Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro vs. iSqFt

It is very efficient to set up projects using configurable templates for files, issues, and roles. Data management is easy to be understood by many users. As we have multiple users that are located in different areas in the world, it allows managing multi-discipline teams in only one environment. Clash analysis on shared models saves us time too.

Incentivized

I have noticed that many projects listed on iSqFt do not have all of the project details required to accurately bid a project. It would be nice if they had a vetting process that would required customers to upload certain documents and confirm they have certain information beofre placing the job out to bid through their platform.

Incentivized

• Live updates between design teams. This keeps the team up to date for quicker design and frees up personnel from having to do file transfers.
• The cloud-based platform gives your company a little bit of a break on computer requirements.
• Allows multiple offices and/or cloud-based consultants to collaborate on a design as if they are one office or one company.

Incentivized

• Even with a "Limited Access" free account, you are able to see all the necessary files. When using it to just look at a job and download documents, this is all you should need. With more access you can see more projects that are out to bid but as a sales engineer for a manufacturer, I receive the bid requests from my contractors who are bidding there is no need to upgrade my access level.
• Documents are very easy to download into a .zip file and you can pick and choose which documents you want to download for specific trades. Plus there is a specific tab for Addenda so you don't have to search through the Documents tab. The tabs also show the amount of files in each tab so you can easily stay up to date on current documents.
• The Dashboard of each job shows the project general contractor and for subcontractors, responding to a bid request is as easy as clicking a button to indicate if you will bud or will not bid. This dashboard also shows location and the project description which are particularly helpful for a manufacturers rep/sales engineer that may not see the project description otherwise.

Incentivized

• Bim360 is extremely unintuitive and frequently confusing to end users.
• There are multiple avenues of sharing and collaboration for models and information. The advantages/disadvantages of each and how to perform even the most basic of tasks requires extensive training and mentoring for even the most advanced of users.
• There are many enormous limitations and constraints to BIM 360 that are not immediately obvious and even contrary to published marketing materials and even product naming.
• Development cycles of the product are seemingly monthly, but incredibly minor. This makes the desperately-needed and glaringly obvious massive usability, capability, and performance improvements into deal-breakers and hair pulling events. Change cannot come fast enough.
• There are no integrations into Microsoft's Azure AD SSO or other 3rd party SSOs available for SMBs. This makes the provided MFA a huge headache for all SMBs.
• There are no integrations into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem for SharePoint/OneDrive or Outlook. This is desperately needed for most organizations using Bim360.

Incentivized

• iSqFt has one major flaw that makes it a pain to use. I go there to get plans and specs. You think a company that sends you plans and specs would have a faster download speed, it takes forever to get the plans and specs. I usually find a way around iSqFt to get the plans and specs.

Incentivized

It's not very difficult to use for majority of all our users. We really like storing and managing all our project data in one location so users have only one option to access the requested information. Managing our architectural engineering projects with two workflows in one system is really a good asset

Incentivized

AutoDesk support is slow and if you are not an enterprise customer they will likely tell you to go to forums and post for help pushing the support on the high-level end-users (some of which are AutoDesk employees). I haven't actually had issues requiring support with docs altough there are some features I wish it had

Incentivized

I have never had a problem with support from the iSqFt team. They are continually reaching out with tips and tricks to make using their software easier. Anytime I've had a problem - which is seldom - they have been extremely prompt with their response on how to fix it.

Incentivized

Personally I prefer Procore for reviewing submittals and other documentation for LEED purposes only because that platform holds more of the information we are looking for like drawings as well, all in one place. Newforma has been used from time to time, but Autodesk is preffered to that because of its straightforward nature. Overall, we use the platform that our projects are already using, but they do make a small difference in the time and effectiveness of which we are able to do our job as consultants.

Incentivized

iSqFt is a solid competitor in the bidding/estimating platform world but as a user, Building Connected is the front runner. iSqFt lacks on the collaboration side and isn't as easy to use and access as its competitors. Building Connected is used by most of our clients so it's easier to use because there is more information in one place.

Incentivized

• Well, I would say it's helpful for me to exchange different models with different specifications.
• Number of people can work and also characterized models based on its modelling.
• Even if a number of people are working, none of the models get disturbed, which is one of the most important points of BIM.

Incentivized

• More Opportunities
• Better Organization

Incentivized