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Construction Estimating Software Study

March 17, 2008  |  from The Construction Contractor's Digest

Go to any national convention and you can't miss seeing dozens of software vendors. It is a big business and there is high value to construction firms. The product has made estimating a less clerical and more automated. Also, it has made estimating more efficient. Due to its power, counting and measuring is less of a task; taking hours instead of days. For those of us who don't looking forward to the job of estimating, computers and software has made it bearable.

We feel that most estimating software is very useful for contractors. However, I have personally witnessed software purchased one day and then never used. The salesman did his job. The rub is the time it takes to be proficient. The contractor's busy schedule doesn't allow for training. In several cases I know of, thousands of dollars has been invested and no payoff. The software sits in its shrink wrap still unopened.

I am raising a red flag. Take a look at all the risk in construction, some of it we choose. Buying estimating software (decreasing our cash) and never benefiting should not be one of our risk factors.

We recommend looking hard at Microsoft. (See our writing on "Computers".) If you use a computer, you can use the Microsoft Office Suite (90% of users do) and especially Excel. For any one just starting to use computers, the advent of the point and click system also known as Windows, makes it all the more easy.

As proof of our conclusion, The American Society of Professional Estimators released a survey in 2005. Here is the background and the results:

Respondents were asked if their satisfaction level with their current estimating software.

Satisfied 80%
Fairly Satisfied 14%
Dissatisfied/Plan to Change 3%
Other/n/a 2%

Respondents were asked if they anticipate change soon (one year or less)

No change planned 93%
Plan to change soon 7%

Respondents were asked the major factor in the purchase of their estimating software.

Ease of use 30%
Customization 30%
Features 25%
Price 4%
Other/n/a 11%

Average time in use

1-5 years 32%
5-10 years 47%
10+ years 21%

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Filed: Estimating