Ecmweb 22868 Digital Takeoff Pr 1
Ecmweb 22868 Digital Takeoff Pr 1
Ecmweb 22868 Digital Takeoff Pr 1
Ecmweb 22868 Digital Takeoff Pr 1
Ecmweb 22868 Digital Takeoff Pr 1

How Technology Transforms Estimating for Electrical Contractors

Nov. 17, 2018
Optimizing electrical estimating with the digital takeoff.

Most people in the construction industry view 3-D modeling and building information modeling (BIM) as the future of building design and construction. The benefits of BIM extend far beyond simply having a visual representation of design intent. An information-rich model provides all stakeholders access to reliable information, making collaboration across the project much easier. This reduces rework, improves safety, and gives contractors a greater ability to control costs throughout the entire project life cycle — from design to post construction hand over. For electrical contractors (ECs), BIM adoption is gaining, thanks to its ability to communicate the design intent and to deliver real cost savings in terms of materials prefabrication. BIM also gives ECs the ability to check one installation move against another for conflicts, allowing them to avoid costly rework and to resolve problems before installation.

Despite ECs’ move toward full BIM acceptance and more digitized processes from design to fabrication, there is still a large digital gap when it comes to bidding and preconstruction tasks. This gap is exaggerated for small and mid-size ECs that still primarily rely on Excel or other manual processes for construction takeoff activities. The fact remains that for hard money bids, even ECs leveraging a 3-D model still deliver takeoffs in 2-D PDF drawings.

Why the digital disconnect for takeoffs? Many believe roadblocks to embracing paperless takeoffs come, in part, from a historical stigma that often pegged the estimating process as largely an administrative exercise. Others point to a skills disparity and reluctance to change by some estimators that are used to conventional ways of viewing a project only on paper. In addition, smaller contractors with small estimating teams may not see the value in investing in technology to support more streamlined takeoffs.

The Rise of Digital Takeoffs

Despite these barriers along the virtual design construction spectrum, there are strong signals that the rise of streamlined estimating and digital takeoffs is here. Cloud computing continues to spur digital transformation across industries, and AEC is no exception. Secure cloud-based platforms like Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and AWS are making the adoption of 3-D modeling and digital tools a reality for even small and mid-size contractors that have light IT staffs and distributed resources across regional offices. Other factors driving the digitization of design, estimating, and takeoffs is an emphasis toward integrated data-driven workflows; a push for greater collaboration among owners, contractors, and sub-contractors; and a shift in employee demographics. Millennials are set to comprise 75% of the global workforce by 2025. As more digital-natives come into design, engineering, and preconstruction roles, their perspective on technology and demand for constant connectivity will certainly impact technology adoption in the enterprise.

Estimating Becomes More Strategic

As we see these workplace dynamics play out over the next several years, design-build will evolve to model-based estimating. The more precise the quantities recorded during takeoff, the more precise the estimate and schedule are overall. This makes contractors much more cost-aware in estimating, bidding, and winning jobs. A comprehensive estimating solution with digital takeoffs empowers estimators to include greater detail in the estimate, making it more accurate, valuable, and usable after the contract is won. By including a higher-level of detail in the estimate, the role of the estimator is also elevated. It gives them a more strategic seat at the table to impact the business and drive profits.

Telling the Cost Story in the Field

With the right estimating and digital takeoff applications, companies can effectively communicate the estimate intent directly to the field. This is important because it removes ambiguity around the estimate at all levels, saving time and injecting transparency to the estimating process. For instance, it may allow the estimator to clearly show that a costed feeder run needs to be moved in the field. This way, the field can initiate a change request if that move will cost substantially more.

Seattle-based Cochran, Inc., a family-owned electrical and technology construction company, has seen the benefits, telling the entire cost story firsthand. After revamping parts of its bidding and preconstruction process and adding a digital takeoff tool, the contractor realized 20% to 30% faster takeoff compared to traditional methods. In addition, they’ve also taken the guesswork out of bids, providing more cost context and allowing customers to see what’s behind the numbers. Steve Burnett, director of preconstruction & estimating for Cochran, explains.

“On every job, there is some nugget of benefit. Our estimates are more accurate, more fluid with our estimating platform, which is a huge selling point, and we’re realizing a clear ROI” he says. “For sure, we’re 20% to 30% faster [on the actual takeoff time] than traditional methods. We’ve realized time savings as well [on the overall estimating workflow], though that’s a little tougher to measure. Digital takeoff is invaluable to our estimating and project management teams, helping us track and tell the story of a project’s progress from design through construction.”

Tips to Get There

Although setting up a streamlined estimating and preconstruction process is no small task, ECs can start the journey by promoting a culture of collaboration and encouraging hesitant technology adopters to see the light. For those looking to digitize its paperless takeoff process, remember these top five considerations.

Leverage digital natives for training — When used correctly, technology has great capacity to boost efficiency and productivity. The trick is getting teams to embrace estimating and digital takeoff tools so they “own” it and can keep improving on it. Look to digital natives on the team to champion a paperless digital takeoff process, and leverage them to train other estimators on the new path.

Tight integration with estimating tools — Because many iterations of plans can be sent out during the bidding and final construction phase, tight integration between estimating tools and digital takeoff is critical. This integration ensures that modified drawings are reflected in the estimating program.

Bidirectional link is key — A bidirectional link between raster drawing and the estimate is key in delivering streamlined, paperless digital takeoffs. This helps present the logic behind the proposed takeoff item and associated relationships. It also allows the estimator to provide greater detail in the estimate or schedule. Clients have more information about what makes up the estimate and design intent is communicated to the field accurately. A bidirectional link between the digital drawings and the estimating program also gives the estimator confidence knowing that a change made in the drawing is reflected in their estimate — and that any change in the estimate is linked back to the drawing.

Object-oriented tools drive productivity — As the world becomes more visual and object-oriented, it’s no surprise that estimating and takeoff applications are featuring more visual components versus descriptions of content. Digital takeoff tools that have symbol recognition capabilities are game changers because they allow for faster and easy identification of objects found in the drawings.

Don’t underestimate dual screens — While this may be standard practice for estimators today, the reality is that to emulate paper takeoff the estimator needs one large monitor to view the drawings and another monitor to run the estimating program. Using a single monitor and moving back and forth kills efficiency and will frustrate the estimator.

As ECs continue to look for greater benefits in productivity, safety, and cost reduction, the estimating and takeoff process is primed and ready for disruption. Digital estimation and takeoffs tools are becoming more sophisticated and can keep pace with BIM advancements, greatly streamlining preconstruction activities and helping to tell the complete project cost story from design through construction.

Goldsmith is the electrical/ICT segment manager for Trimble. He can be reached at [email protected].

About the Author

Paul Goldsmith | Electrical/ICT Segment Manager

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