Wakha vs Candy (CCS): Which Construction Software for SA Builders?

South African construction companies face a critical decision when choosing software: do you need a powerful estimating tool, or comprehensive project management with built-in compliance? The choice between Wakha and Candy CCS (Construction Control System) often comes down to this fundamental question.

Both platforms serve the South African construction market, but they solve different problems. Candy CCS, part of RIB Software’s suite, has been the industry standard for estimating and cost control for decades. Wakha, built by Skynode specifically for the SA market, combines full project management with B-BBEE tracking, CIDB compliance, NHBRC modules, and support for JBCC/NEC/GCC contracts.

This comparison breaks down exactly where each platform excels, where they fall short, and which one fits your business needs.

Quick Comparison Overview

Feature	Wakha	Candy CCS
Primary Focus	End-to-end project management + compliance	Estimating and cost control
Deployment	Cloud-based with offline mode	Desktop application
Estimating & BOQ	Basic budgeting and cost tracking	Advanced estimating with detailed take-offs
Project Management	Full PM suite (Gantt, scheduling, site diary)	Limited project management
B-BBEE Tracking	Built-in procurement tracking	Not available
CIDB Compliance	Workflows and documentation	Not available
NHBRC Module	Full warranty management	Not available
Payment Certificates	JBCC/NEC/GCC support	Not available
Site Diary	Digital with offline mode	Not available
Mobile/Offline	Yes, mobile app with offline sync	Desktop only
Pricing Model	Monthly subscription (R2,499-R6,999/mo)	Per-seat licensing (enterprise pricing)
Best For	Full project management + SA compliance	Pure estimating and QS work

Candy CCS Overview

RIB Candy, commonly referred to as Candy CCS (Candy Construction System), is a desktop-based estimating and cost control solution owned by RIB Software, a German construction technology company. It has been widely adopted by quantity surveyors, estimators, and large contractors in South Africa for its powerful estimating capabilities.

Core Strengths

Candy CCS excels at what it was built for: detailed estimating and bill of quantities generation. Its core strengths include:

Advanced Estimating Capabilities

Candy CCS offers industry-leading estimating features that have made it the go-to tool for quantity surveyors:

Detailed take-offs with comprehensive material and labour databases
Bill of quantities (BOQ) generation with automatic calculations
Integration with South African standards including JBCC and SANS templates
Multi-level cost breakdowns with detailed variance analysis
Historical cost data and benchmarking capabilities
Integration with accounting systems for cost control

Industry Recognition

Candy CCS has been used by major South African contractors and QS firms for decades. Its estimating methodology aligns with local industry practices, making it familiar to experienced estimators and quantity surveyors.

Cost Control Features

Beyond estimating, Candy CCS provides robust cost control capabilities:

Budget vs actual cost tracking
Variance analysis and reporting
Cost forecasting based on project progress
Integration with financial systems

Limitations

While Candy CCS excels at estimating, it has significant limitations for contractors who need full project management:

No Full Project Management

Candy CCS focuses on estimating and cost control. It does not include:

Gantt chart scheduling or critical path analysis
Resource allocation and management
Task management and workflow automation
Client collaboration portals

No South African Compliance Features

Candy CCS lacks the compliance features that South African contractors increasingly need:

No B-BBEE procurement tracking
No CIDB grading compliance workflows
No NHBRC enrolment or warranty management module
No support for generating JBCC/NEC/GCC progress payment certificates

Desktop-Only Deployment

Candy CCS is a desktop application, which creates limitations:

No cloud access from multiple locations
No mobile app for site managers
No offline mode for load shedding scenarios
Requires installation and IT management
Collaboration requires file sharing and version control

Enterprise Pricing

Candy CCS uses a per-seat licensing model with enterprise pricing. Exact costs vary, but expect:

Significant upfront licensing fees
Annual maintenance and support costs
Per-user licensing that scales with team size
Total cost typically R50,000+ per year for small teams

Limited Integration

While Candy CCS integrates with some accounting systems, it has fewer integrations than modern cloud platforms, making it harder to connect with other tools in your tech stack.

Who Should Choose Candy CCS

Candy CCS is the right choice if:

Your primary need is advanced estimating and BOQ generation
You’re a quantity surveyor or estimator focused on cost control
You’re a large contractor with dedicated estimating teams
You can afford enterprise pricing and desktop software management
You’re willing to use separate tools for project management and compliance

Wakha Overview

Wakha is a cloud-based construction and property development management platform built specifically for the South African market by Skynode. Unlike Candy CCS, which focuses on estimating, Wakha provides end-to-end project management combined with built-in South African compliance features.

