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Introducing PlanHub’s Bid Navigator – A Powerful Suite of New Construction Bidding Features for Subcontractors

Bid Navigator

PlanHub has rolled out a new suite of powerful features which make searching, bidding, and winning construction projects easier than ever for subcontractors across the nation.  The new tools, also known as the Bid Navigator, are direct additions to PlanHub’s bidding software and early access will be available to PlanHub Premier users.

Core Features of the Bid Navigator

The Bid Navigator contains four new tools to make your life as a subcontractor easier by saving you time and increasing the effectiveness of your bidding activity. Check out each new feature below in more detail, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions on how to use each feature.

PDF Blueprint Scanning

We know that blueprint files can be overwhelming and excessively lengthy.  Let PlanHub do the hard work for you!  Using PlanHub’s PDF Blueprint Scanning, you can quickly navigate through all blueprint files for any specialized keywords. You may also save these special keywords to your notifications, so you can be notified by email of any upcoming projects that have that keyword in them.
The OCR Reader technology, which powers blueprint scanning, is a cleverly crafted solution designed to save construction subcontractors hours of time digging through thousands of bid documents. Use this tool to discover if your scope of work is included in the blueprint, or simply view where your specific job details are incorporated into the documents.

planhub bid navigator scanning pdfs

Start saving time today with PlanHub’s PDF Blueprint Scanning tool!

Personalized Project Notifications

Additionally, you can setup saved keyword notifications to alert you when new documents are added that contain your trade-related keywords. After searching your keyword, simply check the box underneath to save it to your settings notifications. Every time a project becomes available in your area and trade containing your favorite keyword, you will be notified by email of the project name, what page that word is located on, and the bid due date. This proves to be yet another time savor for our subcontractors.

planhub bid navigator keyword notifications

This feature will allow you to filter the most relevant projects according to your trade and be alerted when they become available!

Competitive Advantage Analytics

When you bid on a project, it’s hard to know what the competition looks like and where you should prioritize your bidding efforts.  The new Competitive Advantage Analytics feature allows subcontractors to measure how aggressive you should be when bidding each project. This tool shows you how many competing businesses have expressed interest or taken action on the construction project opportunity.
Use the Competitive Advantage Analytics feature to see how many companies have received the invitation to bid (ITB), viewed the project, downloaded files, and completed bids.

competitive advantage analytics feature

This tool allows you to gauge how competitive your proposal should be and where you should invest your bidding efforts.

Bid Calendar

When a subcontractor has numerous bid deadlines to keep track of, organizing them can become a bit hectic!  Our new Bid Calendar provides a single, centralized calendar view for all your upcoming project bidding deadlines.
Even better, you can sync due dates with your preferred calendar of choice and be notified automatically if bid deadlines are updated.

bid calendar feature

Start managing and tracking your bid invites more effectively with our new Bid Calendar!

How To Activate These New Subcontractor Tools in Your PlanHub Account

Already a PlanHub Premier Customer?

The Bid Navigator tools are included in the Subcontractor PlanHub Premier Mileage packages by default. You can utilize these tools from the “Projects” tab in your subcontractor user account.

Test Drive PlanHub and the Bid Navigator

If you’re brand new to PlanHub, you will soon be able to sign up for a 7-day free trial of the new Bid Navigator features, while exploring all the other great aspects of your basic PlanHub subcontractor mileage plan.

Our Dedication to Improvement

Founded and led by a construction contractor, PlanHub is dedicated to continually improving the lives of general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers alike by making bid management and plan room organization as streamlined as possible.  Our latest roll out of our new Bid Navigator toolset is the next step in our ongoing improvements to our robust bidding and online plan room software.
As you start using the new features, we’d love to hear from you!  Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have feedback on the new features or ideas for future improvements.
We hope you love the new features as much as we do!

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    Data and Deep Insights

    We make construction smarter by connecting with the right people, at the right time, for the right project.

    With our technology and data intelligence, we empower construction professionals to easily build the right business relationships, streamline pre construction processes, and make efficient decisions.

    From competitive intelligence in each project allowing you to know how many other contractors are downloading or bidding to insights as to contractors’ performance, we provide the data you need to lead your business to success.

    By providing faster, simpler, and unmatched data insights in each step of the pre construction process, PlanHub helps your business lay a strong foundation for the success of the rest of the construction process.

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    Bid Leveler & Proposal builder

    Comparing bids to one another has never been easier. Users can now see bids side by side, compare bid amounts, and review subcontractors’ certifications and qualifications all in one place.

    Bid Leveler’s apples-to-apples approach allows you to easily drill down and see detailed, easy-to-scan cost breakdowns. Indicate bid preference, hide bids that don’t meet your needs, and request needed information from subs.

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    Full Bid Management

    From the initial decision to pursue a project to the final bid submission and follow up, bid management plays a central role in pre construction.

