If you're a GC who can't get subs to submit bids through your online platform, you're not alone. As construction pushes toward more digital tools, we're seeing a big problem: subs hate using multiple bid platforms, and it's giving both GCs and subs major headaches. Let's look at why this keeps happening and what actually works.

The Real Problem with Bid Platforms

"F*** you and your software," one frustrated sub recently posted online. "I'm not going through RedTeam for one GC, Procore for another, and then your b******* too. Take my proposal/bid or don't, but I'm not dancing at your circus."

Strong words, but this sub isn't alone. Subcontractors are being told to use too many different platforms, each with its own login, different ways of doing things, and endless forms to fill out. The problem goes deeper than just being annoying.

Why Subs Are Fed Up with Multiple Platforms

Picture a typical bid day for a mechanical contractor. It's 7 AM, and they're juggling six different projects due between 2 PM and 3 PM. The estimator's desk is buried in drawings while their inbox floods with last-minute addenda and spec changes.

By noon, they're still missing critical supplier numbers and racing to complete pricing. That's when the GC's email arrives: "Don't forget to submit through our bid platform! Incomplete submissions may not be considered."

"Here's the reality," says Mike Thompson, a mechanical contractor in Denver. "On bid day, we're juggling final numbers from suppliers, last-minute scope clarifications, and trying to find every edge to make our number competitive. The last thing we need is to spend 30 minutes figuring out how to fill out a platform's form."

"We're not just entering numbers in a spreadsheet," adds Sarah Martinez, an electrical estimator. "When a GC tells me to stop and copy my whole bid into their platform, they're asking me to choose between giving them my best number and following their rules."

That's why so many subs either skip platform-required bids or email proposals last minute. It's not about resisting technology - it's about delivering their best number in the limited time they have.

What’s worse is the number of construction software platforms has exploded in recent years. While each one claims to make things easier, here's what it really means for subs:

• Having to pay for multiple software subscriptions

• Learning how to use different platforms for different GCs

• Dealing with different rules for each system

• Training workers on multiple systems

• Wasting time with tech support when things break

What Subs Are Saying

Here's what one electrical contractor told us: "We write a detailed proposal, always have, always will. We explicitly state the work we're doing, our scope. We state what we're excluding. We have options at the bottom of it, VE, adds, and deducts... Now you add a 12-page bid scope the day before it's due."

The biggest complaints from subs:

• Too many different platforms to learn and use

• Having to enter the same info over and over

• Scope sheets that don't match how trades actually work

• Last-minute forms to fill out

• Too much time spent formatting bids differently for each GC

• Can't properly show their specialized work

• Hard to explain what makes their bid better

The Real Cost of Forcing Platforms on Subs

Costs for Subs

1. More office work hours

2. Time spent learning new systems

3. Money spent on subscriptions

4. Missing out on jobs because of platform hassles

5. Mistakes from rushing to fill out forms

Problems for GCs

1. Good subs not bidding because they hate the platform

2. Getting incomplete bids

3. Higher bid prices (subs add the cost of dealing with platforms)

4. Mistakes from copying info between systems

5. Slower responses from subs

The GC's Side of Things

GCs need a way to compare bids easily. Here's what one estimator says: "On a huge bid with 300-400 subs invited and 30% of them email me an excel or word document, and another 10% are just emailing me their proposals on bid day, every minute counts."

Bid leveling becomes a nightmare when dealing with:

• Different file types

• Every sub using their own proposal layout

• Last-minute emailed bids

• Hours of copying and pasting

• Different ways of writing scope

What Actually Works

1. Be Flexible with Formats

• Let subs submit PDFs, Word docs, or Excel files

• Use tools that can handle different file types

• Keep things organized without making it hard for subs

2. Clear Communication

• Tell subs what you need early

• Write clear scope descriptions

• Make it easy for subs to ask questions

3. Use Smart Tools

• Get software that can read different types of documents

• Use tools that pull out the important information automatically

• Have a backup plan for old-school submissions

4. Make It Simple

• Only ask for what you really need

• Create scope sheets that make sense for each trade

• Let subs add their own details when needed

5. Keep Good Relationships

• Build trust by being consistent

• Listen to what subs know about their trade

• Let subs know how they can make their bids better

A Better Way: Meeting in the Middle

Instead of forcing subs to use another platform, smart GCs are finding ways to work with what subs already do. New tools like Consight's BudgetBuilder are changing the game by taking subs' PDFs and Word docs and turning them into organized scope sheets automatically.

"Instead of copying numbers from hundreds of sub bids into Excel, we now just upload the PDF and Word docs to BudgetBuilder," says Jonathan Bailey, a Senior Estimator. "The tool fills out our scope sheets automatically, saving us weeks of work on every project."

How the New Approach Works

Automatic Document Reading

• Quickly handles different file types

• Pulls out important information automatically

• Fills out scope sheets by itself

Smart Bid Comparing

• Compares bids automatically

• Shows what's missing

• Makes everything easy to review

Time and Money Saved

• Less copying and pasting

• Faster bid processing

• Less office work

• Fewer mistakes

Construction is changing, but change doesn't have to mean more headaches. By using tools like BudgetBuilder that can take any bid format and turn it into a clean scope sheet, GCs can stay organized without making life harder for their subs.

When shopping for new bid management tools, GCs need to think about what really matters in the field. The right tool should handle whatever file type your subs throw at it, whether it's Excel, Word, or PDF. It needs to be smart enough to pull out bid information automatically, saving you from hours of data entry. Speed is crucial - if it's not making your work faster, it's not worth the investment. The software should also play nice with your existing systems instead of forcing you to change how you work. And most importantly, it needs to handle both small tenant improvements and major commercial projects with equal ease.

Bottom Line

The future of handling bids isn't about making everyone use the same system. It's about using smart tools that can work with how subs already do things. By picking tools that work for everyone, GCs can keep things organized without making their subs angry or getting bad bids.

Want to see how to level bids without frustrating your subs? Book a demo to see how BudgetBuilder can help.

*[VE]: Value Engineering *[GC]: General Contractor