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Hard Dollar and Vertigraph Partner to Streamline the Takeoff and Estimating Processes, Increase Accuracy and Bid Faster

Ability to Link Hard Dollar Estimates to Vertigraph Electronic Takeoff Tool Dramatically Reduces Takeoff Time and Reduces Potential for Costly Errors

Tempe, AZ and Dallas, TX – March 11, 2008 – Hard Dollar Corporation, and Vertigraph, Inc. today announced a technology partnership that will allow customers to radically simplify the takeoff and estimating processes by incorporating Vertigraph’s BidScreen XL on-screen measurement tool with Hard Dollar’s estimating software. This technology allows contractors to complete project bids in a fraction of the time, with a clear and concise audit trail. This approach results in winning more business while lowering costs.

The companies’ software integration will be featured as a part of the ConExpo tradeshow, at the Las Vegas Convention Center March 11 – 15. Demonstrations can be seen at the Hard Dollar booth S-10607 and the Vertigraph booth S-10606 on level one of the South Hall.

The Hard Dollar/Vertigraph partnership is part of a shared commitment to improve the interoperability of technology systems in use within the construction industry. The integration of Vertigraph’s BidScreen XL tool with Hard Dollar’s Estimating module will allow project teams to:

• Eliminate hours of manual takeoff on each bid. Quantity takeoff is one of the most time-consuming tasks in the estimating process, often requiring hours of time to measure items and materials that will be required for a project. Using Vertigraph’s BidScreen XL tool, estimators can electronically takeoff materials directly from TIF, PDF, AutoCAD DWG, JPEG and many other file formats.
• Stop manual entry of material costs into project estimates. Vertigraph’s BidScreen XL takeoffs are automatically stored in Excel, and those values are read directly into Hard Dollar estimates with no need to import/export or copy and paste. Users can simply click on a spreadsheet cell to electronically measure and identify areas, lengths and counts from electronic drawings. The measurements and digitized drawings are saved within the Excel workbook – which in turn is saved as part of the Hard Dollar estimate – where they can be edited and printed with ease.
• Make more money and stay on schedule for each job awarded. Since the takeoff quantities are tied directly to project plans, users will reduce redundant work and significantly minimize errors or omissions in project estimates, resulting in a higher return on each project.

“To remain competitive, our customers have to leverage every opportunity to streamline the quantity takeoff and estimating processes,” said Erich Schoenkopf, President, Vertigraph, Inc. “Partnering with Hard Dollar will help customers become preferred contractors with their clients, and deliver project estimates quickly without losing profits due to inaccurate bids.”

“Hard Dollar is excited to work with Vertigraph to deliver more efficient processes to our customers,” said Alistair Johnson Clague, Hard Dollar President. “At the end of the day, the professional with the reputation for more accurate bids and the speed to respond quickly to opportunities will be more successful. Integrating with Vertigraph is one more way we intend to make our customers more nimble and competitive.”

It has been estimated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology that the lack of systems interoperability currently costs the construction industry $15.8 billion per year. Contributing to these losses, cost engineers and estimators often are required to start from scratch each time a project goes from the design stage into the estimating and budgeting stage. By combining Vertigraph’s BidScreen XL with Hard Dollar, takeoff data can be gathered and leveraged in project estimates with just a few mouse clicks. The result is less redundant effort, more timely and accurate information flow, and faster overall project throughput.

About Vertigraph, Inc.

Vertigraph’s mission is to produce quantity takeoff software that provides substantial operational, financial and strategic value. Our aim is to craft superior tools that are easy to use, feature rich and greatly surpass customer expectations. We deliver the best value proposition in the industry with an unmatched return on investment. Complete satisfaction is guaranteed on all Vertigraph products.

Since 1991, Vertigraph has been the choice of thousands of contractors for quantity takeoff and estimating solutions. Over half of the ENR Top 400 General Contractors, as well as many of the leading Subcontractors in divisions 2 though 9 count on Vertigraph to maintain their profitability.

About Hard Dollar Corporation

Hard Dollar’s budget- and performance-based project management solutions help engineering, construction, power and energy organizations to streamline project processes from the early budgeting and conceptual estimating phase, through project closeout and analysis. Hard Dollar customers save valuable time and expense by identifying and modeling projects that align with the organization’s goals; determining cash flow through all phases of projects; coordinating planning and execution processes; and achieving the visibility needed to execute consistently on project plans.

For more than 18 years, Hard Dollar has been the standard in project modeling and execution solutions. By partnering with its customers and other leading technology providers, Hard Dollar now provides an end-to-end solution that allows organizations to make better use of existing systems used to manage projects, create a complete Building Information Modeling (BIM) solution and further improve productivity and collaboration across the enterprise.

Hard Dollar is used to manage more than $1 trillion in projects for leading organizations including Aecon, Alstom Power, Duke Energy, Tetra Tech and Zachry Construction Corporation. Project-driven organizations managing complex capital, civil, highway, industrial, infrastructure, maintenance and turnaround projects are finding consistent success by using Hard Dollar to manage the interaction of costs, resources, schedules and cash flow. For more information, contact Hard Dollar at info@harddollar.com.

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