Bid chaos is real. For too many construction firms, estimating and bid tracking still rely on time-consuming, error-prone spreadsheets. One wrong formula, missed update, or version mismatch, and you’ve just built a bid on shaky ground. It means delays, cost overruns, and bids that don’t reflect true job costs.
And when you’re relying on spreadsheets to drive your bid strategy, it’s not just slow, it’s risky too. Margins shrink, confidence drops, and every estimate feels like a guess.
But there’s a better way: modern construction finance and job costing software gives you real-time visibility, automated workflows, and accurate data at your fingertips. Think of it as swapping your trusty but fickle Excel for enterprise-grade control.
According to Procore, contractors using integrated takeoff and estimating tools report 52% fewer non-recoverable change orders, 16% less rework, and up to 48% more construction volume handled, with no added headcount. It’s a direct result of having clean, centralized project data instead of spreadsheet sprawl. When your numbers are right from the start, you bid faster, win more, and protect your margin.
With Sage Intacct Construction, you transform chaos into clarity: build bids faster, forecast costs more reliably, and take spreadsheets out of the equation for good. This blog explores four ways Sage Intacct Construction replaces spreadsheet stress with firm numbers and fewer surprises.
In construction, speed matters, but accuracy wins the job. Estimating with spreadsheets might feel familiar, but it slows your team down and introduces risk. Between copy-paste errors, version control issues, and disconnected cost data, bids take longer to build and are more likely to miss the mark.
With Sage Intacct Construction, estimating isn’t guesswork.
Your teams gain instant access to real-time project costs, historical data, and financial insights that eliminate duplicate data entry and improve forecasting. Because everything runs on a centralized cloud platform, estimators can access real-time data without waiting on accounting or sorting through old files.
To improve your bid-hit ratio and profitability, you need to clearly understand your true job costs. Job cost accounting software can provide the information you need about labour, materials, overhead, and profit margins without guesswork.
Instead of manually calculating markups or rekeying data into separate systems, Sage Intacct Construction lets you build smarter, faster, and more confidently. It uses cost codes, job types, and real-time cost visibility to price bids with precision.
It’s hard to win work and even harder to make it profitable if you’re bidding blind. Too many firms rely on static spreadsheets and disconnected systems to estimate project costs, without a clear view of how labour, materials, overhead, or past project performance actually stack up.
That’s where Sage Intacct Construction changes the game.
With real-time job costing, you can break down actual costs by project manager, cost code, job type, or customer, so you’re not just hoping your markup covers your margin. You’re bidding based on facts, not assumptions. Whether you’re targeting new work or evaluating which projects deliver the best ROI, having a clear view of true costs gives you the edge.
When your costing data is scattered, you either miss the win or win at the wrong price. Intacct brings it all together in one system: connected, current, and built to scale.
No more rekeying numbers from finance. No more back-and-forth between ops and estimating. Just clarity, consistency, and control, all in real time.
One of the biggest hidden costs in construction isn’t labour or materials—it’s miscommunication. When teams work in silos and spreadsheets, details slip through the cracks and deadlines get missed. Numbers don’t match. Deadlines get missed. And, too often, teams waste time reconciling information instead of moving the project forward.
With shared access to real-time financial data, everyone, from estimators to project managers to finance, can work from the same source of truth. Budget changes, cost updates, and approvals flow through connected, cloud-based workflows that eliminate version confusion and reduce delays.
No more “Which spreadsheet is the right one?” No more chasing updates over email. Just one source of truth: one system, one process, and one team working in sync.
By connecting workflows across departments, Sage Intacct Construction helps you respond faster, collaborate better, and keep projects moving, without the spreadsheet nightmare.
Bidding more doesn’t mean winning more, especially if you’re guessing at costs, chasing outdated data, or spending time on jobs that aren’t a fit. A healthy bid-hit ratio isn’t just about volume. It’s about focus, precision, and knowing which projects are worth your time.
Sage Intacct Construction gives you the visibility to make better bid decisions and back them up with real numbers.
