Seamless Takeoff

and Estimating

Estimating

Project

Management

Accounting

Services

EMPOWERING

MAXWELL
SYSTEMS

CONSTRUCTION

Your Construction
Technology Partner
Maxwell Systems has earned a reputation as a leading provider of complete construction
software solutions and services for estimating, project management, and accounting.
Founded in 1975, the company is dedicated to helping more than 10,000 construction
companies who rely on Maxwell Systems solutions to increase productivity and improve
profitability.

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX is an all-in-one construction software solution that
handles the complexities of the entire project lifecycle. As a comprehensive, single
solution for end-to-end control, ProContractorMX allows contractors more streamlined
operations and increased visibility across three domains of expertise: estimating, job cost
accounting, and project management.

Flexible Functionality
With versatile features developed to meet the business requirements of every role within
your construction organization, the solution is flexible and easy to use.

Setting a New Standard

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX is
built from the ground up on Microsofts
latest technology Microsoft .NET
platform and SQL database setting
a new standard in construction
business management software.

The solutions comprehensive feature set allows you to start with most critical applications
you want whether only estimating or only accounting and project management and
grow into the full breadth of offerings and valuable modules as your business needs them.
And you have a team at Maxwell Systems to help you every step of the way.

See the ProContractorMX All-in-One brochure to learn about using the solution for
end-to-end construction management.

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX: Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

EMPOWERING

MAXWELL

CONSTRUCTION

www.maxwellsystems.com

SYSTEMS

Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX provides robust and user-friendly features so you can
significantly improve your takeoff, estimating, and proposal management processes.
ProContractorMX helps you quickly and accurately quantify, price, and bid projects:

Eliminate slow and cumbersome paper processes

Precisely perform takeoff for on-target bids
Save time, increase accuracy, and consider what-if scenarios to negotiate
contracts
Submit more bids in less time with precision and profit margin
Win the work thats worth the estimating effort
Automatically build audit trails to effectively handle disputes and avoid delay claims
Using seamless software for takeoff and estimating, you can streamline efforts and better
maintain a pipeline of opportunities. Imagine finishing a complex bid in just hours rather
than days or weeks!

Table of Contents
Flexible, All-in-One Solution ..................2
Microsoft .NET platform
and SQL Database .................................2
Overview of Takeoff
and Estimating ................................... 3-4
Benefits of seamless solution
Value of Takeoff, Pricing, Estimates,
and more
Fast and Accurate Takeoff.....................5
Digitized Takeoff
Digital Takeoff
Measure Cut and Fill........................... 6-7
Takeoff

Mitigate risk and maximize reward

CAD

Consistently perform accurate takeoffs

Trenchwork, Roadwork, Cross Sections

Prepare detailed estimates efficiently

Submit on-target bids
Win work you can execute profitably

Estimating Capabilities...................... 8-9

Seamless from Takeoff or BIM
Familiar Formats and Reports
Central Database
Templates and Attachments
Estimate with Accuracy
Tailored for Earthwork
Historical Reporting
Notepad, Alternates, Summary, more
Bids and Proposals
Bid Day and Invitation to Bid
Bid Dashboard
Buyout, Purchase Orders,
Change Orders, Reporting ...................10
Visual Assemblies and Verification ....11
Earthwork Verification..........................12
More Than Estimating..........................13
For Every Member of Your Team..........14

ProContractorMX provides a customizable home page where you can add popular favorites, helpful
widgets, and more. You can make it your own!

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX: Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

Support & Services...............................15

Seamless Takeoff and Estimating, continued

Youll be able to save time, prepare the winning bid, and control processes with
ProContractorMX as your fast, accurate, and easy-to-use takeoff and estimating
software solution.
Takeoff

Eliminate cost and hassle of blueprints

Increase speed and accuracy with simple point-and-click takeoff
Reduce costly mistakes and measure quantities to within 1/1000th of an inch
Pricing

Work quickly using pre-built and customizable databases, based on industry

standard labor units
Easily determine materials, labor, and equipment needs for any job
Cost jobs properly considering variables such as workers skill, weather conditions,
full-time and seasonal labor force, etc.
Estimates

Finish estimates up to 10 times faster than using manual methods and spreadsheets
Produce detailed estimates and customized proposals
Simplify and expedite estimating using real-time pricing, assemblies, and multi-level
breakouts

Stop making costly

mistakes and find more
profit in every job.

