IntelliBid

Pros: The speed in which you can enter assemblies in take off. Direct vendor database pricing updates. The extreme ability to customize the software to create speed and accuracy attuned to your companies specific needs.

Cons: If you want to go deep, the complexity of the software can be daunting and hard to wrap your head around how everything maps. This caused me to use the software at a surface level for many years.

Overall: Conest is an amazing product with great ability to customize the items, assemblies and reports to any level of detail you could ever want. It is like Microsoft Excel in the way that the program can be used lightly and get the job done or you can go as deep as you want into immense detail and maximizing the product accuracy, output, use and speed.

Pros: Program is easy to use and has options to dial in your bids.
This program has helped our commercial side grow 100% over the last 3 years. Now to get our residential side on board.

Cons: New ways of estimating can be hard for some. Growth comes from stepping out of your comfort zone. There is a lot of information and can look overwhelming. It isn't that bad.

Overall: I am on this program 8 + hours a day and it makes estimating so much easier.
I wouldn't bid a project without IntelliBid program.

Pros: The assemblies and ability to modify them is great, its turn key out of the box and you can start bidding and winning jobs immediately. You can adjust and modify everything to fit your needs and fine tune your numbers on each project and see the effects of each adjustment in real time.

Cons: Some of the assemblies are outdated and the material database could use some updating for more modern parts.

Modifying assemblies can be a bit intimidating.

Overall: The customer service has been great and the reliability of the software allows us to be able to estimate remotely.

Pros: Take off fairly quickly. Relatively accurate for run of the mill items. Has the ability to have a lot of features that may be helpful to some.

Cons: I don't like that Sure Count doesn't seem to be accurate or complete. I cannot get it to accurately count everything automatically, we have to do it manually.

They have advanced features, that they have now taken away (such as smart substitution), that used to be in the basic level program, and moved them to the higher priced program bundled with too many features a small business doesn't need. Read: they are not in-tune with their customer base.

They don't have cloud back up unless you are on a different program. This is a feature that is now becoming standard in this day and age amongst all software of this cost and magnitude.

The worst part of all of this is the terrible customer service when you call to get help with something. They have an attitude about you, and the customer is always wrong. And when you try to call/email a salesperson/manager to try to warn them about their service department's attitude, you don't get through and they don't call you back.

Overall: We use them because they used to be the best and we are used to them now. Their customer service has us wanting to look elsewhere. They lack some basic features you would expect to be included in base pricing that other companies already have.

Pros: Its accuracy. Ease of use but that may be because i have used for over 20 years. Still wish it was easier to navigate.

Cons: Cloud base is hard to get documents out to main computer
Hasn't changed in 20 years.

Overall: I like it because i am used to it. I have struggled with its on line take off (surecount) wish the over platform was easier.

Pros: What is not to like? I just switched contractors after 23 years. They were looking for a new system when I started and I highly recommended this one (made the sales associates job as easy one). The number of individual items is extensive. The pre-built assemblies cover many different scenarios of construction. With basic estimating skills it is fairly easy to get up and running. It is a even more powerful system when paired with SureCount. I recommend that if it is in your budget. Being somewhat old school, the direct purchase option is a major plus compared to the cloud use version, and in the long run I feel it is more cost effective.

Cons: Even though there are a ton of items and pre-built assemblies I feel it could use some more. Which I assume that will happen as time goes on. Some of the add-on features should be included in the base system.

Overall: My overall experience with IntelliBid & SureCount is great. I have used other systems and would recommend this one first.

Pros: Everything! I've been using IntelliBid for almost 20 years now and don't know what I would do without it now.

Cons: None.

Overall: Everything from sales, tech supports, online training, in-person training, user interface, and all the extra features are awesome!

Pros: Easy to use.
Clean interface.
Excellent Support with quick response.
The Cloud system makes it so it can be used anywhere with no issues.

Cons: Pricing Updates can be a little tricky at first, but it gets easier.

Overall: We have been using IntelliBid for nearly ten years and it has been amazing. Above all, customer support has been excellent and quick to respond to any issue we may have. The cloud system makes it easy to access anywhere. There is so much to learn it still feels like we have barely scratched the surface.