The purpose of using estimating software is to determine the actual quantities of materials and labor needed to provide a finished product, while at the same time satisfying any specification and building code requirement. An important note to make is that any estimating software is created to assist in estimating total quantities or labor and materials and compile them in a summary for review.
Estimating software is still a powerful tool for contractors
Nothing in this process will replace the requirement for the human estimator to think and make the proper judgment decisions to satisfy all of the requirements of a specific project. When a manager questions an obvious error in an estimate presented for review, the estimator’s response of “that is what the computer says” is not the correct answer! First and foremost, the estimator must think through the project and make judgments concerning the specifics before ever turning on the computer. He must then use his judgments to properly utilize the power of the estimating software.
Any estimating software is helpful if it can be customized to match the material supplier’s installation and detail directions. It also needs to be able to be customized to match the way the individual contractor performs the installation process, whether with their own workforces or by subcontracting the labor.
The software must be able to have integrated labor management tools that will allow the contractor to know productivity, which will allow them to project where the project will be, labor wise, when all the materials have been installed. Being able to properly estimate the total labor costs, and then have the tools to use current productivity to manage these costs throughout the project, is more important to meeting the estimated budget for a project than is the estimate for the materials for a project. The field forces, whether hourly or subcontracted, must have output from the estimating software that is meaningful and very easy to support in the field.
Production Results
All production results are dependent on getting the correct quantities installed from the foreman on the job. They are always very accurate with the hours worked, they now need to be very accurate with the quantities installed, by cost code, for these hours. Production adjustments can only be made while the project is in production, not when it is being summarized at the end. Nobody wants the surprise of a labor over-run at the end of the project.
Estimating software requires the use of computers, tablets, cell phones, and, of course, the Internet. While these electronic tools can be very helpful, they can also be very confusing and difficult to understand, making them to not be as useful as anticipated. When purchasing this software, do a thorough investigation into the brands available to insure it is right for your organization. Not only the estimators, but also management, accounting and field labor need to be able to understand the data produced by the estimating software for it to have its maximum value to the contractor.
This people aspect required for the estimating software to be worthwhile, from estimating through project completion, is usually the most difficult to properly implement. Investigation of any estimating software must take into account how the provider will assist the contractor to install the software on their computers and how the people within the organization will be trained on the proper use of the software. The days of costly installation and training being performed by the software supplier at the contractor’s office has been replaced by webinars, YouTube videos, conference calls sharing computer screens and other electronic means.
While this method keeps the initial price of installation and training down, the contractor must determine what the cost of this method of installing and training will have on his company. While it might be a little old-fashioned, there is always a certain amount of face-to-face communication that needs to be included initially to allow the estimating software to provide a useful tool to the company’s success.
Estimating software has been a very important tool over the last several decades for contractors. To get the greatest benefit of this tool, the contractor must be diligent in the actual brand that will be most beneficial and easiest to install and get the people involved trained, and to always realize that this tool will not think, it will just calculate.
Chuck Howard, PE, president of Metal Roof Consultants, Cary, N.C., is a member of the Metal Construction Hall of Fame, a frequent contributor and speaker on metal roofing issues, and has been a leader in the metal roofing industry for more than 40 years. For more information, call (919) 465-1762 or visit www.metalroofconsultants.info.