Core Strengths

Wakha combines comprehensive project management with features that address the unique needs of South African contractors:

Full Project Management Suite

Wakha provides complete project management capabilities:

Gantt chart scheduling with dependencies and critical path analysis
Resource allocation and management across multiple projects
Digital site diary with photo attachments and weather logging
Task management and workflow automation
Document management for drawings, RFIs, and certificates
Client portal for real-time project visibility

South African Compliance Built-In

Wakha is the only construction management platform with comprehensive SA compliance features:

B-BBEE procurement tracking with automatic spend calculation and compliance reporting
CIDB grading compliance workflows and project value tracking
NHBRC enrolment and warranty management module
JBCC/NEC/GCC progress payment certificate generation
ZAR budgeting with VAT calculations

Cloud-Based with Offline Mode

Wakha’s cloud architecture provides flexibility:

Access from any device with internet connectivity
Mobile app for site managers
Offline mode that syncs when connectivity returns (essential for load shedding)
No installation or IT management required
Real-time collaboration across teams

Property Development Lifecycle

Wakha includes features specifically for property developers:

Feasibility analysis and financial modeling
Development lifecycle management from planning to handover
Cash flow forecasting for development projects
Client portal for investor and buyer communication

Transparent ZAR Pricing

Wakha offers straightforward monthly pricing in South African Rand:

Builder plan: R2,499/month — 5 active projects, 15 users, all core features
Developer plan: R6,999/month — 25 active projects, 50 users, cash flow forecasting, client portal, NHBRC module
Enterprise: Custom pricing — Unlimited projects, custom integrations, dedicated support

Limitations

Wakha’s estimating capabilities are more basic than Candy CCS:

Less detailed take-off capabilities compared to Candy’s advanced estimating
BOQ generation is functional but not as comprehensive as Candy’s
Estimating workflows are designed for contractors, not dedicated QS firms

However, Wakha integrates with accounting systems and can import estimates from other tools, making it possible to use Candy CCS for detailed estimating while using Wakha for project management.

Who Should Choose Wakha

Wakha is the right choice if:

You need full project management beyond just estimating
You require B-BBEE procurement tracking for tender compliance
You work with CIDB-graded projects and need compliance documentation
You build residential properties and need NHBRC warranty management
You use JBCC, NEC, or GCC contracts and need proper payment certificates
You want cloud-based access with mobile and offline capabilities
You prefer transparent monthly pricing over enterprise licensing
You’re managing property development projects from feasibility to handover

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Estimating & Bill of Quantities

Candy CCS: Winner

Candy CCS is the clear winner for estimating and BOQ generation. Its advanced take-off capabilities, comprehensive material and labour databases, and detailed cost breakdowns make it the industry standard for quantity surveyors and estimators.

Candy CCS excels at:

Detailed material take-offs with automatic calculations
Comprehensive BOQ generation with industry-standard formats
Historical cost data and benchmarking
Integration with JBCC and SANS templates
Multi-level cost breakdowns

Wakha: Functional but Basic

Wakha provides functional budgeting and cost tracking, but its estimating capabilities are designed for contractors managing projects, not for detailed QS work. It can:

Create project budgets and track costs
Generate basic BOQ for internal use
Track material and labour costs
Integrate with accounting systems

Verdict: If detailed estimating is your primary need, Candy CCS is superior. However, Wakha’s budgeting is sufficient for most contractors who aren’t doing detailed QS work.

Project Management & Scheduling

Wakha: Winner

Wakha provides comprehensive project management that Candy CCS simply doesn’t offer:

Gantt chart scheduling with dependencies and critical path analysis
Resource allocation and management
Task management with assignments and due dates
Workflow automation
Multi-project portfolio management

Candy CCS: Not Available

Candy CCS focuses on estimating and cost control. It does not include project scheduling, task management, or resource allocation features. You’ll need separate project management tools if you choose Candy CCS.

Verdict: Wakha wins decisively for project management. If you need scheduling, task management, or resource allocation, Wakha is the only option between these two platforms.

Payment Certificates

Wakha: Winner

Wakha includes built-in support for generating progress payment certificates according to South African contract forms:

JBCC (Joint Building Contracts Committee) payment certificates
NEC (New Engineering Contract) payment certificates
GCC (General Conditions of Contract) payment certificates
Automatic calculation of retention, VAT, and payment amounts
Integration with project progress tracking

Candy CCS: Not Available

Candy CCS does not include payment certificate generation. You’ll need to create these manually or use separate tools.

Verdict: Wakha wins for payment certificate generation. This is a critical feature for South African contractors working with standard contract forms.

B-BBEE Compliance

Wakha: Winner

Wakha includes comprehensive B-BBEE procurement tracking:

Automatic tracking of spend with B-BBEE suppliers
Calculation of procurement points according to the Construction Sector Code
Compliance reporting for tender submissions
Integration with supplier management
Target tracking and progress monitoring

Candy CCS: Not Available

Candy CCS has no B-BBEE tracking capabilities. You’ll need to track B-BBEE procurement manually or use separate tools.

