2012 Review of Management Information Control Systems – Builder Information System (BIS)

Management Information Control Systems – Builder Information System (BIS)
800-838-6427
www.bissoftware.com

From the March 2012 Review of Construction & Contractor Accounting Systems.

Best Fit: Builder Information Systems is well-suited for small to mid-sized or larger construction related businesses that desire a scalable product that offers room for growth.

Strengths

• Scalable with 4 Editions available
• Excellent job costing capability
• Excellent subcontract management
• Solid document management and imaging capability
• Real-time with an excellent audit trail

Potential Limitations

• No dispatch module available

Builder Information Systems (BIS) from Management Information Control Systems has been a steady provider of financial and job cost software since 1983. BIS continues to offers construction companies a solid financial product with excellent job management tools which is available in four editions (Essential, Standard, Professional, and Enterprise).

BASIC SYSTEM FUNCTIONS - 4.75 Stars

BIS offers users a fully customizable user interface that is driven by the ‘My Desktop’ function. Users can choose to display complete ‘my desktop’ options which include system links, my favorites, my dashboard, and workspaces. Clicking or selecting links will display all of the features and functions found within the module, or users can access specific tasks using the drop down menu bar at the top of the screen. Users can access a recap of all system jobs from the ‘My Jobs’ screen, including detailed information on Billing & Cost, Cash Flow, Labor and Subcontract detail. Data entry screens are free of clutter and easily navigated and contain tabs where varying levels of detailed information can be entered. All data entry screens also contain the necessary look-up options, and a good number of user defined fields making it easy to enter and track the information needed. BIS is easily accessed remotely by anyone with access to an Internet connection. BIS is designed to work on a Windows platform, including Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7.

CORE ACCOUNTING CAPABILITIES - 4.75 Stars

The GL module is included in all versions of BIS. The Essential and Standard versions of BIS include other core modules along with a few optional modules. In the Professional and Enterprise levels, all modules except the GL are optional, so companies can choose only the features required.

The GL allows users to utilize up to a 10 digit account number and a 40 character account description. New companies can be configured with a default chart of accounts, enter a custom list of accounts, or modify the accounts used in another company. BIS easily handles multiple companies and the Professional and Enterprise editions can also handle up to 10,000 departments. The AP module tracks workers compensation insurance as well as both liability and auto insurance information. Partial payments are easily handled and recurring invoices can be set up as needed. Users may also choose to pay invoices using a credit card.

The AR module contains a recurring billing option, handles contract invoices and both debit and credit memos. Users can also assign up to nine discount levels for all customers. The Payroll module is geared toward construction companies and easily handles multi-state payroll, union and certified payrolls, and contains the ability to distribute payroll hours to multiple jobs. Additional modules offered by BIS include Job Billing, Inventory, Purchase Order, and Bank Reconciliation.

Built-in audit trail functionality tracks all system transactions with a report available for reviewing when desired. BIS offers multi-level security for all users, including module and menu level security options. Each edition of BIS offers increased security levels, with the Enterprise edition of BIS offering the most sophisticated system security options.

CONSTRUCTION/CONTRACTOR-SPECIFIC FEATURES - 4.75 Stars