FastPIPE Reviews

Features That Match Our Needs

Comments: It has made our estimating process reproduceable by all who use it. All bids come onto a common spreadsheet that allows for easy review. Fast-Pipe was easy to get set up the way we like it and an easy takeoff function made for an easy transfer of systems when we purchased the Fast-Pipe system.

Pros:

We are a mid size PHVAC contractor ($3-5M/Yr) and our prior system was more advanced than we required. Fast-Pipe has the features we need without a lot of features we would never use. It has an easy interface from Plan Loading to Spec Adjustments to takeoff ease. The other feature we like is a direct transfer of the outputted data onto a very user friendly bidding spreadsheet. Our former software required us to manually design a spreadsheet and transfer basic data by hand in order to bid the project.

Cons:

It can be time consuming to track down specific items in the data base catalog if you aren't sure how they are originally placed.

FastEst is ALL you need.

Comments: Great product, great service. Non-complicated, in less than an hour, you will be building an estimate.

Pros:

I have used several different "top brand" programs during my ongoing 30 yr career as an MP estimator and project manager. Programs that varies in the ranges, from digitizer to on screen take off. The pipe & duct programs are so easy to use, you almost wonder - can this be true. We're programmed to work harder, not smarter. FastEst changes all that. Estimating efficiency and accuracy is what FastEst provides for me, not to mention the affordable price and options you can select for your particular needs. The other very, very important selling point is that when I have an issue and call the help line.....the person who answers the phone helps you right then - your issue is resolved. NONE of the competition does that, you place your call, they take your info then hopefully someone calls you back timely. FastEst customer service is the best.

Cons:

That my competitors may discover FastEst....... I'd like to push one button for the material price updates and be done. Currently we get our materials quoted anyway as most of our bids are sizable.

FastPIPE review

Pros:

Putting data in is very easy with this software.

Cons:

Getting data out could be better. It needs more options.

Feedback

Comments: Customer support is excellent.
I was putting is extra time on the week-end bidding and take-off of a motel last year . I had an issue with the program not working properly (not sure what happened), but put a call in early Sunday morning and had a response with-in two hours. FastEst Rep had me back up and running with-in minutes.

Pros:

User friendly and the maneuverability thru-out the program.

Cons:

Not able to copy a second plan. Example. (I load up the plans needed, but sometimes, I would like to be able to have a second copy of a single sheet, but not been able to do that).

FastPIPE Review

Comments: MY OVERALL EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN VERY GOOD. THE SOFTWARE IS EASY TO LEARN AND THE SUPPORT IS FANTASTIC WHEN REQUIRED (INSTALLING ON NEW LAPTOP).

Pros:

THE ABILITY TO IMPORT PLANS, PROCEED WITH TAKEOFF, AND OVERLAY REVISED PLANS TO SEE THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE. THE ABILITY TO INCREASE THE PLAN SIZE IN TAKEOFF IS A GREAT ASSET AS YOU CAN PRINT THE VISIBLE PORTION ONLY IF REQUIRED.

Cons:

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A SEARCH BAR TO FIND PAST JOBS AND I WOULD LIKE THE JOB LIST TO BE AT THE TOP IN LIEU OF REFRESHING.

FastPipe is a lifesaver

Comments: Our company is involved in may multi-million dollar projects. Many that are not designed when we first receive the plans. FastPipe allows me to draw piping while creating an estimate and afterwards, I can print the plans with my layout to share with the owner/engineer team to indicate the extensiveness we went through to create an accurate budget. Additionally, we now don't have the need for so many people to complete the task of estimating which frees up resources for other departments

Pros:

This software allows me to take on at a minimum twice the projects compared to taking PVF off by hand. I have used other estimating software in the past that really over complicated the process

Cons:

Some of the takeoff button script is a little on the small side. Larger text would be helpful but its a give and take as I don't want to lose takeoff screen size for larger text

FAST PIPE

Comments: I have been using Fast pipe for over 20 years and it allows me to estimate a job accurately and have it organized for installation. its just a very efficient way to estimate a job.

Pros:

-The ease of use is awesome. you can down load a set of drawings set the scale and start taking a job off very quickly. -The assembly's you can create along with the standard ones already set up make take offs very fast. -The fact that you can print the colored take off drawings and have all the systems with a different color is great to hand to the field. - Great for doing design build job estimating as you can draw the pipe as you go and have job laid out. much more accurate way to price. - Printing material list by system and or material type or by area. gives you a lot of variations to get materials ordered for the job. - they are constantly updating the software and data base to keep it current.

Cons:

- Really do not have any con's. As stated above they are constantly updating the software with improvements and data base.

Best Estimating software on the market!

Comments: I have been estimating for almost 20 years and have used two other programs before Fastpipe and can say honestly that fastpipe is by far the best and easiest estimating program I have use. They listen to any changes we think would improve there product, I use it daily for over 7 years now.

Pros:

Reliable, easy to uses, Fastpipe always keeps up on updating the data base and are always improving their product to keep up or stay ahead of the market. Great customer service, we have built up a relationship with the guys both professionally and personally.

Cons:

The only thing I can think of if we could have (2) of the program open on one computer once we have (2) or more licences.

FastPipe is a quick and intuitive estimating tool

Pros:

The ease of doing takeoffs, generating reports and the overall functionality of the software

Cons:

The Quick Pick Menu could be better customizable

Alternatives Considered: Maxwell

Reasons for Switching to FastPIPE: It was the best fit for our company

Fast Pipe review

Comments: The program overall has increased our ability to put out quotes and the visual aspect of seeing what has been taken off has decreased omitted items.

