An overview of the functions is available in the following sections:
Developing & Calculating
This phase is the beginning of the planning process for plants and properties. Right now – long before the plant or property is in use – future overheads are being determined.
Decisions about investments depend a great deal on qualified budget calculations and profitability analysis. Therefore, many parties involved have to cooperate to make use of the potential gains of property development and keep risks to a minimum.
The Futura module Project Calculation helps you to control your expected return on investment. At the same time you are using a standard application that is just as flexible as Excel. You can work within a team network and generate qualified calculations on profitability based on secure data.
Developer’s Calculation
The module Project Calculation (PC) enables you to compile a developer’s calculation quickly and conveniently.
PC offers a freely definable cost structure, e. g. according to DIN 276, as well a freely definable revenue structure. This enables you to create different scenarios for the comparison of revenues and costs.
The module allows you to include rent guarantees, vacancy risks and marginal revenue calculations.
Commercial and Residential Properties
No matter if your project includes properties for commercial, residential or mixed purposes, you can display profitability calculations as well as calculations of overall return on investment for each type of property.
The module Project Calculation supports the differentiation between spaces which are exempt from VAT and those which are liable to tax.
Financial, Interest and Cash Flow Planning
Financial, interest and cash flow planning are fully integrated in the module Project Calculation (PC). Therefore, you can define cash flows and document interest charges and interests earned accordingly.
PC compares outgoing payments and incoming payments thoroughly, so you can easily anticipate the capital requirements of your project development. In addition, the module distinguishes between equity and two different types of borrowed capital.
Planning and Building
Estimating, calculating and monitoring construction costs – the detailed planning and construction phase is the next step in the planning process.
The cost estimate according to DIN 276 is followed by the cost calculation. Futura can support you by providing a database which includes prices of projects which are already settled.
In order to create item lists, you can easily revert to master data, existing projects or text modules. Once bidding has been carried out you can analyse the offers by using the comfortable filtering functions of the price comparison list.
You can control the costs in the course of every construction phase daily and in every detail at the push of a button with the target-performance comparison of planned and incurred construction costs. A further highlight of our solution is: With Futura you can carry out a superior analysis of the construction costs of all projects.
In addition, Futura can support you with your warranty management. Each individual approval is documented and warranty deadlines are administered.
Bidding
You can administer your trades with Futura AVA in a tree structure with explorer technique. With Drag & Drop you can drag your trades, titles and positions to the desired spot in the item list.
Futura AVA provides an overview of your current planning status at any time in the following project phases: cost calculation, bidding, price comparison, awarding and settlement.
Cost Estimate
The cost estimate module helps you build a flexible cost structure for your specific application. It is administered as master data and – when a new project is created – it is automatically copied into the new project.
Of course you can adapt this structure to a specific project with the support of the tree structure of a clearly configured explorer.
Analysis
The analysis module provides you with a very quick overview of actual costs incurred for all projects.
The budget deployment report lists all projects with the latest costs of the individual project phases –from cost estimate to settlement.
Order Tracking
The order tracking system shows all item lists which are already in the award or settlement phase.
You can determine the evaluation time frame for order tracking. You can access the projects listed directly by double-clicking on the relevant line.
It is also possible to export data to Microsoft Excel or to print out the list directly.
Construction Controlling
The construction controlling module helps you to keep an eye on actual and planned costs in each phase of the project.
You can save as many forecasts as you want. Differences are easy to identify. You can use different structures to analyse your data, such as the expandable DIN 276 cost structure, an business cost category key (e. g. from SAP), any selected cost structure or according to your awards and trades.
Your costs are itemized in a practical manner which makes them transparent at any time.
You can sort individual orders by main order and amendments to each single project order.
Price Databases
An integrated price database is included in the master item list, which allows you to administer as many prices and price portions of each position as you like.
You can determine which prices are entered in the database: basic prices entered by yourself, suppliers’ prices, annual contract prices or realised prices of projects carried out.
Master Item List
Work in a more structured manner with the master item list module: Create the trade structure with award units and titles, subtitles as well as service items.
Classify the trades with user-defined folders into collective folders. You can classify each trade and each award unit in LB-DIN and assign it a self-defined service type or tender document number.
