Practice Management Member Conversations

Hello Eva Read-Warden, I am on a similar quest.  The two we are looking at are Factor A/E, and BQE Core.  I'd be happy to share notes. I have had an initial call to kick the tires with Factor, but not yet with BQE.  Deltek is another but I have not engaged, as we are 10 FTEs.

Hello Eva Read-Warden, I am on a similar quest.  The two we are looking at are Factor A/E, and BQE Core.  I'd be happy to share notes. I have had an initial call to kick the tires with Factor, but not yet with BQE.  Deltek is another but I have not engaged, as we are 10 FTEs.

Thank you Eva and Brian for posting about this issue. I hope our group can provide new insight on CRM/Financial tools available for smaller firms.

Hi Eva.  We are a firm of around 20 people.  We switched about 7 years ago from Quickbooks to Clearview (Unanet).   It is powerful software for project management and accounting.  We did not really begin to use it  fully until about two years ago when they came out with a web based version - much more user friendly.  We find we have to use both the desktop and web version - both are good for specific tasks.  We tried to integrate Cosential as our CRM, and found it somewhat cumbersome and not geared towards our types of projects, so we dropped it.  Clearview has definitely had a big impact on project management and profitability.  My biggest concern with this software is that it takes quite a while to learn, and many more people are familiar with Deltek than Unanet.  In my area, there is a Unanet user group, but it's not very active. 

I'll add to the conversation, but first, for full disclosure:

•  I ran a small architecture firm for 7 years in Portland, OR. We were 6 people when I left.
• We used Monograph for our project management and QuickBooks Online for our financial management.
• I spent about 3-years consulting with small firms that used a range of software tools for firm management, including simple spreadsheets.
• I currently work at BQE CORE as Director of Content and Community. 
  
  

Most of the software options have been touched on throughout this thread already, so I don't have new ones to mention.

I enjoyed using Monograph when running my firm because of its nice design and intuitive interface. It was easy to adopt, and we got the whole firm to use it daily. That's a huge win. There were some shortcomings, as with all software. The biggest challenge for firms is that it is not very customizable. And if you want an all-in-one solution, it's not going to give you that now.  

BQE CORE is an all-in-one solution that has project management, accounting, billing, a CRM, time tracking, and other tools fully integrated. The project management features are currently being improved. We'll be launching new and improved project budgeting, project planning, and resource management tools in the next two months. Our product development roadmap also includes improving the CRM module throughout this year and rolling out fully integrated Payroll in Q2-Q3. Another thing that sets us apart is that we have a fully integrated mobile app that works on all devices, so CORE is truly accessible anywhere. 

It is a very robust app with lots of options, flexibility, and customizability, which a lot of people value. But to be fair, having so many features and customizability does make it more complicated than an app like Factor or Monograph. I think CORE is a good product that will be great with some of the new improvements rolling out in the coming months.

This all being said, I'm not trying to give a sales pitch here. I had success running my firm with Monograph and Quickbooks Online. At my firm, we used Hubspot as our CRM, and I really like that app. It is super powerful - even with just their free tools. If you are looking for a standalone CRM I'd recommend going with Hubspot. If you are looking for an all-in-one solution, I honestly think BQE CORE is a great option for most firms - especially firms with 10+ people who need robust tools.  

Thank you!

Love your post, and it's good to know about all of the product development.

I looked at CORE in 2022, on behalf of one of our clients that was using ArchiOffice, and I wasn't very impressed. I actually liked CMap and Total Synergy better, but they didn't have good customer support in the USA.

I really like SCORO. One of our clients (a 150-person firm in Latin. America) is using it, and it's pretty amazing.

They also have an excellent team of digital technology people who are pushing the envelope in all areas of practice.

Best,

M.

Marjanne Pearson

1+ 510.541.3252 m
talentstar.com
·································
she | her

·································

Strategy by Design

Insights + Research

I'll add to the conversation, but first, for full disclosure:

•  I ran a small architecture firm for 7 years in Portland, OR. We were 6 people when I left.
• We used Monograph for our project management and QuickBooks Online for our financial management.
• I spent about 3-years consulting with small firms that used a range of software tools for firm management, including simple spreadsheets.
• I currently work at BQE CORE as Director of Content and Community. 
  
  

Most of the software options have been touched on throughout this thread already, so I don't have new ones to mention.

I enjoyed using Monograph when running my firm because of its nice design and intuitive interface. It was easy to adopt, and we got the whole firm to use it daily. That's a huge win. There were some shortcomings, as with all software. The biggest challenge for firms is that it is not very customizable. And if you want an all-in-one solution, it's not going to give you that now.  

BQE CORE is an all-in-one solution that has project management, accounting, billing, a CRM, time tracking, and other tools fully integrated. The project management features are currently being improved. We'll be launching new and improved project budgeting, project planning, and resource management tools in the next two months. Our product development roadmap also includes improving the CRM module throughout this year and rolling out fully integrated Payroll in Q2-Q3. Another thing that sets us apart is that we have a fully integrated mobile app that works on all devices, so CORE is truly accessible anywhere. 

