Nova Ava updates from 2015: finally making digital tendering easy
2015 was the year in which many things became easier – at least for everyone who works with Nova Ava. The Nova Ava updates from 2015 were not minor optimizations, but real game changers. Functions that seem obvious today laid the foundation for a new way of working back then: more flexible, faster, more intuitive.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
All Nova Ava updates from March 2015
Archives
Archives provide security!
Have you ever wanted to save an intermediate status?
This is no longer a problem. With the new archive function, you can save your BOQ as a data backup in the system at any time. This makes planning variants even easier. And you also have the security of being able to save any version of your WBS.
Element calculation
The new element calculation is fun!
Now the creation of cost calculations is finally really fast!
And that is in the brand new element-based cost estimate:
- Elements with calculation variables (e.g. height, length, width, number, etc…)
- Assign master BOQ items and link quantity references to the element
- Simply copy elements from the catalog and other projects
- Price elements flexibly with values from the order history
- Generate Bill of Quantities from the element costing at the click of a mouse
Price lists
Price lists ensure accurate cost calculations!
Secure and flexible access to real market prices!
Create a master BOQ with important and frequently occurring BOQ items
Use these BOQ items in your cost calculations and tenders
The price lists allow for flexible estimates
rough (e.g. average prices over a period of time)
and precise (which contractor, specific award)
Search function
Search function with depth!
Where have I written this out before?
You only need to know what, NOVA knows where! The new intelligent search function searches through:
- Addresses
- Projects
- Bill of Quantities and therein
- Short text
- and long texts
The search result is prepared in such a way that you are only one mouse click away from the location!
Text blocks
Well, there are texts that occur again and again. These can be entire item descriptions or just parts of them.
In clever systems, you can use the “Autotexts” function for this, for example. And since NOVA is such a system, we have implemented this function in the editor. Save and retrieve text blocks -> that saves time!
Design
In a new design!
We have further optimized the design of the application especially for mobile devices.
also looks great on a large screen and has an even more sophisticated structure.
March 23, 2015
The updates from April
New printing options
In response to many user requests, all PDF print lists of a Bill of Quantities (blank, cost calculation, quotation and order) can now be created with a number of options, e.g. for the text width or the arrangement of the price line and much more.
Starter package extended
Starter package now with cost estimate and element calculation!
More functions for the same price: the starter package now also includes the new controlling components:
- Cost estimate (e.g. according to DIN276)
- Element costing (component-oriented)
- Cost analysis (project evaluation)
April 12, 2015
What’s new in June
Offer opening and dual control principle
Nova now allows tenders from externally invited participants to be opened only after the submission date has expired. Furthermore, the 4-eyes principle can be activated for the opening of tenders, i.e. tenders can only be viewed after authentication of two users with rights to the award.
STLB-Bau-Online available
Around 1,000,000 STLB-Bau tender texts are now easily available online and always up-to-date. The neutral, VOB and DIN-compliant, clearly described and technically coherent texts can be called up directly from the BOQ creation component. The service descriptions are available in various packages and can be subscribed to directly from Nova.
GAEB quotation import simplified
The import of GAEB quotation files (DA84) has now become even more tolerant. From now on, quotation data that does not correspond exactly to the BOQ structure can also be processed.
Customized email templates
NOVA offers an integrated e-mail function for communication. Various templates with placeholders and keywords can now be used, e.g. for address, project and BOQ information.
Simple communication in the tender component
Simplified communication between tenderer and provider
In tenders, there are always queries from bidders that need to be answered. From now on, this communication can take place in NOVA itself and is also documented in a traceable manner at all times. The bidder asks their question directly in the system, the tenderer receives a message and can respond immediately. When answering, he decides whether only the questioner or all bidders receive the answer in the question and answer catalog.
DA11 / Measurements
Measurements – Assign cost centers
When exporting measurements (DA11), you can now select which of the existing catalog assignments, if any, are to be written to the file to be exported as a “cost center” according to REB23.003. When importing, you can select which catalog assigned to the project any cost center information in the DA11 file should be assigned to.