Preliminary remarks are administered for all projects, service types or awarding units.
Overview of Warranties
In the project view of the warranty management module you select a project. You can then view all orders with documented approvals.
All orders and current warranties are listed clearly in the cross-project view. Extensive filter functions are available to help you search any particular orders.
Warranty Management
The warranty management module helps you to carry out all the relevant tasks relating to warranties for a given contract quickly and easily.
You can document each approval for each order during the execution phase. This enables you to create as many partial approvals with different warranty terms as necessary.
As the document management module is directly connected, you can attach an unlimited number of pictures and documents (e. g. acceptance report) to the partial approval.
Amendment Management
Futura distinguishes consistently between main contracts and amendments. Both types of contract add up to a complete contract. The complete contract consists of one main contract and an unlimited number of amendments. Main contract and amendments are documented in each single project phase. Changes to the main contract can be carried forward transparently and followed up in the construction controlling module.
Planning Status
With Futura you can create and administer as many planning statuses as you want. You can follow up changes within individual project phases at any time.
Document Management
Creating and filing electronic documents is easy these days. However, recovering them is not quite so easy in view of huge memory capacities.
With its consistent project-based filing system for all documents, Futura makes it easy to recover your documents quickly. Documents and pictures can be saved in the Futura database and are automatically included in a project backup.
Interfaces
Futura makes it easier for you to import and export data via numerous interfaces: GAEB (90, XML), Excel (cost estimate, price comparison list, construction controlling, bidder enquiry, bidder offer).
In addition, you can use all current text libraries like STLB Dynamische BauDaten, Heinze BauOffice, SirAdos, Mittag
Project Management
A variety of projects requires a well-structured filing system. Futura helps you to stay in control. In a clearly configured tree structure you can create your projects with freely definably folders and hierarchical structures, e.g. you can file by year and project statuses, such as acquisition, execution and closed.
Project Phases
Futura distinguishes between the following project phases: cost estimate, cost calculation, bidding, price comparison, awarding and settlement. Depending on the progress made in planning or construction you can allocate your steps to the individual phases. In addition, the construction controlling module shows the development of each individual step through to settlement.
Purchasing & Sourcing
Do you have to copy pages and pages of item lists on paper and send them off by post? Or do you have to burn item lists on CD and send them by mail? With Futura that’s a thing of the past. Our solution is easier and quicker. For tenders your purchasing department need only select a circle of bidders and Futura sends out an automated e-mail containing a link to the bidding platform.
Bidders have the opportunity to view the tender online and decide whether they want to submit an offer. They can enter the prices online or download the tender including documentation into Excel or another calculation programme, edit it offline and import it back onto the platform.
Your purchasing department can check the status of offers at any time, even for complex tenders. Has the bidder viewed the tender at all? Have they opened attachments such as the general terms and conditions or layout drawings? Have they already submitted a quotation? Futura can provide your purchasing department with answers to these and similar questions by providing status notifications. Your advantage: complete transparency concerning the status of all offers. Thus your purchasing department can act in time if a bidder fails to respond at all.
Online Bidding
With Futura you carry out your tenders online via the supplier connection. After you have created your item list, you transfer it to the bidding platform at the push of a button. Your selected bidders automatically receive an e-mail containing a link which connects them to the platform. There they can edit the item list online or export it into GAEB or Excel and enter the prices offline.
Once bidders have entered their prices and uploaded the offer you are automatically sent a notification. At the push of a button you can then upload the offer into a myFutura price comparison list.
Import and Export
The use of the GAEB format facilitates the exchange of item lists via myFutura. However, it is no problem if one of your suppliers cannot use this format for some reason.
Instead, suppliers can download your item list into Excel, edit it and send it back to the platform. Sophisticated control mechanisms prevent unwanted changes of the item list structure and the item texts.
Supplier Connection
You can make direct contact with your suppliers through the supplier connection. All your suppliers need is an Internet connection and an Internet browser.
By pushing a button you can start tenders and receive offers. Status notifications keep you informed about the progress of your enquiry and bidding process.
Our sourcing solution myFutura works in the background as a communication platform. It provides the smooth exchange of all data and information.
