Our accountant loves Fergus. Will they have problems with WorkArc?

If you keep Fergus for job costing, nothing changes for your accountant. If you switch fully to WorkArc, our Xero/MYOB integrations work the same way. Most accountants care about the final data, not which system generates it.

Fergus's job costing is really good. How does WorkArc compare?

We'll be honest: Fergus job costing is excellent, especially for construction companies needing retentions and detailed cost tracking. WorkArc job costing is good but simpler. If detailed job costing is your #1 priority, consider using WorkArc for quoting/automation alongside Fergus for job management.

How does ArcQuote know our pricing?

You set up your price book in WorkArc (we help migrate it). ArcQuote learns your standard rates, material costs, and markup structures. When you describe a job, it builds quotes using YOUR pricing. It doesn't guess, it calculates from your data.

What if I already have Fergus and just want faster quoting?

Perfect use case. Start with ArcQuote standalone. Quote in WorkArc (2-5 minutes), then if the job is won, create it manually in Fergus for job management. Or use our ArcSync to automate the handoff. No need to change your Fergus workflow.

Is WorkArc cheaper than Fergus?

Fergus pricing depends on team size and features, typically starting around $89/month per user. WorkArc pricing depends on which products you use. Many businesses find WorkArc pays for itself by winning extra jobs from faster quoting and automated follow-up. Book a call for a custom quote.

We've invested a lot in our Fergus setup. Is switching worth it?

If Fergus is working well, you don't have to switch. Add WorkArc's AI layer on top. Use ArcQuote for quoting, ArcChase for follow-up, ArcReport for insights, and keep Fergus for job management. Get the AI benefits without losing your Fergus investment.

Does the AI really understand complex trade work?

ArcQuote is trained on trade quoting patterns, not generic AI. It understands scope items, material calculations, labor estimates, and markup structures. It won't quote a deck at 10 hours if it should be 40. You review every quote before it goes out.

How long to get started with ArcQuote?

Most businesses are quoting with ArcQuote within a week. We migrate your price book, set up your templates, and train you on the workflow. Complex price books might take a bit longer. No months-long implementation like some enterprise systems.

Can we trial WorkArc before committing?

Yes. We offer a trial period to prove the value. Set it up with your price book, run it on real quotes for a few weeks, see the time savings. If it's not working for you, no hard feelings.

Fergus vs WorkArc Comparison

Already Using Fergus? Add an AI Layer

Fergus is great for job costing and tracking. WorkArc adds what's missing: AI quoting that reads your site notes, automated lead follow-up, and business intelligence that tells you where to focus. Use them together or make the switch.

Quick Comparison

At a glance: WorkArc vs Fergus

Quote Generation

WorkArc:

AI-powered, 2-5 minutes

Fergus:

Manual templates, 30-90 min

Lead Follow-up

WorkArc:

Automated chase system

Fergus:

Manual only

Business Insights

WorkArc:

AI recommendations

Fergus:

Manual report analysis

AI Phone Answering

WorkArc:

24/7 ArcVoice included

Fergus:

Not available

What Fergus Does Well

We're not here to trash the competition. Fergus is a solid tool for certain businesses.

Fergus has excellent job costing and financial tracking

If you need to know exactly what each job cost you down to the bolt, Fergus delivers. Real-time job costing, purchase orders, and financial visibility are genuinely strong.

Built for NZ construction trades

Fergus understands NZ compliance, subcontractor payments, retentions, and the way Kiwi trades actually work. The founders came from construction.

Deep accounting integrations

Fergus's Xero integration is polished. Two-way sync, payment matching, invoice management. If your accountant uses Xero, they'll be comfortable with Fergus data.

Good for larger teams with complex workflows

Fergus handles multi-user permissions, approval workflows, and enterprise-level job tracking well. If you have 20+ staff with different access levels, Fergus supports that.

Where WorkArc Takes It Further

Built for trade businesses who've outgrown basic job management

AI Quoting That Reads Your Site Notes

Fergus quoting is manual, template-based. WorkArc's ArcQuote reads your site visit notes in plain English and builds detailed quotes automatically from your price book. '40m² deck, kwila, raised, with integrated seating' becomes a formatted, costed quote in minutes. Not hours.

