent missing things while doing takeoff

Inconvénients :

I still can't upload a print and push a button and have it give me the perfect winning bid number yet. Really, I have no major complaints.

McCormick Electrical software

Commentaires : There support system seems really strong.

Avantages :

It has a lot of take off's and assemblies to speed up the time to write a bid. It is a fairly simple process and helps you through step by step until you get to the end.

Inconvénients :

We have to have a key in the computer to use it and the software comes on cd's. Who uses CD's anymore?

McCormick Estimating Software and OSE

Avantages :

Very easy to use. I used to use OST and had to match and link all conditions. With OSE, it's integrated with McCormick so it's all done and makes takeoff that much easier.

Inconvénients :

The product is still new, and there are a few minor "convenience" glitches that I am told are being worked on. I would still give it 5 stars because the glitches do not affect the performance of the software. McCormick has always been available to me whenever I have needed them. There's nothing really to list about what I like least.

McCormick Electrical Estimating Software

Avantages :

Everything you need for the best estimate, easy to use fast and awesome. Never was so easy to do an estimate

Inconvénients :

The price i think it could be a little bit more affordable in special for those companies, like mine that just started

Better than estimating by hand.

Avantages :

Saved information makes it easy to go back into any job you are bidding. Nice to have tech support when you need it.

Inconvénients :

Takes time to get used to when you first start the program, personally was hard when you’re used to doing it by hand.

McCormick Review

Commentaires : This product is very helpful to our company. It has some great features that are quick and easy to use. We have been using it for many years in our company and have had nothing but positive feedback from using this product.

McCormick Electrical Estimating Software

Avantages :

The support that this product has is excellent. From my sales support contact, who stepped through the program remotely early on a Saturday morning, to the detailed training videos and tech support, McCormick exceeded my expectations.

Inconvénients :

I have no complaints or dislikes. The software, once understood, is easy to use.

Designed for anyone to use

Avantages :

Customer support is at the top of any I have ever seen. They are behind you 100%. Great people! It's so easy to learn how to use and has everything in its data that you could ever need to bid small to large projects.

Inconvénients :

I haven't found anything wrong with it yet. Everything runs so smoothly.

The sales process was seamless and the rep. was very helpful and a pleasure to work with.

Commentaires : Good product so far!

Avantages :

The ability to streamline estimating and add efficiency to our processes. Having the program put our bids together instead of manually processing them is a huge help.

Inconvénients :

It took awhile to download, although that could be our internet! It took about 20 minutes to download.