BQE alternative
The A&E platform built for how firms work here.
BQE CORE is a capable platform for US architecture and engineering firms. But GST and VAT, local invoice formats and support in your time zone shouldnât need workarounds. Total Synergy is purpose-built for A&E practices in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.Â
RATED BY A&EÂ FIRMS
Trusted by 18,000+ A&E professionals across Australia, New Zealand and the UK
The short answer
GST, VAT, invoice formats and financial reporting are built in for ANZ and the UK, not configured on top of US defaults. You go live with a system that already speaks your marketâs language.
Our A&E consultants handle your data migration, and most firms are up and running within weeks. After that, the system keeps pace with your team instead of slowing it down.
Our implementation and support teams are based in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. When something comes up mid-invoice run, you talk to someone in your time zone who knows how A&E firms here operate.
Head to head
Built only for A&E firms
User Experience
Onboarding & support
Purpose-built for A & E firms with tools that connect projects, time, and billing in one place.
Workflows that reflect how A&E firms really work, making it easier for teams to get up and running quickly.
Built-in Power BI dashboards that give instant insight into project performance, profitability, and resource utilisation.
Fast, responsive support with consultative onboarding from A&E specialists who understand your firm.
BQE Core markets itself for A&E, but was built for all professional services, so its often overly complex.
Firms commonly report needing to navigate cumbersome menus and complex configurations to perform basic tasks such as timesheets and invoicing.
Limited visibility into project profitability without time-consuming exports to Excel.
Many firms report slow, inconsistent support that leaves them waiting for answers.
Customer Story
ARCHITECTURE Practice
AUSTRALIA
Faster Invoicing
Back a Month
âIn hindsight, I should have just started with Total Synergy on day one. I would definitely recommend it. If youâre taking your business seriously, and you want to make sure your projects are performing, then itâs a no brainer.â
TIM HANSEN
Director
âI would definitely recommend Total Synergy. The development thatâs going into it is incredibly good. The user interface is so great. I can find everything I need in a couple of clicks.â
STEPHANIE MOORE
Operations Manager
âThereâs big opportunity for us to be more profitable, and Total Synergy is part of how we get there.â
MATTHEW KING
Managing Director
Switching
Every onboarding is guided by a dedicated Total Synergy consultant through a structured programme of live sessions. We configure Total Synergy around how your firm works, and help your team bring your data across.
Our experienced team is here to guide you through how Total Synergy can transform your project management approach.
Take the first step toward transforming your practice. In just one demo, our team will show you how Total Synergy simplifies project management, project finances, and project analytics for over 18,000 A&E professionals.
OLIVIA HAMILTON, OFFICE MANAGER
LAB-WORKS ARCHITECTURE
BQE Core markets itself toward architecture and engineering firms but was originally built to serve professional services more broadly, which means it can feel bloated and overly complex for day-to-day A&E use. Firms comparing BQE Core alternatives are typically after simpler, purpose-built project management software, with time tracking, billing and invoicing, and financial reporting designed around how A&E practices work. Many also want project accounting and project planning in the same system, rather than stitching together separate project management tools and spreadsheets.
Firms commonly report that BQE Core requires navigating cumbersome menus and complex configurations to complete basic tasks. Total Synergy’s workflows are built to reflect how A&E firms actually operate, which tends to mean a much faster ramp-up for new users and less friction for everyday tasks like timesheets, task management, and invoicing. Time and expense tracking is recorded against project phases, so your team logs hours where they belong.
Total Synergy includes built-in Power BI dashboards, giving instant insight into project performance, profitability, and resource utilisation without leaving the platform, so financial reporting stays in one place. For firms that want customisable dashboards, the Analytics Plus add-on extends the standard set. Some BQE Core users report limited visibility into project profitability without exporting data to Excel for further analysis, which adds an extra manual step to every reporting cycle.
A number of firms report slow, inconsistent support with BQE Core, leaving them waiting for answers on issues that affect day-to-day operations. Total Synergy pairs consultative onboarding from A&E specialists with fast, responsive support, so firms get help from people who understand the workflow they’re actually running.
Not for day-to-day project work. Total Synergy covers the same core ground: project management, time tracking, invoicing, and financial reporting. It is built specifically for A&E firms rather than adapted from a broader professional services base. Bulk invoicing and automated payment reminders add workflow automation to billing, and Total Synergy connects to accounting software such as QuickBooks Online and Xero instead of replacing it, so your finance team keeps its ledger. Most firms find the switch simplifies their day-to-day work rather than requiring a trade-off.
Yes. Total Synergy offers add-ons for QuickBooks Online, Xero, MYOB AccountRight Live, and Sage 50cloud that exchange financial data between your accounting software and your project records. Most A&E firms keep accounts payable, payment processing, and online payment collection in their accounting software, while Total Synergy covers project accounting, WIP, and expense management against project budgets.
Project management tools such as monday.com and Wrike handle task management, Gantt charts, and collaboration well, but they are generally not built for project accounting. Time tracking tools such as Clockify and Connecteam are popular for simple timesheets and workforce scheduling, BigTime focuses on professional services time and billing, and FreshBooks suits small business invoicing. Total Synergy gives A&E firms project planning and project tracking alongside budgets, timesheets, WIP, and invoicing, so you see progress and profitability in one place instead of keeping a spreadsheet next to your project management software.
Total Synergy includes resource management and resource scheduling, showing availability, workloads, and conflicts across your projects. For leave management, it connects with HR systems such as BambooHR and BrightHR. For client management and sales, it integrates with CRM platforms including Salesforce and HubSpot and offers the SynergyCRM add-on. Document control centres on version control, transmittals, and Microsoft SharePoint and Teams, so ask about Dropbox or Google Drive in your demo if your firm relies on them.
Simplify Product Delivery
Reduce Project Risk
Win the Right Projects
Receive 24/7 Support
Produce Budgets & Quotes
Make budgeting and quoting easier, more accurate, and less stressful.
Manage Projects
Track Time
Track time effortlessly, stay on budget, and improve billing accuracy at every project phase.
Allocate Resources
Easily see whoâs working on what, their availability, and how to best balance workloads.
Process Invoices
Get invoices out faster, reduce delays, and keep cash flowing with clear project finances.
Track Finances
Make budgeting and quoting easier, more accurate, and less stressful.
Decide with Data
Make smarter decisions with real-time dashboards and reports.
Forecast Revenue
Gain crystal-clear visibility into your future revenue, project profitability, and resource needs.
Apply Document Control
Centralize your project information for seamless collaboration, better control, and fewer headaches.