--- description: Review of Trimble AutoBid Software: system overview, features, price and cost information. Get free demos and compare to similar programs. image: https://gdm-localsites-assets-gfprod.imgix.net/images/software_advice/og_logo-55146305bbe7b450bea05c18e9be9c9a.png title: Trimble AutoBid | Reviews, Pricing & Demos - SoftwareAdvice AU --- Breadcrumb: [Home](/) > [HVAC Estimating Software](/directory/47/mechanical-and-hvac-estimating-software/software) > [Trimble AutoBid](/software/404124/trimble-autobid-mechanical) # Trimble AutoBid Canonical: https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/software/404124/trimble-autobid-mechanical Page: 1 / 3\ Next: [Next page](https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/software/404124/trimble-autobid-mechanical?page=2) > Trimble® AutoBid Mechanical is the market leading estimating software for commercial and industrial mechanical, piping and plumbing contractors. Providing contractors with Integrated OnScreen View graphical takeoff, automatic fitting generation, value engineering, a database of over 100,000 items and multiple industry standard labor books. Trimble AutoBid helps contractors create accurate bids and gain a competitive advantage on bid day and complete estimates quickly with real-time, up-to-date material pricing. Professional, accurately priced bid submissions help win more jobs and protect margins. Trimble Autobid Mechanical can also help you improve information sharing with your teams and other stakeholders for enhanced efficiency and informed decision making. > > Verdict: Rated **4.3/5** by 53 users. Top-rated for **Likelihood to recommend**. ----- ## Quick Stats & Ratings | Metric | Rating | Detail | | **Overall** | **4.3/5** | 53 Reviews | | Ease of Use | 3.9/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Customer Support | 4.3/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Value for Money | 4.0/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Features | 4.2/5 | Based on overall reviews | | Recommendation percentage | 80% | (8/10 Likelihood to recommend) | ## About the vendor - **Company**: B2W Software - **Location**: Princeton, US - **Founded**: 1978 ## Commercial Context - **Starting Price**: USD 1.00 - **Pricing model**: (Free version available) (Free Trial) - **Target Audience**: Self Employed, 2–10, 11–50, 51–200, 201–500, 501–1,000, 1,001–5,000, 5,001–10,000, 10,000+ - **Deployment & Platforms**: Windows (Desktop), Linux (Desktop) - **Supported Languages**: English - **Available Countries**: Canada, United States ## Features - Bid Management - Change Order Management - Collaboration Tools - Commercial/Industrial - Cost Database - Cost Estimating - Customizable Reports - Data Import/Export - Document Management - Estimating - Fitting Management - For HVAC Companies - For Plumbing Industry - Labor Rates - Prebuilt Assembly - Project Planning - Project Tracking - Quotes/Estimates - Reporting & Statistics - Reporting/Analytics ## Support Options - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - Chat ## Category - [HVAC Estimating Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/directory/47/mechanical-and-hvac-estimating-software/software) ## Related Categories - [HVAC Estimating Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/directory/47/mechanical-and-hvac-estimating-software/software) - [Plumbing Estimating Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/directory/183/plumbing-estimating-software/software) - [Subcontractor Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/directory/3765/subcontractor-software/software) - [Construction Management Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/directory/1722/best-apps/software) - [Construction Software](https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/directory/4133/construction/software) ## Alternatives 1. [Autodesk Forma](https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/software/390033/autodesk-construction-cloud) — 4.3/5 (2205 reviews) 2. [Houzz Pro](https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/software/101873/houzz-pro) — 4.3/5 (1086 reviews) 3. [Sage Construction Suite](https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/software/185440/sage-construction-suite) — 4.0/5 (1048 reviews) 4. [Leap](https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/software/110460/leap) — 4.3/5 (396 reviews) 5. [Knowify](https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/software/110463/knowify-general-contractor) — 