You fear that your worst nightmare as an estimator is about to come true. 

Management is siding with a small group of estimators who want to throw away your estimating software and standardize the production of all estimates using only spreadsheets.  They believe that it’s an easier and cheaper solution.  You know they are taking 2 steps backwards to get 1 doubtful step forward. How can you convince them that estimating software is better than using spreadsheets?

Here’s some ammunition to help you win the fight and win more bids:

Accuracy Minimizes Risk: Estimating software separates the database from the estimating functions.  No more complicated, hard to remember formulas inside of your database.  Forgetting to include a formula, item or decimal point on a bid can be a costly mistake. Estimating software standardizes the bid process across multiple estimators without forfeiting individual styles and flexibility.

A Knowledgebase to Share:  A common database of materials, pricing and productivity rates can be shared and used by the entire company.  You can build the intelligence of your most Senior Estimator into the estimating database and have less experienced estimators create the same fast and accurate bids by accessing that intelligence with the software.

Better Organization:  Estimating software organizes the entire estimating function better than any spreadsheet can, making it easier to schedule, communicate and confirm all project details across your team. Data can be shared across estimating, job cost, and accounting functions – with no data re-entry.

Greater Speed:  Takeoff time is slashed by 50% or more compared to spreadsheet methods. Built-in efficiency tools like smart assemblies, reports and markup tables can generate estimates faster and more accurately for getting more work with the same number of estimators. Final proposals and reports are produced in seconds.

If these reasons are not enough to convince skeptics that an estimating program is worth the investment in time and money, a simple return on investment model will reveal how inefficient spreadsheets can be when compared to using an estimating program. 

If you need to dig a little deeper, send me a reply.  I would be glad to help.  

Daren Baldwin

For more information on this topic contact Ledgerwood Associates, the #1 Sage Timberline Business Partner in the Southwest!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Myrna Membrila Myrna@LedgerwoodAssociatesUSA.com

Ledgerwood Associates Inc. Named a Sage Million Dollar Club Achiever for 2010
Ledgerwood Associates Inc. Achieves Million Dollar Club Status  

Scottsdale, AZ–  Nov. 9, 2010 – Ledgerwood Associates, Inc., a Sage North America business partner specializing in the sales, installation, and support of  Sage Timberline Office, Sage Master Builder and Sage Timberline Enterprise has been named a Sage North America Million Dollar Club achiever for eclipsing a million dollars in revenues during the 2010 business year. Sage recognizes Ledgerwood Associates, Inc. and all Million Dollar Club achievers for the substantial contributions made to the overall success of Sage, its business partners and the mutual customers they serve.  Even more impressive is the fact that Ledgerwood Associates, Inc. achieved this coveted status in it’s first year as a Sage Timberline Business Partner.

Million Dollar Club recognition is earned by Sage Business Solutions (SBS) business partners representing a host of segment-leading brands, including Sage Timberline Office, Sage Master Builder, Sage Timberline Enterprise. Ledgerwood Associates, Inc. is one of 48 Million Dollar Club achievers and a top-selling Sage Business Partner in North America.

“It is through the combined efforts of many individuals and many business partners that Sage is able to provide our customers with top quality products and services,” said Paul Johnson, EVP Sales, Sage Business Solutions. “We extend our sincere congratulations to Ledgerwood Associates, Inc. in recognition as a Sage Million Dollar Club achiever for 2010.”

Tom Miller, VP, Channel Management, adds: “The results achieved by these outstanding Business Partners shows true dedication to successfully serving the needs of our mutual business clients. Our thanks and congratulations go to Ledgerwood Associates, Inc.  and each of these organizations.”

The management tean at Ledgerwood Associates, Inc. has a combined 100 years of experience with Sage Construction Software. But our solutions reach far beyond software alone.  We also provide solid implementations, seasoned consultants and unparalleled training.  Our Clients-Come-First philosophy has earned us the steadfast loyalty and confidence of the hundreds of companies we help on a daily basis. Put our Experience, Integrity and Stability to work for you!

Want to know more about Ledgerwood Associates, Inc. and what they can do for you?  Feel free to email Ed Ledgerwood, Daren Baldwin or Kimberliy Gale with any questions you might have.  They look forward to hearing from you! 
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We’ve got great news for Estimating Standard and Extended customers! The Sage Construction and Real Estate group has entered into an agreement with Tech Unlimited, Inc., to distribute PlanSwift and PlanSwift for Sage 2D construction takeoff solutions. Tech Unlimited, Inc. is a leading provider of electronic plan takeoff for construction industry professionals.

PlanSwift allows builders to calculate and takeoff dimensions electronically using digital plans. PlanSwift for Sage, offered only through Sage, integrates exclusively with Sage’s Estimating Standard and Extended products to provide you with enhanced productivity and cost-savings.

Learn more about PlanSwift by clicking here. 

I am posting the press release issued by Sage Corporate.  If you would like to know more please contact Ed Ledgerwood or Daren Baldwin.

