Roland Miles, The Estimating Edge
A strong estimating department is at the core of most successful sub-contracting companies. Success or failure begins with the estimating process. Therefore, it is critical that you have a powerful estimating solution in place that enables high-quality talent to be highly accurate, productive and efficient.
For a successful estimating department, powerful computer software and hardware are becoming necessities, as opposed to luxuries. In an increasingly competitive market, contractors cannot afford the inevitable oversights and calculation errors that can result from a manual estimating process.
Many software solutions minimize, if not entirely eliminate, these errors. In addition, the industry is forcing the transition to digital takeoff. Most blueprints are now only available in digital formats. While they can certainly be printed out, printing costs can be prohibitive. In addition to digital blueprints, many of the other elements required to estimate a job (i.e. details, pricing information, codes, etc.) often have to be accessed online, so a reliable high-speed Internet connection is a must.
Your estimating department’s computer hardware is a key component of computer digital estimating. Fast, modern computers with plenty of memory will improve their user experience, resulting in better productivity. Multiple monitors, with large, high-resolution screens, will help the estimators view related documents that often need to be referenced at the same time.
Collaboration within an estimating team, as well as others in your organization, is also important. For that reason, a modern, local area network is highly recommended. And, if you would like to take it one step further, consider providing Cloud access to your team for even greater collaboration opportunities.
While software solutions help to minimize errors, humans are still required to operate the software. The best estimators are typically very detailed, analytical, and organized. Because of these required skills, top tier estimators are few and far between and require generous compensation. Another key to success is providing estimators with a comfortable work area to maintain the high level of concentration needed to complete accurate bids. This includes giving them plenty of space, good lighting and a quiet office. While estimating very complex projects, disruptions or a lack of concentration can lead to costly mistakes.
A successful estimating department can be a big investment for sub-contractors. But, it is clear that this investment can have a huge return through reduced oversights and mistakes resulting in more accurate and competitive bids.
If you haven’t yet made the move to computer-based estimating, you have a lot of choices and can find one to suit your specific needs. The Internet has a number of resources that can help you narrow down the best solution for your needs.
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