Fischer Excavating, Inc

Fischer Excavating & Materials is a major producer and supplier of aggregate material in Northwestern Illinois. The company is comprised of three divisions: excavating (founded 1994), materials (founded in 2001) and stone (founded in 2005). The company has experienced a great deal of growth and implemented Maxwell Systems StreetSmarts to streamline its job cost accounting and management of contracts and subcontracts.

“There’s a strong user contribution to the design of the StreetSmarts software, and people at Maxwell Systems listen to users and their needs,” Sebion said. “StreetSmarts has allowed us to increase our sales, keep up with our billing, and improve customer service without adding staff members to do it.”

Challenges

Streamlining job cost accounting for multiple divisions, including control over contracts, subcontracts, and work in process billing.

Solution

Fischer Excavating needed a solution geared toward heavy construction and chose Maxwell Systems StreetSmarts to help manage its job cost accounting.

Results

StreetSmarts provides control over costs and improved work in process billing for Fischer Excavating. In addition, StreetSmarts helps Fischer Excavating accurately and efficiently manage contracts and subcontracts.

One Report Alone Saves Two or Three Days per Month

For Dave Sebion, Chief Financial Officer at Fischer Excavating, several days spent creating a Work in Process (WIP) schedule is a thing of the past. But getting this critical information out of their accounting system hasn’t always been this easy. Fischer’s previous system was geared toward commercial development and wasn’t a great fit, as Sebion explained.

“The previous system had limited setup options, made it difficult to analyze accounts, and made it impossible to retrieve trial balances that were more than two years old,” said Sebion. “It lacked many capabilities of the StreetSmarts system, and there was no integration between contracts, subcontracts and job cost.”

What’s more, a Work in Process Schedule couldn’t be generated directly out of the system. Sebion knew that Fischer Excavating needed a software solution that specifically addressed heavy construction.

Creating WIP Schedules the Easy Way

Fischer Excavating chose Maxwell Systems StreetSmarts to manage their projects with greater efficiency and to control work in process billing. Instead of two or three days spent preparing WIP schedules, Sebion is now able to generate up-to-date WIP schedules with little effort using a report that comes standard in StreetSmarts.

Sebion illustrated the importance of the time-saving WIP Schedule by sharing that many of Fischer’s projects qualify for work-in-process billing. “This report allows us to zone in on 95% of our work,” said Sebion. “We can look at the schedule and immediately know what we need to bill.”

Using WIP Schedules for Improved Billings

With some insight into Fischer Excavating’s use of WIP Schedules for improved billing, it’s easy to understand why the efficiency and timeliness of this reporting is so critical.

Each month, Sebion uses the WIP Schedule to compare actual costs to estimated costs. He drills down to the bid detail and cost detail, and he makes any necessary adjustments. Next, he reviews a printed copy of the WIP Schedule with the company owner to examine costs as they relate to how much work is left to do on the contract. It’s determined if the cost to complete the project is accurate, and adjustments are made to contract amounts as needed. Finally, the WIP schedule is used determine which projects are under billed, so billings can be generated.

Prior to Sebion’s arrival at Fischer, WIP Schedules were created on an annual basis. Now, this critical information is generated instantly for an up-to-theminute view of progress and costs.

“Now I can review the WIP report on an ongoing basis to see where Fischer stands on billings, under-billings and over-billings,” said Sebion.

Improved Management of Subcontracts

StreetSmarts also helps Fischer Excavating to manage subcontracts, ensuring that quantities are accurately reflected in the system. In Fischer’s previous accounting system, Sebion said that subcontracts were entered as payable invoices and many times, billed quantities were not accurately reflected in the system. On the other hand, StreetSmarts allows Fischer to track subcontract costs with greater accuracy and streamline the creation of subcontractor documents.

“In StreetSmarts Subcontract Management, it’s simple to do a mail merge and produce the subcontract agreement,” said Sebion. “This assures us that the subcontract we mail out is the same as the subcontract in the system.”

A Natural Fit for Heavy Construction

Fischer Excavating has found a true connection with StreetSmarts, and this industry-specific solution helps the company save time with job cost accounting and contract/subcontract management.

“StreetSmarts automated our delivery of materials, gave us a system for billing materials, and gave us a work in process routine,” said Sebion.

Sebion also said that he appreciates the track record of StreetSmarts and Maxwell Systems’ commitment to continually improve the product.

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Sigfusson Northern LTD

Sigfusson Northern LTD uses Maxwell Systems StreetSmarts as its job cost accounting and project management software solution. With StreetSmarts, SNL manages all of the accounting practices and job costs for their seven entities across the U.S. and Canada; maintain information in one place, in one format; manage payroll in-house; track and bill equipment expenses; and streamline workflow between the office and job sites.