Improvements in awarding
New in awarding: cash discount evaluation and notes on bidders
Additional lines for the cash discount percentage, cash discount amount and discounted gross amount can now be activated in the Award component.
When calculating the fictitious bidders (ideal, average, median bidder), you can now choose whether all existing bidders or only the bidders currently loaded in the price comparison list should be used.
A bidder note can now be entered in the bid details of each bidder and optionally displayed in the price comparison list and printed out.
Long text editing
Improved import of images in position long texts
When importing image files into the item long text, the uploaded files are now checked. Only permitted image file types can be imported; in the event of an error, a corresponding message is displayed.
BOQ exam options
New setting options for the BOQ check
The BOQ check can now be configured and, if required, switched off completely.
Improvements in billing
Optimization of billing
Supplementary items can now be assigned to a cost group via multiple selection, for example, which saves clicks and time.
The (target) order values of supplementary items are now also taken into account in the cost analysis for evaluations, e.g. according to DIN276.
The contractor’s address can now be changed even after the order has been placed.
Cost analysis switchable between net and gross
Cost analysis switchable between net and gross
In the cost analysis, it is now possible to display the displayed costs either as net or gross values. In the gross display, BOQ-specific VAT rates are taken into account accordingly.
Further printing options and additional output information
Even more printing options
Print lists are becoming increasingly flexible:
- Your own logo can be printed on the cover pages of all print lists as an option
- The header texts of the print lists have been standardized with regard to the output information
- There is a new print list “Check invoice compact” in the billing, here the invoice data (totals) without the BOQ items are clearly summarized on one page.
- The contractor’s invoice number and the gross amount requested are shown on the cover sheet of the check invoice list.
- An option “Output catalog assignments” has been implemented for the quotation, cost calculation and order BOQ print lists.
- All texts used in the print lists have been made adjustable via the administration
Copy Bill of Quantities
Another option for creating BOQ copies
When copying Bill of Quantities, the award data, billing data and BOQ documents of the source BOQ can now optionally be copied as well.
June 13, 2015
What July 2015 had to offer in terms of updates
Extension of element costing
In addition to the master BOQ items, “free” items can now also be assigned to the elements. This makes element costing much more flexible, and elements can now be designed to be more project-specific and extensive.
Colors for markings
In the element costing, cost estimation and Bill of Quantities editing tables, it is sometimes handy to be able to quickly highlight a line. For yourself or your colleagues. This is now possible: simply activate the row on the far left and select the color!
Cost estimation with formulas, variables and free lines
New powerful features can now be used in the cost estimate:
- Cost breakdowns are now more flexible thanks to freely insertable calculation lines for a cost group
- Calculation lines of a cost group are added up
- Calculations (à la Excel) can be entered in the quantity and price fields
- Within these calculations, you can access free variables for cost estimation
Position machining even more compact
Everything remains “the same” and there is something new: the free long texts in the BOQ can now also be edited directly in the properties dialog for the item, as can the quantity, unit and unit price. It is also possible to create new items from this dialog. Fewer clicks for even faster handling! And for those who are used to it, all input functions in the BOQ table remain the same as before.
Cost estimate for LVs (trades)
In addition to the tried and tested cost estimation based on cost breakdowns such as DIN276, BOQ or trade-related cost estimation has been added. The project specifications are displayed as the top-level outline items, and free (rough) items with estimated quantities and prices can now be entered. The cost analysis then provides a holistic view of the cost development based on the estimated, commissioned and invoiced contract specifications.
July 7, 2015
Further innovations followed in November
BOQ structure always flexible
The BOQ structure can be changed at any time
With this update, the BOQ structure can now be changed at any time. This can be helpful if you need to expand the structure of a BOQ or adapt it after importing a file.
Construction accounting – graphical evaluation
The performance level visualized in detail!