Verdict: Wakha is the only option for B-BBEE tracking. This is increasingly essential for contractors bidding on government and corporate tenders.

CIDB & NHBRC Compliance

Wakha: Winner

Wakha includes compliance workflows for both CIDB and NHBRC:

CIDB Compliance:

CIDB grade tracking and documentation
Project value tracking against grading thresholds
Compliance checking for sub-contractors
Upgrade planning and documentation

NHBRC Compliance:

NHBRC enrolment management
Warranty period tracking
Defect management and tracking
Compliance reporting

Candy CCS: Not Available

Candy CCS has no CIDB or NHBRC compliance features. You’ll need to manage these requirements manually or use separate tools.

Verdict: Wakha wins for compliance. These features are essential for South African contractors, and Wakha is the only platform that includes them.

Site Diary

Wakha: Winner

Wakha includes a comprehensive digital site diary:

Daily site reports with photo attachments
Weather logging
Labour and material tracking
Issue and incident logging
Offline mode for load shedding scenarios
Mobile app for on-site data entry

Candy CCS: Not Available

Candy CCS does not include site diary functionality. You’ll need separate tools or paper-based systems.

Verdict: Wakha wins for site diary. The offline mode is particularly valuable for South African construction sites.

Cloud Access & Offline Mode

Wakha: Winner

Wakha’s cloud-based architecture provides:

Access from any device with internet connectivity
Mobile app for iOS and Android
Offline mode that syncs when connectivity returns
Real-time collaboration across teams
No installation or IT management required

Candy CCS: Desktop Only

Candy CCS is a desktop application:

Requires installation on each computer
No cloud access from multiple locations
No mobile app
No offline mode
Requires IT management and file sharing for collaboration

Verdict: Wakha wins for accessibility and flexibility. The offline mode is particularly valuable during load shedding.

Pricing Model

Wakha: Transparent Monthly Pricing

Wakha offers straightforward monthly pricing in ZAR:

Builder plan: R2,499/month — Suitable for small to mid-size contractors
Developer plan: R6,999/month — For property developers and larger contractors
Enterprise: Custom pricing — For large enterprises with specific needs

No upfront licensing fees, no per-user charges within plan limits, transparent pricing.

Candy CCS: Enterprise Licensing

Candy CCS uses traditional enterprise software licensing:

Significant upfront licensing fees
Per-seat licensing that scales with team size
Annual maintenance and support costs
Total cost typically R50,000+ per year for small teams
Requires direct contact with sales for pricing

Verdict: Wakha offers more transparent and accessible pricing, especially for small to mid-size contractors. Candy CCS pricing is better suited for large enterprises with dedicated estimating teams.

When to Choose Candy CCS

Choose Candy CCS if:

You’re a Quantity Surveyor or Estimator

If your primary role is detailed estimating and BOQ generation, Candy CCS’s advanced estimating capabilities make it the right choice. Its comprehensive take-off tools, material databases, and cost control features are unmatched for QS work.

You’re a Large Contractor with Dedicated Estimating Teams

Large contractors with separate estimating departments often use Candy CCS for detailed estimating while using other tools for project management. If you have the resources to manage multiple software platforms, this approach can work.

Estimating is Your Only Software Need

If you only need estimating software and handle project management, compliance, and site management through other means (spreadsheets, separate PM tools, manual processes), Candy CCS may be sufficient.

You Can Afford Enterprise Pricing

Candy CCS’s enterprise pricing model requires significant investment. If you have budget for R50,000+ per year in software licensing and can justify the ROI on advanced estimating capabilities, Candy CCS may be worth it.

When to Choose Wakha

Choose Wakha if:

You Need Full Project Management

If you need scheduling, task management, resource allocation, site diary, and client collaboration beyond just estimating, Wakha provides these features that Candy CCS doesn’t offer.

You Require SA Compliance Features

If you need B-BBEE tracking, CIDB compliance workflows, NHBRC modules, or JBCC/NEC/GCC payment certificates, Wakha is the only option between these two platforms. These features are increasingly essential for South African contractors.

You Want Cloud-Based Access

If you need cloud access, mobile apps, offline mode, or real-time collaboration, Wakha’s cloud architecture provides these capabilities that Candy CCS’s desktop model cannot.

You Prefer Transparent Pricing

If you want straightforward monthly pricing without enterprise licensing negotiations, Wakha’s transparent ZAR pricing makes budgeting easier.

You’re Managing Property Development

If you’re a property developer managing projects from feasibility to handover, Wakha’s development lifecycle features are designed specifically for this use case.