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Our Story of Complete Construction Software

Maxwell Systems provides construction software solutions that help contractors to streamline workflow, increase productivity, and improve profitability. Furthermore, we understand that today's contractors must optimize processes across all business areas to gain or maintain an increasingly important competitive edge and ensure a successful business. Critical, to that end, is timely and efficient communication and information access among estimating, job cost accounting, and project management teams.

By using a Maxwell Systems complete construction software solution, you'll be able to better operate your business with increased efficiency and streamlined operations, and confidently increase profitability on every project. You will have the tools you need to accomplish more in less time; taking the guesswork out of reaching true profit potential; and improving financial stability for long-term benefit.

Why Maxwell Systems?

Maxwell Systems is truly unique with its ability to offer contractors a complete, seamless software solution that allows:

A new level of continuity and productivity among estimating, job cost accounting, and project management
Better insight, analysis, and financial oversight for owners to make informed and timely decisions
Improved operational efficiencies, cost reductions, and increased profits

Contractors value having an end-to-end solution from one company:

All applications work together seamlessly
Efficient access to comprehensive support and services
A stable technology partner committed to customer success

How Your Business Benefits

A complete construction software solution from Maxwell Systems provides end-to-end control of your business so you can see a day's profit potential at a glance, identify and prevent potential financial losses, spot discrepancies and errors, and manage projects with accurate information in real-time.

With tailored features designed to fit each member on your team, construction company management software ultimately allows your business to:

Attain end-to-end control and increased visibility
Achieve easy and accurate reporting with real-time data
Optimize project execution for maximum profitability
Streamline operations with seamless workflow

The Bid-to-Cash Cycle Explained

Managing each of the key process areas of a construction business – Estimating, Construction Accounting, and Project Management – requires vastly different talents and areas of expertise. The reality is that each of these functional groups is related and dependent on one another.

For your organization to run in an optimal fashion, the groups much work together in an optimal fashion. Together, these functional areas compromise what we describe as the Bid-to-Cash Cycle. And our goal at Maxwell Systems is to provide software for construction so you can bridge the needs of the functional groups, better manage this cycle, and so maximize profitability.

When construction estimating software, construction accounting software, and construction project management software are working together in a seamless system as a complete construction business management software solution, then a contractor is truly poised for optimal profit and productivity.

How does a complete solution fit your part of the cycle? Here are a few examples:

Owner: It's all about reducing waste, uncovering lost opportunity, exposing shortcomings, and maximizing resources – all which impact profit and the bottom line. With end-to-end visibility of every project, executives can hone business strategy, improve control of cash flow, and keep financials in the black with accurate ROI.
Estimator: Beyond estimating projects, the estimator can access more accurate information in regards to how the project actually performs. This will allow the estimator to improve accuracy on future estimates with actual labor and production rates, updated material prices, and other resource related items.
Accounting: Not only a company's construction accounting system, a complete solution helps to streamline the procurement processes for optimal efficiencies and produces more accurate purchasing processes. Additionally, billing processes, inventory issuances, and many other processes are streamlined. Less data entry, better accuracy, and reliable audit trail allow convenience and peace of mind.
Project Manager: The seamless workflow from Estimating to Project Tracking allows for a streamlined method of creating the job and then tracking performance against the estimate. Within the complete solution, the construction project management programs also provide the detail required for the Project Manager to understand what the Estimator was thinking when the bid was put together. Plus, by accessing real-time information whether in the office or in the field, the project manager can track progress, be more agile, and better handle all aspects of jobs from beginning to end.

Bottom Line

To succeed in today's competitive marketplace, construction business owners must improve productivity and have end-to-end visibility to see how jobs perform (and turn profit) from start to finish. Maxwell Systems knows construction company software and can be your partner by offering truly unique products (as well as support and services) that address the entire construction project lifecycle – from digital takeoff through final cash payment. Our seamless system provides your company with all the capabilities you need for estimating, job cost accounting, and project management, and ultimately for superior insight and analysis of your business.

Imagine the flexibility and insight by having one solution for estimating projects, for construction accounting programs, and for construction project software! All that and more in one system will help your business be more competitive and profitable.

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For many mechanical contractors, work may begin with the underground piping and not end until systems are in operation for occupancy. And many probably also provide expertise about various specialty trades and handle responsibilities spanning engineering, installation, and operation. To estimate, manage, and fulfill each contract accurately and profitably, mechanical contractors rely on Maxwell Systems software for construction. Read how you can too.

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The world of specialty trades and subcontracting is diverse and complex. That’s why Maxwell Systems provides subcontractor software tailored to the needs of contractors in framing, carpentry, siding, roofing, building finishing (drywall, ceilings, painting, flooring), glass and glazing, landscaping, and renovation. Read how you can simplify and streamline your processes.

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Whether you own real estate and actively manage your own properties or you hire a property manager to operate your buildings, you can leverage Maxwell Systems property management software to track complex lease information, work orders, and preventive maintenance; manage data and gain insight into performance of properties, and control budgeting and forecasting. Find out how you can use property management software for a better bottom line.

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