SmartBid vs. Building Connected vs. Downtobid - Detailed Comparison (2024 Update)

The construction industry is detail-oriented, and you cannot afford to miss or overlook data. Preconstruction sets the tone for the entire project, from recruiting construction partners to sourcing material vendors. As a great general contractor, you cannot wing it, hoping things work out. You need a systemic approach, and construction bid management software programs provide this. These programs streamline the preconstruction process, helping you build a construction team and monitor progress from one platform. 

SmartBid, Building Connected, and Downtobid are clear standouts in the construction industry, offering improved technology and automation. We’ll evaluate the three platforms to help you choose the one that ticks all the boxes. 

But first, let’s begin with a tool we understand best - our very own Downtobid. 

Downtobid - Best for Preconstruction

Downtobid is a preconstruction management software created for general contractors and subcontractors. Our software is a response to construction management platforms providing basic and generic preconstruction management features. 

Unlike other platforms, which focus on general contractors alone while limiting subcontractors’ access to key features, we have adopted an inclusive system to ensure subs have everything they need to identify opportunities and create comprehensive bids. 

Key Features

Here are a few reasons why we’re the best preconstruction software on the market. 

AI Copilot

AI is changing the construction industry, but many platforms are yet to unleash the technology’s full potential. 

Our AI Copilot is different. It helps subs and general contractors handle administrative tasks. Think of it as your assistant. It has improved page turn by reviewing construction documents for completeness and accuracy, which helps to reduce scope gaps (and get 100% bid coverage). Traditionally, general contractors hired extra help, and took weeks to review lengthy construction documents. Manual review is also error-prone, which leads to miscommunication, unnecessary delays, and undesired outcomes. 

Our AI handles all this, helping you cut costs and improve efficiency. It also matches qualified local subs to detected scopes, speeding up subcontractor recruitment. 

Subcontractors use AI to quickly identify suitable scopes and craft comprehensive bids using pre-formatted templates. 

Personalized Bid Invites

Subcontractors get bombarded with hundreds of monthly bid invites. All these ITBs are generic and identical, increasing the subcontractor’s chances of ignoring them. Our personalized bid invites approach eliminates this problem and increases the sub’s chances of spotting them. 

Here’s how we’ve managed to achieve this. 

All our bid invites have an attention-grabbing headline different from competitors. We address the subs by their name in the headline.  Let’s take these two example headlines:

An Invitation to Bid from XYZ Co. 

Hey John Doe! Check Out This Plumbing opportunity in LA!

As a sub, you’re more likely to open an email with the second headline. It’s simple, precise, and unique.

In addition to headlines, the email contains details like construction scope, requirements, budget, size, timeline, and why they’re the right fit for the project. Subcontractors can respond directly to bid invites, saving time and increasing recruitment efficiency. 

Personalized bid invites have 30% bid participation, making us the best for preconstruction. 

Communication and Collaboration

Teamwork is crucial to any construction project. Our bid board has centralized communication that speeds up the feedback and update process. You can respond to emails directly from our software without needing an email app. Teams can instantly share information, ensuring everyone is on the same page. 

The threaded email features help users track specific emails without reading through many messages. 

Project managers can effortlessly assign tasks and track progress. Each task has a dedicated chat section to streamline communication. 

Our Planroom contains all construction project documents. Effective construction document management improves collaboration, ensuring everyone works with the latest information. 

Now that we know what makes us unique, let’s see how the software works. 

How to Use Downtobid

Our software is straightforward to use, even for new users. Here’s how to convert construction documents to bid invites. 

Click here to get started. 

You must upload project plans and blueprints to the software. They must be in PDF format and less than 1GB. Enter a valid email address to receive notifications. 

Our software scans the construction drawings for potential scopes, and it takes between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on the project’s complexity and size. You’ll receive a notification once the process is completed. 

You must sign in to our dashboard to access the new bid package. Each bid package template contains the following details:

• A summary of the bid package. 
• Plan sections with detected scope. 
• A recommendation list of qualified local subs matching skills and requirements. 
• Evaluate every bid package to ensure it contains all the details before sending invites. 

Mass emailing subcontractors is less effective and expensive. Subcontractors are busy negotiating new contracts, evaluating other projects, or working on new ones. That’s why we use suggested bidding schedules and follow-ups to target the rights subs. 

Our software analyzes the subs’ activities to schedule bid invites for when they’re active or looking for new projects. This approach eliminates the guesswork and increases the chances of recruiting the most qualified construction professionals. 

We also have timely spaced follow-ups to target subs who haven’t responded yet. Unlike our competitors, who send hundreds of emails, we limit our follow-ups to three emails to avoid overwhelming our subs and retain the project’s seriousness. 

