BuildBook Product Updates

Wouldn't it be nice if you could set the status of a Task you're working on? Or, provide an update if a Task needs to be put on hold because you're waiting on materials? 

Guess what! Now you can update the progress of any Task with our most recent enhancement to Task management👏.

How do you update the progress status of a Task?

• Click the dotted circle icon within the Task menu
• Select the progress status as it pertains to your task
• Save your tasks

What statuses can you set? 

Please note: All new and existing tasks will be pre-set with a status of "none".

• Not Started
• In Progress
• On Hold
• Complete

For more details on how to create, manage an update your Task List, check out this help doc.

‍

Additional bug fixes and enhancements🐞:

• Manage Vendor from the new Vendors tab
• New unit types added to estimating (liter, meter, and gram)
• Ability to bulk edit your Price Book
• General web and mobile performance enhancements

‍

When we released Estimates and Proposals at the beginning of the year, an amazing feature included with that release was the Price Book with Cost Code tool. 

You can access your Price Book, which includes a separate tab for Cost Codes, from the Tools menu. If you’re not familiar with it, we suggest you check out this help doc.

‍

After the release, we chatted with our builders and learned how everyone was using this feature. Our number one request? "Can we import our own cost codes into BuildBook?".

That’s why we’re excited to introduce the Cost Code Import tool. 🔥

This new enhancement streamlines the time it takes to bring your Cost Codes into  BuildBook. Automatically syncing your construction company’s processes directly into your account! 

How do you import your Cost Codes?

• Log into your BuildBook account 
• Click the Tools tab and select Price Book from the menu
• Download the Cost Code import template (if you have your own excel file, feel free to upload that file)
• Format your existing codes to match the template’s column categories
• Save your new file and name it
• Use the Cost Code Importer tool to upload them to BuildBook

For full details on how to fully utilize the Cost Code Import tool, visit our help doc

‍

Templates, Templates, and more Templates! 📝

If you've logged into your BuildBook account, you've probably seen the new look on the Projects homepage. That new addition ^includes a Projects, Templates, and Archives tab. 👀

The Projects tab will be the home for all of your new and ongoing Projects. Within your Project list you will be able turn any Project into a Project Template with the click of a button! 😲

It gets even better ...

All saved Project Templates will now be available to manage and edit directly from the Templates tab! Once you've saved a Project Template it can be used for any new Project you start. 🤩

We've also added an Archives tab which will allow you to move old Projects from your active Project list.

‍

How do I create a Project Template?

You can create Project Templates from an existing Project by going to your list of Projects and using the "+ Create Template" ellipsis menu within a specific project. This will copy over assets, reset all statuses, reset assignments, and clear out comments and chats. Giving you a fresh Template to use moving forward!

‍

What's the difference between a Project and a Project Template

A Project is an active job you are managing. All updates, including task assignments and communication, will still be managed directly from the main Project.

A Project Template is the main component of a Project and how you can quickly jumpstart a new Project. Project Templates are not intended for notifications, project management, or inviting clients. Additionally, you will not see a Project Template Schedule, Tasks, or Activities in your Calendar or Dashboard. Project Templates will be indicated by a blue notification bar at the top of the page.

‍

‍

For a deep dive into how to use Templates view this help doc

‍

‍

Balancing your Project's Estimated Budget against what it actually ends up costing can be difficult—and even harder to communicate down to the client!

That's why we are so excited to announce our newest feature, Expense tracking! 🤩  🎉 🧡

With this incredible upgrade to your BuildBook account and Budgeting tool, you will now be able to automatically track purchases made throughout a project, upload receipts, tag vendors, and assign them to Budget line Items and/or Selections. 😲

Three things you should know about tracking Expenses within BuildBook?

1️⃣ When adding an Expense, a few details help keep everything organized. ✅

• Vendor (or Payee): tracks who you purchased materials or services from
• Budget Line Item: allows you to assign the expense to a specific line item within your Budget
• Selection: allows you to assign it directly to any existing Selection
• Attachment: allows you to upload receipts or images of the product
• Cost: tracks the actual price of the Expense and will automatically be reflected on your Projects Budget
• Description: tracks any specific details or information regarding the purchase
• Date: tracks when you officially made a purchase

2️⃣ Easily assign any Expense to a Vendor, existing Budget Line Item, or Selection.

Simply add a new expense, upload a receipt (or image of the product), and use the drop-down menus to quickly associate it with existing Budget details.

This amazing new enhancement will provide your clients with a better understanding of where their money is going, while also helping you keep track of how you're tracking against your Projects' original Budget.

‍

3️⃣ When viewing Expenses on your Budget or within a specific Line Item there is a new "Cost to Date" column that reflects the actual cost for each item's Expense.

This allows you to now track the Cost to Date, against the Estimated Price and Projected Price, directly from your Budget tab or a specific line item. 🥰

‍

‍

We're so excited for you to experience creating and tracking Expenses within BuildBook! For a more detailed breakdown of Expenses, head to our knowledge base and read this help doc.

‍

Wish you could take a task list from a previous job and bring it into that new one?

You're not alone!

With our new enhancement to Task Management, you can now copy any Task list and share it with a new Project. Streamlining your ability to generate a Task list and Schedule. 😀

‍

How can I copy a task into a Project?

• Start at the destination Project and go into Tasks.
• Use the ellipsis menu to use the "Copy From" option.
• Select a Project or Project Template from the dropdown menu to bring those into your list of Tasks.

Once you've chosen a task to copy, we've made it easy for you to adjust the start date with two options.

1. Remove all dates: this allows you to start with a fresh Schedule and pick the dates you want each task to have
2. Change dates: this allows you to choose a new start date based on the new Project's timeline. The first Task will begin on the date you choose and all other Task dates will shift to match, based on the previous Schedule.

‍