Getting Started

Platform User Guide

8 min read

QSME Platform User Guide

Welcome to QSME — the construction project management platform built for New Zealand. This guide covers everything you need to get started.

What is QSME?

QSME helps you manage construction projects from start to finish. Create projects, define what needs to be done, find the right people, and track costs — all in one place.

Two ways to use QSME

When you sign up, you choose your path:

Manage Work

For clients, consultants, and main contractors who need to run projects.

You can:

  • Create and manage projects
  • Define scope with BOQ/SOQ (Bill of Quantities)
  • Create tenders to find contractors and tradies
  • Compare bids and award contracts
  • Track estimated vs actual costs
  • Manage documents and milestones

Find Opportunities

For tradies, specialists, and professionals looking for work.

You can:

  • Browse open tenders that match your trades
  • Submit bids on projects
  • Track your bid status
  • Build your professional profile with trade certifications

You can switch between modes at any time from the sidebar.

Getting started

1. Sign up

  • Choose Manage Work or Find Opportunities
  • If finding opportunities: select your trade category and specific trades
  • Set your company name and create your account
  • You'll receive a welcome email to confirm

2. Create a project (Manage Work)

  • Click Create Project
  • Choose: New Build or Renovation (simple or large)
  • Choose: Residential or Commercial
  • Enter the project name and location
  • Your project dashboard opens with space for documents, BOQ, and tenders

3. Add your BOQ (Bill of Quantities)

  • Open your project and go to SOQ Management
  • Create categories (e.g., "Electrical", "Plumbing", "Framing")
  • Add jobs, materials, and labour items to each category
  • This becomes the scope that contractors bid against

4. Create a tender

  • From your project, create a Tender
  • Attach the BOQ categories you want to tender
  • Set a deadline and budget
  • Optionally require certified bidders only (verified tradies)
  • Publish and wait for bids

5. Review and award

  • Compare bids side by side
  • See each bidder's price, timeline, and verification status
  • Award the winning bid — a payment contract is created automatically

For tradies and service providers

Finding tenders

  • Switch to Find Opportunities mode in the sidebar
  • Browse Public Tenders filtered by your trades
  • Tenders matching your registered trades appear first

Submitting a bid

  • Open a tender and review the scope
  • Enter your pricing against each BOQ item
  • Submit your bid before the deadline
  • Track status: submitted → under review → awarded or not selected

Verification

  • Some tenders require certified bidders
  • Go to your profile to submit verification documents
  • Admin reviews and approves your certification
  • A verified badge appears on your profile and bids

Project dashboard

Every project has a dashboard showing:

  • Estimated vs Actual cost — BOQ total vs awarded contract amounts
  • Tenders — how many, status, proposals received
  • Documents — uploaded project files
  • Units — subdivisions of the project (apartments, houses, etc.)
  • Active contracts — payment contracts and milestones
  • Activity timeline — recent project events

Payments

Current status: Payments are made directly between parties outside the platform. QSME tracks payment contracts and milestones for transparency and record-keeping.
Coming soon: Pay through QSME — one tap opens your bank and the money lands straight in the other party's account. QSME never holds it; the bank payment is the proof. There is no escrow.

How payment tracking works today:

  1. A tender is awarded → a payment contract is created
  2. The contract has milestones (e.g., 20% deposit, 30% at frame, 50% at completion)
  3. The contractor submits progress → the client marks milestones as paid
  4. Both parties confirm — creating a clear payment trail

Your profile

Your profile shows:

  • Company name and contact details
  • Entity type (Client, Consultant, Main Contractor, Service Provider)
  • Trade specialisations (for tradies)
  • Verification status and badges
  • Experience level
  • Operating region within New Zealand

Edit your profile from Settings in the sidebar.

Where QSME operates

QSME is built for New Zealand 🇳🇿. Projects, pricing and tenders all run in New Zealand dollars (NZD).

Need help?

  • Browse the Knowledge Hub for detailed guides
  • Contact support at support@qsme.co.nz
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