In the HVAC controls industry, Automated Buildings has been recognized as a leading source of information for years and Bidtracer is honored and grateful to be a part of the team as our industry grows and evolves. We are excited and looking forward to engaging with the readers and the industry as the journey continues,
The building construction industry is as old as humans have strived to fulfill Maslow’s basic hierarchy of needs, food, clothing and shelter. And as long as trade existed, there have been builders (aka contractors) in the business of construction and providing shelter.
The engagement of contractors in the building industry follows a cycle that starts with being invited to provide a price to do the work, a negotiation process, contract award, and doing the work. Most of this work was done with paper and pencil and eventually on Excel spreadsheets and Word Documents.
Bidtracer was started about 18 years ago to cater to the construction industry to provide a cloud based SAAS platform, that’s connected live to multiple products manufacturers, providing pricing, product data sheets, etc. Bidtracer serves manufacturers, consulting engineers, contractors, integrators and service companies across the full building life cycle (design, construction & service). It has BAS channel management, estimating (CPQ), business development/sales (CRM) and project management (PM) capabilities using mobile and web platforms.
Bidtracer is a dual purpose construction management tool that comprises:
- Sales and operations tool for contractors and integrators;
- Channel management tool for product manufacturers.
Contractors & Integrators:
It is a software for estimating projects, service agreements and repairs. Bidtracer is connected live to hundreds of product brands and customizable for different labor rates, tax scenarios, etc. It comprises multiple modules for bid management, proposal generation and document sharing, with subcontractors and customers.
The Construction CRM module is designed specifically for the construction industry and is capable of auto sales follow up, tracking opportunities and reporting and analytics tools to improve win rates. The Construction Project Management module has the capabilities to manage the day-to-day operations including RFI & Change Orders management, Billing, Validation and close out including Warranty execution.
Most recently we have developed an Engineering tool specifically for HVAC controls contractors that enable Engineering to be done with sequence of operations and wiring diagrams as a job is being estimated.
Product Manufacturers & Distributors:
BAS Product manufacturers and distributors have multiple sales tools for the different channels, but most of the sales forecasting is managed via direct conversations with the channels through sales executives and regional channel managers. The data gathered during these conversations, are typically consolidated and updated via static excel spreadsheets. Bidtracer automates and provides insight and analytics using the cloud-based software with just in time access for the latest information.
For this group, Bidtracer is a channel management tool with live tiered pricing and product updates based on engagement level. It also provides visibility to the sales pipelines to drive factory demand forecasting as well as in stock control. Providing deep insight into your distribution channels buying behavior, Bidtracer serves as a very effective sales and marketing tool.
With a secure cloud-based solution, coupled with desktop and mobile versions, we are bringing the full strength of business operations into the palm of your hand – whether you are a contractor, distributor or Manufacturer.