Sage Timberline Office Estimating and PlanSwift, Help Builders Swiftly Streamline Processes
Integrated solution helps builders improve efficiency, enhance collaboration and control construction costsAtlanta, Ga., June 8, 2010 – Sage North America announced today its Construction and Real Estate group has entered into an agreement with Tech Unlimited, Inc., to distribute PlanSwift and PlanSwift for Sage 2D construction takeoff solutions.  PlanSwift allows builders to calculate and takeoff dimensions electronically using digital plans.  PlanSwift for Sage, offered only through Sage, integrates exclusively with Sage’s Estimating Standard and Extended products giving Sage customers enhanced productivity and cost-savings.  Tech Unlimited, Inc. is a leading provider of electronic plan takeoff for construction industry professionals.  Sage Construction and Real Estate product lines have been recognized as the most widely used applications for construction estimating, job costing, accounting, payroll, and project management, according to the Construction Financial Management Association’s (CFMA) 2010 Information Technology Survey for the Construction Industry.

“As the construction industry fights to regain its lost footing from the economic downturn, builders need every opportunity to drive efficiency into the business. The combination of  PlanSwift and Sage’s Estimating Standard and Extended products creates a powerful offering that provides builders with an easy to use, cost effective and streamlined process from plans to estimate”, said Jim Walter, vice president of development, Sage Construction and Real Estate. “Today’s announcement further communicates our commitment to the construction industry by offering a wide range of estimating tools designed to help increase accuracy and productivity.”

PlanSwift and PlanSwift for Sage help construction industry professionals:

• Save time and increase productivity using electronic plans and digital takeoff tools
• Reduce costs by eliminating the cost of duplicating and shipping paper plans
• Improve collaboration using comparative overlays and the ability to share and email plans and supporting job details

“Our customers continue to look for ways to leverage technology to cost-effectively and efficiently address industry challenges,” said Jon Newsom of Contractor Business Solutions NW, a Sage CRE Business Partner. “The integration of PlanSwift and Sage’s suite of construction-specific solutions allows us to present a unique offering to our customers that will empower them to bid projects faster, more accurately and take their estimating processes to the next level.”

By offering PlanSwift and PlanSwift for Sage, Sage Construction and Real Estate continues its commitment to provide construction industry professionals cost-effective solutions that support mission-critical operations such as estimating. These powerful tools help estimators bid and win more work without adding overhead.

“At PlanSwift, our number one objective is to streamline the estimating process and we feel that our ultra tight integration with Sage Timberline Office Estimating provides contractors with the complete solution,” said James Purpura, PlanSwift’s President/COO.

ASA-NM Trade Show

For the second year in a row, Ledgerwood Associate’s Daren Baldwin spent the day in Albuquerque attending the American Subcontractors Association of New Mexico Annual Trade Show. One of our clients, Yearout Mechanical invited us to attend and how can we say no to them? 

This year it was held at the Sandia Resort and Casino.  Despite the current economy, New Mexico seems to be somewhat sheltered from the downturn.  Daren says he spoke with plenty of attendees and said he thought the event was well-attended.  He even got to play Santa Claus by giving away an iPod to one lucky visitor.

Daren loves going to New Mexico because it gives him an opportunity to see our many New Mexican clients and chat with them in a relaxed environment.  If you didn’t make it out there this year, don’t worry we already plan on sending Daren out there again next year!

In Utah, those annoying orange traffic cones and all those construction slow-downs and rerouting as a result of heavy highway street improvements are getting a different reception.  They are actually making a lot of people SMILE.  Why?  They’re the reason many construction companies are able to keep their doors open and their employees busy.  With today’s economic climate, more and more construction companies are heading into unfamiliar territory of government-funded stimulus jobs.

LAI consultant Gary Jacobson was in UTAH last week to provide Sage Timberline Project Management training to a company that will be working on the $1.7 billion expansion to include all-purpose auxiliary and express lanes and interchange construction.  Construction will take place along Intestate 15 in Utah County.

Gary spent several days training Project Managers on ways to make the most of their Sage Timberline system and ensure that not only do the projects stay on time and on budget but that they also keep the meticulous documentation the Federal Government is demanding of all companies working on Stimulus projects.  The government has promised to audit any and all companies using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  It’s promise of unprecedented transparency requires extremely detailed records be kept by those companies working on ARRA projects.

Want to more about Sage Timberline and how it can help you with your government-funded projects?  Email Daren@LedgerwoodAssociatesUSA.com.  He’d be glad to help.

To read more about the I-15 expansion project, click here.

In Utah, those annoying orange traffic cones and all those construction slow-downs and rerouting as a result of heavy highway street improvements are getting a different reception.  They are actually making a lot of people SMILE.  Why?  They’re the reason many construction companies are able to keep their doors open and their employees busy.  With today’s economic climate, more and more construction companies are heading into unfamiliar territory of government-funded stimulus jobs.

LAI consultant Gary Jacobson was in UTAH last week to provide Sage Timberline Project Management training to a company that will be working on the $1.7 billion expansion to include all-purpose auxiliary and express lanes and interchange construction.  Construction will take place along Intestate 15 in Utah County.

Gary spent several days training Project Managers on ways to make the most of their Sage Timberline system and ensure that not only do the projects stay on time and on budget but that they also keep the meticulous documentation the Federal Government is demanding of all companies working on Stimulus projects.  The government has promised to audit any and all companies using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  It’s promise of unprecedented transparency requires extremely detailed records be kept by those companies working on ARRA projects.

Want to more about Sage Timberline and how it can help you with your government-funded projects?  Email Daren@LedgerwoodAssociatesUSA.com.  He’d be glad to help.

To read more about the I-15 expansion project, click here.