Renick Brothers Mechanical Contractors

Two goals: Keep it simple and bid for profit. That’s what drives Renick Brothers Mechanical Contractors toward success. Since opening its doors in 1948 in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, this contractor has accomplished tens of thousands of projects in the commercial, industrial, and institutional spectrum, with services in heating and air conditioning, plumbing, service maintenance and controls, process piping, and sheet metal ductwork.

Challenges

Efficiently and accurately manage projects and job-cost accounting to reduce amount of time spent on back office tasks.

Solution

Renick Bros. automated manual methods by choosing Management Suite. With a combination of robust capabilities and a simple user interface, this comprehensive business management software solution helps Renick Bros. achieve complete financial management including GL, AP, AR and payroll, as well as leverage real-time, critical business intelligence to improve decision-making and help increase profits.

Results

With Management Suite, Renick Brothers experienced immediate benefits in efficiency, time-savings, and accuracy. Within 60 days of training and ramping up, productivity had increased 50 percent.

From a Paper Caper to a Profit Maker

For decades, Renick Brothers operated exclusively with a manual accounting system of thick AP journals, bulging filing cabinets of cash receipts and payroll records, and human memory. However, the company’s success became a load the manual system could no longer handle. So with growth came challenges, and technology was identified as a critical way to improve processes and maximize profits.

“We wanted to enjoy our success and continue to grow, but our manual processes were hindering our ability to properly manage projects and job-cost accounting,” said Joe Bratkovich, Controller at Renick Brothers Mechanical Contractors. “Deciding to automate and streamline our processes was a no-brainer and the software criteria were clear. I needed a solution that was efficient and accurate. Most importantly, I needed something that would reduce the amount of time our team spent on back office tasks.”

Five companies and solutions were evaluated and compared, one was ultimately chosen. “It was the power and simplicity of the Maxwell Systems Management Suite software that really appealed to me,” explained Bratkovich. “It’s certainly better than our manual methods that could not keep up with the pace of business, and much better than others in the industry as far as features and user-friendliness.”

Maxwell Systems Management Suite is a comprehensive business management software solution designed to effectively handle the everyday operations of any service, specialty trade, or general construction company. It offers end-to-end estimating, job-cost accounting, and project management that helps improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and increase profits.

Upon transitioning from manual methods to Management Suite, Renick Brothers experienced immediate benefits in efficiency, time-savings, and accuracy. Within 60 days of training and ramping up, productivity had increased 50 percent. That was just the beginning and they never looked back.

Automating Keeps Finances In Focus

Renick Brothers uses Management Suite for complete financial management including GL, AP, AR and payroll. The solution provides real-time, critical business intelligence in a single, convenient location that helps companies like Renick Brothers gain valuable insight to improve the way they do business.

When Renick Brothers first installed the system in 1980, the company had 50 employees and gross revenue of $4 million. Last year, the company grossed $40 million, with 352 employees. “It worked for us then and it works for us now,” Bratkovich added. “With the speed and accuracy of the software, our processes are much simpler and we have improved profit margins with every project. It helps us manage our growth and look for further profitability.”

Specifically, Management Suite helps Renick Brothers handle every aspect of a project by automating several key areas for significant benefit:

Quickly and accurately quantify, price, and bid projectswith the capability to perform digital takeoff, assemble estimates, generate proposals, and incorporate estimate information with accounting to streamline project setup.
Informed decision-making and project management toolshelp contractors analyze budgeted, committed, actual, and projected costs for each task and overall project.
Control proper recognition of revenue, whether from a project or service agreement, with integrated financial management controls that allow recognition of revenue based on percent complete, on completion, monthly assessments, or custom assessments.
Improve service managementwith a quick view of technician workload, scheduled maintenance requirements, and customer details, which help assess work requirements and dispatch effectively.
Purchase at best possible priceand manage the procurement process with tools that import estimate material lists and create a Request for Quote, identify source of materials, and automatically create a purchase order or inventory requisition for any project.
Gain business insight to resolve issues and determine course of actionwith a comprehensive toolset that allows company executives to view and analyze project details or company’s overall win/loss status to make adjustments and modify strategies as needed.

Because Management Suite is an end-to-end estimating, accounting, and project management solution, Renick Brothers can experience additional features of automation at every step:

Better monitor pricing, ordering, and delivery of goods
Produce comprehensive expense reports months ahead of time, with a solid audit trail
Save time and data re-entry throughout payroll processes that pull data from original entry to automatically prepare payroll reports, job cost reports, quarterly financials, and tax records – even weekly union reports.

Over the years and through the projects, the Renick Brothers team learned that by leveraging technology they can be more competitive, operate efficiently, and increase profit margins. Bratkovich adds, “Management Suite helped us improve efficiency and increase our accuracy. Any company that chooses Maxwell Systems’ products to help grow its business has made an excellent choice.”

Free Personalized Demo

7 Reasons You're Ready for a True Technology Partner

Learn 7 selection criteria and how Maxwell Systems stacks up.

Download eBook

Show [+]

Hide [–]

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.

Quick Links

Estimating

Job Cost Accounting

Project Management

Property Management

Verticals

Industries Served

General Construction

Learn how Maxwell Systems software can help general construction companies improve overall project performance, including bidding process, labor and material allocation, team communication and collaboration (whether in office or at the job site), and managing changes for maximum profitability. It’s general contractor software to run a better business!

Heavy Construction

Maxwell Systems helps thousands of heavy/highway contractors more profitably execute and manage projects. Work can range from construction or repair work for streets, roads, and highways or bridges, dams, and tunnels, or underground utilities, excavation, paving, and much more. Read about the heavy construction software we can provide to help you boost profit.

Concrete & Masonry Construction

It’s critical that you have a keen eye on plans, materials, labor, equipment, budgets, and schedules to ensure your concrete and masonry projects are profitable. That’s why you should learn how our contractor software is tailored to your unique needs.

Electrical Contracting

Whether you do new construction, replacement, or maintenance for the residential, commercial, and/or industrial markets, electrical contracting demands that you can properly review specifications and estimate costs, schedule crews, manage inventory, and schedule equipment to ensure that you fulfill each contract according to schedule. Learn how Maxwell Systems electrical contractor software is tailored to fit the way you work.

HVAC Contracting

From installation of furnaces, air conditioning units, and refrigeration systems to maintenance and repair work to fabricating sheet metal, HVAC construction work is varied and demanding. That’s why it’s wise to invest in HVAC contractor software designed with features that fit so you can acquire and manage projects for best profit. Find out why.

Mechanical Contracting

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.

Plumbing Contracting

Whether you install fixtures for residential or commercial properties, or even install gas appliances and pipework, and/or perform maintenance and repair work, it’s likely that your profitability depends on volume of work and managing projects efficiently and accurately. Learn how you can use Maxwell Systems construction company software to quickly and accurately bid projects, schedule workforce, track documents, manage complex payroll, control job costs, and more.

Other Specialty Trades

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.

Property Management

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.

Canada and Australia

Maxwell Systems construction management software is specialized for Canada CAN and Australia AUS. The software helps Canadian and Australian contractors improve estimating, accounting, payroll, project management, and more. Our software helps contractors across Australia and Canada save time, cut costs, and improve profitability.

Success Stories