Nearly every industry has benefitted from software technology. From manufacturing, automotive, and service-based industries to health, sports, and even the arts. The construction industry is no different. A lot of cutting edge construction management software are now available in the market, most of which have revolutionised the construction industry in terms of its operations and overall efficiency.
But even as technology continues to enrich our daily lives and improve efficiency across various industries, companies in the construction industry continue to search for innovative software solutions and platforms that can improve their operations as well as their bottom lines. One of the most critical parts of their operations is the estimating process. Many firms now look for the best construction estimating software in the UK.
The building and construction industry is in a perpetual state of evolution, which changes the way your firm performs and how you implement projects. Now more than ever, professionals in the construction industry need to remain more updated than ever before with the latest developments. By doing this, construction companies can perform their job better and keep from falling behind their competitors. However, the construction industry is famously slow in jumping into technological advances, which, from the look of things, is a trend that will stick for a while longer.
Remember, all construction companies within a specific area usually bid for the same number of limited jobs. Therefore, there is often enormous competition when it comes to bidding and thereafter, a keen eye on costs and timelines as the project progresses. Many firms are turning to innovative software solutions, such as the best construction estimating software in the UK, to improve their operations and to get an edge over their rivals. The best construction estimating software in the UK are getting better and better and with more innovative features.
However, implementation of new software solutions can be a complex process, even for smaller construction firms. They have to make the right choice, and that usually involves a fundamental appraisal of their needs moving forward. For most general contractors, each project represents a completely different landscape altogether, both metaphorically and literally. Therefore, the bottom line is that they now urgently need to consider the shift towards software applications that can better manage their estimating processes.
According to many analysts, several important trends have already shaped the UK construction industry and will continue to do so over the next several years. Innovative advances in technology and sustainability make up some of the most significant trends that are pushing construction companies towards smarter, greener, and more profitable operations. They include prefabrication, smarter buildings, off-site/modular construction, labour shortage, safety, mobile technology, and BIM modelling.
BIM models (Building Information Modelling) now provide a true and completely visual experience that gives the whole picture of the construction project from all angles. As far as construction industry trends go, BIM models have become increasingly popular ways to view and work with blueprints and to put specific building systems in place. In fact, they are fast becoming the standard for viewing and navigating through even the most complex architectural designs.
The best construction estimating software in the UK now incorporate BIM modelling into their functionalities. Construction professionals can now put away all the paper designs and do all the critical activities like takeoffs and estimates right from the computer screen. The more innovative applications, such as Cubit Pro, even allow users to perform all the necessary functions from one screen (one view). It can work with scanned, PDF or CAD drawings, leaving estimators with a powerful takeoff tool in their hands.
So why would construction professionals choose to use some of the best construction estimating software in the UK instead of traditional methods? It might sound like a vacuous a question, but one of the most obvious reasons is to avoid too much paperwork. Being stuck in a construction site for a couple of extra hours to do deal with the day’s paperwork is not too much fun. That means also working with printed blueprints, highlighters, pencils, and measuring rulers, all of which are prone to all kinds of errors.
In any case, the blueprints might take 1-3 days to get to you, which in the construction industry is a heck of a long time to be waiting around. According to many estimates, by avoiding complicated manual workarounds, the average business can save up to around 25 hours each month. This can make the difference between profit and loss or whether a construction company completes a project on time.
Project performance is, of course, a priority for all construction firms. With many construction companies already operating on razor-thin margins, inefficiencies, inaccuracies, or even any kind of surprise can wipe off their profit margins in an instant. As the opportunities increase in the industry so is project complexity and competition. Designs are becoming much larger and more complex, requiring greater efficiencies. The truth is that many construction companies are struggling to keep up.
The best construction estimating software in the UK provide more benefits other than efficiency in the estimation process. They also contribute to more flexible process management of the entire project. Gone are the days of rigid frameworks and traditional business process management. Forward-thinking software solutions, such as the Buildsoft range of construction management software, make it far easier for construction firms to streamline the way they work into streamlined workflows. By so doing, they can coordinate every facet of their services into one efficient way of working and with greater ease and speed, all of which make the firm more competitive.
At any rate, digitalisation of the estimation process, and indeed management of construction projects is now a matter of when and not if. Changes are happening now, both for small scale building contractors and large scale contractors. The best construction estimating software in the UK come with value-added functionalities built into every step of the process. And because they are designed by construction professionals and experts, they help address most of the needs of the modern construction firm.
Take the first step today for a better and more efficient way to work by signing up for a demo of one of the best construction estimating software in the UK.
Check out the Buildsoft range of innovative software solutions for managing all kinds of construction projects.