Unanet CRM by Cosential has been a go-to platform for AEC firms managing pursuits and proposals, but it's not the only option—and for many teams, it's no longer the best fit. The gaps usually show up when bid deadlines hit and resume data lives in three different places.
This guide covers the top alternatives for architecture, engineering, and construction firms, what to look for when evaluating them, and how to make the switch without losing years of accumulated project and talent data.
What is Unanet CRM by Cosential?
Unanet CRM by Cosential is a cloud-based CRM and proposal generation platform designed for architecture, engineering, and construction firms. Unanet acquired Cosential in 2020, folding the product into its broader suite of project-based business tools.
The platform helps AEC teams track contacts, manage pursuit pipelines, and pull together proposal content from a central database. It handles SF330 generation, stores project credentials, and keeps client relationship histories organized across multiple offices. For years, Cosential was the default choice for many AEC marketing and BD teams looking to move beyond spreadsheets.
Why AEC firms look for Unanet Cosential alternatives
The search for alternatives usually starts with a familiar frustration: the CRM tracks opportunities just fine, but the actual content that wins bids (resumes, project sheets, staff credentials) lives somewhere else entirely. According to Unanet's own 2025 AEC Inspire Report, 46% of firms have inadequate tools to access, integrate, and analyze data. Those who have a structured clean database of content are set up to win at a much faster rate.
We hear this constantly from bid teams, and it comes up repeatedly in our discovery calls with current and former Cosential users. They're chasing down consultants for updated CVs, digging through shared drives for project descriptions, or copying text from old Word documents that may or may not be current. The CRM knows who you're pursuing, but it doesn't always help you assemble what you're submitting.
Other common pain points include:
- Manual proposal assembly: Hours spent reformatting the same CV for different submissions, even when the content already exists. Updating information in Cosential itself is often a manual process, which compounds the problem.
- Stale profile data: Technical staff rarely update their own information, leaving marketing teams to work from outdated resumes and CVs.
- Integration gaps: Difficulty connecting with Deltek Vantagepoint, Salesforce, or HR systems like Workday.
- Low adoption: Platforms that feel clunky tend to get bypassed, and people revert to email and shared folders a common outcome when CRMs are used to host employee data they weren't designed for.
- Rigidity with limited customization: Cosential offers a tremendous number of fields but little flexibility in how they're used. Teams trying to manage things like NDAs or client permissions find it hard to tailor the platform to their actual workflows.
- Formatting and document assembly issues: Batch documents and formatting are a frequent complaint, and the tool struggles to combine different types of information into a single, polished document.
- Data integrity quirks: Small issues add up. One example we've heard more than once: Cosential truncates project names, making it difficult to match permissions to the correct project numbers.
What to look for in a Unanet Cosential alternative
Before diving into specific platforms, it helps to know which capabilities actually matter for AEC bid teams. Not every CRM or proposal tool is built for firms that win work based on people and project experience.
Purpose-built for AEC bidding workflows
Generic CRMs can track contacts and opportunities, but they weren't designed for SF330s, RFQ responses, or qualification packages. If your firm regularly submits experience-based proposals, look for a platform that supports those formats without heavy customization.
Clean, structured, and searchable talent data
This is the foundation. When resume and project data is stored in a structured resume database rather than static PDFs or Word docs, teams can search across the entire firm's experience, filter by certification or project type, and tailor content quickly.
Platforms that rely on document storage create bottlenecks the moment you try to search, filter, or repurpose content. Structured data also makes it far easier to integrate with AI tools down the road—you're not locked into one vendor's approach.77% of AEC firms believe AI will transform their business model, but most lack the data readiness to act on it.
Integrations with existing systems
The best alternatives sit alongside your current tech stack. Look for bi-directional sync with CRMs like Salesforce, ERP systems like Deltek Vantagepoint, and HR platforms like Workday. A proposal tool that doesn't talk to your other systems just creates more manual work.
Proposal and RFP automation
Automation in this context means eliminating repetitive formatting and assembly—not generating content from scratch. The goal is freeing bid teams to focus on strategy and storytelling instead of copying and pasting between documents.
Adoption across BD, marketing, and technical teams
A platform only delivers value if people actually use itA platform only delivers value if people actually use it—20–70% of CRM projects fail primarily due to poor user adoption. Consider how easy it is for consultants to update their own profiles, whether the interface works for non-marketing staff, and what workflows encourage keeping data current.
The best Unanet Cosential alternatives for AEC firms
Flowcase
Flowcase centralizes resumes, CVs, and project credentials into a single source of truth built for proposal teams. The platform stores information in structured, searchable fields—so you can find the right person for a bid in seconds, filter by certification or project type, and tailor content without starting from scratch.
