The right software now allows builders to generate four key items to improving sales and speeding delivery time: 1) building price; 2) approval drawings including anchor bolt plan and reactions; 3) 3D drawing of proposed and existing facilities; 4) the option to take the end user on a virtual walk-through of the current proposed facilities.
    The above items help to shorten the building delivery time since the builder has completed much of the manufacturer's work.

Software That Sells Buildings

    Does the above seem too good to be true? Imagine a scenario to follow. You are a metal building contractor and you want to promote your services for building sales and construction. This is how the right builder software can help in both the sales and delivery time of the building.
    You get a call from a serious prospect for a building. Consider taking these steps to make that sale.
    1. Invite the client to your office or go to their office with your portable computer.
    2. Bring up the builder software on the computer. Ask your client to tell you about his building needs. Enter this information into the software.
    3. The software does the complete design, costing, and 3D drawing of the proposed facility.
    4. Use the software to study various views of the 3D drawing. Often when the client sees the building in its entirety, he has ideas to improve the building. Revise the building input, rerun the design and the 3D drawing. Show the revised 3D drawing to the client.
    5. When the client is satisfied with the appearance of the building, take them on a virtual walk-through of their new facility. Let them walk to various points in the building and view in any direction and from any elevation.
    6. By now the client is developing confidence in your ability to create building solutions. You may wish to expand on that by showing 3D drawings of buildings you constructed for other clients.
    7. Next, turn the discussion to completing the sale and placing the building on a fast track for construction. Propose that if the client signs an agreement for you to supply his building today, you will provide the necessary approval drawings on the spot.
    8. The software will allow you to print everything you need to close the sale. First print, on your letterhead, a customized contract which lists all building features. Follow up by printing a full set of erection drawings including anchor bolt plan with reactions.
    9. Within the hour, the customer has seen his new building designed in front of his eyes. The customer has in his hands a set of approval drawings and you have a signed contract.
    Seem far fetched? Read on. Below are testimonials from contractors and manufacturers that use the MBS Software.

Manufacturers' Experience

    A number of metal building manufacturers have been using the MBS builder software for several years. As the builder brings up the software, it will show a software name associated with the manufacturer. Each manufacturer has adaptations of the software which are unique for that manufacturer. The following comments are from some of the manufacturers that are using the MBS Builder Software.
    John Bowes, vice president sales and marketing, Behlen Building Systems, Columbus, NE, said, "In today's fast paced metal building industry, speed and accuracy make all the difference in closing sales for our builders. The Behlen EDGE program, which stands for 'Estimates and Designs Generated Electronically', was created for our authorized builders by MBS. This software allows our customers to provide the detailed information necessary for our builders to give quick responses to items such as anchor bolt reactions and drawings as well as other end use requirements needed. We've used other software firms, but consider MBS our best ally and partner when it comes to electronic designs and estimates."
    Lee McDanial, partner, HCI Building Systems in Arlington, WA, stated, "HCI Steel Building Systems has been using MBS Software for several years and has come to appreciate the advantages of a comprehensive software system that includes estimating, design, and drawing features.
    "The HCI/MBS builder program allows the HCI builder to design and price many buildings themselves," McDanial continued. "With some experience and some guidance from the HCI staff, they have been able to use the software to identify and market the most economical designs.
    "Builders are excited to see the cost savings that can be achieved by making simple configuration and component changes. Most of our builders are able to quickly optimize the building design approach, then provide their customer with pricing and a 3D drawing of the building by using their HCI builder version of the MBS program.
    "There are other advantages to HCI that are equally important. With properly educated builders producing quality estimates, our estimating staff is relieved of the workload of preparing quotations for a large range of simple to moderately complex buildings. This allows our estimating, design, and detailing staff time to focus on more complex buildings and provide our builders with better service," concluded McDanial.

Builder's Experience

    A number of builders have been using the MBS builder software for many years while others have much less experience with the software. This is a sample of the responses from builders using the MBS Software.
    Glen Mackenzie, sales estimator, JDG Construction, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, made the following observations, "Having the 3D drawings for single and multiple buildings lets me give my client a graphic idea of the configuration I propose. In many cases the use of this drawing flagged clearance conflicts on equipment not initially recognized.
    "As a general contractor, having access to the preliminary building reactions early in the process, for as many options as I wished to run, allowed me to work my bay spacing foundation costs to my best advantage.
    "The MBS system allows the building salesmen to run the bulk of their own estimates. In most cases the salesman will run more operations for the customer, with greater success that would be practical with a central estimator.
    "The design function of the MBS system gives me an indication of the sizes of members and member spacing prior to going for erection quotes. This information, coupled with the 3D drawing takes a lot of the guess work and "Fear Factor" out of the erection bids. When the erector submits his bid he knows his girt/purlin depths and numerous other variables that could impact on his costs.
    "By using the report function of MBS I was able to have my proposal specifics generated directly from MBS using the same input information used to price the building and generate the sketches. Having the estimate, drawings, and building specifics all coming from the same input eliminated my risk of having something in my proposal that was not in my estimate."
    Bob Anderson, president, Olaf Anderson Construction, Fargo, ND, added, "MBS software is a great marketing tool. We can communicate details immediately with our customers about such things as clear heights at the eave, ridge and crane hooks. The most exciting feature is the 3D drawing. We have increased sales as a result of being able to take the customer on a walk-through of the existing and proposed building."
    As a builder, if you believe these steps would increase your sales, you should talk to your metal building manufacturer. Manufacturers should be able to provide builder software with the above described features. If this software is not available from your manufacturer, consider visiting with a manufacturer that will supply this builder software.

Current Options In Builder Software

    Each builder should first evaluate their software needs then compare those needs with the software offered by their manufacturer. To assist in this process, different options in builder software are described below.