Have confidence in numbers by tying together estimates, labor needs, and cost
analysis
Beyond

Manipulate numbers on bid day to negotiate and win

Easily compare plan revisions to handle changes and capture profits
Manage and verify change orders in seconds
Reduce data entry, increase accuracy, and improve accountability with seamless
process and electronic trail
With ProContractorMX, estimators can stop making costly mistakes and easily analyze
estimates to see how to find more profit in every job. Plus owners can make timely,
confident decisions using job tracking tools for insight about what type of work the
company does best and ensure time is spent bidding on the right jobs.

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX: Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

EMPOWERING

MAXWELL

CONSTRUCTION

www.maxwellsystems.com

SYSTEMS

Fast and Accurate Takeoff

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX provides versatile takeoff options that help you save time,
eliminate costly errors, and improve accuracy for better profit margins. So whether youre
performing takeoff for structural elements or sitework, ProContractorMX is the right fit for you.

Digitized Takeoff
If you like to work with traditional blueprints, improve your speed and accuracy with
digitized takeoff. Simply lay your plans on a digitizer, set the scale, and point and click
with a stylus pen. Quickly generate accurate measurements and quantities.

Digital Takeoff
Use ProContractorMX to perform digital takeoff of electronic plans quickly and accurately
right on your monitor and never touch a set of bulky, expensive blueprints. The easy-to-use
software helps you save significant time taking off original plans and when there are plan
revisions.
Overlay Plans Instantly compare your new plans to the older ones, so you can
capitalize on every change order and make more money on every job.
Sheet Import Manager Select which PDF Sheets you want to import and split
apart the PDF layers for detailed, concise takeoffs. Save the time of hunting through
unnecessary sheets.
Shape Recognition Further automate quantity counts by using Shape
Recognition feature to automatically search a set of plans and annotate like symbols
and shapes.
Seamless Workflow After you complete your measurements, easily send them
to your estimate to prepare your bid.

Save time and eliminate costly errors using Digital Takeoff for unmatched precision. Add Maxwell
Systems Estimating Touch Screen Monitor and further increase speed, efficiency, and precision during
takeoff and estimating.

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX: Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

Measure Cut and Fill, too!

Whether you need to measure cut and fill, or takeoff curb runs, fencing, silt fence, or count
items like manholes, catch basins, and inlets, we have a solution for you!

Digitized Takeoff
If you prefer to use paper plans, you can use ProContractorMX to measure your cut
and fill quantities in record time.

Digital Takeoff
Tailored for earthwork, ProContractorMX helps you quickly generate accurate cut and
fill quantities straight from digital site plans.
Efficiently takeoff existing contours, proposed contours, spot elevations, and
any sitework elements
Easily calculate grade; and quickly identify borings, substrata, swell, and yield
Electronically stake elevation points for fine grade or rough grade staking and layout
Import takeoff information directly from CAD files and automatically assign
elevations and join contours

Easily takeoff elevations, calculate grade, and more, and know amount and types of materials that need
to be moved for on-target bids.

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX: Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

EMPOWERING

MAXWELL

CONSTRUCTION

www.maxwellsystems.com

SYSTEMS

Measure Cut and Fill, continued

Additional Earth-Measuring Applications

Maxwell Systems Trenchwork, Roadwork, and Cross Sections are additional earth-measuring
applications for sitework contractors involved with underground utilities and highway
work. So whether working from plans drawn in profile view or cross section view, you can
measure quantities easily and then send that data seamlessly to your estimating process.

See the ProContractorMX Earthwork brochure for details about using solution for
earthwork, sitework, and other cut and fill work.