It is a very robust app with lots of options, flexibility, and customizability, which a lot of people value. But to be fair, having so many features and customizability does make it more complicated than an app like Factor or Monograph. I think CORE is a good product that will be great with some of the new improvements rolling out in the coming months.

This all being said, I'm not trying to give a sales pitch here. I had success running my firm with Monograph and Quickbooks Online. At my firm, we used Hubspot as our CRM, and I really like that app. It is super powerful - even with just their free tools. If you are looking for a standalone CRM I'd recommend going with Hubspot. If you are looking for an all-in-one solution, I honestly think BQE CORE is a great option for most firms - especially firms with 10+ people who need robust tools.  

Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences with ERP, PPM, and CRM software.  I am intrigued by the various paths you have all followed and have learned about some options that I had never heard of before!

We have been using BQE Core for several years, but I have to say it has not been without difficulties.  Some of that came from how we transitioned from its predecessor ArchiOffice.  Most recently it has been due to quirks within the platform.  ("Not sure why that is happening; we'll need to escalate that.") We have been looking closely at Monograph due to it's PPM features, which we have not found positive in Core.  I heard 1 or 2 of you mention Monograph, but if anyone has more to offer on that one, please let me know.

We decided to pursue Unanet for our CRM.  We have just begun implementation, so cannot yet report on results.

Thank you!

Love your post, and it's good to know about all of the product development.

I looked at CORE in 2022, on behalf of one of our clients that was using ArchiOffice, and I wasn't very impressed. I actually liked CMap and Total Synergy better, but they didn't have good customer support in the USA.

I really like SCORO. One of our clients (a 150-person firm in Latin. America) is using it, and it's pretty amazing.

They also have an excellent team of digital technology people who are pushing the envelope in all areas of practice.

Best,

M.

Marjanne Pearson

1+ 510.541.3252 m
talentstar.com
·································
she | her

·································

Strategy by Design

Insights + Research

Hello, Eva -

I have one general comment about CRMs (and any database):

With all databases, it's a matter of garbage-in and garbage-out.

And if no useful information is going in, then there will be less reason to use it.

CRMs are most successful when someone takes the lead and is able to develop a high level of ownership within the people who will use the information on a regular basis. We have seen many firms invest in an excellent CRM software platform and then never adopt an effective method of data entry and management. But we have also seen truly remarkable success led by a champion who understood the potential and worked with others to develop a tool that people could use and appreciate. (And some wonderful Aha! moments when it really worked.)

If you go to Knowledge Architecture / Conference / Talk Archive

https://www.knowledge-architecture.com/ka-connect-talk-archive

you'll have access to a number of presentations by people within the AEC industry who have been able to improve their operations and collaboration through knowledge-sharing. It's truly inspirational!

Best,

M.

Marjanne Pearson

1+ 510.541.3252 m
talentstar.com
·································
she | her

·································

Strategy by Design

Insights + Research

Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences with ERP, PPM, and CRM software.  I am intrigued by the various paths you have all followed and have learned about some options that I had never heard of before!

We have been using BQE Core for several years, but I have to say it has not been without difficulties.  Some of that came from how we transitioned from its predecessor ArchiOffice.  Most recently it has been due to quirks within the platform.  ("Not sure why that is happening; we'll need to escalate that.") We have been looking closely at Monograph due to it's PPM features, which we have not found positive in Core.  I heard 1 or 2 of you mention Monograph, but if anyone has more to offer on that one, please let me know.

We decided to pursue Unanet for our CRM.  We have just begun implementation, so cannot yet report on results.

Thank you!

Love your post, and it's good to know about all of the product development.

I looked at CORE in 2022, on behalf of one of our clients that was using ArchiOffice, and I wasn't very impressed. I actually liked CMap and Total Synergy better, but they didn't have good customer support in the USA.

I really like SCORO. One of our clients (a 150-person firm in Latin. America) is using it, and it's pretty amazing.

They also have an excellent team of digital technology people who are pushing the envelope in all areas of practice.

Best,

M.

Marjanne Pearson

1+ 510.541.3252 m
talentstar.com
·································
she | her

·································

Strategy by Design

Insights + Research

I'll add to the conversation, but first, for full disclosure:

•  I ran a small architecture firm for 7 years in Portland, OR. We were 6 people when I left.
• We used Monograph for our project management and QuickBooks Online for our financial management.
• I spent about 3-years consulting with small firms that used a range of software tools for firm management, including simple spreadsheets.
• I currently work at BQE CORE as Director of Content and Community. 
  
  

Most of the software options have been touched on throughout this thread already, so I don't have new ones to mention.

I enjoyed using Monograph when running my firm because of its nice design and intuitive interface. It was easy to adopt, and we got the whole firm to use it daily. That's a huge win. There were some shortcomings, as with all software. The biggest challenge for firms is that it is not very customizable. And if you want an all-in-one solution, it's not going to give you that now.  

