RIB CostX vs Access UBS (formerly Sage UBS)

2D and BIM takeoff with estimating spreadsheets live-linked to drawings

RIB CostX, first sold as Exactal CostX, is a takeoff, estimating and reporting product from RIB Software, which says it is part of Schneider Electric. It measures from 2D drawings, PDFs and 3D BIM models into live-linked estimating workbooks, and comes in Complete, Core and Quantify packages. RIB lists APAC offices in Australia, China, India and New Zealand but none in Malaysia.

Pros

• + Takeoff from 2D drawings, PDFs and 3D BIM models
• + Estimating spreadsheets live-linked to drawings
• + Automatic revision handling
• + Standalone, network or cloud (CostX Cloud) licensing

Cons

• − No public prices: custom quote only
• − No Malaysian office listed by RIB
• − Estimating only: no accounting or e-invoicing
• − Aimed at quantity surveyors and estimators, not small trade firms

UBS accounting, billing, inventory and payroll, now Access UBS Evo

UBS, formerly sold as Sage UBS, is now marketed in Malaysia as Access UBS Evo by The Access Group, which bought Sage's Australia and Asia business in 2021. Access Group Malaysia, based at Exchange 106 in Kuala Lumpur, sells UBS accounting, billing, inventory, POS, building service maintenance and UBS Payroll modules. Sage's own Malaysian site could not be read, so Sage 300 and X3 are not covered here.

Pros

• + Accounting, billing, inventory, POS and payroll modules
• + Generates SST-02 and SST-02A forms
• + Classification-code mapping for LHDN e-invoicing
• + Local Access Group office in Kuala Lumpur

Cons

• − No public prices
• − Name change from Sage UBS to Access UBS can confuse buyers
• − E-invoice submission method not stated on its pages
• − No construction job-costing module named on its UBS pages