ProContractorMX helps
earthwork contractors to
increase accuracy, save
valuable time, and minimize
the possibility of costly
mistakes.

If you have CAD files or data from field instruments like a laser total station or GPS, you can skip the
takeoff step altogether and import your takeoff data directly into ProContractorMX.

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX: Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

Easy-to-Use Estimating Solution

Save time and cut costs using ProContractorMX to efficiently and accurately figure out what
the materials, equipment, and labor will cost you.

Seamless from Takeoff or BIM

Takeoff data is pulled directly into the estimating process, helping you avoid the time and
error of reentering information. Receive or generate Building Information Modeling (BIM)
files and skip the takeoff process altogether by easily importing and automatically
populating an estimate with cost items and quantities.

Familiar Formats and Reports

Estimating, bid day tools, and proposal writing are built in so you enjoy quick bidding with
familiar spreadsheet formats and easy-to-read bid views and reports.

Central Database
Quickly find pricing on thousands of cost items including materials, equipment, and labor,
and choose trade-specific databases, RSMeans databases, or customize as many as you
want.

Templates and Attachments

Save more time by creating estimate templates with items you use regularly; with a single
click, items or assemblies, including 3-D Visual Assemblies and User-Defined Assemblies,
may be added to a bid. For further convenience, you can attach important documentation,
such as original plans, drawings, and correspondence.

Estimate with Accuracy

No need to reenter data because ProContractorMX shows you all quantities,
measurements, and calculations from the takeoff. Its a seamless process that improves
accuracy and saves time. Easily add, change, and manage cost items, assemblies, and
financial items as you prepare your estimate.

Tailored for Earthwork

With estimating features tailored for sitework contractors, you can use ProContractorMX to
determine cut and fill quantities and then efficiently calculate what the equipment and
labor will cost. See our ProContractorMX for Earthwork brochure for details.

Historical Reporting
Track performance by estimator, customer, project type, and more; dozens of standard
formats give you information in the way you want to see it.

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX: Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

EMPOWERING

MAXWELL

CONSTRUCTION

www.maxwellsystems.com

SYSTEMS

Easy-to-Use Estimating Solution, continued

User-friendly features for convenience and workflow throughout

estimating process:
Notepad helps you keep track of quantities and cost item specifications with a
useful audit trail for your job; sort items with a click, convert measurements, or get
quantity totals.
Alternates allow you to negotiate easily for a competitive edge on other bidders and
to identify profitable opportunities on a job.
Summary tool lets you view your estimates subtotal costs and all your results and
quickly sort, filter, and organize using Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) codes;
review estimate data any way you like and set baseline costs to compare changes.
Offline Estimating capability lets you take ProContractorMX with you to the field or
home; put it on your laptop and do takeoff, create estimates, and prepare bids while
out of the office.

Manage proposals and bid day without worry or aggravation:

Bids and Proposals are easily created, tracked, and managed with familiar formats,
custom capabilities, and accurate bid details from the estimating process; view
reports and the data you need with just a click.
Bid Day tool helps you manipulate a proposals price on the fly, propose what-if scenarios,
and make up-to-the-minute adjustments and negotiate before submitting a bid.
Invitation to Bid feature lets you track, store, and manage subcontractor bids and
supplier quotes in a central location and efficiently generate forms and reports.

The Bid Dashboard is a convenient way

to make informed decisions quickly with
graphical snapshots and drill-down
access to bid information.

No need for a `big board' down the hall.

Use ProContractorMX to quickly see, in
real-time, details about proposals due
and expiring. Click to drill into details of
all open bids. Easily stay on top of dates
and financial details.

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX: Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

Buyout, Purchase Orders,

Change Orders, and More
Beyond takeoff, estimating, and bid day, ProContractorMX continues to perform when
you win the bid!
Save time, simplify workflow, and improve communication between estimators,
accounting, and project managers on active jobs:

Instantly find and automatically share the data you need

Entire team can work with maximum efficiency and minimal data entry
Eliminate costly errors and increase accuracy and quality of data
Improve productivity and profit margins for all projects

Buyout
Efficiently manage the buyout process and protect yourself against purchasing more
expensive materials than were estimated. Streamlined process gives project managers
the information needed to successfully execute jobs that estimators won.

