Training a New HCSS Customer in HeavyBid – Lessons Learned
It is very typical that a construction company has a core group of estimators (usually at least one) and then project managers who estimate but they will use HeavyBid most of the time to cost out change orders. I always suggest for the initial training to limit it to the estimators. Focus on setup and workflow. Now the customer wants to get the PMs and estimators in the initial training but here is what happens. The PM’s will not use HeavyBid until it gets fully setup which is the estimators’ responsibility. There is usually lag time between the training and full setup so the PM’s forget how to use HeavyBid anyway. Also typically training large groups (>6) there is much less setup completed during the training. Customers should focus on training the core and getting as much of HeavyBid setup as possible with the trainer present. The core group then estimates and improves the setup and workflow to the point where they are ready to roll it out to the PM’s. Then setup is much further along and the PM’s can rely on the estimators for assistance. The money saved with the PM’s not wasting their time in the initial training can be allocated to a future training for them and continuing education for the estimators. The additional training will frankly pay for itself.
I did the following schematic of the two types of training. If you want to focus on getting setup well on the way while the trainer is present the attendees should be a small core group. This will maximize the benefits of your training investment.
Training Organization Chart Methods