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MICROSOFT EXCEL USER REVIEW

Sticker shock at both the high up-front and annual maintenance fees associated with specialized cost estimating software programs led Joe Issa of Albert Kahn Associates to try Microsoft Excel instead.

The spreadsheet application, a component of Microsoft Office, was already installed at the Detroit-based planning, design and management firm, Issa said. "If I had wanted to buy MC2 or Timberland basic software, it would be at least $5,000," he said. "By using Excel I am saving $5,000 and at least $1,500 per year for maintenance."

Since it is part of the widely popular Microsoft suite, Excel is user-friendly and familiar to co-workers within Issa's consulting group, he said: "Everybody knows how to use Excel. If you have specialized software you'll be the only one able to use it."

Issa rated Microsoft Excel a 6 out of 10. He did note that, were he a contractor as opposed to a consultant, he would likely buy separate cost estimating software.

What kinds of construction projects do you mostly work on?
 
How long have you been using this tool?
 
Where did you obtain it?
 
How much did you pay?
 
How are you using this product?
 
Why did you pick this product?
 
Did you look at other tools on the market before picking this one? What was it you didn't like about them (or made    this product better)?
 
Comparing the way you work now with the way you worked before you bought this tool, what has changed?
 
Can you give us an example of a job where this tool really made a difference?
 
Can you estimate how much time or money you saved or other measurable benefits your firm realized using this    tool?
 
What are the best features (for your business) in this tool?
 
Do you think it's a fair value for the price you paid?
 
What would you change about the product if you could?
 
Are there features that you don't use? Why not?
 
Who would you recommend use this tool?
 
How much computer experience do you think someone needs to use this tool effectively?
 
Did it take much training (or studying) to learn to use this tool?
 
Have you ever called the company's support lines and asked for help? What was your experience like?
 
How would you rate the user documentation? Is it helpful?
 
When the next version of this software comes out, will you upgrade to it?
 
Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool?

What kinds of construction projects do you mostly work on?
Albert Kahn Associates is a planning, design and management firm that serves the industrial, health care, higher education, commercial, interiors, research and development, technology, urban design, and government markets. The company is one of four businesses in the Kahn family of companies.

How long have you been using this tool?
I have been using Excel for three years.

Where did you obtain it?
It came as part of the Microsoft Office package.

How much did you pay?
There was no extra charge because it was part of the Microsoft Office suite.

How are you using this product?
I use it every day because I do cost estimating. It’s very easy, especially spreadsheet editing and customizing. Every project is unique, and I found it very easy to customize depending on the projects’ volumes and size.

Why did you pick this product?
Excel is not extra software. It comes with Microsoft Office. It’s not separate software you go and buy off-the-shelf or from a software vendor. It’s easy and it’s common.

Did you look at other tools on the market before picking this one? What was it you didn't like about them (or made this product better)?
Actually, we were planning to buy a cost estimating software program. We used to have MC2 software but, since our volume of the work slowing down, it was not justifiable to go and spend a lot of money to buy specialized software. MC2 can save a little time, but not enough to justify a separate software program. My job is more consultative, not a contractor. If I were a contractor, however, I would prefer to buy separate software.

Comparing the way you work now with the way you worked before you bought this tool, what has changed?
We previously used MC2 but, with Excel, you just go and set up a template, and then you can go and edit it every time you do a new job. This makes it easier and user friendly if someone else in the office needs to use it or edit it -- everybody knows how to use Excel. If you have specialized software you’ll be the only one able to use it.

Can you give us an example of a job where this tool really made a difference?
There is excellent visibility throughout the phases of a project. For example, the Comcast Center in Philadelphia – which will be the largest skyscraper between New York and Washington, D.C. – is an open book project, where costs and schedules can be accessed and updated via the Web, allowing for instant information and accountability. With one point of entry for data, errors are reduced and the entire process is faster.

Can you estimate how much time or money you have saved or other measurable benefits your firm has realized using this tool?
At least $5,000. If I had wanted to buy MC2 or Timberland basic software, it would be at least $5,000. By using Excel I am saving $5,000 and at least $1,500 per year for maintenance.

What are the best features (for your business) in this tool?
It is easy to customize, depending on the project I am managing.

Do you think it's a fair value for the price you paid?
Yes. At free, the price was definitely right!

What would you change about the product if you could?
I wouldn’t change anything.

Are there features that you don't use? Why not?
I think everything in Excel is useful, except maybe the Visual Basic programming tools. I mainly use it for spreadsheets, graphs and charts right now. I don’t have time to become a programmer!

Who would you recommend use this tool?
I think all design firms could use Excel.

How much computer experience do you think someone needs to use this tool effectively?
People with basic computer experience in Microsoft Office can use Excel.

Did it take much training (or studying) to learn to use this tool?
No.

Have you ever called the company's support lines and asked for help? What was your experience like?
No.

How would you rate the user documentation? Is it helpful?
I have not used it.

When the next version of this software comes out, will you upgrade to it?
Yes.

Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool?
6