From now on, NOVA AVA will display the performance status graphically in even greater detail. Based on the quantity changes regulated in § 2 No. 3 VOB/B, which may arise during invoicing, quantity underruns and quantity overruns of more or less than 10% respectively are documented with the traffic light graphic. You can see at a glance where unit price renegotiations can or must be conducted. Would you like to specify your own value limits and colors? You can, we have also designed this to be adjustable!
More overview when issuing the cost estimate
Improved display of the print list
The new clear presentation of the cost groups now differentiates more clearly between the simple cost groups and the totalizing rows. There is also a new setting that can be used to hide all “empty” rows, making the view and printout of the cost estimate even more compact.
Copy projects
Create template projects!
You can now copy an entire project. In doing so, you decide whether or not to copy the included specifications, cost estimate, element calculation and documents. With this new function, you can create your own complete project templates and activate them for new projects in a flash.
The new dashboard 2015
First things first!
You can now customize the dashboard and decide what you want to see immediately:
- the project costs
- current dates
- Tasks to be completed
- Last edited LVs
- and much more…
You can also freely arrange the widgets in your account: for all devices with which you use NOVA AVA.
Calendar, notes and tasks
Even better organized!
With the new calendar and note functions, you can organize almost everything around a construction site. Cleverly designed, notes, tasks and appointments can be created and tracked. With the convenient assignment of users, files, photos and locations, the creation of references to projects, work lists and items…
So flexible that the construction diary and defect management become part of NOVA AVA – and as always: at no extra cost and from anywhere and at any time!
Online help
Documentation – Help system
So, now we have also created comprehensive online documentation! Here we provide quick overviews and show correlations that make working with NOVA AVA even easier and more effective.
This is also practical if you want to get an overview of the possibilities in NOVA AVA without a screen. Create PDF, print and read smartly.
Many thanks to our support team!
Formatting long text
Easily remove formatting
We have implemented a new function for resetting formatting in long texts. Texts are often copied from other applications, sometimes including formatting that was previously difficult to reset. There is now a button for this.
New analyses in the price index
The new evaluation options for offers in the price comparison list: ABC analysis and outlier detection
In addition to the classic bid comparison with percentage ratings, bids can now be evaluated using the ABC analysis. The color coding graphically indicates the main points of the quotation. This is an extremely helpful function for immediately identifying cost-intensive items.
With the outlier detection, speculative prices (outliers) can be detected at a glance. The limit values and colors for the respective classification can be set in the settings of the Allocation component.
Datanorm 4.0 import interface implemented
Import data from product manufacturers
Many building material manufacturers offer product and service catalogs in Datanorm format. This is useful for tendering for specific products. With the newly implemented interface, this data can now be imported as Bill of Quantities (optionally with structuring according to product groups) at the click of a mouse. All article data is available as BOQ items directly as a template for creating cost calculations and tenders.
Heinze – Tender texts
The whole variety of tender texts is fully integrated – now with Heinze Tender Text Manager
Even more tender texts – free of charge.
The extensive HEINZE tender text manager can now be accessed directly in NOVA, we quote:
“There you will find over 240,000 product-specific service descriptions from more than 300 leading manufacturers from the construction and finishing sector for free use in your NOVA AVA software. The search for suitable tender texts can be started from the individual manufacturer as well as via the DIN 276 catalog structure. If you have any questions about the texts, the tool also offers a direct contact option to the respective product manufacturers.”
No installation, no configuration -> we’ve already done that! This means: simply insert tender texts into the BOQ immediately!
API – a flexible interface for more networking
RESTful API
This entry is for system administrators! With the API, external systems such as address management systems, appointment and calendar applications, evaluation tools, ERP systems, etc. can now access data from NOVA AVA for further processing or feed it in. Data can now be retrieved from NOVA AVA for further processing or fed into it.
Further information on system integration can be found right here: https://avanova.de/api/#
November 1, 2015