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5 BQE Core Alternatives For A&E Firms

We’ve put together 5 top BQE alternatives for architecture and engineering (A&E) firms, analyzed user reviews, and collected data from each option so you can determine what works best for you.

BQE Core is a specialized project management tool for architecture, engineering, and professional service firms. It automates firm management, combining back office functions with front office insights. This approach aims to boost efficiency and project success. BQE Core's features include project management, reporting, payment processing, and more. The platform offers flexible pricing based on user count and selected modules.

Despite its strengths, BQE Core has some drawbacks. User reviews on Capterra reveal issues with customization, interface complexity, and occasional software bugs. These limitations have led to firms wasting time in workflows and struggling to get their teams to fully adopt the software. This suggests a need for alternatives.

Let’s get started.

1. Monograph

Monograph is a web-based, project management platform built exclusively for architecture and engineering firms. According to Capterra, customers love its user-friendly interface, seamless workflows, and frequent updates. A&E firms leverage Monograph to:

Monograph provides A&E firms with clarity into their budgets, projects, time, and clients so their entire team can make smarter decisions.

Features & Benefits

In addition to providing expected project management features like time tracking, Monograph offers a slew of benefits that include:

Pricing & Plans

Monograph offers two pricing plans to suit the needs of A&E firms: Track and Grow.

  • Track: The limited plan that is most suitable for A&E firms of 5 employees or fewer. Track users get access to real-time tracking of time and fee across all firm projects, budgets, and clients. Pricing for Track starts at $25/user/mo.
  • Grow: The full-access and unlimited plan suitable for firms that want to improve and optimize their performance. The Grow plan includes everything in Track plus reports and forecasting across projects, budgets, time, and clients. Pricing for Grow starts at $45/user/mo.

Reviews & Ratings

Reviews: 4.5 ⭐ (224 Reviews on Capterra)

Swatchroom, a design firm based in Washington, D.C., said of Monograph, “I have downloaded every major software and tried at least 30-40 different platforms. None of them compare to the ease of use, simplicity, graphic style, and overall effectiveness of Monograph.”

2. BigTime

BigTime is a comprehensive project management software solution that caters specifically to professional services firms, including architecture, engineering, and professional service firms. It focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of such businesses, assisting in planning, managing, and getting paid for client work.

Features & Benefits

BigTime offers comprehensive features that include:

  • Project management: Provides full visibility into project progress for effective management and oversight, including budget coordination, Gantt charts, and automated notifications.
  • Resource planning: Offers tools to optimize team performance, including skills-based resource allocation and productivity monitoring.
  • Financial management: Includes features for project budgeting and forecasting, managing project KPIs, and tracking project expenses with VAT management.

Pricing & Plans

BigTime's pricing structure is designed to cater to a range of needs for A&E firms, offering four distinct tiers.

  • Essentials ($20/user/month): This entry-level plan is suitable for small businesses or those new to project management software, offering fundamental features for time and expense tracking.
  • Advanced ($35/user/month): This plan includes more advanced features, ideal for growing firms requiring more robust project management tools.

3. Harvest

Harvest is a project management software designed to meet the needs of A&E firms. It provides a suite of features aimed at simplifying key aspects of project management, such as time tracking, invoicing, and budget oversight.

Features & Benefits

Harvest’s features include:

  • Time tracking: Harvest simplifies logging time on projects, allowing users to focus on core activities like building great ideas.
  • Invoicing & payments: It facilitates the creation of invoices with tracked expenses directly from the mobile app, streamlining the billing process.

Pricing & Plans

At the time of this writing, Harvest plans start at $10.80 per user/month, covering unlimited projects and team members.

4. Deltek Ajera

Deltek Ajera is a cloud-based ERP solution designed for A&E firms. It offers a range of features covering accounting, project management, human capital management, sourcing, and specifications.

Features & Benefits

Deltek Ajera’s features aim to streamline project management, enhance resource planning, and improve overall business operations:

  • One ERP cloud solution: Deltek Ajera provides a single enterprise resource planning (ERP) cloud solution for various business needs, including accounting, project management, human capital management, sourcing, and specifications.
  • Visibility and control: The platform offers visibility into projects, resources, and business operations, enabling firms to efficiently manage and deliver projects under budget and on schedule.

Pricing & Plans

Deltek Ajera does not publicly share detailed pricing information. Interested parties need to contact them directly to get specific pricing details for their software.

5. Unanet

Unanet is a comprehensive ERP solution designed for A&E firms. It's tailored to unify various organizational functions into a cohesive, productive team, providing modern and easy-to-use tools suitable for diverse work environments including in-office, remote, or field work.

Features & Benefits

Unanet offers a range of features designed to support A&E firms in various aspects of their business operations:

  • Project management: Unanet offers modern tools for efficient project planning and execution, aiming to enhance client satisfaction and profitability.
  • Resource management: The platform helps balance projects and optimize team allocation with intuitive schedules and forecasts.

The Best BQE Core Alternatives

In the dynamic world of project management software, finding the right tool that aligns with the needs of your A&E firm is crucial. BQE Core is a well-known solution in the industry, but it may not be the ideal fit for every organization due to issues with customization, interface complexity, and occasional software bugs or slow speeds.

Monograph is a standout option, particularly for those in the architecture and engineering sectors due to its ease of use, robust features, and incredible support.