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Success Stories

Tapani Plumbing

When Tapani Plumbing, one of the top mechanical contracting firms in the Washington/Oregon region, decided to expand its business, the staff knew it needed an estimating system that would support the complex work they would be undertaking. The company, which has over 20 years of experience working in new construction for residential projects such as assisted living homes, apartment complexes and condominiums, recently decided to add commercial building to its repertoire. Ed Homola, Senior Estimator and Project Manager, knew he needed the proper tools to ensure their continued success in providing quality work. Based on the recommendation of another Maxwell Systems Estimation user in the area, the company chose our program to help smooth the transition.

Challenges

The company was unable to accurately estimate material costs, as these change frequently.

Solution

Tapani Plumbing acquired a program from Maxwell Systems that automatically links to current material price lists from a major supplier.

Results

The company has been able to produce more accurate bids because the material updates it receives help ensure they always have the current material prices.

Better Bidding Through Automation

What most impressed Homola with the system was its accuracy. His biggest responsibilities to the company are producing timely and accurate estimates and ensuring that project costs are within the owner’s budget; therefore, accuracy and speed are of the utmost concern. The first job he bid with Estimation was a grocery store remodel. “Bidding it our old way,” he said, “We came up with $80,000. I then bid it with Estimation and came up with $116,000. We got the job and the next bidder was at $118,000!” He continues, “Estimation bid was right on the money. We more than paid for the program with our first job.”

Before bidding with Maxwell Systems, Homola said, “We were taking a stab in the dark,” especially with material costs. He explains, “We were going on history and with prices going up so often, we were totally guessing.” Tapani receives material updates from Ferguson, which are automatically updated in the Estimation program, guaranteeing that their material prices are always current. Homola also finds the program’s takeoff extremely helpful because it provides exacts costs for all materials and adds them up automatically. “It would take a year to count it all up by hand,” he said.

Excellent Service For Tapani, And Their Customers

Though Tapani has annual revenues of $8.2 million a year, delivers quality work, and has a dedicated and experienced workforce, the company attributes its success to its customer service. “We are very service-oriented,” Homola said. “We have people on-call at night and on holidays, so if there is a problem, we respond immediately.” Because of this emphasis on customer service, Tapani appreciates the service it receives from Maxwell Systems, especially with training and the HelpDesk. Homola occasionally contacts the Help Desk with questions and comments, “The service has been good – and they haven’t been stumped yet!”

Perhaps his most rewarding experience with Maxwell Systems’ service has been training. He and a coworker attended training about a month after receiving the system and found it extremely helpful in answering his questions. He commented, “We had no problem keeping up and we learned a ton. It was well worth it.” He adds that the instructor was very knowledgeable and he learned how to set up discounts for pricing through Ferguson, as well as setting up labor rates and building assemblies.

Looking Toward The Future

Tapani is looking forward to venturing into commercial building and expects that the quality of their work will only improve with the help of Estimation. Homola said of the program, “It is making us money. I would definitely recommend it to other companies.”

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Nixco Plumbing

Nixco Plumbing uses Maxwell Systems Estimation to perform precise takeoffs, create detailed estimates, and bid more jobs easily. The contractor can easily determine what the materials, labor, etc. will cost for any job and also uses the software to efficiently handle procurement and materials management, which helps them be more productive and lower processing costs.

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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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Complete Construction Software Solutions
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