RIB Candy review
Bottom line
RIB Candy is a contractor's tool that connects quantity takeoff, estimating, scheduling and cost control so that one estimate carries through to final account. Its clearest strength is that the BOQ can be linked to program activities, which keeps cash flow and forecasts tied to real quantities. The main cost to watch is pricing, since the specific plan tiers are not published and the full chain of control runs through RIB BuildSmart. Contractors and estimators who need estimate-to-cost tracking in a single interface should evaluate it first.
What is RIB Candy?
RIB Candy is estimating, planning and project control software from RIB Software GmbH, a company that is part of Schneider Electric. It is built for engineering and construction contractors who need the bill of quantities, the estimate and the program to stay aligned. Its core problem is the gap that usually forms between estimating, scheduling and cost tracking, where the figures drift apart and nobody can trace where a number came from.
Day to day, users take quantities off 2D drawings in an on-screen takeoff module and compile bills of quantities from them. Estimates are priced using first principles resource-based estimating, and past estimate data can be reused through Candy Master Libraries. Candy Planning provides a critical path network built for the built environment, and BOQ items can be allocated to specific activities, with one item billed to several activities. After tender, the forecasting, cash flow, valuations and subcontract manager modules draw on the same estimate, so progress claims, variations, cost-to-complete figures and cost-versus-allowable reports stay consistent. Candy connects with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Primavera Unifier and RIB BuildSmart.
Typical users range from freelancers and small businesses to mid-size businesses and enterprises. Candy runs in the web. A free trial is offered, and the product facts list a starting price of $200 per month. Specific plan tiers are not published, and buyers can request a custom price through the vendor. Support includes email and help desk, phone, chat, a knowledge base, and 24/7 live representatives, with training available through live online sessions, webinars, documentation and videos.
Most estimating tools stop at the bid. Candy carries the same cost data forward into valuations, subcontract progress and final account. Each figure can be traced to its source, how it was calculated, and who entered it and when. For contractors who want estimating and scheduling in one interface, that continuity is the main reason to consider it over a takeoff-only tool.
Who it's for
- Contractors linking estimates to programs
- Quantity surveyors managing BOQs
- Mid-size firms tracking cost to completion
Who should look elsewhere
- Teams needing only scheduling
- Buyers who need published tier pricing
Typical uses
- Tender estimating from 2D drawings
- Cash flow forecasting against the program
- Valuations and variation management after award
- Subcontractor progress and payment tracking
RIB Candy user reviews
No published reviews yet. Be the first.
RIB Candy alternatives and comparisons
RIB Candy is the only job costing product we list so far. Browse the category as more are added.