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Field Software - Looking for advice

  • 1.  Field Software - Looking for advice

    Posted 08-25-2019 10:33
    We use Sage 300 CRE. We are currently using Oracle's Contract Manager software (previously Expedition) and we are looking to replace our field software. We are looking at Procore, RedTeam and Oracle Aconex for PM. If anyone is using one of these and can answer the questions below I would appreciate the feedback. If you are using something you love and I didn't list it, I would love to know more about it.

    In selecting a field software which software's did you evaluate? 
    What made you select the one you did? 
    What was the implementation process like? 
    How is customer service? 
    What items integrate well with Sage 300 CRE? If you don't use Sage, what is your ERP?  
    What items did you think integrated with your ERP that don't work or work the way you thought? 
    Does operations like it?
    What features does operations use the most? 
    What features did you think you would use and don't, why? 
    What has been the ROI, benefits of implementing it? 
    What was biggest expectation or purchasing the software and did it measure up? Why?
    How are the internal controls?
    Does it have easy to use customization? 

    I appreciate your time.

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    Stephanie Pompeo
    Director of Finance/Technology
    Wharton Smith Inc.
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  • 2.  RE: Field Software - Looking for advice

    Posted 08-26-2019 09:31
    Stephanie,

    Good morning.  I think your questions are great, and I think you will get great responses, (which may develop into more questions!) but I guess my question for you is what isn't working for you with the native Sage PM/JC modules? We are a small, single-office company, total employees number around 35.

    I ask my question because it makes me wonder what are WE missing? with remote connections, our PMs can access everything, from anywhere. But I don't know what you, or any other company are doing that requires/desires another software product.

    I'll be following this thread to see if I can figure out what I don't know!

    Thanks,


    ------------------------------
    Joe Burkett CCIFP
    CFO
    Cafco Construction Management LLC
    Boston MA
    (617) 426-7600
    jburkett@cafcoconstruction.comJoseph
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Field Software - Looking for advice

    Posted 08-28-2019 14:28
    Thank you for considering @RedTeam, we look forward to the chance of working with your team! ​I would would have a bias in answering your questions and wanted to let you know we are flattered to be viewed as a partner for Wharton-Smith.

    Sincerely,

    ------------------------------
    If you ever are exploring project management/ construction & document control for your company we would love to hear from you!
    Frederic Guitton
    Chief Strategy Officer - Redteam
    (407) 514-3831
    fguitton@redteam.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Field Software - Looking for advice

    Posted 11-12-2019 16:55
    Hi Stephanie,

    Since we bought Procore last year and then got a RedTeam demo a few months ago, I thought I'd weigh in.

    In selecting a field software which software's did you evaluate? 
    What made you select the one you did? Procore is used by many of our GC's so I thought, as a subcontractor, we might get more work AND strengthen our PM processes.  Problem is Procore is like using a sledgehammer when a fly swatter would do.  There is so much setup, learning, changes made to the interface (whether you like it or not), etc. that I'm not sure how long we'll be able to keep it.

    What was the implementation process like?
    hell - it's still ongoing after 9 months.  Birthing a baby was easier.

    How is customer service? Good

    What items integrate well with Sage 300 CRE? If you don't use Sage, what is your ERP?
    We have Sage 100 contractor by the way
    What items did you think integrated with your ERP that don't work or work the way you thought?
    Barely anything integrated.  None of the job info (not even the damned address) comes over, just PO's, CO's, invoices, SOV's etc.  Nothing else (notes etc.) does.
    Does operations like it?
    No  Like pulling teeth to get them to use it at this point
    What features does operations use the most?
    timesheets
    What features did you think you would use and don't, why?
    Thought there would be some lien releases organization / NTO's etc.  The plans area is way too obtuse, the A/P invoice entry forces you to enter a SOV THEN the invoice arg. etc.
    What has been the ROI, benefits of implementing it?
    We got a huge job!
    What was biggest expectation or purchasing the software and did it measure up? Why? Thought it would be easy to setup and use instead we spend hours and hours in front of webinars that can't keep up with all the changes the company is making to the software so the confusion is tripled.
    How are the internal controls? 15,000 different permissions areas per role, per page, per click - ridiculous.
    Does it have easy to use customization? not really

    Full Disclosure, I've not set aside enough time for the implementation.  However, I've setup 4 different large scale software implementations and never imagined it would need so much babysitting.

    RedTeam was more accounting focused but had an easy, just a few windows type of look.  It just wasn't rolled out when I needed to pick a team.  Also, I don't ever want to be the first one to sign on to a new software integration.

    Good luck!


    ------------------------------
    Monica Kennedy
    COO
    Elite Weiler Pools
    Sarasota FL
    (941) 915-9911
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Field Software - Looking for advice

    Posted 11-13-2019 15:58
    @Monica Kennedy

    Thank you for your feedback, there is no question that implementing a new platform like a Procore or RedTeam can require a fair amount of work. What we have found the way to be most effective is to focus initially on the more critical elements you are looking to address within your workflows while in parallel looking at short term wins for the team. We often see clients start using RedTeam by leveraging functionalities like time entry, expense reports, daily reporting tools and other field related activities.  ​​​
    Because project management platforms often touch a very broad set of workflows this approach makes it easier to promote adoption across the organization, we have found the typical timeline for implementation is around 6-8 weeks for most of our clients.
    You are right, when you first looked at RedTeam we were in the very early stage of the release of the Sage integration. We have now the Sage 300CRE connector in place with @hh2 and are getting ready to release the Sage 100 connection powered by hh2 in the next 4-6 weeks.  ​

    thank you

    ------------------------------
    If you ever are exploring project management/ construction & document control for your company we would love to hear from you!
    Frederic Guitton
    Chief Strategy Officer - Redteam
    (407) 514-3831
    fguitton@redteam.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Field Software - Looking for advice

    Posted 11-14-2019 10:19
    In selecting a field software which software's did you evaluate? Sage Paperles, Expesify, Sage SSO, and AboutTime (we actuallyed used an implemented all four).  Then we switched to our current- eForms Mobile
    What made you select the one you did? Completely customizable and it imports to Sage.  
    What was the implementation process like? Custom- everyone gets an engine and you build your own car.  We have a ton of prebuilt forms that you can use or you can build or own (or have us design custom forms)
    How is customer service? Great- chat, call, text, email a support ticket
    What items integrate well with Sage 300 CRE? If you don't use Sage, what is your ERP?  Sage 100 Contractor
    What items did you think integrated with your ERP that don't work or work the way you thought? 
    Does operations like it? Yes- they love being able to ask for something that can then built.
    What features does operations use the most?  Time sheets, time off requests, listing screens (job #'s, equipment, contacts, etc), field reports, incident reports, safety meeting minutes, truck logs, and about 50 other forms.
    What features did you think you would use and don't, why? It's built custom so we're using everything we've designed.
    What has been the ROI, benefits of implementing it? We calculated that time sheets alone cost upwards of $75,000 between time spent having guys drive to shop to clock out on paper on their clipboard, paying their way, fuel/wear and tear on vehicles, etc, plus time it took to pay someone to go calculate hours at the shop daily, etc.  We paid hourly fee to have form built and a small fee to have it import to Sage.  HUGE time savor with just this one form.
    What was biggest expectation or purchasing the software and did it measure up? Why?
    How are the internal controls? You can designate someone in your office to build or hire the designers.  You can have access to everything or nothing...up to you.
    Does it have easy to use customization? SUPER easy.  This is the best part.
    ​

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    Rhiannon Thompson
    Chief Operating Officer
    Davidson Excavating
    Russiaville IN
    (765) 437-9589
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    Original Message