How to Choose the Best Estimating Software for Preconstruction

The longer you continue to stick with your outdated software, the more costly it becomes to maintain and replace. So, there’s no time like now to begin your journey to find the best estimation software.

What Does Construction Estimating Software Do?

First let’s define what construction estimating software is. Construction estimating software is a computer program that calculates the cost of a construction project. Construction cost estimating software can be as simple as working in spreadsheets or as robust as a fully integrated estimating system that supports the entire estimating and preconstruction process and workflows.

Because of increasing project complexity and owner demands, and the amount of risk involved, the best preconstruction estimating software should help preconstruction professionals and cost estimators produce the most accurate estimate in the shortest amount of time possible.

The best software used for detailed estimates in the construction industry features standardized automatic construction data capture, takeoff capabilities, estimate templates, past and present estimate comparisons, and dashboards and reporting.

Essentially, the best preconstruction estimating software will allow you to perform all your preconstruction processes in one program and integrate seamlessly with other essential programs.

What Does Construction Estimating Software Do?
What is the Preconstruction Process?

What is the Preconstruction Process?

During the preconstruction phase of building a building, cost estimators and preconstruction managers connect the dots between a project owner’s vision and requirements with an architect’s drawings and produce an estimate of how much the building will cost.

Preconstruction isn’t just crunching numbers. The preconstruction process involves interpreting drawings, understanding what success means to the owner, providing the best solutions to problems, understanding the scope of work, and collaborating and connecting with the field and engineers.

Precon professionals handle hundreds of line items and assemblies and must perform takeoff, and complex math equations.

Historically, to complete one estimate, preconstruction teams have worked in disconnected multiple software programs to put all the pieces of a construction estimate together.

This inefficient workflow introduces more risk in an already risky industry because of having to copy and paste data from one program to another and having to meticulously review formulas for mistakes and errors.

It’s no wonder that most construction projects go over budget and don’t meet deadlines. These older systems and workflows can’t support today’s preconstruction process.

How Can You Fix Problems in the Preconstruction Phase?

In the past, preconstruction has been overlooked by the construction technology industry even though it is a vital phase of the process, one that can introduce or decrease risk later into the life of the project.

Beck Technology, developers of ground-breaking preconstruction software DESTINI Estimator construction estimating software and DESTINI Bid Day bid leveling software was founded by a third-generation construction worker who knew that utilizing technology during the preconstruction phase of a project could significantly reduce risk.

Over 25 years ago, we set out to create the solutions to the most common problems in preconstruction. Our flagship construction estimating software, DESTINI Estimator helps 40 of the country’s ENR Top 400 contractors deliver faster, more accurate estimates and build better buildings, allowing them to impress owners and win repeat work.

Fortunately, however, there are now plenty of construction estimating software to choose from. DESTINI isn’t the only construction estimating software on the market. From 2020 to 2022, $50 billion was invested in construction technology, there is now enough construction software on the market to make evaluating it all a full-time job!

Competitive Landscape

Competitive Landscape

With $50 billion invested in construction tech (2020-2022), evaluating the options is now a full-time task!

Proven Impact

Proven Impact

Our software delivers faster, accurate estimates, impressing owners and fostering repeat business.

Our Legacy

Our Legacy

Over 25 years ago, we introduced DESTINI Estimator, solving preconstruction challenges for ENR Top 400 contractors.

So, how do you figure out which is the best estimation software?

Structuring your search for the best estimating software will help you and your team decide easier and faster. Our experience with over 250 of implementations combined with the close relationships we keep with our users, collectively we have learned the best practices in how to evaluate construction estimating software. In this guide, you will learn firsthand from some of the top general contractors in the U.S. how to successfully chose the right construction estimating platform for you.

Eliminate manual cost estimating and reporting-2

Here is your 11-step guide.

  1. List the problems and challenges of your current workflows, processes, and software.
  2. Create a list of must-have features and nice-to-have features.
  3. Develop a software evaluation task force.
  4. Research the current preconstruction software market.
  5. Evaluate each software’s list of features.
  6. Narrow down the software that checks your must-have features list.
  7. Schedule software demos.
  8. Narrow down your top choices.
  9. Ask all the questions.
  10. Get pricing.
  11. Make a final decision.
Challenges of Your Current Workflows

List the Problems and Challenges of Your Current Workflows, Processes, and Software

List your current workflows and tasks that need done to complete an estimate—2D and 3D takeoff, cost associated with line items and assemblies, dashboards and reporting capabilities, and integrations with your financial reporting, etc.

Audit where problems arise in the process and where the team slows down. Where do roadblocks occur? Have your team make notes of every issue they have when completing a deliverable.

One of the country’s largest contractors, Balfour Beatty, has multiple offices across the country and before switching to DESTINI Estimator construction estimating software, they had no standardized way to create deliverables.

The preconstruction teams at Balfour Beatty were using at least 11 different software to complete estimates. Each estimator had their own way of creating and completing an estimate leading to inconsistencies and confusion for owners, difficulty training new estimators, and significant inefficiencies.

For Russell, Sundt, and Ryan Companies it was consistency in estimates, the lack of a centralized data storage system, and the ability to benchmark.

Macallan and Truebeck, like you, and many others were using Excel for estimating, had problems with broken formulas and wanted to streamline their workflows.

The lack of standardization is a common problem in preconstruction. How can standardizing your workflows through technology
decrease inefficiency?

Create a List of the Top Preconstruction Features Checklist

The lack of standardization

Technology is supposed to help us, not hinder us. Your reason for upgrading your preconstruction software is so you can become more efficient in creating better estimates to win more work, right?

