|
|
New Version 6.07 report is 'fantastic' |
 “The
new ‘Resources by Item with Options’ report in Version 6.07
is fantastic. We give this report to our field staff as a
budget for the job so they don’t have to waste time doing
the sums, and they have quick access to key information such
as the amount of labour and materials required. We are able
to customise the layout to make it easier to read and we can
include vital project information like Cost Codes to smooth
the integration with other systems, and to help the job run
more effectively. The more relevant information we can get
to them the better.”
Tony Sharrock
Chief Estimator,
JMAC Constructions
Murrarie, QLD, Australia
|
|
|
Maximising profit and being more competitive |
“We
can make
adjustments to our estimates in the future to maximise our
profitability. Benchmark has saved me so much time and
money. Overall, Benchmark has given me greater control of
our costs; it makes our estimates, and Stone Will as a
whole, much more competitive.”
David Black
Owner,
Stone
Will
Seven Hills, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Better
than the rest |
“Benchmark
is better than any other estimating system I have used at
any other company.
The Advanced User Course gave me many great hints and tips
allowing me to utilise many more of Benchmark’s features.
Benchmark is responsive to our requests and their overall
support is excellent.”
Paul Sheridan
Estimator,
Midwest Civil
Ballarat, VIC, Australia
|
|
|
Word
quotes produced how you want it |
|
“The new
Microsoft Word®
quotes will come in very handy; we will establish our own
quote template with all the required information and our fax
cover sheet so Benchmark can produce the whole thing exactly
how we want it. The 'Reset All Lines' feature in the
Spread screen is saving us a great deal of time. We
requested this feature to speed up our use of the Spread
screen, and we got exactly what we asked for.”
Brian Salmond
Chief Estimator Urban Land Development
Works Infrastructure
Perth, WA, Australia
|
|
|
New
Quantity Takeoff 'great to work with' |
"The
Quantity Takeoff sheet (QTS) function is a most valuable and
highly used function in my estimates. QTS allows me to
attach detailed descriptions to my measurements which makes
checking for omissions easy; it allows the project crews to
follow my calculations and know exactly what is included in
the project; and most of all the spreadsheet functionality
ensures accuracy in calculations. It’s flexible, in that you
can program it in any layout that most suits your situation.
The QTS' are great to work with.
As an Estimator and Quantity Surveyor I find the Benchmark
Software with the QTS function an excellent software package
for construction.”
Joe Franco
Estimator
Abergeldie
Contractors
Sydney, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
|
Word
quotes improve aesthetics |
|
“The
Word® quotes improve the aesthetics of what we send and
allow us to include special messages on our customers’
quotes to ensure they get all the information they need.”
Geoff O'Rourke
Chief Estimator
Allen's Asphalt
Caboolture, QLD, Australia
|
|
|
Benchmark ensures fast,
rational growth |
"Benchmark
acts as a central store for all the
estimating knowledge in our company.
We can create an Item in the Item
Library broken down into its Resource
components. Then for a new project
with different parameters we only need
to amend the existing Items. It
also means that when we employ
additional people the procedures will be
established and they will become
effective in a very short time.
Benchmark will ensure that growth of our
Company can occur rationally and
quickly.”
Bec Davies
Assistant Manager
Hisway Earthmoving
Nowra, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Making
staff happier |
|
“Benchmark
is very good for me because the less typing I have to do the
happier I am.
Benchmark's many business reports
allow me to review historical performance when I need to,
which greatly helps when making business decisions.
The software provides a good
benchmark – pardon the pun – for producing our estimates
because we know that our methods are standardised and our
prices are accurate and consistent.”
Geoff O'Rourke
Chief Estimator
Allen's Asphalt
Caboolture, QLD, Australia
|
|
|
Benchmark
helps growth by saving time
and maximising profits |
|
"Benchmark
has helped us grow as a company over the
8 years we have been using it.
Benchmark has been saving us plenty of time in
estimating, as well as giving us the ability
to get the best price so we can
win more work and maximise profits. We save time
because the Item Library makes it really easy to use your
prior job knowledge, it is really easy to update Resource
costs, and the Export to Microsoft Project develops our
tender programs."