Because the data is structured rather than document-based, Flowcase integrates with Salesforce, Deltek, Workday, and any AI tools your firm adopts later. You're not locked into one vendor's ecosystem. Hundreds of engineering, consulting, and AEC firms use it globally.
Deltek Vantagepoint
Vantagepoint combines CRM, resource planning, and financial management in one platform. For firms already using Deltek products, it offers tight integration across the project lifecycle. The trade-off is implementation complexity—expect a longer rollout and higher configuration costs than lighter-weight alternatives.
Buildr
Buildr focuses on preconstruction teams at general contractors. It handles estimating, bid management, and workforce planning well. However, it's less suited for qualifications-based proposals like SF330s. If your firm wins work primarily through competitive bidding on plans and specs, Buildr might fit. For experience-based pursuits, you'll likely want something else.
OpenAsset
OpenAsset excels at managing project photography and visual marketing assets. AEC marketing teams use it to organize images, create project sheets, and maintain brand consistency. That said, it offers limited functionality for structured resume and CV management.
TopBuilder
TopBuilder provides construction-specific CRM with marketing automation features. It works well for contractors who want lead tracking and email campaigns in one place. The user base is smaller than enterprise alternatives, which can affect long-term support and integration options.
HubSpot CRM
HubSpot offers a popular general-purpose CRM with strong marketing automation and a free tier to start. It's not purpose-built for AEC workflows, though. You'll likely need customization for proposal management, and there's no native SF330 or CV functionality.
Salesforce Sales Cloud
Salesforce provides extensive customization options for firms with dedicated administrators. Large AEC firms sometimes build proposal workflows on top of Salesforce, but the investment in setup and ongoing maintenance is significant. Best for organizations that already have Salesforce expertise in-house.
FollowUp CRM
FollowUp CRM helps contractors track leads, bids, and follow-up activities with a straightforward interface. It handles pipeline management well but offers limited proposal generation and CV management features.
How Unanet Cosential pricing compares to alternatives
Unanet uses custom, quote-based pricing, and most AEC software in this category follows similar models. Pricing typically varies based on user count, modules selected, and implementation scope.
When requesting quotes, it helps to clarify a few things upfront:
- Subscription fees: Per-user pricing vs. firm-wide licensing
- Implementation costs: Data migration, configuration, and training
- Ongoing costs: Support tiers, add-on modules, and integration fees
Some alternatives like HubSpot offer free tiers, while purpose-built AEC tools typically require investment that reflects their specialized functionality.
How to migrate from Unanet Cosential to a new platform
Migrating from legacy software is also an opportunity to clean up years of inconsistent data. Here's a practical path forward.
1. Audit your existing resume and project data
Start by identifying where talent data currently lives—Cosential, shared drives, individual Word docs, or some combination. Assess data quality and completeness before moving anything.
2. Map fields to your new platform
Make sure project types, certifications, and experience categories translate correctly. This step determines whether your data will actually be searchable and usable after migration.
3. Run a pilot with one bid team
Test the new platform with a single pursuit before rolling out firm-wide. Validate that the workflow saves time and produces compliant documents.
4. Roll out across the firm
Expand to other teams with documented processes and training. Getting consultants to update their profiles early keeps data current from the start.
Choosing the right Unanet Cosential alternative for your firm
The right choice depends on your firm's size, existing tech stack, and whether the primary gap is CRM functionality, proposal automation, or both.
What we've seen consistently: clean, structured data is the foundation. Without it, even the best tools underperform. Firms that invest in organizing their talent and project information now will have far more flexibility—whether that's tailoring proposals faster today or integrating with AI tools tomorrow.
Book a demo with Flowcase to see how structured proposal content works in practice.
Frequently asked questions about Unanet Cosential alternatives
Who are the main competitors of Unanet CRM by Cosential?
The primary competitors include Deltek Vantagepoint, Buildr, Salesforce, HubSpot CRM, and purpose-built proposal tools like Flowcase and OpenAsset. The best fit depends on whether a firm prioritizes CRM functionality, proposal automation, or both.
Is Unanet CRM the same as Cosential?
Cosential was an AEC-focused CRM company that Unanet acquired in 2020. The product is now branded as Unanet CRM by Cosential, and existing Cosential users were migrated to the Unanet platform.
What is Cosential used for in AEC firms?
AEC firms use Cosential for managing client relationships, tracking business development pipelines, and generating proposals. It centralizes contact data and pursuit information for marketing and BD teams.
Can a Unanet Cosential alternative integrate with an existing CRM?
Many alternatives are designed to work alongside existing CRMs rather than replace them. Platforms like Flowcase integrate with Salesforce, Deltek, HR systems, and project accounting tools to keep data synchronized across your tech stack.
