Expert Estimation Reviews

Summary: I have been using the software since 2012 nearly every week and our business line insists that we do all our estimating work in Expert Estimation - even if it takes a little bit longer to do set it up.

Positive: Capability to build up detailed first principle estimates using identified base resources.
The software allows duplication and incorporation of other projects, saving a lot of time.
The software reduces the chance of calculation errors.
Great reports for internal analysis and client presentation.
All estimates are saved on a central server and are always accessible.

Negative: The direct cost schedule does not allow one to directly calculate percentages on subtotals or specific line items like in Excel. This means that consultant-type estimates nearly always need to be exported and adjusted in Excel at the end.

Summary: We have been utilising Expert as our company preferred estimating package for almost 20 years, with their latest version called Genesis. Senior Management have the knowledge that the software produces an accurate estimate every time and they can make changes during a review and know what the impacts are immediately.

Positive: The Genesis version has a great subcontractor analysis component that our Operation guys love to use where they can easily analyze and substitute various subcontractor pricing with relative ease. The software produces a number of customised reports to keep estimators, managers and Operations staff all happy. The Support from Pronamics is always first class.

Negative: Not much. Any issues we have encountered over the years Pronamics have been happy to resolve as quick as they can.

Summary: I have used various estimating software packages over the years and have found Expert Estimation Genesis to be the best of the lot.
It is so easy to learn that we have been able to integrate it within our organisation with very little formal training
It is a very powerful and efficient package which enables us to produce accurate and consistent estimates and I would have no hesitation in recommending Expert Estimation Genesis.

Positive: - User friendly "first principals" estimating software that is easy to learn
- Estimates can be as simple or as detailed as you want
- Easy to create resources including complex resources "on the fly"
- Import cost build ups, resources etc from other projects
- Easily edit or substitute resources within an estimate
- Regular updates
- 24/7 support by people who know the program and can answer most questions on the spot

Negative: There are very few cons however allocating Indirect Costs to Direct Cost items can sometimes be cumbersome.

Summary: Very good quality software that does everything we require.
excellent help and support offered 24 hours a day with easy access to developers if needed.

Positive: You can speak to someone at all times to work through any issues or to learn more.
Well laid out and easy to use product.
Similar shortcuts to most other commonly used programs.

Negative: None that I can think of. Easy to use and great support offered.

Summary: Having migrated from Expert 2014 to Genesis in 2016 I use Genesis whenever my clients allow its use.

Positive: Its ease of use which enables the production of estimates within a far shorter timeframe than any other similar software. Any queries and issues are immediately addressed by genuine 24/7 support, unlike other available estimating software where this isn't the case. As a contract estimator who works for clients all over Australia, some of whom use different estimating software, I am able to regularly compare other estimating software to Expert Estimation.

Negative: In all honesty, I cannot think of any issues or deficiencies that have not been addressed.

Summary: We have been using the software since 2001 taking us from Excel based bids to a more standardised format used by all levels of our engineering team & management.
Staff are truly impressive with their depth of understanding of not only the software but the industry in which it is being used, which is an obvious reflection on the way the owners/management onboard employees.

Positive: - Can be used with ease remotely & not suffer with performance.
- Reporting features are fantastic for reviews & error finding.
- Ability to clone previous bids to suit new ones saves countless hours in preparation time.
- Multiple user feature is great for large bids with hundreds of Line Items allowing numerous people to work on the same project at the same time with stability.
- Platform has many options & formats with which to suit varying client requirements with regard to tender submissions.
- Support is absolutely faultless - no mater the time of day/night when we've needed help, its been there & a solution available.

Negative: To be honest we have nothing negative to say about our experience dealing with Pronamics & the Expert Estimation software.

Summary: From an estimator & quantity surveyor this is a great software suite. I have used it for 10+ years and have not found a project I could not use it on. I introduced it into 4 companies and compared other software suites in the process but all came across to EE in the end.
We proved tis use in the mining fields both open cut, surface infrastructure, underground hard rock and steel fabrication.

Positive: First principles estimating is a major pro to gain confidence from your clients.
The ability to use EE from very small to large scale project estimation. The ease of training up estimators using the product is really great. I found the ability to dump reporting to PDF & other platforms a great facility to allow for the easy transition of information.
The ability to shift or combine disciplines ie, mining to concrete civils
to subdivisions.
the complexity of the calculations within the cost estimates is amazing, A team of 2 of us put together a pipeline fabrication process which cut estimating time by 75% and raised the accuracy to about 99% within the process.
The backup support is fantastic and the willingness to change, and resolve problems is second to none.

Negative: Lack of ability to produce time schedules from the data we created.

Summary: Plenty of functions to utilise or not. It doesn't make you do it their way which enables us to use on any of the differing tenders we receive.

Positive: Easy to utilise their expertise whilst enabling the input of our own in-house expertise. Very prompt support.

Negative: Sometimes you have to look too hard for functions you didn't know existed.

Summary: The use of Genesis and previous Expert Estimator 14 was a simplistic process to adapt to after using excel as a previous estimating tool.

Positive: Ease of use and access to technical advice (when you get old you sometimes forget the tricks of the program).

Negative: None the program is sometimes unable to source required external documentation.

Summary: 1. Compared to software it is like Windows compared to the old DOS based platform.
2. The coding functionality is exceptional.

Positive: 1. Windows functionality - excellent in all areas where estimators work
2. Drop down menus - excellent
3. Coding all aspects of the estimate to exhaustive limits - excellent.
4. Multi user functionality - 100% better than other software.
5. File saving, emailing etc is like using Windows Explorer - excellent

Negative: 1. Reporting - should you wish to select & print only part of the estimate you need to tick the ones required rather then click & then shift click should you require a range. Mind you it is still easier than some other software reporting.

Summary: I haven't found a complex estimating requirement that the software hasn't been able to deal with.
I am always confident to recommend this tool due to the flexibility of how it can meet complex requirements.

Positive: Ability to "Slice and Dice" the estimate to review from multiple perspectives.
Ability to store large amounts of library items and create groups.
Ability to take off in multiple ways to suit your business.
Large range of reports and ability to export to multiple formats
Great support from the Pronamics team.

Negative: Because of its flexibility, there can be too many options for the initial setup with new users, mainly around how to best setup libraries.