Automated Lead Follow-Up

In Fergus, you send a quote and it sits there. Maybe you remember to follow up, maybe you don't. WorkArc's ArcChase automatically follows up at day 2, 5, and 10 with professional, contextual messages. The jobs you're losing to 'I forgot to chase that up' start turning into wins.

24/7 AI Phone Answering

Fergus doesn't answer your phone. WorkArc's ArcVoice does. Every missed call while you're on the tools is a lead going to a competitor. ArcVoice qualifies leads, books site visits, captures details, and sends you a summary. Works after hours, weekends, whenever.

Works WITH Fergus (or Replaces It)

Unlike other alternatives, WorkArc can integrate with Fergus. Use ArcQuote for fast quoting, then push won jobs to Fergus for detailed job costing. ArcReport pulls from Fergus for better insights. Or, if you're ready, use WorkArc standalone.

AI Business Intelligence

Fergus has good reports, but you have to analyse them yourself. WorkArc's AI reads your data and gives you recommendations: 'Deck jobs average 26% margin but retaining walls only 14%. Your quoting team spends 3x longer on commercial vs residential.' Insights, not just data.

Faster Setup, Less Admin

Fergus is powerful but complex. Lots of configuration, lots of fields, lots of admin overhead. WorkArc focuses on speed: get quoting fast, automate follow-ups fast, get insights fast. Less time in the system, more time on the tools.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

See exactly how WorkArc and Fergus stack up

Quoting & Estimating

Feature	WorkArc	Fergus
Quote generation	AI-powered from plain text	Manual with templates
Price book management	Smart sync with suggestions	Manual maintenance
Multi-scope pricing	Automatic breakdown	Manual line items
Quote variations	AI-generated alternatives	Manual duplication
Quote speed (complex jobs)	2-5 minutes	30-90 minutes
Quote follow-up	Automated ArcChase	Manual tracking

Lead Management & Follow-up

Feature	WorkArc	Fergus
Lead capture
Automated follow-up sequences	Built-in ArcChase
Lead scoring	AI-powered prioritization	Manual
Phone answering	24/7 AI receptionist
Win-back campaigns	Automated for expired quotes

Job Management & Costing

Feature	WorkArc	Fergus
Job scheduling
Job costing		Excellent (strength)
Purchase orders
Timesheets
Subcontractor management
Photo documentation
Retentions tracking

Reporting & Analytics

Feature	WorkArc	Fergus
Financial reports		yes (strong)
AI insights	Automated recommendations
Margin analysis	Automatic by job type	Manual calculation
Predictive analytics	Revenue forecasting
Custom dashboards		Limited

Integrations

Feature	WorkArc	Fergus
Xero		yes (excellent)
MYOB
Fergus sync	yes (ArcReport, ArcSync)	N/A
Supplier systems	Direct pricing feeds	Manual

Support & Onboarding

Feature	WorkArc	Fergus
Setup assistance	Guided onboarding included	Implementation fee
Price book migration	We do it for you	Manual or paid setup
Training	Personalized, included	Video library + paid sessions
NZ support team

Which One Should You Choose?

Honest recommendations based on your business type

Choose WorkArc if...

Trade businesses wanting AI-powered quoting and automation
Current Fergus users who want to add automation without switching
Businesses losing jobs due to slow quoting or inconsistent follow-up
Teams spending 10+ hours/week on quotes and admin
Project-based trades (landscaping, building, renovation, concreting)
Operations ready for AI to handle repetitive tasks

Choose Fergus if...

Larger trades (20+ staff) needing enterprise permissions and approval workflows
Construction companies requiring detailed retentions and progress claims
Businesses prioritizing job costing precision over quoting speed
Teams with dedicated admin staff to handle manual follow-up
Companies deep in the Fergus ecosystem with complex existing workflows

Switching from Fergus to WorkArc

Easy

Migration Difficulty

1-2 weeks, or use alongside Fergus indefinitely

Typical Timeline

Data Transfer

WorkArc integrates with Fergus API. We can pull your data directly or run both systems in parallel. Your choice.

Common Questions

What Fergus users ask before switching

Ready to See WorkArc in Action?

Book a free demo and see how WorkArc can take your trade business beyond what Fergus offers.

No credit card required • 30-minute call • See your actual workflow automated