Ian Ganderton
Director
Ganderton Earthmoving
Nowra, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Ideal
for working to budgets |
“Benchmark's
structure makes it very easy to drill down into your
estimate in great detail, to allow
you to plan your costs and work tightly with your fixed
budget. It is also very easy to
update to ensure accuracy; we recently had an
increase in wages, and updating
the costs for labour across all of our estimates and field
projects was achieved from the one
screen. The new ‘Resource-based
Export to Microsoft Project’
helps us to balance our demand for shared plant resources across
council, so we can evaluate
resource demand in the short to medium term to optimise the
resource utilisation.”
Doug O'Brien,
Asphalt Operations
Manager
Brisbane City Works Asphalt Operations Group
Brisbane, QLD, Australia
|
|
|
Professional and Timely Support Services |
"We
have worked with the team from Benchmark for
over 5 years and they have always provided
BORAL with good, timely support. Their
support services are quick to respond & give
assistance whenever called upon. No problem
is too great or challenging. The Training
they provide is very professional and the
new, Version 6 User Manual is well written &
easy to refer to."
Stephen Meredith,
Business Support Analyst
Boral Shared Business Services
Sydney, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Benchmark
Facilitates Expansion |
|
"Benchmark
has definitely helped us expand through the ability to very
quickly and accurately tender for work in each regional
location. The Benchmark Item Library allows us to do
this as we have very easily been able to set up different
items for Brisbane, Townsville and Sydney”
Tony Sharrock
Senior Estimator
JMAC Constructions
Murarrie, QLD, Australia
|
|
|
A hallmark of our
business |
|
“Benchmark
is a hallmark of our business. So far we have
won $25M-$30M worth of work using Benchmark”
Danny van der Toorn
Director
The JDS Group
Cooma, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Ease of Use |
|
“The Council took on Benchmark Estimating
Software to ensure consistent estimating practices … and
because of its ease of use. Benchmark is a great estimating
system for Councils and their training and support is very
good. They also understand Local Government needs.”
Jack Mitchell
Design and Support Services Coordinator
Cairns City Council
Cairns, QLD, Australia
|
|
|
Benchmark’s Support
Is Excellent |
|
“Benchmark makes estimating easier and more organised.
Benchmark’s Support is excellent! I am so busy using
Benchmark everyday that I haven’t had time to investigate
all of the advanced features. I believe that there are many
shortcuts that will save me heaps of time and am keen to
attend the Advanced Training Course to learn about these.”
Paul Gleeson
Director
Gleeson Civil Engineering
Newcastle, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
The Complete
Package |
“Benchmark is the complete
package – the program, training and after-sales support. We
are also able to get on-going training to keep advancing our
estimating standards.” “Emoleum is able to download files
from clients, import schedules and deliver estimates that
are going to be beneficial to our clients and to the
business”.
Ray Thompson
National Business Manager
Works Infrastructure
Adelaide,
SA, Australia
|
|
|
Day-to-day and
Major Projects with Ease |
|
"Benchmark is one of the few packages that could manage
day-to-day quotes quickly and accurately as well as handling
major projects quoting with ease. The ultimate benefit of
using Benchmark Estimating Software is the ability to
improve our business by easily and accurately comparing
field performance to our estimates. Benchmark provides the
ideal starting point for this."
David Rodger
Project Manager National Rollout
Pioneer Road Services
Melbourne, VIC,
Australia
|
|
|
Winning Estimates
in a Very Short Time |
|
“Because we could have two or three estimators working
concurrently on this project, we were able to produce an
accurate winning estimate in a very short time”.
Michael Trumm
NSW Construction Manager
Abergeldie Contractors
Sydney, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Save time and money |
|
“I’m delighted with Benchmark and regularly tell other
people about it. We have a competitive edge because of
Benchmark and we are also saving time and money. Despite the
distance and time difference between New Zealand and
Australia, the customer service from Benchmark is
excellent.”
“Benchmark’s new Progress Claim feature is great, it has
cut down on errors and is unbelievably fast. I can just
about go fishing through the day.”