4.5/5 (109 reviews) ## Reviews ### "AutoBid SheetMetal Review" — 4.0/5 > **Grayson** | *18 January 2019* | Construction | Recommendation rating: 9.0/10 > > **Pros**: Common database that is shared by all estimators. It's very fast. Anyone can access the software as long as they have a username/ password and a licence is available. Access can be limited on a individual user level. You can build anything you come across. The functionality of the assemblies is incredible. > > **Cons**: Labor categories are limited to shop and field in reports though user defined categories are available. i.e. Commissioning/Start-up. These categories do not receive correction factors. New users find it overwhelming. Database and takeoff is now one program so only one can be opened at a time. > > I have been a ABSM user since 1998 and seen the software grow with the industry. Our HVAC estimating capacity has had to increase as the company grew and as the Lead HVAC estimator I have had to opportunity to change software and found ABSM to continually lead the industry. I can't imagine using anything else. ----- ### "Software refresh" — 4.0/5 > **Chris** | *7 September 2023* | Construction | Recommendation rating: 8.0/10 > > **Pros**: I like the speed in which you can take off projects. > > **Cons**: I don't like dealing with errors after calculatingI don't like the cost of 1 on 1 trainingI don't like that specs are all over the place and that I have to edit constantlyI don't like that there arrnt any quick keys to do things quicker > > All in all its alright. I'm winning jobs with it but I still need to do things by hand. I have so much to learn as I know I'm only scratching the surface of its capabilities ----- ### "Not what it used to be" — 3.0/5 > **Brian** | *29 May 2019* | Construction | Recommendation rating: 2.0/10 > > **Pros**: Pro:The ability to set up joints to pick up the transition parts such as going from CS to copper, (like a weld-o-let die-electric nipple and copper adapter). Importing direst from Trimble's Trade Service is great. Cons (continued) I have been using onscreen takeoff programs for about 15 years. This is an old program that requires way to many mouse clicks. No usable hot keys. > > **Cons**: Set up of the program takes a LOT of time and tends to be an ongoing project as you add items. Updates are few and far between. The updates are often are buggy leaving you with unexplained errors. Version 2017 had enough issues that the new 2018v2 version is a stand alone version requiring you to start all over. Supplied spread sheets can not be customized any more. > > Recent tech support does not have field experience. They tend to just delete problems and not actually fix WHY a problem has occurred. Had I not asked a few questions regarding the latest version (2018v2) I would not have known it was NOT the actual version I was running even though it clearly showed the version number. An all new stand alone install had to be done, sending me back to square one with the program as if new out of box. ----- ### "Pretty good software, has some difficulties" — 4.0/5 > **Tim** | *7 September 2023* | Construction | Recommendation rating: 7.0/10 > > **Pros**: The on screen takeoff looks nice, pretty intuitive once you get used to it > > **Cons**: The lack of keyboard shortcuts for basic takeoff features. It would really speed up the process > > It has made our takeoff process a lot simpler, we print less plan sets. Sped up our overall process. ----- ### "My Take on the state of current Auto Bid system" — 5.0/5 > **Lou** | *8 September 2023* | Construction | Recommendation rating: 10.0/10 > > **Pros**: It allows estimators flexibility to use a tool that they can trust to be consistent and accurate. > > **Cons**: The lack of ability to link Auto Bid Mechanical rapid reports with Auto Bid Sheet Metal that will work more than once. > > From begining to end from quick pen Dos through the current version of Auto bid it has allowed us to bid more work with fewer people in shorter time frames without compromising accuracy. ----- Page: 1 / 3\ Next: [Next page](https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/software/404124/trimble-autobid-mechanical?page=2) ## Links - [View on SoftwareAdvice](https://www.softwareadvice.com.au/software/404124/trimble-autobid-mechanical) ## This page is available in the following languages | Locale | URL | | en | | | en-AU | | | en-GB | | | en-IE | | | en-NZ | | ----- ## Structured Data