One of the toughest parts of making the switch to a new estimating software is the amount of time that it takes. No matter how amazing your implementation team is, no matter how willing your company is to buy into the product, there’s always going to be a few bumps in the road. That’s the nature of implementing any kind of new software across a company of hundreds of people, people who are often scattered in different offices around the country. It takes time to unlearn old habits and form new ones.
So, you might be asking, if it’s going to take months to onboard a new tool, get everyone on the same page, and eventually gain complete usage across the preconstruction department, what’s the point? Doesn’t it make more sense to stick with what you already know, even if it is a little old-fashioned? Not necessarily. Let’s dive into why you should consider adding new estimating tools to your arsenal.
1.You’ll gain an edge over your competition.
In the world of construction, it’s more important than ever to stand out. Being willing to innovate and explore preconstruction technology is a powerful way to show project owners that you’re adaptable and forward-thinking. While it’s crucial to make sure that we learn from the past, it’s just as critical that we don’t keep doing things simply for the sake of tradition.
2. You already spend a lot of time fixing errors and/or manually inputting data.
If you’re having to translate huge chunks of data from one program to another, if you have to go back and constantly adjust numbers due to human error, then you’re already losing way too much time. Today, there are estimating platforms that not only automate many manual processes, but that also consolidate multiple features and tasks under one roof so that you don’t increase the risk of error jumping between programs. Although it will take time to implement new software, it’s a one-time loss for hours and days of gain.
3. You want to create standardization among your company
Part of standing out to project owners is creating a unique profile as a general contractor, so that no matter what aspect of your company’s work someone looks at, they can immediately recognize it as yours. That’s especially true when it comes to preconstruction. Being able to build an estimate so detailed and tailor-made to the project will start branding you, in a good way. But it’s difficult to produce consistent estimates if you don’t have consistent practices. Moving to a single estimating platform helps speed the process of standardization.
So, if you’ve been thinking about moving to a new estimating tool, don’t let the time commitment scare you away. See it as an investment in your company’s future. And if you want to learn more, just click the button below.