Stephen Beeby
Company Manager
Beeby Constructions
Dunedin, New Zealand
|
|
|
Benchmark forms an
invaluable
knowledge base |
|
"With our previous spreadsheet system, our estimates
were item based with set rates. Benchmark stores all
of our estimates in one data file. This data file also
stores our standard Annual Rates which also includes
Production Rates and Plant Availability, thus increasing the
accuracy of job costing.
Preparing an estimate in Benchmark is also easier and faster
than in our previous spreadsheet-based system - press a few
buttons and it’s done !
That said, perhaps the greatest benefit of using Benchmark
Estimating Software is the improved accuracy of our
estimates.
Benchmark forms an invaluable knowledge base for our
organisation."
Robert Hemington
Infrastructure Assets and Design
City of South Perth
Perth, WA, Australia
|
|
|
Better cost control
and more
accurate project quoting |
|
"Benchmark allows us to calculate the real cost by item
and then allows us to easily calculate our overheads and
profit margin. The end result is much better cost control
and more accurate project quoting.”
Norm Mogg
Managing Director
Fine Line Painting
Nowra, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Provides a
competitive advantage |
|
"We consider Benchmark offers good value for money and
provides a competitive advantage to this company. We are
reluctant to recommend this product to our direct
competitors for fear of losing that advantage".
Russell Drury
Senior Civil Estimator
Civil Estimating Pty. Ltd.
Kiama, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Triggers a more
stable working relationship |
|
"Kogarah Council's Planning and Works Units have been using
Benchmark as an estimating tool since 1997. Benchmark has
actually triggered a more stable, committed and focused
working relationship between units."
Paul Woods
Director
Kogarah Council Works
Sydney, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
User friendly |
|
"I have used Benchmark to compare with our previous system,
with outstanding results... the program has been found to be
user friendly and thinks the way an estimator does".
John Gray
Design
Shire of Hinchinbrook
Hinchinbrook, QLD, Australia
|
|
|
Far ahead of any
other Estimating System |
|
"People ask me about Benchmark and I simply say that it is
far ahead of any other estimating system I have seen".
Craig Francis
Works
Infrastructure
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
|
|
|
|
|
|
Version 6.07 upgrade looks and feels great to
use |
“Thanks
for the new Version 6.07 upgrade, it looks and feels great
to use. A big thanks for the change to the Progress Claims
module that we requested – it is just what we needed. Well
done again Benchmark; you continue to impress.”
Stephen Beeby
Company Manager
Beeby Constructions
Dunedin, New Zealand
|
|
|
Produce estimates for any type of
Local Government works |
“Benchmark
is flexible enough to produce estimates for any type
of construction work, because it speeds up the estimating
processes and because it is great for determining the
composition of your budgets. We ended up getting the
estimate for the Main Road upgrade
within 5% of the actual costs for the $750,000 project.”
Michael Jackson
Coordinator of Capital Works,
Glenorchy City Council
Glenorchy, TAS,
Australia
|
|
|
Impressed by fast implementation |
“We
have selected Benchmark because, no matter what line of work
each individual business unit is in, the software can
produce estimates quickly and accurately. Benchmark
will be utilised in a way that can be rolled out throughout
the entire organization. Downer EDI Works is growing
strongly and we were impressed with how quickly we can
implement Benchmark Estimating Software into new business
units.”
Paul Reidy
Chief Operating Officer,
Downer EDi
Works Limited
Auckland, New Zealand
|
|
Flexible system to enhance financial management |
“An
outstanding feature is the opportunity to save Excel
spreadsheets directly from clients with their project
specific Schedule of Items, making it possible to create
fast accurate quotations and submit them rapidly.
Benchmark is a flexible system providing a multitude
of features designed to enhance the financial management of
landscape businesses.
”
Kate Heffernan
Reviewer,
Landscape Contractor Magazine
Australia
|
|
|
As
close to perfect as possible |
“Benchmark
is very easy to use and understand, and our new
estimator picked it up in no time.
The
main benefits we get from using Benchmark are that it stores
everything in one system; it makes our estimating more
clinical, much easier to control and more accurate. It gets
ours estimates as close to perfect as possible.”
