Whether you're a small engineering firm or a large company, you need the right software to successfully execute projects and increase productivity. For engineers, that usually calls for two types of software: back-office operations software and a program for design, development, and calculations.
Together, this tech can improve your output and position your firm to operate as efficiently and profitably as possible. Let’s evaluate the top software for engineers by comparing popular features and pros and cons.
Best Engineering Software 2023 for Back-Office Operations
Engineering is a highly competitive industry that demands precision. Projects are complex and you’re forced to adapt to changes, constraints, and evolving client needs. Back-office operations software can help you succeed despite these challenges.
A cloud-based business solution enables your engineering firm to more effectively manage projects, staff, clients, and administrative tasks related to accounting and billing. Organized dashboards measure your performance against initial plans, track cash flow, forecast financials, and help keep all stakeholders aligned.
With improved communication, reliable data, and streamlined workflows, you can deliver better results for clients while increasing revenue for your company and keeping employees satisfied. Here’s what you need to know about four notable software programs for back-office operations, so you can easily find the right one for your engineering firm.
BQE CORE
Ranked as one of the best engineering software platforms, BQE CORE is a powerful project management software created by an engineer and architect specifically for project-based firms. They founded BQE Software after struggling to find an effective solution for their own projects.
Now, BQE CORE is a popular PM platform for engineers, architects, consultants, and other service providers to prevent project issues, automate manual processes for time and money savings, and track essential metrics. In real-time, see KPIs related to your team’s performance, budget, utilization, and profitability, all from one dashboard.
BQE CORE lets you manage complex engineering projects from bid to delivery, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. It simplifies repetitive tasks that distract from the essential parts of your business and helps you avoid bottlenecks, going over budget, missing milestones, and misallocating resources.
Schedule a demo of BQE CORE to see how it can enable your firm to maximize revenue for better ROI on every project.
Features:
Real-time project tracking
Customizable, automated reports
DCAA-compliant time and expense tracking
Smart billing
Invoicing and online payments
Project accounting
Payroll management
Budget tracking
Gantt charts
CRM
Mobile app
Seamless integrations with QuickBooks, Stripe, Xero, and more
Pros:
Manage multiple business functions in one platform
Real-time business intelligence
Highly customizable
Time-saving templates for projects, proposals, and invoices
Simplifies timesheets and expenses
Automates repetitive manual tasks
Reduces costly, time-consuming errors and duplicate work
Proactively identifies project improvements
Replaces spreadsheets
User-friendly interface
Works on mobile and desktop
24/7 customer support
Integrates with tools your firm already uses
Cons:
The number of features, reports, and customizations may initially overwhelm users who want to take advantage of everything. Fortunately, BQE offers award-winning support and training, making getting to know BQE CORE easy.
BigTime
BigTime is Professional Services Automation software geared toward engineers, architects, accountants, and consultants to allow them to build better processes for project management, time tracking, and billing and invoicing. It claims to streamline everything from winning new business to managing deliverables and analyzing results. Its goal is to help you make the most of your firm’s valuable time and eliminate many project pain points.
Features:
Time and expense tracking
Customizable invoices
Metrics dashboards and reporting
Resource planning
Projected budgets vs. actual hours comparison
Skills matching
Project planning board
Integrations with popular software
Pros:
Standardizes processes
Automates routine tasks
Improves resource and staff allocation
Shares real-time analytics
Cons:
Confusing custom reporting process
Limited number of customizable fields
Clunky mobile version
Doesn’t allow you to delete irrelevant fields
Invoicing features don’t work for every project type
Difficult import process from QuickBooks
Requires you to manually fill in client information every time
Deltek
Deltek provides project-focused software for engineering and architecture firms. It offers multiple solutions, including Deltek Vantagepoint and Deltek Ajera, with project, pipeline, and resource management features. Both programs can help engineering firms keep projects on track, on time, and on budget, so you find success by increasing profitability, streamlining cash flow, and making better business decisions faster.
Features:
Milestone and deadline tracking
Staff utilization
Capacity forecasting
Project performance data
Interactive billing
Cash management
Role-specific reports and dashboards
Pros:
Provides 360-degree project view
Strong accounting and invoicing features
Allows you to add custom fields
Easily correct timesheet errors
Cons:
Software bugs and glitches
Cumbersome reporting
Steep learning curve
Doesn’t include revenue forecasting
Lacks timesheet checks and balances
Fewer integrations than similar platforms
NetSuite
NetSuite is a business management solution that’s widely recognized as the first cloud computing software. More than 20 years later, NetSuite offers project management capabilities that help organizations proactively identify and prevent issues, stay organized, and deliver successful projects for greater client satisfaction. It wasn’t built with engineers in mind, and includes some ecommerce and sales features that likely aren’t relevant to your firm.