    Effectively managed bids during the preconstruction phase set the stage for a successful project execution and satisfied clients.

    Streamline bid management from project posting to estimating, bidding, and awarding in one place with easy project posting, project-contractor automatic matching based on trades, location, and qualification with PlanHub.

    Use bid planner, bid builder, bid leveler, and award tools to always know what’s going on with each project and bid.

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    Estimation and TakeOff

    Let’s face it—time is money. And the more time it takes to perform takeoffs and submit bids, the more you risk losing out on valuable revenue opportunities. Manual methods and locally installed desktop software slow your takeoff process, and many digital solutions currently on the market can be overly complex and not user-friendly. 

    Build faster takeoffs, get more bids out the door, and win more projects. Forget pen and paper, outdated desktop software, and overly complicated digital takeoff solutions. PlanHub’s easy-to-use Takeoff tool helps you and your team build accurate takeoffs faster, minimize errors and material waste, and win more projects that boost your business growth. Performing your takeoffs with PlanHub allows you to:

    • Streamline and integrate your process: Perform your takeoffs in the same platform you use to manage your network and bids.
    • Avoid costly estimating errors: Get better accuracy with digital tools instead of traditional, mistake-prone pen and paper.
    • Collaborate easily: Share and work with your team, no matter where you—or they—are located.
    • Submit more bids and win more projects: Get quality bids in front of general contractors faster and get ahead of your competition.
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    Document Management

    Organize, store, and manage various documents, blueprints, drawings and other information related to projects before the actual construction phase begins.

    This phase is crucial for setting the foundation of a successful construction project, and effective document management plays a significant role in ensuring that all necessary information is accessible, accurate, and up-to-date to all interested parties.

    Access, review, work on, and share large complex documents in one platform with amazing speed. From project definition, drawing management, takeoff, estimation, bid management, and contracts, everything happens in PlanHub.

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    CRM

    Be part of a construction professionals’ ecosystem that enhances collaboration, streamlines project management, and fosters smart relationships between companies, construction professionals, and projects.

    Enjoy seamless communication, build strong relationships, and streamlines project management. By leveraging the power of connections and collaboration, we enhance efficiency, save time and resources, and drive collective growth in the industry.

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    1M+ pre-qualified network

    PlanHub is the leading platform that connects companies, construction professionals, and projects in the pre-construction industry, focusing on building and developing meaningful relationships to enhance efficiency and productivity.

    We have integrated general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers’ workflows in one platform to simplify the complex back and forth usually present in preconstruction. By allowing all interactions to be done through PlanHub, tracking projects and relationships is much easier, saving contractors and material suppliers time and money. Interactions in the platform are tagged and measured to provide insights to users.

    General contractors create bid packages that are shared in PlanHub as projects. They can include templatized lists of all CSI cost items as part of the new Baseline feature. Baseline allows for faster and more accurate bid requests, facilitates homogenization of subcontractors’ bids, and simplifies the comparison of incoming bids.

    Subcontractors are automatically matched with relevant projects based on their profile, preferences, and pre-qualification information saving hours of research to both sides. They can review project details, documentation, and blueprints.

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    High-quality projects

    Your one-stop job for qualified hard-to-find private project leads in varying stages like pre-planning, bidding, etc., and across different geographies, zip codes, or distance to your office.

    Projects include plans, specifications, bid dates, and other relevant project information.

    You can segment project leads by type of project, status, project building use, trades and sub trades, or create your own list of keywords — and be notified when one of them is found in a posted project’s documentation or plans.

    We make it simple to find projects that match your business — and make sure you are notified right away.

    				
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    Get the report!

    From the very beginning, PlanHub has been a place where people can do meaningful work and build strong relationships.

    Come grow with us! We’re building innovative technologies that simplify preconstruction for everyone.

    Expand your network and connect with general contractors, subcontractors, owners, architects, and suppliers – not to mention thousands of relevant projects at your fingertips.

    Generate relevant leads, faster and with precision. With access to private, hard-to-find projects, you can connect with architects and owners on projects still in the pre-design and design stages.

    PlanHub’s advanced suite of bid management tools allows you to increase productivity, identify relevant projects using data, build bids with Takeoff, and manage bids through the entire process.

    Create quicker, improved takeoffs effortlessly. PlanHub’s Takeoff Core aids your team in accurate, faster estimates, minimizing errors, and driving business growth.

    Expand your network and connect with general contractors, subcontractors, owners, architects, and suppliers – not to mention thousands of relevant projects at your fingertips.

    Generate relevant leads, faster and with precision. With access to private, hard-to-find projects, you can connect with architects and owners on projects still in the pre-design and design stages.

    PlanHub’s advanced suite of bid management tools allows you to increase productivity, identify relevant projects using data, build bids with Takeoff, and manage bids through the entire process.