Press Release

ProEst Rebuilt For Greater Accuracy And More Freedom For Estimators

IRVING, TEXAS – Construction estimators can now rely less on antacids and more on a new integrated software solution with the shipment of ProEst. Now packed with more features and functions, ProEst strikes the right balance between flexibility and ease of use.

CMS’ focus with ProEst remains on accommodating the estimator’s own methods while making the product easy to use and quick to implement. Because of this focus, estimators spend more time using their experience to interpret plans and plan the most effective project. That’s the true art in estimating. They produce the best bid, not the lowest, the best. Then the process becomes: Complex bids, simply done.

"Our developers found very creative ways to add valuable and important new functions and flexibility not seen previously while keeping the software very easy to use," explains Joe Koelbl, CMS Estimating Specialist. "ProEst’s ease of use may be outdone by the little time and effort required to learn it. Many estimators will find training unnecessary, and that saves both time and money. We feel ProEst strikes the right balance."

In addition, the estimator stores his data in secure databases. Once the job is won, then the appropriate data flows automatically to project management, job cost accounting and executive information systems. Although ProEst can stand alone as an estimator’s tool, its strength comes from integrating with StarProject and StarBuilder, the project management and job cost accounting solutions from CMS. Contractors ask more and more for integrated solutions so all functions in their operation work off the same software from the same vendor. They also ask for software that truly and easily works with Microsoft applications they have on their desktops. CMS’ approach to construction business management software provides both these benefits as well. If estimators rely on their own data maintained in Excel or Lotus spreadsheets, they can simply drag that data into ProEst. If they want to use other databases, CMS provides several.

ProEst begins the important process of the integrated office, from digitizing plans and takeoffs to the completed and successful bid. Everyone gains immediate access to the most accurate job information. Everyone gains from greater productivity and more accurate job, project and company information.

Key among the new features added:

• Estimators can now build true installation, with a logical series of questions designed to produce quantities for all of the material, labor and equipment included in a given installation. This enables the assembly to quantify any item by a method specific to the installation. Line items in a formula can be applied to line items in assemblies.
• While building crews, a whole new function to ProEst, pull directly from pick lists of labor and equipment tables.
• Estimators set area modifiers themselves if so inclined. This allows them to set the labor cost based on their experience for a specific area. They can also choose union vs. non-union or government contracts.
• In the pricebook, factoring allows the estimator to adjust each item base cost for each cost type to produce a realistic cost without altering the base. A general contractor using a Means database, for example, can save the base cost for reference, while estimating the phases of the job he will perform by numbers adjusted to his real world experience. Base costs, which may be an industry average for his area, may be used as a benchmark to compare sub-contractor bids to his standards. On the other hand, the sub-contractor can maintain third party industry standard costs and adjust for realistic costs. The third party cost will maintain price updates and can be used for change orders.

ProEst provides an easy to use, easy to learn tool. Its function list delivers flexibility, but leaves the complexity behind. Estimators no longer have to dread using the computer.

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