Frequently asked questions
Getting started, plans and demo
Can I try e-Chantier before paying?
Yes. Start with Cloud Free (1 site, 10 GB), sign in to the demo account with preconfigured data (Hovar Residence), or book a live demo with our team. Free onboarding training is included.
How many sites can I manage and what does it cost?
Cloud Free — 1 site / 10 GB (free), attendance, client portal, website and SPV/e-Invoice; Starter — 5 / 50 GB, the full digital site; Pro — 20 / 500 GB, accounting export and integrations; Enterprise — unlimited sites, Maistru AI and EEA Tenders included. Unlimited users. WhatsApp, Maistru AI and EEA Tenders as add-ons from Starter (not on Free). See the Pricing page.
How many languages is the platform available in?
The interface is available in Romanian, English, German, Spanish, Italian and French. The public website and welcome emails follow your chosen language.
Can I use the platform on my phone on site?
Yes — it runs in your browser on phone or tablet: attendance, expenses with receipt photos, voice-reported issues, work stages and documents. No app install required.
Is there an on-premise or local licence option?
Yes. Besides cloud plans there is Appliance (server at your premises) and in-house licensing for companies that prefer their own infrastructure. See Pricing → Hosting configuration.
Modules and site operations
What modules does the platform include for a construction company?
Sites, attendance and HR, work stages (with trade templates), finance (expenses and revenue), inventory and warehouse, site issues, documents and HSE compliance, PDF reports, estimating (ROI Calculator), Studio for plans (PDF/DWG/IFC), Legal module for contracts and EEA Tenders (premium).
How does Maistru AI work?
The natural-language assistant answers about sites, attendance, finances, stages, issues and inventory — via predefined tools, not SQL.
Can I track budget and generate reports?
Yes. Record site expenses, view physical progress and export PDF reports (attendance, finance, progress). Pro plan includes accounting export (CSV/SAGA).
What is Studio and which plan formats does it support?
Studio is the plan viewer in Documents: multi-page PDF, images, DWG/DXF, IFC/BIM. You can place labels on plans linked to issues or work stages.
Can I manage multiple sites and different teams?
Yes. Each site has its own workspace; you assign employees, subcontractors and set per-module access (Ops, Finance, Estimating, etc.) from user management.
Can I use the platform for owner-managed projects (home/villa)?
Yes. Coordinate tradespeople, materials, invoices and tasks in one place — useful for property owners or investors running their own build, not only large contractors.
Can I use e-Chantier if I am not a general contractor?
Yes. Installation, joinery, fit-out, roofing and facade firms create their own account (Free, Starter, Pro or Enterprise). Each job — apartment, villa, shop — is a site. You can also be a subcontractor on a GC site if invited.
Team, roles and security
How are roles and permissions managed?
The company admin defines roles (admin, site manager, worker, subcontractor, etc.) and can restrict which modules each user sees in the sidebar — attendance, finance, inventory, estimating and more.
Do subcontractors only see their own sites?
Yes. Subcontractors only access sites where they are assigned, with visibility on relevant tasks and documents — not the main contractor's internal data.
Is my company data isolated from other firms?
Yes. Multi-tenant architecture: each company has separate data (company_id), its own authentication and PostgreSQL storage. One firm cannot access another's data.
Does the beneficiary see the contractor's internal data?
No. The beneficiary portal only shows work stages, issues and shared documents — not internal attendance, costs, margins or internal company documents.
Marketplace — tenders for clients
How do I post a construction request as a beneficiary?
Create a free beneficiary account, fill in work type, area, indicative budget and location. Construction firms registered on e-Chantier get notified and send offers in the platform.
What does it cost for beneficiaries and investors?
Posting a request, receiving offers and comparing proposals is 100% free. There is no commission for choosing a firm through the marketplace.
How do I pick the right firm from the offers?
Compare total price, price per sqm and duration. Firms already using e-Chantier have digital site management — you can track progress in the portal after acceptance, not only at the end.
What happens after I accept an offer?
A digital site is created automatically in the selected firm's account and you are connected as beneficiary. You get real-time access to work stages, issues and documents from your phone.
Do I only get offers from firms in my area?
Active firms receive notifications for relevant requests. The clearer your description (work type, city, area, deadline), the better matched the offers.
Can I post large projects (blocks, industrial halls)?
Yes — from single-family homes to residential complexes or halls. Specify project type and scale; firms with relevant experience can submit offers.
Equipment and materials market
Do I need an account to browse listings?
No. The /marketplace/listings page is public — you can filter, search and message sellers without signing up.
What can I find in the equipment and materials market?
Excavators, cranes, concrete mixers, scaffolding, generators, plus cement, blocks, steel, insulation — new or surplus site materials, for rent or sale.
How does a construction company post a listing?
Sign in to your company account, open Marketplace → Listings and publish equipment or materials for free (rent, sale or surplus stock). The listing also appears on the public page.
Is it linked to tender requests for contractors?
No. Client tenders and the equipment/materials market are separate areas — the first connects investors with firms, the second is for rentals, sales and surplus stock.