Construction Software Review .com

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• Job Cost/Accounting Reviews
• Project Management & Scheduling Reviews

SAGE MASTER BUILDER SOFTWARE REVIEW

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

USER REVIEWS

• Sage Software
• Sage Master Builder
• Sage Timberline Office 1
• Sage Timberline Office 2
• Sage Timberline Office 3

MORE INFORMATION

• Sage Master Builder
• Sage Timberline

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For small to medium-sized businesses, Master Builder can save significant time and money over basic programs such as QuickBooks and Peachtree accounting software. "Estimating time is cut by about 50%, payroll processing another 25%," Dion Langness said. "Approximately 50% is saved in generating construction specific reporting." There is also a significant reduction in errors.

With a price tag of $2,595 for the job cost accounting and construction project management applications for a single user, Master Builder is an affordable solution. It is also very easy to use as there is good integration between the modules, and there aren't a lot of "bells and whistles" that don't get used. "Very little experience is needed," explained Langness, a software consultant based in Minnesota. "Configuration, setup, and data conversion is simpler than most systems because of its structure. Most people who use it are bookkeepers and office manager level personnel."

According to Langness, the best features of Master Builder are estimating integration, Project Work Center and executive dashboards for those interested in the company's financial details. With setup, training, online courses, and award-winning customer service provided by Sage, the user is supported during every step of the implementation process.

However, what is needed is a more powerful and flexible dispatch board in the service management application, as the dispatch board is available for only one day at a time. Another shortcoming for larger service departments is the lack of "skill checking" when a work order is created, which would assist the dispatcher in knowing which technicians have the appropriate skills or certification to perform the service call.

Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, Langness rated Master Builder a 10 for value, and an 8 for flexibility and customization of tools.

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?
Unknown.

How long have you been using this tool?
Two Years.

Where did you obtain it?
A local Sage business partner.

How much did you pay?
$2,595 for Cost Accounting and Project Management Applications for a single user.

Affordable solution for small-medium sized contractors.

Sage Master Builder offers a complete package at a very affordable price. Integrated job cost accounting, construction project management and construction estimating can be purchased for about $4,000.

In the past, manual entries, duplication of efforts and use of spreadsheets took significantly more time than an integrated construction solution.

Cutting the time it takes to create an estimate is a great -- but how you can create the budgets, proposals, purchase orders and schedule from the estimate data saves significant time and error reduction.

Estimating time was cut by about 50%, payroll processing another 25% and approximately 50% is saved in generating construction specific reporting.

Estimating integration, Project Work Center for construct project managers and the executive dashboard for those interested in the companies financial details.

Yes, I'd suspect not many contractors coming from QuickBooks or Peachtree accounting software would not see value rather quickly.

A good addition to Sage Master Builder would be a more powerful and flexible dispatch board in the service management application.

Because Sage Master Builder is designed for small and medium-sized contractors, it doesn't have a ton of "bells and whistles" that don't get used.

Any contractor who doesn't have sophisticated accounting needs such as inter-company transactions or a CPA on staff will a lot of experience with high end solutions.

Very little experience needed. Configuration, setup and data conversion is simpler than most because of its structure. Most who use it are bookkeeper & office manager level personnel.

Did it take much training (or studying) to learn to use this tool?
No, the setup and training of a product like this can generally be handled in a group of web sessions spread over a month or so.

Sage has award winning customer service so I'd guess not many manufacturers would be much better than what I've been getting.

How would you rate the user documentation? Is it helpful?
The pre-recorded discovery training sessions, built in help and online support knowledgebase addresses almost all issues.

Yes, we always stay current to get payroll tax updates and improvements made to the program. When Microsoft changes operating systems we always want to be able to run our program on new PCs when we upgrade them.

Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate this tool?
Langness rates Sage Master Builder a 10 for value, and an 8 for flexibility and customization of tools.