Purchase Orders

Managing the entire lifecycle

and all components of a job
electronically, youll achieve
the best efficiency and
accuracy.

Easily and electronically create and customize purchase orders, validate pricing, track
status, and manage the purchase and receipt of materials to help keep projects on
schedule.

Change Orders
Efficiently identify change requests; create change orders; track and manage pending,
internal, and contract change orders; and print change order documents and proposals.
Real-time information and cost comparisons help you drive timely approvals, capitalize on
opportunities for every job, and save money on potentially costly mistakes.

Reporting
Valuable reporting on wins and losses helps you see where to make adjustments to
further maximize profits. With insight about the status of purchasing, POs, and change
orders, you can better understand the productivity of team members.

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX: Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

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EMPOWERING

MAXWELL

CONSTRUCTION

www.maxwellsystems.com

SYSTEMS

Visual Assemblies and Verification

ProContractorMX offers impressive verification features that help you takeoff faster
and with precision, and provides comprehensive data to see your job come together.

Interactive 3-D Visual Assemblies

Visual Assemblies are

available to fit the unique
needs of different types
of construction:
C
 oncrete walls, slabs, footings,

columns, tilt up

Each visual assembly is a comprehensive graphical checklist of individual cost

items that are stored within your databases and are estimated together from one
takeoff measurement.
Deliver an accurate bid every time:

The lifelike takeoff image allows you to zoom, rotate, go inside,

and separate components
Clearly see if items are missing or incorrect
Adjust quantities and parameters and update items and costs as needed
Completely reusable in future projects for speedy workflow
Drag and drop to add VAs to your estimate to show clients a clear, colorful,
impressive picture of their investment.

F
 raming timber framing, metal

framing, drywall, ceilings, finishes

M
 asonry block walls, brick

walls, pavers

S
 itework asphalt paving,

concrete paving, stand ups, curbs,

gutters, sidewalks, fire hydrants,
trenches

Interactive 3-D Visual Assemblies help verify the accuracy of information in an estimate.

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX: Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

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Earthwork Verification
Sitework can involve a lot of expensive heavy equipment. So ProContractorMX was
designed with essential verification features that help protect your company with
unmatched accuracy.
Section View shows cross section of elevations between any two points so you can
see each layer and type of material to move, or see at-a-glance the amount of cut or
fill needed for any section of your site.
Grid View helps verify your elevations and cut and fill amounts; just choose any
pre-defined area, such as a perimeter, a phase, a parking lot, and the corresponding
cut and fill totals will display instantly.
Trench Templates is great for underground utilities and includes vertical, V-shape,
T-shape, Y-shape, and other kinds of templates.
Summary screen shows complete breakdown of your import/export quantities
at any time displayed by area and layer, including the measured quantity, swell
and yield factors, and adjusted total quantity.

Dynamic tools make it easy

to verify your calculations,
no matter how large or
complex the site.

Balance your entire site in mere seconds and create multiple bids to show
money-saving differences. No longer spend days redoing your work with every
adjustment needed.

3-D View provides a dynamic, realistic aerial view of your existing and proposed elevations. Take a
virtual helicopter ride with the Fly-by feature to survey the site at any altitude.

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX: Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

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EMPOWERING

MAXWELL

CONSTRUCTION

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SYSTEMS

So Much More Than Estimating

Your business can also leverage ProContractorMX for comprehensive accounting and
project management functionality. And when also using it for estimating, youll have
end-to-end control of business and manage projects from bid to cash.
An all-in-one ProContractorMX solution will automatically provide you with budgets,
committed costs, and more; plus you can easily compare budget against pending and
posted costs to profitably manage projects. Youll be able to improve profitability, manage
financials, control cash flow, increase accuracy, and more.
ProContractorMX is the ultimate business management software to help you:

Manage projects with accurate information in real-time and see a days profit
potential at a glance
See which jobs are making money and understand (and increase) profitability
Prevent potential financial losses and improve financial stability for long-term benefit
Analyze every project with straightforward reporting on wins and losses
Easily make adjustments and improve decisions to maximize profitability
Execute projects for maximum profit with real-time data whether in the office,
on the road, or at the job site
Thats right ProContractorMX can be the single solution for your entire business!
Allow your team to communicate faster and react smarter which will make you more
competitive and profitable.

