Purchasing estimating and takeoff software is quite a significant investment for many contractors and contracting companies, not to mention the impact on their operations. Therefore, they require careful consideration before implementation. Persuade their bosses to take it up may feel like a daunting task, especially if they have been using manual methods or spreadsheets to for their takeoff and estimating.
However, despite the apparent (and even obvious) benefits of construction and takeoff and estimating software for contractors, it is incredibly important to show the benefits of implementing the software. It might seem obvious to you that your organization needs the software, but you still have to convince the higher-ups that this is the case. You will have to demonstrate how automating takeoff and estimating will improve the company’s bottom line and its overall operations.
After all, if you are going to get buy-in from the organisation heads, then, you will have to demonstrate how the fast the company can recoup its investment if they are to implement the system. Apart from proving that the investment in the software will benefit the business, it will show that you’ve thought critically about the organization’s needs and that your focus is on what the business owners care about; the bottom line.
Of course, business owners didn’t make it to where they are by saying yes to everything or making business decisions on a whim. They will have questions and for which they will seek precise answers. Some of these questions include; what problem or issue will the software will solve? What is the total cost of the software, including implementation and maintenance? Which is the best software for solving this problem? How soon can they begin to see a return on their investment?
Remember, you will still need to back up some of your answers. To achieve this, you could point to a situation in which your company nearly (or actually) lost a bid due to its takeoff and estimating processes. Or you can point to a near (or actual) project overrun that had to do with errors and inaccuracies of the initial bid. You can also prepare a side-by-side comparison of the time it takes to do a manual takeoff and estimate, and the time it would take when using the software. Software providers such as Buildsoft can arrange for a free test run or a live demo.
Luckily, calculating the potential return on investment (ROI) of takeoff and estimating software is not too difficult. Perhaps the simplest way to determine the ROI is to focus on two critical aspects; cost savings and man-hours. Implementing a takeoff and estimating software will directly affect these two aspects. As the wise statesman, Benjamin Franklin said, time is money. The least amount of time spent on a specific task, the less it costs to do it. Whenever takeoff and estimating software frees up some of the hours spent on estimating a project, the organization gains by having extra hours to do more bids or to engage in other activities that can increase its revenue.
While you are it, you will need to realize you are making a case for a fundamental change in the organization’s operations and even its potential success or survival. Stick to the facts and never rely on emotional appeals to try to convince your firm how they ‘need to purchase this cool, new software.’ Focus on demonstrating the need for the new software by using a cost-benefit approach and by showing how this particular investment will pay off over the next couple of years.
Free or Paid Software?
For many small contractors and constructing firms, free takeoff and estimating software can be a great starting point, especially if they have been using manual methods. However, paid software versions quickly become necessary as the job volumes increase. After all, higher volumes of work can only mean company growth, which also means more people and processes become necessary to both complete and estimate construction projects.
There are a lot of free construction takeoff and estimating software for contractors in the market. But free doesn’t always mean zero cost. Open source products may be free to download and use, but you may likely need to pay for maintenance and or hosting where applicable. You’ll most likely also need a fully-fledged IT team to deploy and run the software.
But perhaps the most disconcerting fact about most free software is the fact that they are almost always the trimmed-down versions of a paid application. This means that they often lock you out of certain functionalities until you convert to a paid customer. They may even limit capabilities, making them unfavourable to the heavy users. In either case, you have to pay up if you want to fully switch to software.
Paid versions of construction takeoff and estimating software for contractors provide more out-of-the-box functionalities as compared to the free versions. The Buildsoft range of construction takeoff and estimating software for instance, even offer training, full support, and integration with other important business applications. This range of software can allow professionals and in the building and construction industries to build and test various scenarios, which can lead to significant material and cost savings.
If there’s no out-of-the-box solution that matches your needs, you may be compelled to spend extra money and time to customize a software product. Sometimes, it may be as easy as finding a third party to customize the software and make it work for your company.
Construction takeoff and estimating software for contractors are gradually becoming the industry standard. IT technology has revolutionized many industries and the building and construction industry has not been left behind. However, many reports indicate that as compared to other industries, the construction industry allocates the least amount of their revenues to the deployment of construction software. In fact, reports suggest that the larger the construction firm, the less amount of money (as a total percentage of revenue) it is willing to allocate towards software purchases.
However, they are missing out on the incredible benefits that come with automation and the use of software to improve the overall performance of the business. Check out the Buildsoft suite of construction takeoff and estimating solutions today and see how you can quickly begin to build a competitive edge over your rivals while reaping huge cost and operational benefits.