By analyzing historical job data, tracking true costs by job type or customer, and reviewing performance across estimators or project managers, you can spot which bids are most likely to convert and which ones are eating up your resources. Instead of relying on instinct or spreadsheets to guide your bid strategy, you’re working with live, accurate financials.
As Sage puts it in their eBook to improving your bid-hit ratio: smart bidding starts with knowing your numbers and putting in effort where it counts.
Whether you’re trying to boost win rates, protect margins, or simply avoid chasing low-return jobs, Sage Intacct Construction helps you bid smarter, not just faster.
Spreadsheet chaos doesn’t have to be your norm. From faster bids and accurate job costing to stronger collaboration and smarter pursuit decisions, Sage Intacct Construction helps you replace guesswork with real insight to win the right work, not just more work.
Learn the proven strategies that top construction firms use to improve their bid-hit ratio and close more profitable projects. Download the full ebook ⬇️ Improve Your Bid-Hit Ratio: Top 5 Essentials of a Winning Bid Strategy.
Whether you have a single warehouse or a large multi-national distribution network, Infor has solutions to fit your needs. As business gains in complexity, your organization can grow into the solution that addresses your challenges that increase your ability to offer and perform essential value-added services.
Hosted by Rob Dallas, this webinar will address why more building material distributors choose Infor CloudSuite Distribution ERP to run their business. At the conclusion of his presentation and demo of CloudSuite, Rob will be available to answer questions.
Webinar Description
Hosted by Rob Dallas, this webinar will address why Distributors using Quickbooks are moving to Infor CloudSuite Distribution to run their business.
While QuickBooks was the standard for most back-end accounting and inventory management departments, it just doesn’t have the advanced analytics and reporting capabilities needed for data-driven decisions that are so important for distributors today.
Infor CloudSuite Distribution comes out-of-the-box ready to use and offers benefits such as:
Your future success hinges on the decisions you make today. Register Today for our next webinar on Wednesday, November 13th at 12:00 pm EST with Distribution Industry expert, Rob Dallas, and get a closer look at how Infor CloudSuite Distribution can revolutionize your operations.
In the complex world of distribution, efficiency and precision are crucial. Companies must keep up with an increasing demand for products, manage vast inventories, and adapt to new market trends—all while maintaining profitability. This is where an industry-specific ERP system becomes a game-changer for distributors. Unlike generic solutions, these tailored systems provide unique capabilities designed to meet the specific needs of the distribution sector.
Understanding Industry-Specific ERP Solutions
Industry-specific ERPs are tailored software solutions that cater specifically to the unique needs of a particular industry. In the context of distribution, these systems come with pre-configured features that address common challenges faced by distributors. They incorporate functionalities that are often absent in generic ERP systems, allowing companies to streamline their operations and improve efficiency.
If you’re looking for a new ERP, you should keep a couple of things in mind, such as:
By investing in a solution designed for their unique needs, distributors can streamline operations, improve efficiency, and achieve long-term success. With the right ERP system, distributors can unlock new possibilities, seize opportunities, and build a future-ready business.
For those ready to take the next step, exploring industry-specific ERP solutions is a critical move towards achieving operational excellence and maintaining a competitive edge.
As we enter the new year, it is essential for manufacturing companies to stay updated on the latest trends that are shaping their industry. In 2023, significant transformations unfolded, we are seeing advancements that are continuing to have a profound impact on the manufacturing landscape as we move into 2024.
In this blog post, we will explore the prominent trends that emerged and their potential influence on manufacturing companies in the upcoming months.
Manufacturing companies that embrace these emerging trends and take proactive steps to adapt to the ever-changing landscape are primed to flourish in 2024. The transformative power of digitalization, the resilience of supply chains, the imperative of sustainability, the advancements in robotics, the focus on reskilling the workforce, and the integration of 3D printing are all crucial elements that will define the future of the manufacturing industry. By staying ahead of these trends, Aktion is helping companies not only overcome challenges but also unlock boundless opportunities for growth and innovation in the dynamic realm of manufacturing.