You’re a Small to Mid-Size Contractor

If you’re a small to mid-size contractor who needs comprehensive project management and compliance without enterprise pricing, Wakha’s Builder plan (R2,499/month) provides excellent value.

Can You Use Both?

Yes, many contractors use both platforms for different purposes:

Candy CCS for Estimating

Use Candy CCS for detailed estimating and BOQ generation when you need:

Comprehensive take-offs for complex projects
Detailed cost analysis and benchmarking
Industry-standard BOQ formats for tenders

Wakha for Project Management & Compliance

Use Wakha for everything else:

Project scheduling and task management
Site diary and daily reporting
B-BBEE procurement tracking
CIDB and NHBRC compliance
Payment certificate generation
Client collaboration and reporting

Integration Approach

You can export estimates from Candy CCS and import them into Wakha for project budgeting. Wakha then handles project management, compliance, and site management while Candy CCS handles detailed estimating.

This hybrid approach works well for:

Large contractors with dedicated estimating teams
QS firms that also manage projects
Contractors who need both detailed estimating and comprehensive project management

However, this approach requires:

Managing two software platforms
Training teams on both systems
Paying for both licenses
Integrating data between platforms

For most contractors, choosing one platform that meets their primary needs is more efficient and cost-effective.

The Verdict

The choice between Wakha and Candy CCS depends entirely on your primary needs:

Choose Candy CCS if: Your primary need is advanced estimating and BOQ generation, you’re a QS or estimator, and you can afford enterprise pricing. You’ll need separate tools for project management and compliance.

Choose Wakha if: You need full project management combined with South African compliance features (B-BBEE, CIDB, NHBRC), cloud-based access with mobile and offline capabilities, and transparent monthly pricing.

Use Both if: You’re a large contractor with dedicated estimating teams who need Candy CCS’s advanced estimating capabilities alongside Wakha’s project management and compliance features.

For most South African contractors, Wakha provides better value because it combines project management with essential compliance features that Candy CCS doesn’t offer. However, if detailed estimating is your only software need and you can afford enterprise pricing, Candy CCS remains the industry standard for QS work.

The construction industry in South Africa is increasingly requiring B-BBEE tracking, CIDB compliance, and proper contract management. These aren’t optional features — they’re requirements for operating legally and winning tenders. Wakha is the only platform between these two that provides these capabilities out of the box.

Explore Wakha’s features and pricing or request a demo to see how it can streamline your construction projects and ensure compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Wakha replace Candy CCS for estimating?

Wakha provides functional budgeting and cost tracking, but it doesn’t match Candy CCS’s advanced estimating capabilities. If your primary need is detailed take-offs, comprehensive BOQ generation, and advanced cost analysis, Candy CCS remains superior. However, Wakha’s budgeting is sufficient for most contractors who aren’t doing detailed QS work. Many contractors use Candy CCS for estimating and Wakha for project management and compliance.

Does Candy CCS have any South African compliance features?

No. Candy CCS focuses on estimating and cost control. It does not include B-BBEE tracking, CIDB compliance workflows, NHBRC modules, or JBCC/NEC/GCC payment certificate generation. You’ll need to manage these requirements manually or use separate tools like Wakha.

Can I use Candy CCS offline?

Candy CCS is a desktop application, so it works offline on the computer where it’s installed. However, it doesn’t have mobile offline capabilities or cloud sync like Wakha. If you need offline access from multiple devices or locations, Wakha’s cloud-based offline mode is more flexible.

How much does Candy CCS cost?

Candy CCS uses enterprise pricing with per-seat licensing. Exact costs vary, but expect significant upfront licensing fees plus annual maintenance costs. Total cost typically starts at R50,000+ per year for small teams. You’ll need to contact RIB Software sales for exact pricing based on your requirements.

Does Wakha integrate with Candy CCS?

Wakha can import budget data from other systems, including estimates exported from Candy CCS. However, there’s no direct integration between the platforms. You can export estimates from Candy CCS and import them into Wakha for project budgeting, then use Wakha for project management and compliance.

Which platform is better for small contractors?

Wakha is generally better for small contractors because:

Transparent monthly pricing (R2,499/month) vs enterprise licensing
Cloud-based access without IT management
Includes compliance features essential for SA contractors
Mobile app and offline mode for site managers
All-in-one solution reduces need for multiple tools

Candy CCS’s enterprise pricing and desktop deployment make it less suitable for small contractors unless detailed estimating is their only software need.

Can I generate JBCC payment certificates with Candy CCS?

No. Candy CCS does not include payment certificate generation. You’ll need to create JBCC, NEC, or GCC payment certificates manually or use separate tools. Wakha includes built-in support for generating progress payment certificates according to all major SA contract forms.

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