Two options exist for public employers who need labor cost analysis: hire a consulting firm or buy standalone costing software. Both have advantages — but CollBar is built on the belief that the best answer combines both.
Software-Only Approach
Purchase standalone costing software and run your own labor cost analyses internally using your HR and finance staff.
Pros
- Available on-demand without scheduling a consultant
- Can be used internally by your team
- One-time or annual subscription cost
- Good for organizations with in-house analytical capacity
Cons
- Requires significant training (often 8+ hours) before productive use
- Manual data entry of pension rates, tax tables, and benefits structures
- No strategic guidance on how to use the numbers
- Does not help with negotiation strategy, grievances, or arbitration preparation
Full-Service Consulting (No Technology)
Engage a traditional labor relations consulting firm that provides strategic guidance, negotiation support, and manual cost analysis.
Pros
- Strategic guidance from experienced negotiators
- Relationship-based approach to labor management
- Can serve as chief negotiator or advisory role
- Deep knowledge of state statutes and comparable agencies
Cons
- Cost analysis typically done on manual spreadsheets
- Analysis takes weeks to produce
- Spreadsheets break when proposals change mid-session
- Cannot update cost models in real time at the table
Our Verdict
CollBar's integrated approach — combining AI-powered cost modeling with full-service consulting — eliminates the weaknesses of both standalone options.
Software-only approaches lack strategic guidance. Traditional consulting lacks analytical speed. CollBar's engine reads your CBA and builds cost models automatically, while experienced consultants provide strategy, negotiation support, and arbitration preparation.
Local Context
For public employers nationwide, the ability to model proposals in real time during bargaining sessions — with state-specific pension rates, tax tables, and benefits built in — is a decisive advantage that neither standalone software nor traditional consulting can match alone.
Pro Tips
Ask any software vendor how long it takes to set up your first cost model
Most standalone software requires 20+ hours of manual data entry before you can run your first analysis. CollBar's AI reads your CBA directly.
Ask any consulting firm how quickly they can update cost models mid-session
Traditional firms using spreadsheets cannot update models in real time. This leaves you flying blind when the union proposes changes at the table.
Evaluate total cost of ownership, not just licensing fees
Software licensing is cheap, but the staff time for data entry, training, and troubleshooting often exceeds the cost of a full-service engagement.
Consider whether you need analysis or analysis plus strategy
Numbers without context are just numbers. The value of consulting is translating data into actionable bargaining strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
CollBar's cost modeling engine is delivered as part of our consulting engagement, not as standalone software. This ensures the analysis is accurate, interpreted correctly, and actionable.