Overview

This software program was solely designed with controls companies in mind. It is not a “generic” estimating program that can be used by just any HVAC or construction contractor.

Controls Estimate 2.0 includes three modules that comprise the entire software suite, including:

1. An estimating software program that allows the controls engineer to create accurate cost estimates and proposals.
2. A parts requisition software program that allows the parts personnel to keep track of parts that are ordered for the job.
3. A “central” database program that allows the user to manage all data required by the estimating and parts requisition modules including customer, vendor, parts, and other types of information.

Features

It consists of the following three modules:

1. The Estimating software module that allows the controls engineer to create accurate cost estimates and proposals.
2. The Parts Requisition software module that allows the parts personnel to keep track of parts that are ordered for the job.
3. The Central Database software modeule is a “central” database program that allows the user to manage all data required by the estimating and parts requisition modules including customer, vendor, parts, and other types of information.

Estimating
The following is a list of features of the Estimate module:

1. Estimates from all estimators are stored in a centralized database so management can quickly view estimates and give their approval or disapproval for submission to the customer.
2. Users can view the entire list of current and historical estimates, and the list can be sorted by a wide variety of characteristics. Estimates can also be archived or used to create new estimates.
3. Different levels of permission can be assigned to users so that certain users can only view and manage their own estimates while managers can view and manage all estimates.
4. Each estimate can be assigned to an engineer so that the engineer “owns” that estimate and is the only one who can update it, other than managers.
5. When an estimate is first created, an estimate number will be automatically created so that all estimates have unique numbers.
6. When creating a new estimate, the user can select from a pre-configured list of customers or sites. As the customer or site is selected, the address information will automatically fill into the estimate. In addition, any customer-specific labor rates and markups will also be assigned to the estimate.
7. Multiple “templates” can be created per estimate. Each template can represent a specific category: travel, VAV box controller installs, labor costs, and more. This allows the user to easily separate the different cost categories and view their respective totals. A summary spreadsheet is also displayed that totals all of the costs across all templates. These templates can be reused from project to project.
8. When creating one or more estimate templates, the user can access a database of current parts pricing from all major HVAC controls vendors
9. The user can specify tiered labor hours for different labor categories so that the more of a certain type of labor that is performed, it will decrease the additional labor hours required.
10. The user can assign multiples to individual templates so if one is installing, say, 100 similar VAV box controllers, only 1 VAV box estimate need be created, and all estimate values can be multiplied by 100.
11. The user can enter individual estimate line items such as subcontractor costs, travel and expense costs, markups, gross profits, taxes, shipping and freight costs, warranty costs, contingency costs, and more.
12. All existing estimates can easily be edited for any changes that occur in the future.
13. All parts pricing in an estimate can be updated to the latest figures if the estimate contains old or dated pricing.
14. Once a job is approved, managers can keep track of the job status, including the customer approval status, purchase order number, order date, billing information, and specific job status.
15. The user can easily display standard reports such as a bill of materials, a job cost breakdown report, and more
16. It is easy to create custom proposals in Microsoft Word or Excel
17. Individual estimate templates can quickly be exported to Excel so that users can work with the estimates in ways not possible in the estimate software.
18. All estimates can be created offline when the user us not in the office. When the user returns to the office, the estimates can be synchronized with the central database, so others can manage it.

Parts Requisition
The following is a list of features of the Estimate module:

1. This module allows the user to manage the parts list that was generated from the estimate.
2. The user can manage order dates, expected arrival dates, and actual arrival dates for each part.
3. Purchase order numbers can be auto-generated for each part by part supplier. Then, the user can generate purchase orders for each supplier.
4. Reports can be generated that keep track of which parts were ordered, which ones are overdue, where parts are to be delivered, and who is in charge of ordering what parts.

Central Database
The following is a list of features of the Central Database module:

1. This module allows the user to manage all of the data used by the estimate and parts requisition modules discussed above.
2. The user can enter customized data with customer address information and labor or markup rates
3. Other data can be entered such as subcontractor address information and parts supplier address information.
4. Different categories of labor rates can be created such as engineering labor, project coordination labor, panel installation labor, and many other custom types.
5. Pricing spreadsheets from virtually any HVAC controls vendor can be imported into the central database module. By doing this on a periodic basis, the user can be sure the parts pricing will always be up-to-date.
6. Generic parts pricing can also be entered by the user.

Benefits
The following is a list of benefits of the Controls Estimate 2.0 software:

1. It allows HVAC controls contractors and engineers to create accurate cost estimates with up-to-date pricing from all major HVAC controls manufacturers. Therefore, total project estimated costs will be accurate.
2. It is very easy to create a customized proposal for each client using the generated estimate.
3. It allows controls companies to keep track of all past estimates so that it is possible to perform historical analysis and also determine who the most productive estimators are.
4. It allows parts personnel to keep track of the status of all parts required for a project. This ensures that all parts will be delivered to the required destination in a timely manner.

Target Audience
This software is intended for the HVAC controls contractors, engineers, and HVAC controls resellers.