Purchasing Documentation
In an automated or manual process you can attach documents to any tender on a project, title or position level. For example, if you wish to attach your general terms and conditions to every tender concerning a certain material group, LB-DIN or service area, you can simply upload these documents to the global documents section in myFutura.
The documents are then automatically attached to all assigned tenders.
Activity Status
You would like to be up to date about the progress of your enquiry and bidding process? You would like to know if the bidder has already viewed your enquiry, opened the attachment or submitted a quotation. Futura keeps you informed at all times.
Bill of Quantities & Settlement
Keep time and effort for bills of quantities and settlement within a limit. It is quite laborious and time-consuming to check bills of quantities or make changes and corrections. Therefore, many companies do without checking and prefer fixed-price instalments. As a result they risk increased costs for partial settlements.
There is a more effective way. Make contact to your contractors online. With Futura you can exchange and check bills of quantities via the Internet bi-directionally. As both parties work online with the same data it is easy for the contractor to follow up corrections. This simplifies and speeds up the process of checking and reduces the risk of erroneous billings at your expense.
Our solution is also advantageous for your contractors. They are paid quicker because invoices and credit memos are approved sooner.
REB 23.003 (German Standard)
If you have contracted construction services and you are expecting bills of quantities according to the REB 23.003 standard it is not a problem. Futura provides your suppliers online with the formula necessary to record their details accordingly.
This makes it easy for your suppliers to bill according to this standard. Futura also supports the DA11 interface, which backs the transfer of bills of quantities according to REB 23.003.
Bill of Quantities
For the billing and reimbursement of services, bills of quantities are required. The bills of quantities or so-called activity confirmations have to be shown itemized and in a transparent and auditable manner.
Activity Recording
With the support of Futura your suppliers can record their activities and progress reports directly into your system. You can check the entries of your suppliers and make corrections bi-directionally.
Evaluation & Maintenance
Basically, it is impossible to avoid unplanned maintenance work. However, you can plan most of it and thereby reduce your costs considerably.
Futura can support you with standardised acquisition lists for the continuous surveying of the structure of your facilities and properties as well as the evaluation of their condition. On the basis of this data, you can plan a realistic budget for your maintenance requirements and compile investment plans for the following 5 to 10 years.
Futura can also help you control your budget. At the push of a button you can view the values for funds already used up and those still available. This ensures cost and planning reliability and enables you to ensure that you stay within the limits of your budget.
Property Evaluation
The evaluation view of the building acquisition module gives you an excellent overview of the maintenance requirements for the following five years.
The requirements are divided into maintenance (repairs and renewals) and modernisation. In addition, it is possible to show the requirements for the whole property as well as individual parts of the building, floors, occupancies and units.
In addition, even for an extensive property portfolio you can evaluate the requirements comfortably on the basis of different criteria. Thus you can avoid unwanted investment peaks.
Building Acquisition
The building acquisition module enables you to compile records about the building or facility structure flexibly and step by step. When you inspect the property you can document the condition of the building by using standardised check lists.
The check lists are supplemented by document and photo management features based on a characteristic cost catalogue. Thus the evaluation of the property can be carried out step by step.
Property Inspection
You can filter defects discovered during a property inspection on the basis of different criteria: by date, by priority, by floor, by occupancy, by unit, by repair, by renewals, modernisation or requirements. In addition, you can allocate defects to maintenance and modernisation measures.
Your advantage: measures required for maintenance or increase of value are allocated to different budgets.
Maintenance Calculation
The maintenance calculation module is used to budget and control your maintenance measures.
You can plan activities such as changes of tenants, heat insulation measures or necessary renovation work on the cladding and create individual budgets for each of them. This provides you with a solid basis for your controlling.
Maintenance Measures
You can structure your maintenance measures comfortably and flexibly via an explorer.
You can allocate the calculation structure to cost types according to DIN 276 as well as LB/VE so that later on you can evaluate your costs with the construction controlling module.
Budget Planning
With this module you can plan and allocate your budget for a time period of up to five years. You can list every maintenance measure and new development with all calculated costs.
If a measure is to be carried out over a time period of several years, the costs are distributed year by year. By using the filter and sorting settings you can adapt the view of the budget plan to your own requirements.