The way to do that is by eliminating waste in your process. Typical preconstruction workflows that use multiple systems that don’t work together, each estimator creating their own spreadsheets, and not having a centralized database that houses all your information takes up a lot of time, introduces risk, and causes mistakes.

Technology is supposed to help us

If everyone is doing things slightly differently and data isn’t
pulled from a single source, how are you putting together
cohesive estimates?

Create a checklist of your must-have features and the features that you will need in the future. Then list out the features that aren’t necessary but would be nice to have.

A good piece of advice we got from Johnny Rhea, a preconstruction manager at The Beck Group, is to list out the features you have now that you like, the ones you don’t like, and the ones you wish you had.

Haselden Construction created a ranking system of features in each estimating software they evaluated.

cohesive estimates

Don’t forget to ask your IT department about technological requirements. Will your company have to host the software or is it accessible from the cloud? What are the data securities involved; will it work seamlessly with other software the preconstruction uses?

It is important to keep in mind who will be supporting the software you choose. Will it be your IT team or the software vendor? If you must update the software on your own, does your IT department have the bandwidth to help support it? If the software doesn’t have a technical support team, are you able to hire or appoint someone who will be the go-to to help troubleshoot problems and train people?

A lot more goes into the back end of implementing new software and getting buy in from all stakeholders is what will keep the needle moving when you are evaluating new construction estimating software.

IT department about technological requirements

Develop a Software Evaluation Task Force

Evaluating, choosing, and implementing new enterprise software is a huge undertaking, and it impacts the entire organization. It also needs buy-in from stakeholders and users. Letting the evaluation and decision process fall on one person’s shoulders is a fatal flaw in software evaluation.

Call it what you will, but the most successful preconstruction teams have created a software evaluation task force, or team to help lighten the load of researching the marketplace, checking off features, and watching demos.

Balfour Beatty chose one person from each office, preconstruction managers and directors, IT, and other stakeholders to make up their task force.

Gilbane reminds us to pick those who have an affinity for technology and are eager to embrace change and innovation.

Research the Current Preconstruction Software Market

One of the current construction technology trends is moving to a software platform that integrates all your estimating workflows in one system. Many of the country’s top contractors are investing in all-in-one software that does your takeoff, cost estimations, and bid leveling without having to toggle between applications.

When you search for ‘what is the best software for estimating and takeoff,’ you will find that there are programs that specialize in just one or two of the aspects of estimating and there will also be those listed that incorporate all your necessary processes to complete a deliverable.

Having a checklist of your tasks nearby will help you when you research what preconstruction software is available.

How to Evaluate Software Features

The first and most critical step in beginning to evaluate new estimating software is recognizing that you need to update your systems and processes. This usually requires buy-in from stakeholders.

Learn how to create and present a business case in this how-to article.

Learn More

Identify and list your major challenges, serious roadblocks, and the biggest problems with your current system. It is important to note, especially to stakeholders, the time and possible revenue loss that come with these problems.

Create a team of eager and tech-savvy people who are ready to implement innovative changes to your estimating process. Team members should be recruited from different departments, not just precon. Include IT, project managers, preconstruction leaders, and end users.

Create a checklist or spreadsheet of your necessary features, nice to have features, and features you will need in the future. To streamline the features evaluation process, develop a scorecard or ranking system so you can begin to easily narrow down that software that don’t offer your necessary features.

Request demos of each software that offers your features list.

Narrow Down the Software That Checks Your
Must-Have Features List

Ask the vendor all the big questions. How does implementation work, what are the timelines to get going in the software? Is training provided? How are software updates handled? What is the tech support protocol? And what does the future of the product look like?

How to Evaluate Software Features
Pricing and Final Decision

Pricing and Final Decision

Software pricing models vary between vendors and can be tricky to navigate. Typically, you’ll find SaaS is feature-based, tiered, by licensing, or flat-rate priced. There are pros and cons to all SaaS pricing models. Some aren’t scalable which means you might grow out of the product, others may blow your budget out of the water, especially if you are a smaller contractor.

By this stage, you will have narrowed down your few favored software. When discussing price, make sure you ask the software vendor what is included. Is implementation, tech support, and continued training included? What about updates and rolling out
new versions?

Surprisingly, some vendors do not include software implementation or support in their initial cost.

Click here to learn more about how DESTINI Estimator implementation works for you.

 

Beck Tech prides itself on its customer-centric approach to selling software. Rather than just being a software vendor, we’re partners with our clients and offer multiple avenues for you to be successful with the DESTINI suite of construction estimating software. Our in-house support, training, and customer success teams make sure you get the most out of your investment.

Also, we offer a community forum so you can learn from your precon peers and Beck Tech insiders on shortcuts, tips, and tricks, and a place to talk about all things preconstruction. Plus, we have an annual user’s conference with a special one-day intensive training for all levels of users.

Picking an enterprise software goes beyond just the features and the price. Continued product enhancements and innovation, support, customization, and scalability, plus a vendor that not only listens to you but incorporates your individual needs into updated versions of the software is invaluable.

A true partnership is a software company that cares about your success and future growth. And follows through with actions.

Our senior leadership, product, sales, and support teams have construction and preconstruction backgrounds, so we understand the nuances of estimating.

It is our mission to keep developing the tools that help preconstruction teams utilize their greatest strengths and that is building better buildings.

To explore DESTINI Estimator construction estimating software further, request your free demo today by clicking the button below.

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