Constant improvements and efficiency are now a vital competitive element in almost every industry. Software and information technology has had an exacting influence in nearly all industries, and the construction industry has not been left behind. Takeoff is an essential part of construction estimating in the bidding stage as well as the actual construction stage.
In the cut-throat construction industry, improving takeoff activities is absolutely critical. While you are still using the traditional manual methods and promising your clients an estimate within a few days, your competitor will have already shared a more accurate estimate by close of business the same day.
Therefore, more and more companies are making the switch to construction takeoff software to get that edge over the fierce competition in the industry. Here are four ways you are losing out if you have not made the switch to construction takeoff software;
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Time Savings
Other than the straightforward time-saving benefits (man hours) of automating your takeoff, construction takeoff software pumps in more time into your working days. In the construction industry, winning bids determines the ultimate survival of the company. By slashing the time it takes to perform takeoffs and estimates, construction companies can put in more bids within the same time periods.
Why is this important? It is simply because of the fact that many construction companies are stepping up to the client’s requirements in terms of quality of offering and professionalism. When it comes to the competitive grounds, accuracy and the turnaround times of estimates have now gained importance.
Look at it through a statistical or mathematical lens. The average construction companies win one bid out of every ten they put in. The key is to influence those statistics in its favour, assuming all other factors are constant. By putting in thirty more bids within the same period of time, the construction company can now win three bids through simply adopting the use of construction takeoff software. Whichever way you look at it, that seems like some profitable math for the company.
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Ease of Use
Performing takeoffs and construction estimates is no mean fete. It requires a lot of detail and painstaking diligence even for trained professionals. Construction takeoff software has significantly simplified (without oversimplifying) this crucial process. The first step is uploading the blueprint onto to the software application, usually in the form of BIM or CAD file. Estimators can then perform an accurate takeoff with only a few clicks of the mouse.
Many of the current construction takeoff software available in the market come with a user-friendly interface that often requires little to no training. Even non-technical team members can get up to speed in no time. Working with BIM files has become quite essential for many construction and building companies. Construction takeoff software such as Cubit Pro make this essential process super easy.
Cubit Pro is one of the most user-friendly 3D building estimating software available to the building and construction industry today. While working within one view, it is only one of few construction takeoff software that can help you to quickly and easily extract quantities with extremely high levels of accuracy.
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Project Overruns
Project overruns are not uncommon in the construction industry. In fact, the construction industry is quite infamous for colouring outside the lines of a project. While some of those instances have to do with unprecedented occurrences, most project overruns are often the result of inaccurate estimates and takeoffs.
You may have heard estimators say that they could easily beat any estimating or construction takeoff software by using the traditional methods. But construction takeoff software is now far more accurate than manual methods. Construction estimating works with a lot of unknowns and in truth, no one can provide100% precision. The key to estimating is to get as close as possible to the ultimate values and at the same time, factor in potential eventualities.
Inefficiency during the project can also lead to project overruns, but most building project overruns have their roots in wrong estimates and takeoff quantities. Some software applications such as Cubit Pro move a step further as far as provide geometric results. Using the geometry of the BIM model, Cubit Pro helps to determine even complicated volumes such as concrete staircases. With such advanced functionalities, construction takeoff software enables users to deliver accurate and precise information for their estimates.
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Versatility
Clients and architects can slightly change blueprints for any number of reasons. With the traditional methods of estimating and takeoff, this would mean almost repeating the entire process of estimating or takeoff. It is a contractor’s nightmare because not only would they have to go back to the site, but that such changes might alter the company’s bottom lines.
Most construction takeoff software allows users to upload blueprints in the form of BIM files or CAD files. Therefore, users have a lot more flexibility when it comes to takeoffs and estimates. They have fully interactive BIM model displays that allow for easy navigation and changes so that users can confidently create their estimates.
By simply pointing and clicking the drawing, users can takeoff their quantities within seconds. The best construction takeoff software even keeps a log of all the changes and variations from the original estimate, and that can potentially lead to project overruns. They create reports which can be presented to clients should the final cost of the project the original estimate as a result of changes in the blueprint.
With construction takeoff software, companies can now get rid of messy paperwork or cluttered excel files. Contractors can now have all their drawings and estimates all in one place, all accessible with just a few clicks. Many types of construction takeoff software also allow easy collaboration where team members can easily follow up the progress of each project and also allow their input from remote locations.
Construction takeoff software are mostly part of construction estimating systems or in some circumstances, other larger project management systems. However, some may be purchased as standalone applications.
Go ahead. Future proof your company and try out construction takeoff software today. Buildsoft has an industry-leading suite of construction management applications for your every need.