Candy Reviews

Features, layout of worksheets as well as the integrated planning and quantity offtake software.

Lot of features but no manual on how to use all the features

Candy is by far the most user friendly program I have worked with and updates are done very often. I will never use another program for estimating tenders. You can structure it according to your needs and use your own experience to define your pricing.

I can not say anything negative about Candy, I almost want to call it perfect.

- I love having the level of information to which I can do costing, be as accessible to me as this software does it
- the ability (though very very very under-utilized) to convert omney to a timeline is exciting

- the support line is geared to the average user. Not much in the wat for expert users
- the inability to integrate with other big-name financial packages is a downer
- a one fits all fee structure is frustrating. Because we're not all on the same level of skill.

What i really enjoy about Candy is the time you save by pricing on Candy. Once your Candy is set up and running with you Master file, it's as easy as 1, 2, 3!!! Being able to load your Subcontractors on Candy and having them there is your best friend. Doing a program by using your information of your priced Bill of Quantities and being able to follow your cash flow all in one place is just brilliant and very efficient to you as Contractor, Quantity Surveyor, Site Agent and Estimator.

If you don't have a Master File to work from and you need to build your own Master file, then it can be quite a nightmare. Getting a Master file from another construction company and changing it to your standards and way of pricing and working is the easiest way to go.

Candy is a very powerful and very user friendly project management software where so many software such as MS Project, Oracle Primavera tries to be the leader. Out of all these products I like Candy because it is very easy to handle and less complicated. Price is also lower than the Primavera.

Candy is still less popular software when compared with other project management software. But Candy is moving fast towards the bigger market. So files needs to be compatible with other management software.

Candy is a complete solution for a construction firm

cash flow needs some more improvement and reporting tools

Couldn't explore it to a full extent

The ability to cross reference everything that was done.
Pricing from 1st principles and to continue through project process until completion.

The fact that is not web based.
Difficult to access from remote locations.

It is designed specifically for the construction industry

I don's know all the functionality and do not have the time to go on training courses.

Easy to use and can be used to prepare transparent estimates from first principles for any construction project

The electronic quantity taking off facility could be improved

User friendly. Easy to learn. Powerful tool.

Printing reports can be cumbersome. Is there a faster way to set yp multiple reports in one click?

I have used many estimation software but I found CCS more User Friendly and the reason behind is that it's developed by the estimators keeping in mind the requirements of best estimation practices. I am using it since 2013 and never experienced that I was unable to furnish any type of report/summary which was requested by my employer.

When the CCS file get bigger the software functionality get slower. Recently, I have worked on a project with around 77 buildings, each building comprised very extensive BOQ and there were around 19,500 pay items. It was taking quite extra times to finalize the worksheets and I spent many extra hours to generate the excel version from CCS file. This issue must be resolved.

CCS providing user-friendly cost modelling solutions for construction projects to manage project cost from tender stage to until project completion.

The CCS detailed cost estimation model help to produce a number of cost reports which will help during the decision-making process in the tender stage, as well as this cost model can use to establish the post contract cost control process, and able to produce cost reports such as cost to completion, cost value reconciliation and cash flow statements, etc.

Its required more time for the establishment of master CCS, and also only one estimator can work in one project, if two estimators work for one project by dividing into two parts, later if required to merge into one file, it is possible but not simple.

The package allows one to price the project to the last screw and then enables one to analyse the project and fully understand where the cost is and what areas require special attention.
Generally 80% of the cost is in 20% of the items.
The programming module of Candy is by far one of the most advanced programs available. It assists in monitoring the design information for construction. It enables one to link the estimate to the programme and get out detailed accurate cash flows, labour and resource histograms.

It is a rather expensive package with a monthly cost per package and companies tend to look for alternative cheaper packages.
So far have managed to convince company to stay with candy

I enjoy the estimating and valuations . I like the fact that you can customize it for your own uses.

The difficulty and amount of time that it takes to programme on CCS. There is a lack of clarity of how to link everything and pricing multiple items with the same description.

Very good estimating software rates can be built easily and utilize efficiently,no other software can compete in term of estimating and valuation

Functionality of QTO is very bad and inefficient,it is way behind other on screen measurements softwares.

1) Complete package
2) Cradle to Grave
3) Able to use in motivation contractual claims
4) Interlinked between Tender, Costing, Measurement, Programs, Cash flow, Claims etc

1) To get the full use of the product the user needs to spend a lot of time working on it
2) The constant changes require aren't always apparent to the user
3) Artificial Intelligence has not been implemented in the product, where the program could understand your thinking process and assist with the creation and general work process
4) Artificial Intelligence could also be used for the more mundane chores, leaving the User to spend more time with the creative process
5) Artificial Intelligence could be used to monitor the original implementation and subsequent betterment due to AI. Time is precious, and if we can do the same work faster, with assistance from AI that would be a major plus

01. Can use a bill of quantities to allocate resources to tender- or construction programmes and therefore come to sensible programme activity durations very quickly.
02. Access to help (have built up a good relationship with the reps over the years & have always had excellent service).
03. The ease of using macros, saves me loads of time, especially when linking multiple activity strings.

Used to be able to import more fields when importing new programme activities; would like the option of importing text 01 to text 05 as well.

Most important for me was the integrated planning and cashflow tool during the estimating phase and later for project control.

The integration of the software in the overseas department was easy, for the local projects difficult because of the missing German language.

This software designed in such a way that it satisfy the need of all contractors/engineer.
We can get ' n ' number of types of reports it helps you in financial planning, cash flow,resource planning, mobilization etc.
It makes your estimation process easy and most effective way.

Price is not affordable for small firms and free lancers and some of commands need to be more friendly like MS excel, however if you practice candy even you can achieve required speediness in work

Accurate estimate, Best Cost controlling software

the limitations in character input in resource list and other restrictions in number of jobs in a single company .

Candy is easy to use and integrates well with the other RIB offerings. It handles the project from beginning to end. From costing, resourcing, planning, to cost control, valuations and tracking progress everything can be done with one software package. Integrates well with BuildSmart.

Sometimes a little user unfriendly and does not allow for two different projects to be worked on simultaneously. No real complaints!

Most of what I use Candy for is the QTO and Estimating portions.

I find them very useful and quick to use. I do enjoy that the software is continually being updated and changing to make it easier to use and more streamlined.

As I mostly use the QTO function, I do come across a few minor bugs. Sometimes QTO will crash or state that there is an unexpected error; or sometimes the length or area tools will bug out when inserting new point etc. However this is not a major issue.

What I like most about Candy is the ease of using the product. Once you are set up and start going it makes your work a lot easier. It safes time and money, and in business time is money. I love how I can do my programming, subcontracting and pricing all at once. Project Management is made more efficient with Candy.

Initially getting all the "meat" for estimating of projects (Masters) can be a challenge. Pricing per license can get a little expensive if you do not make use of the program a lot.

The software offers a dynamic array of reporting and management tools to the construction sector from pre-tender through construction execution and close out.
CCS also offers ongoing updates improving their software and often improving their integration with other construction software packages.

It doesn't allow you to undo and action.

It is designed to cater the construction industry, by construction professionals and they constantly improve the deficiencies, provided by the users and improve it. Its a daily basis transformation, moving with the technology, and I have not seen such a competent customer service by any software provider, as of now.

Nothing really. Perhaps the monthly licence, but they deserve that too!!