The Best Construction Estimating Software – RIB CANDY – a User’s Opinion

With more than 14 years of experience in the field of estimation, I have used a variety of estimating software, but RIB Candy is the best choice among currently available competitors in the market. It gives all the unique features that are required to produce an accurate and competitive bid. Anyone who has a good command of MS Excel can learn it in a couple of days and can use it efficiently. Keep reading to discover why we think RIB Candy is the best construction estimating software.

Below, I have listed the features that distinguish RIB Candy from other available options in the market (features related to estimation only). The purpose of this article is to share the user’s perspective for those who are considering buying estimation software. My network is requested to share their thoughts, experiences, and other features I may not have listed.

• Bill Importing: RIB Candy allows the import of a variety of data from Excel spreadsheets, including standard BOQ columns such as item, description, unit, and quantity. We can assign Price codes, task codes, and pricing remarks in MS Excel for complex and lengthy BOQs, and all this data can be imported to RIB Candy very efficiently. In addition, a priced BOQ can be imported to RIB Candy with plugged rates (labour, material, sub-con).
• Production Coding: RIB Candy enables crew compositions to be developed with appropriate productivity rates. By assigning production codes, we can calculate the corresponding man-hours for each activity. Crew composition criteria are limited to 7 skilled workers, which I believe is not enough. The developer should increase this limit to at least 20 workers.
• Packaging of Different Trades: Task coding in RIB Candy is a unique feature not available in many other estimating software. It allows the packaging of similar components to be present in the management report. Standard factorization can be assigned to compare the rates with previously submitted tenders.
• Resourcing Libraries: In RIB Candy, an estimator develops and organizes resources depending on his level of expertise. Estimators can develop complex resources up to 9 levels.
• QTO: RIB introduced a Candy QTO feature in 2018, which allows 2D and 3D on-screen calculation with the same Candy license. PDF and JPG drawings can be imported to the software and users can link the quantity takeoff with appropriate BOQ items in the pricing section.
• Macros: A very rich feature, that works like visual basic in MS Excel. Estimators can record complex activity that they repeat most often with appropriate shortcuts and later it works with a single key.
• Incorporating Addendum: Most often, we receive the addendum where the client changes the BOQ. RIB Candy works like Excel for the incorporation of any change in the file.
• Alternative Tendering: RIB Candy allows us to carry out all the pricing in one estimate while maintaining up to eight different estimates. We can develop different types of construction estimates by using the same file. This is very useful feature when producing the VE estimates.
• Tender Finalization: We do the factorization in MS Excel but Candy allows us to do Tender finalization by considering the premium (profit margin) or rebate factor with in-built feature called Mark-up. Estimators can produce the selling price directly through the software and add it the client BOQ.
• Worksheet Complex Level: RIB Candy enables the worksheets up-to 9 levels, and we can break a unit rate into 9 sub-categories. For instance, masonry boundary wall is a composition of earthwork, footing, columns, beam, masonry, rendering and painting. We can price these entire elements by assigning a single macro price code.
• Global Variable: Variables like productivity rates, factor of wastage, commodities, etc., are very important for each tender. An Estimator will change them depending on the nature of project, region and type of contract. Global variable feature in RIB Candy allows estimators to change these variables directly in the specified list while changing all the worksheets and rate build-up accordingly.
• Sub-con Adjudicator: We do the vendor analysis in MS Excel but this feature enables the users to draw the comparison in the software and link it with the relevant price codes. Later we can select/switch to any of the vendor from the Adjudicator while changing all the appropriate price codes in the estimating section.
• Interface: A variety of interface customisation is available in RIB Candy. Users can add or remove columns depending on the requirement.
• Variety of Report: Dozens of in-built reports are developed to meet the user’s requirement. Estimators can further optimize the reports by using customising feature.
• Filtering: RIB Candy allows many types of filters, user can find a particular item of complex BOQ by searching basic information.
• If, And & Product Function: Very interesting and productive functions that work like Excel.
• User Friendly: RIB Candy is designed for Estimators by Estimators, and this is the reason that Estimators find it very user-friendly. Anyone with basic computer knowledge can learn and adopt it. I have used other estimating software but RIB Candy is more user friendly. I did not take any specific training or demo; the user manual is enough to learn the basic features. Furthermore, I have trained many of my colleagues within a couple of days, and now they are operating it in a professional way.
• Customer Support: RIB Software representatives are always available to their clients; I witnessed their response during the lockdown of COVID-19. RIB provided each user with a temporary licence and kept updating it until we returned to our offices. Each time, they ensured that the temporary licence was working properly by calling directly on the mobile number provided by the user.
• Product Update: As digital construction technology is getting to new heights, developers are keen to upgrade their products by introducing new features. RIB has added many convincing and productive features in the past couple of years and demonstrated the relevant benefits by giving online webinars. RIB arranges webinars on a monthly basis in order to give training on newly added features.
• Global Reputation: RIB occupies a majority of the Gulf market, and most prestigious organisations, such as Bechtel, ACC, CCC, NESMA, AL Mabani, Kabbani, Alec, El Seif, etc., have been using it for over a decade.
• Conceptual Estimating (Class-5) There is not in-built feature for conceptual estimating in RIB Candy. Users can develop the worksheet depending on their expertise, but developers should introduce an in-built feature for conceptual estimating, which will enable the user to create a preliminary or conceptual estimate of a similar nature.
• Capterra Reviews: Please read RIB Candy reviews on Capterra.

Written by: Ismail Gultasab

Lead Estimator at El Seif Engineering Contracting

Published 8 April 2021 LinkedIn