Key Results
15 Projects Billed in 1 Hour
Factor makes monthly invoicing so fast, the entire project list is done in about an hour.
Answers in Minutes, Never More Than a Day
Questions get answered fast, sometimes within minutes, never longer than a day.
“10/10”
Lukas gave Factor a perfect score.
20+ Platforms Evaluated. 1 Winner.
After a ton of research and demos, Factor was the clear choice.
Overview
Stand Architecture is a small and growing firm based in British Columbia, Canada. Principal and architect Lukas Armstrong founded it two years ago, bringing nearly 20 years of industry experience with him, including a decade spent building and leading a previous firm of 25 people.
Stand Architecture currently operates with Lukas and one employee, with a clear plan to grow the firm over the next few years. The firm works across a wide range of project types, from custom homes and small renovations to larger public-facing buildings for regional districts and municipalities.
Starting a new firm gave Lukas a rare opportunity: the chance to choose the right software from day one, before the complexity of an established project list made switching painful. He had used BQE Core at his previous firm and knew he didn't want to go back. So he started fresh, searched thoroughly, and made a deliberate choice.
Challenges
He Knew What Bad Software Felt Like
At his previous firm, Lukas had spent years working in BQE Core. It helped with some things, but it came with real frustrations, particularly a slow, clunky interface that made routine tasks feel like a chore.
"The interface was very slow. There was a lot of waiting for the scroll wheel to finish ticking over so you could move to the next task." —Lukas Armstrong, Principal and Architect, Stand Architecture
When he started Stand Architecture, going back to BQE was never on the table. He wanted something better, and he was willing to do the work to find it.
A Market Full of the Wrong Options
Lukas spent months researching alternatives. He evaluated more than 20 platforms, including software from the UK, the US, Europe, and Canada, and sat through over 6 demos. He had actually settled on a different platform before a peer recommendation through social media led him to Factor.
Most of what he found was either too generic or not purpose-built for the A&E industry. Factor was different.
Solution
Built for the Industry, Not Adapted to It
What stood out about Factor immediately was how naturally it matched the way Lukas already worked. Project setup, billing structure, staff management: it all aligned with his workflow without requiring heavy customization.
"Factor includes all of the things I need and not a lot of the things I don't need. I didn't have to do a whole bunch of customization to make it match my workflow."—Lukas Armstrong, Principal and Architect, Stand Architecture
As a Canadian firm, Lukas found strong alignment with how Factor was designed. For small adjustments, like invoice formatting and tax setup, the Factor team helped him work through those quickly.
Invoicing That Keeps Up
Invoicing was a core requirement from the start, and one that Factor nails. The integration with QuickBooks Online, which Lukas's bookkeeper uses, was a key part of the decision. But the speed of the invoicing process itself has been the real win.
"I can bill out 15 projects on the second of the month in probably about an hour or less. It is so easy. I just love it."—Lukas Armstrong, Principal and Architect, Stand Architecture
Project Visibility and Profitability Tracking
Lukas tracks hours on both hourly and fixed-fee projects, giving him a clear read on whether each project is profitable. Factor's visual indicators flag when a phase or task is approaching its assigned hour budget, so nothing sneaks up on him mid-project.
He also uses Factor to generate Gantt charts directly from project schedules, sharing them with clients during the proposal stage. A simple feature that adds real polish to every new engagement.
Ready to Scale
One of Lukas's biggest priorities when choosing software was finding something the firm could grow into. Features like resource scheduling, capacity planning, and the Pulse dashboard are already there in Factor, ready to be switched on as the team expands.
"I see it there and I know that I can implement it when I'm ready. It should be a very smooth implementation across the firm as we grow."—Lukas Armstrong, Principal and Architect, Stand Architecture
Support That Earns Trust
The Factor support experience has been one of the standout parts of Lukas's two years on the platform. He has a personal relationship with members of the Factor team and gets answers fast.
"I can literally get answers to my questions about Factor sometimes within minutes. If not within minutes, within a half day or a day at most."—Lukas Armstrong, Principal and Architect, Stand Architecture
He also points to Factor's continued product development as a sign of long-term commitment. Since joining two years ago, he has seen several significant additions to the platform, including a built-in stopwatch for time tracking and the new revenue forecasting feature.
