This week has been busy in email communications as HCSS customers reach out to me to get my opinion. Here are some typical questions:

  1. Is the Cloud HeavyBid a good solution for us? Answer: I love the Cloud option but my opinion is there should be a need for it. For example, your IT doesn’t want to support or host it. Or your estimating team is very mobile and remoting into the server is painfully slow. But if you have for example 4 estimators and all work in the office and rarely have to remote it then just the standard server version will do fine.
  2. Is RS Means a viable option for estimating? Answer: HCSS’ option for an RS Means subscription is very well done but for the standard heavy civil or utility company I would not depend on it to be accurate. Just too many variables that the data cannot address. It is a good gut check and if the estimate is more of a vertical one you can use the RS Means activities to check against your sub prices. But if you have an estimator that insists on using RS Means only, you need to have a gut-check moment and question the estimator’s experience before he or she costs you a lot of money.
  3. Are there any good books on estimating? Answer: in short no. Most books that cover estimating address it from more of a vertical project (building) and rarely can you find texts that address utility or heavy/highway construction. They are just not there or if you can locate a text it is out of print. Estimating in our world is a skill that is caught more than taught and this can lead to unfortunate mistakes.
  4. Is there a manual on HeavyBid? Answer: There is no manual but there are plenty of helpful resources. The closest thing to a manual is the “Classic Help” which is no longer updated but has some great in-depth information. There is also on the web based help at help.hcss.com. The Academy has a lot of videos on various subjects as well as recorded webinars. Finally, there is my Youtube channel and Blog. Best blog on HeavyBid.