B2B distribution is the backbone of global trade, responsible for connecting manufacturers with retailers, businesses with suppliers, and products with end-users. With the advent of digital technologies, evolving customer behaviors, and supply chain disruptions, the distribution industry must remain agile and adapt to stay competitive and grow sustainably.
Embracing Digital Transformation
The growth of the internet and digital technologies has transformed the way companies do business, and B2B distribution is no exception. Digitalization is causing distribution firms to rethink their processes, channels, and customer interactions to stay ahead. The adoption of eCommerce platforms, online marketplaces, and digital payments have enabled distributors to interact directly with their customers, bypassing intermediaries, and increasing their agility to changing market conditions.
Leading distribution companies are also embracing technologies such as big data analytics, cloud computing, AI, and IoT to automate processes, improve efficiency, and reduce costs in the supply chain. By implementing these innovations, distribution firms can identify new market opportunities, optimize their operations, and enhance their service delivery to meet changing customer needs.
“A lot of times, AI is demonstrable and scary, or seems like an ivory tower experience… What we need to do as distributors is empower people at the business level to understand AI. Not just the guy in the corner who writes code, but the director of marketing or inbound supply chain and anyone who makes operational decisions.” — Jimmy Dickinson, Vice President of Industry at NTT DATA Business Solutions
Aligning with Evolving Customer Behaviors
The modern customer is more informed, connected, and demanding than ever before. They expect a seamless and personalized experience across all channels, and distributors must align their strategies with this reality. Today’s customers want the flexibility to shop from anywhere, at any time, and with any device. Distribution firms need to provide a frictionless CX and align their offering with customers who seek convenience, efficiency, and speedy delivery.
In response to shifting demands, distributors need to cultivate robust digital capabilities, adopt new technologies, and forge robust partnerships to deliver a seamless ecosystem for customers. With the help of their suppliers and dedicated partners, distribution companies can work towards developing strong marketing strategies that attract new customers and retain current clients.
Ensuring Supply Chain Resilience
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of supply chain resilience, necessitating proactive measures by B2B distributors to safeguard their operations from disruptions. Supply chain disruptions can be caused by natural disasters, geopolitical events, and other unforeseen circumstances that can hamper the delivery of goods and services. The best way for distributors to minimize the impact of such disruptions is to diversify their supply chain, maintain contingency stocks, and collaborate with suppliers to develop a risk management plan.
Furthermore, distributors should utilize digital technologies to improve supply chain transparency, traceability, and accountability. By doing so, they can optimize inventory, track shipments, and ensure quality control for their customers, improving their overall service efficiency.
Conclusion:
The traditional B2B distribution model is facing significant challenges due to the impact of digital transformation, changing customer behaviors, and supply chain disruptions. Distributors need to anticipate these challenges and adjust to meet the dynamic demands of their customers. By embracing digital technologies, aligning with changing customer expectations, ensuring supply chain resilience, and focusing on sustainable growth, B2B distributors can remain competitive and grow sustainably in today’s dynamic business landscape. The key is to respond proactively to change and embrace transformation with an open mind, and open arms.
According to Indian River Consulting Group’s Mike Marks and MDM CEO Tom Gale, “the traditional Distributors are Gen-1 and the distributors who have embraced new technologies can be described as Gen-2 or Next Gen. Most Gen-1 or traditional distributors only make changes when they absolutely need to, while those Next-Gen distributors make that decision because they see an opportunity to reach a better position in their industry.”
If you identify as a Next Gen Distributor you are likely evaluating the systems and processes that are limiting your growth. If replacing your ERP is part of the transformation, then the next step is to review the functionality and platform that will be most important to your future.
Top 5 benefits of industry cloud
Deciding and investing in a new ERP, if done right, can provide rewards for years to come. This journey provides a way to step forward and compete with other Next Gen distributors in their industry. Is the time right for your organization?
To speak with someone from the Aktion team, please follow the link and email us at info@aktion.com