BQE CORE is an all-in-one solution that has project management, accounting, billing, a CRM, time tracking, and other tools fully integrated. The project management features are currently being improved. We'll be launching new and improved project budgeting, project planning, and resource management tools in the next two months. Our product development roadmap also includes improving the CRM module throughout this year and rolling out fully integrated Payroll in Q2-Q3. Another thing that sets us apart is that we have a fully integrated mobile app that works on all devices, so CORE is truly accessible anywhere. 

It is a very robust app with lots of options, flexibility, and customizability, which a lot of people value. But to be fair, having so many features and customizability does make it more complicated than an app like Factor or Monograph. I think CORE is a good product that will be great with some of the new improvements rolling out in the coming months.

This all being said, I'm not trying to give a sales pitch here. I had success running my firm with Monograph and Quickbooks Online. At my firm, we used Hubspot as our CRM, and I really like that app. It is super powerful - even with just their free tools. If you are looking for a standalone CRM I'd recommend going with Hubspot. If you are looking for an all-in-one solution, I honestly think BQE CORE is a great option for most firms - especially firms with 10+ people who need robust tools.  

Marjanne Pearson, you hit the nail on the head.

As a former quality manager involved with implementing and analyzing maintenance of CRMs in multiple A/E firms, we found GIGO as one major issue.

In final analysis we arrived at the following conclusion:  It has been said that salespeople became salespeople because they do not like drudgery tasks, preferring to socialize more than write.  And, most architects became architects because they like to draw more than write. So now you are asking salespeople-architects to do the drudgery task of entering accurately written data into a software program? 

One solution to avoid GIGO, albeit costly to implement, was to have a writer interview the salespeople-architects, and writer enter the information. Else find and only hire the rare salespeople-architects who like to write.

Hello, Eva -

I have one general comment about CRMs (and any database):

With all databases, it's a matter of garbage-in and garbage-out.

And if no useful information is going in, then there will be less reason to use it.

CRMs are most successful when someone takes the lead and is able to develop a high level of ownership within the people who will use the information on a regular basis. We have seen many firms invest in an excellent CRM software platform and then never adopt an effective method of data entry and management. But we have also seen truly remarkable success led by a champion who understood the potential and worked with others to develop a tool that people could use and appreciate. (And some wonderful Aha! moments when it really worked.)

If you go to Knowledge Architecture / Conference / Talk Archive

https://www.knowledge-architecture.com/ka-connect-talk-archive

you'll have access to a number of presentations by people within the AEC industry who have been able to improve their operations and collaboration through knowledge-sharing. It's truly inspirational!

Best,

M.

Marjanne Pearson

1+ 510.541.3252 m
talentstar.com
·································
she | her

·································

Strategy by Design

Insights + Research

Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences with ERP, PPM, and CRM software.  I am intrigued by the various paths you have all followed and have learned about some options that I had never heard of before!

We have been using BQE Core for several years, but I have to say it has not been without difficulties.  Some of that came from how we transitioned from its predecessor ArchiOffice.  Most recently it has been due to quirks within the platform.  ("Not sure why that is happening; we'll need to escalate that.") We have been looking closely at Monograph due to it's PPM features, which we have not found positive in Core.  I heard 1 or 2 of you mention Monograph, but if anyone has more to offer on that one, please let me know.

We decided to pursue Unanet for our CRM.  We have just begun implementation, so cannot yet report on results.

Thank you!

Love your post, and it's good to know about all of the product development.

I looked at CORE in 2022, on behalf of one of our clients that was using ArchiOffice, and I wasn't very impressed. I actually liked CMap and Total Synergy better, but they didn't have good customer support in the USA.

I really like SCORO. One of our clients (a 150-person firm in Latin. America) is using it, and it's pretty amazing.

They also have an excellent team of digital technology people who are pushing the envelope in all areas of practice.

Best,

M.

Marjanne Pearson

1+ 510.541.3252 m
talentstar.com
·································
she | her

·································

Strategy by Design

Insights + Research

Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences with ERP, PPM, and CRM software.  I am intrigued by the various paths you have all followed and have learned about some options that I had never heard of before!

We have been using BQE Core for several years, but I have to say it has not been without difficulties.  Some of that came from how we transitioned from its predecessor ArchiOffice.  Most recently it has been due to quirks within the platform.  ("Not sure why that is happening; we'll need to escalate that.") We have been looking closely at Monograph due to it's PPM features, which we have not found positive in Core.  I heard 1 or 2 of you mention Monograph, but if anyone has more to offer on that one, please let me know.

We decided to pursue Unanet for our CRM.  We have just begun implementation, so cannot yet report on results.

Thank you!

Love your post, and it's good to know about all of the product development.

I looked at CORE in 2022, on behalf of one of our clients that was using ArchiOffice, and I wasn't very impressed. I actually liked CMap and Total Synergy better, but they didn't have good customer support in the USA.

I really like SCORO. One of our clients (a 150-person firm in Latin. America) is using it, and it's pretty amazing.

They also have an excellent team of digital technology people who are pushing the envelope in all areas of practice.

Best,

M.

Marjanne Pearson

1+ 510.541.3252 m
talentstar.com
·································
she | her

·································

Strategy by Design

Insights + Research