Tony Sharrock
Chief Estimator,
JMAC Constructions
Murrarie, QLD, Australia
|
|
|
|
Easier
to integrate with accounting systems |
“The
'Resources by Item Export to Excel®' assists us with our
budgets. It shows us the Cost Code information for the
Resources in a project, making it much easier for our
accounting staff to integrate with our financial systems.
The new ‘Quick Find’ in the Project Browser is also making
finding projects much, much easier.”
Kelly McDonald
Sales and Tendering
Georgiou Group
Perth, WA, Australia
|
|
|
New
reports in V6.05 are 'Excellent' |
“The
greater customisation and flexibility in the 'Quote with
Options' report allows us to quickly produce a very
effective quote. The additional reports found in
Version 6.05 are excellent; they offer much more flexibility
and help me pass on our information to project managers.”
Jane Le Grove
Operations Manager
Frogmat
Environmental
Perth, WA, Australia
|
|
|
Control projects and analyse estimate
versus actual figures |
"The
Project Review Export to Excel enables us to follow our
actual costs from start to finish, which will help us to
both control our projects, and to give us an analysis of our
estimate versus our actual figures.”
James
Simpson-Lee
Proprietor,
Integral Landscapes
Hornsby, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Pricing Subdivisions in as little as one hour |
“Our
usual subdivisions are anywhere between $1-$3 million
dollars and use up to 150 items. By using Benchmark’s Auto
Allocate feature we can generate prices very quickly; for
simple subdivisions we can allocate our Items in as little
as one hour! Benchmark’s
support has also been excellent.
Whenever we have suggested changes or modifications someone
has helped out or been working at it straight away.
Benchmark is also easy for new users to pick up so they can
get up and running quickly.”
Joel Norman
Chief Estimator,
Georgiou Group
Perth, WA, Australia
|
|
|
Confidence and control in Landscape estimates |
“No
two jobs are the same in the landscaping
industry, yet we are confident that we won’t leave
anything out of our estimate because we
use Benchmark. The Item Library stops you
having to recreate the wheel every time,
you know all the details
are in the estimate, and the Item is easily customisable to
suit any particular job. Benchmark
give us confidence and control with our estimates.
They provide great after sales service and the
package is very easy to use. Benchmark should absolutely
take off in the landscape industry.”
James
Simpson-Lee
Proprietor,
Integral Landscapes
Hornsby, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Improving the Win Rate |
“Since
purchasing Benchmark, our strike rate has been really good;
we are winning all sorts of civil work in a range of
different areas. Benchmark’s support and business expertise
has been
exceptional, and they are very helpful and responsive with
support services and software modifications. I would say
the overall
experience with Benchmark has been very good.”
Barry
Hezlett
Proprietor,
Northpipe Constructions
Nambucca Heads, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
|
|
Implementation Support Outstanding |
|
|
“Benchmark’s
support with implementation has been brilliant. They have
assisted us with implementation into our business systems
and have also helped with project management for this task.
Added to this, the software’s ability link with our other
systems is vital for proficient operations. We can also see
great benefits in Routines, as we are able to price water or
sewage pipelines and pumping stations by simply answering 7
or 8 questions regarding the job.”
Brendan Guiney,
Development Design Engineer
MidCoast Water
Forster, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Power
Routines success |
|
"Power
Routines most definitely helped us to secure the Indigo
Shire Roads Maintenance contract; it worked out the prices
incredibly quickly and gave a more accurate indication of
what each element of the job was worth. The resultant
estimate was also more transparent. It is so easy to
use, and the after sales support has been
excellent.”
Janine Crameri
Estimator
GW & BR Crameri
Myrtleford, VIC, Australia
|
|
|
Ease of use &
windows based feel
|
|
“Benchmark’s ease of use and windows-based feel
has made estimating much more efficient in our
Council. The system is also very flexible and we
can easily customise it to suit our needs. One
of the features I use a lot is the integrated
email; this makes the whole estimating process
much easier and faster. The reports are also
fantastic – we can instantly generate reports
showing the total plant, labour, materials and
subcontractor requirements for our works.”
