Page 14 - IEC Insights Jul-Aug19

FEATURE

Estimating Software is an essential tool as well it allows the plans and information to
as an important option for your business. Not re- be shared out or reviewed easily.
evaluating your software or not having software at The latest Digital Takeoff programs now
all can be a basic business mistake. Technology is a allow you to do design build! Features
such as Symbol Designer, contractors can
consistently moving target and contractors need to create their own symbols and shapes to
be aware of what options are available, and how to add them directly to the PDF drawing.
This allows for a Design Build while you
utilize new technology when it becomes available. estimate; create a working set of drawings
from a blank PDF if you wanted to. It
doesn’t get any faster and easier than that.
How Estimating Software and digital in the long run, but there are options for Also, with the compare drawing feature,
drawings are accessed is one of the every contractor out there, you just have to cut down on mistakes by overlaying an
biggest questions these days. The figure out how far you want to go. In short, edited drawing on top of the original. The
“cloud” is one big confusing concept that talk to an IT professional about your needs software will show you the differences
contractors have a tough time wrapping and expectations regarding the cloud and and what was changed between the two
their head around. Contractors hear this also verify that your Estimating software drawings, giving you complete control of
idea of the cloud and get the feeling has the capability to run in the cloud! alternate and change order bids! Finally,
that they need to move to the cloud. Estimate even faster with Auto count
But there are factors to consider and Digital drawing support from Electrical feature. Auto count will scan the PDF
questions that need to be asked. First, Estimating Software companies is a and will do the count for you, marking
the cloud has many different definitions, game changer for the industry. Instead and quantifying all of the symbols that
but basically, one common answer is of using an obsolete link to connect a you chose to find. The future is very
being able to access your company stand-alone digital takeoff program, bright for digital takeoff programs. Keep
information from anywhere through the contractors now use one program for all an eye out for more and more features;
internet. Now where that information aspects of the estimating process: from software companies will keep giving you
is stored and how it is distributed to the very beginning when they receive more tools to make your job easier!
you is where it all gets a bit “cloudy.” plans, through the estimating process, to
the proposal and for project management. An Estimating program can also break
The cloud can be as simple as establishing Consistency and speed is greatly increased down a job into logical sections like
a remote connection back to your server at and the possibility of transfer or clerical floors, offices, sheets. With these break
the office and accessing that information mistakes has been reduced to nearly 0%. downs, a project manager could then run
through the internet. You can also rent Digital Takeoff is almost a requirement specific reports on a section. Perhaps
a server in the cloud from several cloud for any company as collaboration is key, you are going to install 2nd floor lighting
space providing companies. With this and these programs really make the today, the project manager would be able
rental, you can access your information on difference between success and failure. to run a report on that specific part of
a server (just like back at the office), but the job and see exactly how many man
not have to maintain it; the company you Efficiency is a necessity when it comes to hours were bid, material lists, cost of
rent it from will maintain the “health” and digital take off features. Digital take off material, and schedules of that specific
backups of all of your data. Finally, there allows an estimator to introduce plans section of the job. Having this knowledge
is SAAS (Software As A Service). SAAS straight to their computer rather than and ability greatly increases the success
is where the actual software sits on the contending with endless stacks of paper of a job before the job is even close to
cloud and is provided from the software that can only be reviewed by one person being complete. Estimating and Project
company. For example, you would at a time. Plans and takeoff can be sent Management software gets the contractor
access your estimating software using a via email to other employees/project away from the old “cross your fingers
login and password from the estimating managers giving everyone access to see after a job is complete and hope you
software company; similar to logging on circuits, homeruns, and any changes or made a profit.” Using this software on
to a website, except the website would additions on the copy of the original the Cloud, the project managers should
be your actual estimating software. The plans. When all employees involved are be able to run the reports needed for
drawback of SAAS is that you don’t own able to view the same set of plans, and each section of the job in real time!
or manage the information you enter into info, in real-time, the success of the job
the software. You rent it, so you must pay increases while the possibility of pre-job Whether you are an estimator or a
a monthly fee to access your jobs and mistakes is lessened. Again, the cloud project manager or an Estimator AND
information. This can become very costly can be an important factor here because a project manager, having Estimating

12 Insights Magazine | July/August 2019 | www.ieci.org