Features:
Reusable project templates
Project dashboards
CRM
Budgeting
Timesheets
B2C and B2B ecommerce
Order management
Mobile time and expense tracking
Pros:
Real-time KPIs and project status
Automated project templates replace manual setup
Records project issues at the task level
Automatically applies time and expenses to projects
Cons:
Expensive
Not ideal for smaller firms
Outdated dashboard design
Overwhelming feature set
Not built for engineering firms
Poor product support
Best Engineering Software 2023 for Front-Office Projects
Technical engineering projects require design and mathematical software with advanced features for developing ideas, creating blueprints and schematics, verifying feasibility, and sharing intent with collaborators.
The right tools for your firm’s client-facing projects allow you to more easily concept and share your work, adjust and improve it quickly, and correct any errors along the way. From 2D drawing and 3D visualization to simulating and validating your work, engineering-specific software helps you streamline, problem-solve, and boost efficiency.
MATLAB
MATLAB is a popular engineering design tool that lets you visualize, simulate, and test your work. It’s considered a top technical modeling software for validating designs using physical models and analyzing the data. Used by millions of engineers worldwide, MATLAB is an excellent resource for bringing ideas to life and delivering value to clients faster, thanks to a more efficient development cycle.
Features:
2D drawing
3D imaging
Customizable dashboard
Data management
Statistical analysis and simulation
Reporting and statistics
Graphical data presentation
Multi-domain modeling
Real-time prototyping
Pros:
Validates design with physical models
Simplifies analysis and testing
Enables quick iteration through model updates and simulation
Lets you isolate individual components in models
Visualizes progress to stakeholders through automated, shared reports
Cons:
Expensive
Slow responsiveness
Uses significant computer memory to run simulations
Not intuitive for first-time users
Python
Python is a ubiquitous programming language for software development, machine learning, design, and analytics. It’s gaining popularity for developing graphic design applications, including 2D imaging and 3D animation.
Python is seen as an alternative to MATLAB, with Python boasting nearly twice as many users as MATLAB. Compared to MATLAB, Python offers more features, is open source (anyone can contribute to new features), and best of all, it's free.
Features:
Open source
Diverse set of packages and modules
Platform independence
High-level language
Pros:
Free
Versatile
Easily to download and modify the source code
Allows you to build prototypes quicker
Constantly introduces new features
Gaining popularity
Cons:
Slower than other programming tools
Requires extra effort to use on mobile
High memory usage
Not easy to test
Rhino
Rhino is computer-aided design software with a stellar reputation for its 3D modeling capabilities. It allows engineers and architects to rapidly prototype and develop complex models, and then analyze, simulate, and finalize designs for production.
Rhino is a robust free-form surface modeler that uses NURBS (Non-Uniform Rational Basis Spline) geometry. This creates the most accurate modeling technique and makes Rhino more flexible and precise than other programs.
Features:
3D modeling
Model creation tools, including lines, curves, surfaces, solids, and meshes
Construction aids
Real-time rendering
2D drawings
Digital fabrication
3D capture
Pros:
Helps create even the most complex models
Simple import and export to other software
Users report great cost-benefit
Cons:
Sharp learning curve
Large files are slow to save
Other software is more optimized for 2D drawing
Complicated UI
Mathcad
Mathcad is an engineering calculation tool that helps firms solve problems and standardize their processes. It's equipped to handle everything from the simplest equations to complicated, multi-step engineering analysis, allowing you to save time and avoid errors in every calculation. With Mathcad, you can easily document the design process and analyze your engineering projects and data in a repeatable way.
Features:
Calculations transparency
700+ built-in functions for more advanced calculations
3D visualization
Content protection
Engineering process templates
Comprehensive documentation
Pros:
Saves time and prevents errors in calculations
Integrates seamlessly with CAD solutions
Intuitive user interface
Cons:
Limited functionality for 3D visualization of data
Lacks automatic equation solving
Not as popular as tools like MATLAB
BQE CORE Project Management Software for Engineers
Project management software allows your engineering firm to efficiently execute high-quality deliverables, streamline communication with clients and colleagues, and run a more profitable business.
BQE CORE was built for engineers, architects, consultants, and more in the professional service industry to completely transform your day-to-day processes. It adds automation, accuracy, and ease to your project management, accounting, time and expense tracking, invoicing, analytics, and more.
BQE CORE has everything you need to plan resources, budgets, and timelines for more successful projects. Get easy access to real-time metrics and project updates that help improve your productivity and profitability.
Schedule your free BQE CORE demo today to get started simplifying your operations and driving more revenue.