Richard Munro
Estimator
Wyong Shire Council
Wyong, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Determining Which
Projects and
Market Segments to Work In |
|
“Our ability to accurately estimate project costs has
been critical in determining which projects and market
segments we want to work in. We can now reliably measure the
performance of field crews, geographic markets, customer
segments, even estimators for that matter,”
Jim Carr
National Sales and Marketing Manager
Pioneer Road Services
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
|
|
|
An Asset To Our
Business |
|
“Tendering for projects with Benchmark is cost effective
due to the amount of time saved in preparing the costings.
Benchmark’s reports are also excellent! A Client recently
commented on the clear, professional layout of our Benchmark
quotation, a Tender which we went on to win. Despite being
several thousand kilometres away, Benchmark always provides
great support. The software is an asset to our business.”
Ron Robinson
Managing Director
Robinson Civil
Contractors
Townsville, QLD, Australia
|
|
|
Benchmark’s
Progress Claim
Feature is Fantastic |
|
"Benchmark's Progress Claim feature is fantastic. Using
our previous spreadsheet system, producing different claims
for the different jobs we have running at the one time, took
many hours and was fraught with potential errors.
Benchmark's Progress Claim feature makes our Claims process
a lot more efficient and eliminates the possibility of
mistakes. It works really well for us that's for sure."
Claudine McBeath
Financial Controller / QA Manager
Eire Contractors
Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Every time I use
Benchmark it impresses me more! |
|
"I was very impressed with Benchmark's
New User Course. It launched me into using
the software very quickly, and provided a
huge insight into the potential of the
Benchmark system. Every time I use Benchmark
it impresses me more!".
Paul Hefford
Ashburton Contracting
Ashburton, New Zealand
|
|
|
Quick and Easy to
Use |
|
“We originally purchased Benchmark as it suited our needs
best. Benchmark also reacted very quickly to modify the
software for the things we required. Benchmark's support is
very good, and we always get a response quickly. Benchmark
is quick and easy to use, gives us a standard format for
estimates, provides good report formats for different
purposes, and allows us to have more control over the rates
we use in our estimates.”
Derek Yarrow
Chief Draftsman Transport Planning
Caboolture Shire Council
Caboolture, QLD, Australia |
|
|
We can't do without
Benchmark |
|
"We can't do without Benchmark. I can quote a small
straight forward carpark from start to finish in half an
hour now that I have modified it to suit our requirements.
It's that easy. The Training provided by Benchmark was very
worthwhile and was one of the best things we have done. I
love it!
Sonia Broderick
Owner
ADH Plant Hire
Panton
Hill, VIC Australia
|
|
|
Return on
Investment |
|
"Having a database of rates that is easily maintainable,
and being able to adjust estimates easily are just two of
the benefits of Benchmark. The software is easy to pick up,
and we have definitely gained a return on our investment."
Troy Punnett
Construction Engineer
Shoalhaven City Council
Ulladulla, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Benchmark is
excellent! |
|
"Benchmark
is excellent! We can create new items in a matter of
minutes. Our estimators can then be using the new rate in
all their estimates immediately. No other estimating system
would allow us to do this as easily. We've had great success
with it - that's for sure."
Steve Poulton
Sutherland Shire Council
Sydney, NSW, Australia
|
|
|
Ease of Use....
flexibility and its speed |
|
"1.
After trying the others - I returned to
Benchmark - for it's ease of use, its flexibility and its
speed in putting the total bid together.
2. The Supplier Manager aspect of
Benchmark allows me to change Suppliers and Subcontractors
at a moments notice, with the added flexibility of locking
in their quotes to my bid.
3.Changing material costs couldn't be
simpler in Benchmark, two clicks and its done - no messy
recalculations and respreading. What you see is what you get
printed in the resource costs against the items."
Brian D Salmond
Chief Estimator
Works Infrastructure Pty. Ltd.
Perth, WA, Australia
|
|
|
Save time with
excellent project management information |
|
"I knew that Benchmark would
provide us with a simple but highly
effective system for improved estimates. Our
people have found Benchmark easy to use. It
provides us with consistent, accurate
estimates, saving time with excellent
project management information".
Dave Aber
Moree Plains Shire
Moree, NSW, Australia |
|
