Top Advantages of Construction Estimating Software
Managing a construction project is not an easy task since you have to coordinate various activities simultaneously.
This is why many construction companies use contractors estimating software to streamline their workflow and efficiently manage each construction activity. Investing in technology allows you to more effectively optimize resource utilization, estimate budgets, and track project completion.
This article goes over the top advantages of construction estimating software.
Strategic Planning
The estimating software allows you to strategically plan each construction activity. Your project scope and plan remain the same during software-based strategic planning. Only the following factors become optimized:
- Schedule – The construction estimating software analyzes your schedule and suggests cost and time-effective courses of action.
- Workforce – The estimating tool provides you with a plan regarding how much workforce you will require in the next weeks/months.
- Milestone – The software will break the project’s objectives into milestones and prepare a master schedule.
These estimating tools have updated information regarding the external factors which affect construction costs, like weather and taxes. Therefore, you can rely on this software and use its strategic planning for a better outcome.
Better Communication
Do you know construction projects fail one-third of the time due to poor communication? In the construction industry, communication is a key factor that companies usually underestimate. One instance of miscommunication can lead to disaster.
The construction estimating software allows you to communicate with the project team members from anywhere, anytime. The only requirement is to have a stable internet connection. You can communicate with your construction team through the construction estimating software in the following ways:
- Chat
- Voice call
- Video call
- Virtual meeting
You can also share documents using the software with better data security. Ensure you check the data-sharing package while buying the premium package because the file-sharing limit varies from software to software.
Data Security
Some construction estimating software offer a highly secure platform to share documents. Data security in the construction industry is a major concern, especially for government projects. You must keep the confidential documents hidden and ensure no security breach occurs sharing data.
Remember that construction estimating software that offers data security features are more expensive than others. You should analyze your requirements first and only then invest in such technology.
Cost Reduction
Integrating software with your construction company’s workflow reduces costs in many ways. First, you get rid of manual work, which downsizes your company. That reduces the salary expense.
Second, you eliminate manual work, which uses additional resources. For example, manually taking attendance of the workers every day using pen, paper, and file. You can replace the traditional way of taking attendance by deploying an attendance management system at the construction site.
Another cost reduction advantage is you don’t need to spend dollars on fuel and travel to the construction site to listen to the employees’ concerns. You can save time and money by collaborating with them on the construction estimating software and deciding whether to visit the jobsite.
Greater Accuracy
Modern construction estimating software offers greater accuracy in less time. You can calculate the following construction aspects in minutes using the software:
- Measurements
- Expenses
- Payables
- Revenue
- Taxes
Although you can manually calculate the above factors, using construction estimating software saves you time which eventually helps you finish the milestone before the deadline.
Improved Budgeting
The construction budgeting phase is critical and must be done quickly. Clients want you to submit a cost estimation plan with the bidding proposal. The more accurate your budgeting is, the more chances are you might get the job.
The construction estimating software enables you to estimate costs more accurately. You can feed the system with the following construction factors to get the budget plan:
- Project scope
- Workers
- Wages
- Material
- Schedule
Software will keep you from having to manually visit and get quotations from different suppliers and vendors.
Resource Optimization
The biggest advantage of using construction estimating software is optimizing your resources. You already know construction projects need various equipment, including heavy machinery and tools. They mostly run on diesel and need regular maintenance.
By using the construction estimating software, you can optimize your construction resources in the following ways:
- Track the performance of the machinery on the system to avoid unnecessary usage.
- Set indicators that will notify you about the potential fault in the equipment.
- Set auto-shutdown feature to save fuel costs.
Better Procurement
The estimating tool records the history of your procurement activities and refers you to the best option based on your history. If you are using the software for the first time, you will get information about suitable procurement options with pricing analysis from the suppliers and vendors.
Contractors also get help from the construction estimating software’s market insights. That way, you can make better decisions during the procurement phase.
Professionalism
Using the construction estimating software, you can professionally create the following documents:
- Daily construction reports
- Project scope
- Master schedule
- Procurement report
- Subcontractors’ list
- Request for Information (RFI)
- Visual documents (graphs, animations, images, videos)
You can also quickly create a bidding proposal if the submission deadline is near. The construction estimating software has multiple templates which you can download and edit.
Enhanced Client Relationship
Since you have integrated your construction workflow with technology, your reputation will increase in the industry. Clients will start trusting your services because of a competitive advantage as people are more inclined towards technology nowadays. You can use technology to your advantage by attracting more clients to your business.
Using the estimating software, you can establish professional communication with your clients in the following ways:
- Scheduled emails
- Daily project updates
- E-receipts of transactions
- Company policies
- Promotional services
The construction estimating software also records clients’ history so you can keep them in the loop for their future projects.
Conclusion
It’s high time you must invest in the right construction estimating software to stay ahead of your competitors. The above advantages will boost your team’s performance in the construction industry. You can also save time and money and invest them in expanding your business. So, get your construction estimating software today from a reliable vendor.
