Charlie’s Honest Review of Coins

2025

When a package offers to do so much, I often approach it with at least one eyebrow raised. It’s also difficult to break down every feature within this review because there simply is so much to look at. I feel any review will do a disservice to Coins as the magnitude of what it is capable of is an Aladdin’s cave of surprises, however, let’s discuss the fundamentals.

Project Management

Coins offers the standard issue list of construction project management features but with a focus on enabling users to maintain access and control via ‘true’ real-time data and centralized tools. More on that later.

Coins host a centralized full-suite of essential tools including document management, cost tracking, and time tracking. Customizable reporting at both site and board levels ensures decision-makers have the high-level insights needed to keep projects on track, whilst field teams have detailed breakdowns of operational and design information.

By consolidating essential functions into a single platform, Coins encourages a slightly more hassle-free approach to information sharing and collaboration between teams, a goal most know in theory, but rarely seen in the wild.

Financial Management

Financial management is where it all started for Coins. It excels in financial oversight, integrating budgeting, payroll, and cash flow forecasting, all rolled into a single place.

One standout feature is its “what-if” scenario testing, which allows teams to model different budget or timeline scenarios to better anticipate risks and opportunities. This functionality is what all construction managers do in their heads daily, but it is the first time I have seen this thinking embedded into a software product in such an intuitive format. 

Equipment & Materials Management

For large contractors managing complex fleets of plant and machinery, or significant material inventories, Coins will take some of the load off. The software tracks equipment usage, depreciation, and maintenance schedules, while also providing a clear view of material stock levels and usage.

Its rental desk feature is another example of the software ‘thinking like a builder’. This function allows resource managers to treat their inventory like a builders merchant or hire center, by charging company plant and stock out to different departments or projects.

This simple change in perspective forces resource allocation to be treated with a commercial mindset, which is never a bad thing when it comes to looking after efficiency and the bottom line.

Workforce Management

Coins offers comprehensive workforce management tools, including payroll automation, scheduling, and compliance tracking. Mobile-friendly employee self-service options lets workers update construction timesheets and access live schedules, making it easier to manage teams in real-time.

This feature works surprisingly well. Too often workforce management systems can feel like an afterthought bolted onto the primary software, however, Coins workforce management integrates well and is straightforward for the most tech-adverse team members out there to get on board with.

Supply Chain Management

Even the most switched on contracts managers or buyers will admit that supply chain management is more often than not a guessing game. Well, Coins is having a go at that problem as well. The platform centralizes supplier relationships into one place, allowing users to set up automated procurement workflows, and provide a variety of reporting functions to track performance.

Whereas this offers clear scope to help efficiency and cost management, when executed well, proper supply chain management can reduce the number of subcontractor and supplier disputes, as information is communicated at the time rather than over a toss-up around the site manager’s desk. 

This transparency improves supplier relationships and even offers a glimmer of hope for the odd day or two without a supplier storming into the office red-faced.

Coins pricing is customized based on the size of your business and the features you require. Like other big hitters such as Procore, Coins pricing is not publicized – which we all know is code for ‘expensive’, however, that’s not to say it isn’t worth the investment.

The sheer width and breadth of what Coins can offer should mean that if implemented properly, it will pay for itself.

For smaller operations, the pricing may feel prohibitive and hard to justify, but for those managing complex, multi-site projects, Coins can offer long-term savings by reducing administration hours and improving project efficiencies.

Industry-Specific Design

Anyone who uses Coins will quickly realize that it’s a pedigree, built by / built for construction package. The level of detail in making the software think in the way that a builder would think is impressive, and it does make a difference. 

Rather than wrestling the software into your way of thinking, it’s already there. It’s almost as if it served its time in a trade apprenticeship while going through initial research and development.

This focus ensures that the software feels intuitive and familiar for anyone in the construction industry, and if you’re not careful, it may even teach you a thing or two about construction management along the way.

Real-Time Data

We all talk about real-time data, but ask yourself when you actually experienced anything ‘real-time’  when reading reports from behind a screen? Also, ask yourself, what impact would it have on your team, if the data you all poured over was truly up-to-date and accurate?

Now I’m not going to say that Coins has managed to solve such an issue overnight when it’s been debated since architects first learned how to use a fax machine, however, I personally find Coins pretty impressive with its approach.

It achieves this by focusing on functionality through making collaboration easier. Its philosophy is if it can make working together more straightforward and accessible, then the data will indirectly become more accurate. And I have to say, I think it works. Remove the obstacles, and projects start to run themselves.

Integration Across Functions

The all-in-one approach of Coins is a major selling point. Counterintuitively, there’s a comfort rather than a risk in having all your eggs in the Coins basket. From staff training, customer care, and tech issues, having everything under one roof (providing the roof has no leaks), is certainly the way to go if, like me, you enjoy an easy life.

By bringing financial management, HR, project planning, and supply chain oversight into one system, breaking down silos, and improving collaboration, this scale of nicely jointed integration can be an absolute joy.

On the flip side of the ‘Coin’ (pun intended), Coins is no silver bullet. Full integration does have its downside, and construction companies must be willing to carry the high investment cost if they want the Rolls Royce service.

High Implementation Costs

Like any ERP system, Coins requires a significant investment to implement. Not just in cost, but in time and effort. Whereas I can hear you say “What tier-1 software doesn’t?”, most smaller firms may find this upfront cost difficult to justify, even if the software offers a solid return on investment for those brave enough to take the jump.

Customization Complexity

While Coins offers a wide range of features and modules, the customization process can feel overwhelming. For firms with unique workflows or niche requirements, tailoring the software is doable, but often requires significant time and expertise.

Thankfully, Coins offers a strong aftercare and support network to help with any teething problems, but still be prepared for a few long nights getting everything set up just right.

Additionally, some users have noted that whereas Coins is highly configurable, certain customizations, including specific reporting formats or unique project hierarchies can require direct vendor intervention, incurring additional costs.

For fast-paced businesses looking to hit the ground running, this setup time may feel like a bottleneck rather than an advantage in the greater scheme of things.

Limited Third-Party Integration

Although Coins positions itself as an all-in-one platform, its ability to integrate with other widely used software can be restrictive. Whereas this may sound obvious – “Why need sophisticated integration when you have all the features you need already?” –  for construction firms already using some tools that perform certain tasks in a preferred way, they may struggle to adapt to Coins.

This limitation forces companies to choose between migrating fully to Coins, or running multiple systems side by side, increasing the risk of mistakes. While Coins excels at internal operations, its lack of connectivity with the broader construction technology ecosystem could be something for them to think about.

As of December 2024:

• Capterra: 4.4/5
• GetApp: 4.4/5
• Software Advice: 4.4/5
• G2: 3.6/5
• Trust Radius: 7.2/10