Our sub-centric Planroom is revolutionary. It helps subcontractors effortlessly access construction documents. It’s also free, unlike other platforms that force subcontractors to subscribe to paid plans just to access construction project documents. 

We have titled and labeled every construction document to help users easily track and access them. We have also classified files into four folders:

• Plans
• Specs
• Photos
• Miscs

This approach helps subcontractors track specific project files and scope related to their trade. 

Subcontractors can use filters to find ideal projects. This feature allows them to search for specific terms. For instance, an electrical contractor can search for electrical subcontractor in Dallas, and the software will display all opportunities. The filter option also allows subs to search for projects based on size, distance, and union (union or non-union.) 

The displayed results also show material takeoff, such as concrete, tiles, and more. 

Pricing Plan

We offer free and paid plans. The free plan is perfect for simpler operations, and you can manage two projects simultaneously. The paid plan has two categories - $150 monthly per user and $300 per month for construction companies with more than 10 users if paid annually. The signup process is straightforward, and our customer support is always on standby to assist. Try Downtobid and put the power of automation in your hands. 

SmartBid - Tailored for General Contractors

SmartBid is a popular construction project management software that helps general contractors access nationwide projects. The software has mobile and web-based functionalities, allowing general contractors to access and bid on projects from any device. 

SmartBid streamlines the bidding process by providing document management, detailed scopes, centralized communication, and real-time data sharing. 

However, the software fails to replicate this to subcontractors. Although they access many features, they cannot customize the software like general contractors. You can learn more here.

Key Features

Here are a few reasons why SmartBid stands out.

Streamlined Bid Management

Subcontractors can submit comprehensive bids to help general contractors pick the best construction partner. GCs can view bidding activities to see how subs interact with their bid packages. This approach helps them modify their bid documents by including specific project details, such as detailed scopes, budget, and size. 

Centralized Document Management and Communication

SmartBid users can access construction documents without creating an account. This approach reduces overheads and increases bid participation. Subs can review construction documents to identify new opportunities. The in-built communication network helps users instantly share data and information, which speeds up collaboration. 

Unfortunately, subcontractors still need to manually review construction documents to find construction jobs. 

Integration

SmartBid integrates with other tools to enhance design, communication, and information sharing. The software works well with tools like Autodesk BIM 360, DropBox, and Procore. This approach improves document management and ensures the team is on the same page. 

Pricing Plans

SmartBid offers customized pricing plans, with the total cost depending on the features the project requires. You must contact customer support to get a quotation. 

Pros

• Mobile application to improve on-field collaboration. 
• Procore integration to improve construction project management.
• Data analytics to improve decision-making. 

Cons

• A steeper learning curve. 
• Customization limitations. 
• Lack of SmartBid pricing transparency. 

Read our full side-by-side comparison of SmartBid vs Downtobid.

Building Connected - All-In-One Construction Solution

Building Connected is a popular choice for large-scale construction projects. The easy-to-use platform offers many tools to streamline the preconstruction phase and construction management process. It simplifies the bid management process by centralizing project document management, bid tracking, and communication. Building Connected is best known for its vast network, which connects owners to qualified subcontractors. Find out more in this resource.

Key Features

Here are a few reasons to consider Building Connected. 

Cloud-Based Storage

Cloud storage ensures people upload and download construction documents from a centralized platform. Users can integrate Autodesk Docs, an industry favorite, and easily move project files between the two platforms. 

The integration saves you the time to download the documents from Autodesk Docs and reupload them to Building Connected. 

Branded Bid Invites

Building Connected allows you to brand your bid invites to make them unique. You can include a specific font, company name, or logo to make your bid invites stand out from the rest. 

Subcontractors use this information to identify your invites. This approach increases bid participation and allows you to recruit suitable subs. Unfortunately, the bid invites are still generic, and subcontractors must review the construction documents to better understand the project.

Extensive Subcontractor Network

General contractors can leverage 1 million vetted subcontractors to connect project owners with qualified subs. The extensive list covers all trades, ensuring general contractors don’t struggle during recruitment. 

Unfortunately, most of the contact information is outdated. You must manually verify the information to ensure you can reach the right subcontractor. 

Compare all the features of Building Connected vs PlanHub and Downtobid in this guide.

Pricing Plans

Building Connected offers a tiered pricing plan where you pay for what you need. You must contact customer support to get a quotation. However, the platform offers a free plan which you can use to test the software. The free plan has limited functionalities, making it unsuitable for large and complex operations. 

Pros

• Branded bid invitations
• Unlimited project file storage
• User-friendly interface
• Unlimited bid invites
• Streamlines bid management

Cons

• Generic bid invitations
• Outdated contact details
• Limited mobile functionality