What do you use and why

Losboskie,

We use fairly common software for most of our design and presentations so that it is easily integrated into the clients building management documents.

We use CAD for line drawings, wire schedules, and as builts.  All of the GC’s, Architects, etc have access and use this as well.

We use 3D Studio max for modeling and prototype mock ups.  We find that there is a large library odf items already made for this software that can be purchased inexpensively (Free to $20) and we alter the color and/or textures to customize them.  3D studio is also compatible with our 3 Dimensional printer that allows us to prototype mounts, adapters, etc, or provide 3D models of rooms to customers.

For Scope of Work we use word, and just utilize some of the great indexing/table features that allow you to create an interactive table of contents in the front that links to other parts of the documents.  Same thing for bids, Excel with some higher level Macros that allow us to see the job from many angles (costs, Margin, Profit, etc).

Scheduling is done in MS Project.

Most of our marketing materials are in Adobe Illustrator or In Design.

We embrace the software as a service providers.  We like the flexibility of being able to log in from any computer with an internet connection and the huge cost savings of not needing IT professionals to maintenance it.  We use Zoho for CRM and project management.  We use DoEstimate for estimates since we use QuickBooks.  It costs around $10 a month and has most of the functionality that other expensive proposal/estimating software has.  We also use an Excel checklist to check off phases of the project as they happen.  When using Zoho CRM we are able to pass tasks back and forth until important project milestones are completed.  DoEstimate http://www.doestimate.com lets you group items in the estimate/proposal by phase, system, room and so on.  It also directly integrates with QuickBooks so we do not have to enter customer and product information in two systems.  Both of these software solutions have free options and they always work from any computer without the hassle of expensive licenses and local software.  It makes it extremely easy and inexpensive to add more users as sales and project staff grow.  For the first time in 10 years in the electronic systems business we feel we have a cost effective solution that is reliable. 

Clint Miller
DataUnite