New research has revealed that an increasing number of builders are turning to estimating software packages to save time, win more business and look more professional, not to mention ensuring they have priced the work correctly and should therefore make a profit Many builders believe their software has helped them achieve at least some of these objectives but not all are satisfied with their systems.

In particular, the type of software purchased has a significant bearing on the level of satisfaction, with some brands proving more successful than others at enabling customers to achieve their expectations.
A high proportion of the builders questioned run small businesses with less than five employees and are involved in extension and renovation work.

Over 60% said they selected their software in order to save time, around 40% based their selection on ease of use and 30% said accuracy of results was an important factor.

Other hoped-for advantages included help in winning more business, ability to produce more quotes and help to manage jobs.

Improving profitability was surprisingly low down the list.

Easy Price Pro came out top on the following categories:.

• Ease of use
• Accuracy of results
• Time saving
• Produce more quotes
• Win more business
• Professional presentation
• Manage jobs
• Improve profits

A high proportion of builders who had purchased Leading brand, Easy Price Pro thought their software had met these needs with 85% stating it had performed well or very well for ease of use and accuracy of results (compared to a poor 11% for the other leading brand).

Almost all (93%) liked its professional presentation and 86% said it helped them produce more quotes.

Despite the low expectations for improving profitability, 71% said it really had helped lift profits.

Satisfaction among users of other software was generally significantly lower, the next most highly rated brand scoring 60% for ease of use, 61% for saving time, 82% for professional presentation and 68% for producing more quotes. A higher proportion of purchasers of the other brand had abandoned their software or gone on to purchase a different system.

The survey was carried out by independent research company Tangible Developments of Peterborough and commissioned by software developer Easy Price Pro.

Paul Betts, director of Easy Price Pro said: "We are obviously delighted with such a high level o f customer satisfaction for our own estimating software but we carried out the research because we wanted to make sure we understood and were meeting the needs of our customers.

Amongst other findings it seems clear from this work that builders who started out using older programs are prepared to move on to more sophisticated software. Even so, they still want that software to be very easy to use.

"There are also many builders who have yet to discover the benefits of using good estimating software and might be worried that it is not right for them. That is why we always encourage potential customers to book an appointment with one of our demonstrators so they can test drive the software at their office without any obligation. Request a free brochure from Easy Price Pro ... If they like what they see we will set up the software for them so they can complete their first estimate straight away.".

_____________________________________________________