This glossary describes key BuildingConnected terminology and products. Use this glossary to become familiar with our product so that you can make the most of your BuildingConnected account.
Application Programming Interface (API): Software intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other. API is a messenger that delivers your data request to one application (in this case, BuildingConnected or TradeTapp) and then delivers the requested data back to your internal enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
BC Pro: BC Pro is the name of the paid subscription for general contractors. For more information on the additional features that are included in a subscription to BC Pro, please click here reach out to our sales team.
Bid Board: BuildingConnected’s free tool for subcontractors. Bid Board allows subcontractors to accept and submit bids, submit qualifications, access project files and message general contractors.
Bid Board Pro: Bid Board Pro is the name of the paid subscription for subcontractors. For more information on the additional features that are included in a subscription to Bid Board Pro, please click here reach out to our sales team.
Bid form: The form created by general contractors that is sent to subcontractors as part of their ITB. This form is completed by subcontractors when submitting their proposal to the general contractors. The GC can save bid forms as templates and use them in future projects. For BC Pro subscribers, bid forms can also be customized to request scope-specific information. Click here for resources pertaining to bid forms.
Bid form template: A BC Pro feature that allows general contractors to save customized bid forms for future use. Bid form templates are organized by category of trade. Bid form templates can be imported into future projects to ensure that subcontractors include specific information in their proposals. Click here for more information on bid form templates.
Bidder group: In BuildingConnected, "Bidder Group" is the name we use to refer to a company that has been invited to bid on a project. The Bidder Group will include all the individuals you have selected to receive the ITB. Bidder groups also contain the company’s submitted proposals and a record of actions taken by the invited company.
Bidder list template: A tool to organize subcontractor information by category of trade. Templates can be imported into future projects to ensure that specific subcontractors are invited to bid. Click here for more information on bidder list templates.
Bid Leveling: A BC Pro feature that allows general contractors to accurately, effectively, and collaboratively identify the bids for projects in a side-by-side format. Click here for more information about BuildingConnected’s Bid Leveling feature.
Bid package: Categories of trades within a project. General contractors can add subcontractors to bid packages to send invitations to bid. Click here to learn more about bid packages in BuildingConnected.
Bid package lead: The member of the project team that receives all communication for a specific scope. Anyone who is a part of the Project Team can assign bid package leads. Click here for more information on bid package leads.
Box: A third-party hosting service for files. BC Pro subscribers can sync their Box account with their BuildingConnected account to easily upload project files.
Client Suggestion: A Bid Board Pro feature that allows subcontractors to identify additional bids for projects that are being competitively bid through BuildingConnected. Click here for more information or please click here reach out to our sales team.
Company profile: The details of a company’s account in BuildingConnected. Company profiles consist of the company name, contact information and business details (enterprise type, labor type, etc.). Company profiles are visible to other general contractors in the BuildingConnected network. For resources pertaining to user profiles, please click here.
Contact: In BuildingConnected, a contact refers to the subcontractor companies that have been invited to bid or to pre-qualify by a general contractor.
Flag and hide: A feature that allows general contractors to remove subcontractors from appearing in search results for the wrong trade. Click here for more information about this feature.
Follower: A follower is someone within the subcontractor’s company who has been added to a bid. Followers are able to view all bid information including files, messages, bid forms, and tracking. Click here to learn more about followers.
Jump to: A feature used to quickly find bid packages or specific companies within a project. Click here for more information about the “Jump To” feature.
Network: Hundreds of thousands of subcontractors that general contractors and owners can search based on their specific project needs. Designated by scope of work and location, general contractors use our network to find subcontractors and vendors to invite to bid on their projects.
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA): A contract by which subcontractors agree not to disclose confidential information that they have received about a project. BC Pro subscribers can send out invitations to bid NDA protected projects which requires that the bidder consent to the agreement before they can view project details. Click here for more information about NDA protected projects.
Office Lead: The designated point of contact for a company to manage who can join the company account. Specifically, Office Leads have to approve new users who join the company account without an invitation. Click here to learn more about Office Leads.
Opportunity group: A way for subcontractors to organize competitive bids in a single entry in their Bid Boards. Click here for more information about Opportunity Groups.
Preferred company: A feature that allows BC Pro subscribers to privately highlight companies that they prefer to work with within the BuildingConnected network. Click here to learn more about this feature.
Preferred contact: A feature that allows BC Pro subscribers to privately designate specific points of contact within subcontractor companies. Click here to learn more about this feature.
Profile: The details of a user’s account in BuildingConnected. Profiles consist of the user’s name, contact information and title. Profiles are tied to a company in the network and are visible to other general contractors in the BuildingConnected network. For resources pertaining to user profiles, please click here.
Project lead: The member of the project team that receives all project communication. Anyone who is a part of the Project Team can assign project leads. Click here for more information on project leads.
Publish: The action taken by general contractors to send out invitations to bid. Click here for instructions on how to publish projects.
Qualification Manager: A BC Pro tool that allows general contractors to manage their company’s qualifications. A paid subscription is not required by subcontractors in order to submit qualifications.
Recommendation engine: The algorithm built into the search tool that is used by general contractors to find subcontractors to invite to a project. This algorithm generates a list from the BuildingConnected network, based on the information provided by subcontractors in their company profiles (location, work performed, enterprise type, etc). Click here for more information about our recommendation engine.
Search tool: The tool used by general contractors to invite new bidders to a project. The search tool allows general contractors to search by a variety of filters like business types, labor types and for companies who have been pre-qualified. Click here for more information about BuildingConnected’s search tool.
Single Sign-On (SSO): A BC Pro feature that gives users an alternate way to log into BuildingConnected. SSO allows a company’s leadership team and their IT administrators to manage accounts in BuildingConnected using the company’s corporate identity providers. Please click here reach out to our sales team to receive for more information about SSO.
Suggested Edit: A feature used to flag a company or individual contact whose information in BuildingConnected needs to be updated. Any user of BuildingConnected can suggest edits on profiles either directly to the target user, or to BuildingConnected Support. Click here for more information about this feature.
Tag: Short internal notes that general contractors can add to company profiles. Tags are private and help to easily flag important information. Click here for more information on company tags.
TradeTapp: TradeTapp is a prequalification and risk management software owned by BuildingConnected. TradeTapp allows vendors to submit qualification applications and general contractors to evaluate vendor risk. Please contact info@tradetapp.com for more information or to request a demo.
Vendor (BuildingConnected): In BuildingConnected, a “vendor” refers to someone who has limited access to a bid’s details. Vendors can only view high-level project information (due date, location, description) and access project files. Click here for more information about vendors in BuildingConnected.
Vendor (TradeTapp): In TradeTapp, a “vendor” refers to the subcontractors who are invited to qualify.
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