The Profitable Power of Complete

When your business is ready, ProContractorMX grows
with you. The full breadth of the solution includes these
capabilities for end-to-end control of critical
business operations:

Takeoff and Estimating

Project Management
Procurement Management
Financial Management
Employee Management
Equipment Management
Inventory Management
Dashboards
Reporting and Analysis
See the ProContractorMX All-in-One brochure to learn about
using the solution for end-to-end construction management.

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX: Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

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EMPOWERING

MAXWELL

CONSTRUCTION

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SYSTEMS

All-in-One Benefits Every Member of Your Team

Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX can be the complete, all-in-one solution that streamlines processes across your entire business, with
tailored features and valuable benefits for every role.

Owner

Estimator

Easy to access, real-time business

intelligence

Digital plans or standard

digitized takeoff

End-to-end control and visibility

Fast bid day and what-if

estimating

Easily monitor business metrics

and optimize performance
Tight security and accountability
Microsoft technology is flexible
for business changes

Tool for proposal creation

Track Win/Loss, proposals,
and more
Buyout from estimate

Timely reporting and valuable

Dashboards
Project Manager

Easily create projects, budgets,

and schedules
Real-time job analysis and
committed and projected cost
reporting
Alternates, change order requests,
and owner change orders

Equipment Manager

Equipment location tracking

Usage allocation as costs
to projects
User-defined billing rates
Utilization reporting

Bid-Budget-Actual variance reporting

All paperwork attached to a project
Accounting Team

Controller/Financial Manager

Single entry of data

Complete financial reporting

WIP or Direct Cost method,

over/under billings

Tight audit trail

Multi-company and
departmentalized accounting

WIP and Bonding Reports

GL drill-down reports

AIA, Progress, and T&M and

retention invoice formats
Everything needed to process
and report construction payrolls
Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX: Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

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EMPOWERING

MAXWELL

CONSTRUCTION

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SYSTEMS

Commitment, Leadership, and Partnership

As a technology partner, Maxwell Systems provides unparalleled support and
maintenance plus a host of professional services.
Support & Maintenance

Services & Training

Maxwell Systems provides ongoing support to address any

question. Understanding the importance of reliability and
effective communication, Maxwell Systems offers online support
24 hours a day, seven days a week. Live web chat and phone
support is also available and hours are convenient for all time
zones. Offering this level of service ensures that customers are
maximizing their technology investment through the lifetime of
their solution.

In addition to comprehensive support and maintenance, we offer

training, consulting, and educational services to help meet
customers unique business challenges. Our flexible training
options include learning in a classroom environment at one of our
regional facilities, in a private one-on-one training session, or
through online training classes. Ongoing consulting services and
educational services, whether on-site or online, are also available.
These services provide customers with additional insight to help
best utilize their system for their particular needs.

www.maxwellsystems.com
1-800-688-8226, press 1
Maxwell Systems ProContractorMX: Seamless Takeoff and Estimating

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 2013 Maxwell Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Maxwell Systems and ProContractorMX are registered trademarks and Empowering Construction is a trademark of
Maxwell Systems, Inc. Other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Maxwell Systems has made all due effort to ensure the accuracy of the information in this document. Maxwell Systems assumes no liability for any damages incurred directly
from any errors, omissions, or discrepancies in the information contained in this document. The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.
PCMX EST 3.1_4-18-13

Estimating

Project

Management

Accounting

Services

EMPOWERING

MAXWELL
SYSTEMS

CONSTRUCTION