Pros:

Very easy to use, very easy to train others to use. Great product support team that goes above and beyond with help.

Cons:

Could include more items in the catalogue that cover specialty piping. ie: lab, clean room, pharmaceutical specialties.

Wouldn't use anything else.

Comments: We are able to bid every job we need to and have found that the jobs almost always come in very close to bid. We are competitive on every job we bid as well. We have never been able to bid as much work or get as much work as we have since we started using FastPIPE

Pros:

I initially selected FastPIPE because of the price, but I have stuck with it because of it's ease of use and the success we've had since we started using it.

Cons:

The fonts are too small when selecting different sizes of pipe and fittings.

Long time User

Comments: I have used Quick Penn/Auto Bid software for decades before switching to this program. I find this software does almost everything I could ever want to do. Highly adaptable to customization of unique situations and projects.

Pros:

Auto Table Pricing Updates, Customizable Bid Book Excel templates, Ease of takeoff. Ease of use doing on scree show and tell when doing project Bid reviews with management.

Cons:

Inability to copy areas of takeoff into assemblies via cut and paste Inability to build assemblies using graphical take off method.

I am an Estimator with 35 years of practice, all types of programs

Pros:

Ease of learning. Comprehensive materials price service provided. Availability to many industry standard labor data bases and accuracy of Fast Est Materials labor data. Assemblies, Reports available exportable to Excel. Ability to import data from other takeoff. Ability to copy plans from Fast pipe to Fast duct or vice versa, saving time for job setup, Customizable Bid workbook to fit company needs, Ability to feed into combined Pipe and Duct workbook from either Fast Pipe or Fast Duct program, Takeoff tools within program, ability to replicate visuals and paste for repeated patterns, Scaling options great Customer support is the best I have ever experienced Cost of programs and yearly support fees are very competitive. Absolute best bang for the buck. Ease of copying take for show and tell purposes Program is entirely flexible to be used in network configuration or stand alone.

Cons:

Nothing to not like. The product is the best software I've used in my career.

Fast Pipe

Comments: need to work on integration with supply house and need to work excavation features

Pros:

Accuracy is excellent. The online meetings are very helpful. Customization is very simple

Cons:

I don't fast pipes excel form there very difficult to use. It would be better if layer the take off. The creating of assemblies is to many steps

For better or worse

Pros:

Easy to run. Time saver. Good spreadsheets.

Cons:

Had one problem when software was updated it had my material pricing messed up and didn't figure it out till I got a few jobs due to bad material pricing that we ended up losing money on.

Excellent for HVAC & Plumbing Insulation

Comments: More efficiency and Accuracy in Taking-off projects, Better coordination with our Field Workers, More accurate Material Orders, We have quit printing full size sets of drawings.

Pros:

Absolutely and GREAT tool. This system has streamlined our whole workflow. From the moment we begin estimating the project, to ordering materials, to coordination during the project.

Cons:

No Undo Button! There are only a couple of small items that would make it better for our use, but the BIGGEST, Almost singular item is there is not an UNDO button.

Daily User of FastPipe

Comments: Overall we are very satisfied with FastPipe. It allows for very accurate estimates and clean breakdowns to properly ensure project budget.

Pros:

FastPipe allows you to easily and accurately create estimates of any project we are working. On the back end it allows you to quickly revise your estimate based upon updated drawings or customer requests. All while being able to effectively track the changes.

Cons:

There is a lack of shortcut keys. All steps need to be repeatedly clicked which can be arduous when performing common tasks.

Fast Pipe

Pros:

transition was not to bad, the training class was worth the time, it saved time for the learning process and we learned a lot of short cuts

Cons:

that program won't save pricing from actual bid time. if you need to break out for schedule of values at a later date it requires you to recalculate which changes pricing if there have been any updates.

Fast pipe = Fast estimates

Pros:

The best part about the software is how efficient you can be using it. We have our live pricing for piping materials which makes it accurate and the support from the fastest team is great. The software is very easy to learn and very user friendly.

Cons:

Only con is getting used to the software, learning how it works, and getting the specs setup for your specific materials and local codes. Once your setup I don't think there are any cons.

Fast Pipe Review

Comments: Take off time is minimized and we are able to focus more on building the job and estimating the labor.

Pros:

Customization and downloading to Microsoft Excel.

Cons:

There are very minor hiccups/ glitches within the software. However I have had frequent occasions that I would like to draw directly on the drawings but can only draw straight lines. Addional shapes would be used quite often. (Circles especially)

I love your product

Comments: love the support

Pros:

I only do the material take off. for me it is very easy to use

Cons:

I think there can be a few things added. Like counting core hole when adding risers on the rough-in

FastPipe

Comments: Fantastic

Pros:

The easy of learning the program and the flow keeps you on track.

Cons:

Sometimes I mark one template and another would pop up.

I will strongly recommend this program.

Comments: Fastpipe is a good program, and I like it.

Pros:

The program can be used offline. It is easy to use.

Cons:

Sometimes we lost data that we did not saved on time.

Great TakeOff Software

Comments: Helps us estimate projects quicker and more accurately then old school methods.

Pros:

Ease of take off. Use of PDF drawings for take off. Great customer service with fast response. Able to add/create custom catalog items. Updates on pricing and revisions are constantly updated. Overlaying revised drawings is great.

Cons:

Can't be in catalog and others doing takeoff. Changing names on imported files is slow/clumsy.

NONE

Comments: It has been great. Very useful and helpful to price up anything related to construction

Pros:

Easy takeoff tools. Easy to build job specifications and

Cons:

When using the tape measure tool you are required to click on the tool each time. The tool should stay on until a different function is selected.