Sage Software Helps CH2M HILL Streamline Their Estimating Processes


BEAVERTON, OR--(Marketwire - August 7, 2007) - For more than two decades, CH2M HILL's Electronics and Advanced Technology division has planned, designed and built complex technology facilities for leading industry and academic clients. They pride themselves on providing innovative solutions based on experience and insight to help clients optimize performance, production and return on investment.

When CH2M HILL needed help streamlining their estimating processes, they turned to the powerful and reliable estimating solutions included within Sage Timberline Office.

CH2M HILL's Greg Tipton, the Timberline Technical Lead, who led the implementation of Sage's estimating solutions for CH2M HILL's Electronics & Advanced Technology division, said the customizable database has helped his team effectively produce between 300 and 500 estimates per year, for 60 to 70 projects ranging from $50 million to $800 million in places as diverse as Oregon, Singapore and Moscow.

Before switching to Sage's estimating solutions, the group developed most of their estimates with Excel. Sage Software solutions are also used by other CH2M HILL divisions, such as the Power Group, Water Group, Nuclear and Government Facilities and Infrastructure.

"This has been a reliable and robust solution for us. It's a stable platform, that combined with a familiar interface and common database allows multiple estimators to collaborate on an estimate. We are not re-inventing the wheel in Excel every time we do an estimate," Tipton said.

Tipton's team of 14 estimators produce detailed and conceptual estimates for clients that address all phases of construction, sometimes figuring out if a wild idea on a napkin can actually be built within a budget.

"Our estimates are often used as a reality check, to see if the project can be built in a proposed price range, or if it needs to be scaled back," Tipton said. The company might have to produce 30 different estimates -- separate estimates for each discipline, phase of work or design completeness.

"We do a little bit of everything all over the world, which can make building a database one of the most important parts of the job and potentially one of the most difficult -- that is where Sage Timberline Office Estimating Extended has really added value," Tipton said.

Another important feature is the ability to create and print a variety of custom reports, such as those developed by Eos Group, a Sage Software development partner and reseller.

Eos Group has also helped CH2M HILL with strategic planning services, system design, management reporting, operational reporting, database conversion and development, training, as well as some custom applications. As the national Premier Accounts reseller of Sage's estimating solutions, Eos Group helps some of the largest contractors, engineers, Fortune 1000 owners and government agencies select and implement pre-construction and estimating solutions that integrate with their enterprise.

"This software has been a good fit. If an item is not in our database, we can create it on the fly. We can make the software do anything we want," Tipton said.

Sage Software has a growing portfolio of business management solutions specifically tailored for the construction and real estate industries. The portfolio is designed to provide support through the growth cycle of a business and includes: Peachtree by Sage Premium Accounting for Construction and Sage Master Builder. For medium to large companies, Sage Timberline Office offers integrated financial, operations and estimating software and provides the most sophisticated level of functionality in the Sage Software portfolio of construction solutions.

About CH2M HILL

Headquartered in Denver, employee-owned CH2M HILL (www.ch2m.com) is a global firm providing engineering, construction, operations, and related technical services to public and private clients. With $4.5 billion in revenue, CH2M HILL is an industry-leading program management, construction management for fee, and design firm, as ranked by Engineering News-Record (2006). The firm's work is concentrated in the areas of transportation, water, energy, environment, communications, construction, and industrial facilities. Recognized in 2007 as a "Most Admired Company" by FORTUNE magazine, CH2M HILL has 19,000 employees in regional offices worldwide.

About Eos

Eos Group, Inc. is a software development and consulting firm providing customized preconstruction solutions to the Architectural, Engineering and Construction industry. For more than 12 years, Eos Group has helped clients succeed in the time-to-market crunch that has become the AEC industry norm. Eos Group is the national Premier Accounts reseller of Sage Timberline Office estimating solutions and developer of Sage Timberline Office's estimating Explorer module. For more information, go to www.eosgroup.com.

About Sage Software

Sage Software supports the needs, challenges and dreams of more than 2.8 million small and mid-sized business customers in North America through easy-to-use, scalable and customizable software and services. Our products support accounting, operations, customer relationship management, human resources, time tracking, merchant services and the specialized needs of the construction, distribution, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit and real estate industries. Sage Software is a subsidiary of The Sage Group plc, a leading international supplier of accounting and business management software solutions and related products and services for small and mid-sized businesses. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and the Group now has 5.4 million customers and employs over 13,000 people worldwide. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.sagesoftware.com/moreinfo or call (866) 308-2378.

Contact Information: Press Contact: Traci Williams Sage Software 503-439-5919 traci.williams@sage.com