So (please prove me wrong), all estimating software is fundamentally built around 3 core features: 1. Take-off tools. Every business needs one of these, the two main ones are planswift and Bluebeam. I love Bluebeam but a lot of people hate it. Its just he one I'm used to 2. Managing cost/productivity/quantity databases- ie storing labor, plant, material, subcontractor rates 3. Preparing prices - combining quantities with rates etc. For most contractors, all you need is a quantity take off tool and excel. There are trade specific tools, but they often just have more data and are tailored towards trade specific workflows And AI just adds intelligence to this process. Ie can convert bid documents into requirements, or automatically extract quantities from drawings I did a breakdown in this video. If you like + comment it helps the algorithm!

Hey team, I'm putting together a production rate library, basically all the key construction activities broken into tasks, with productivities and qualifiers. Keen to see what people thing and whether I am missing the mark on anything

Just put up a new tutorial on civil quantity take-offs It's a step by step guide on how to measure earthworks, drainage and other civil quantities

Previously I used to use Candy. I loved it but it had a super steep learning curve. It took ages to get used to and I think I was probably only using it for 10% of what it could do. The project controls stuff was pretty impressive but I never got to apply it on a job properly

Everybody is obviously very aware of how much costs are going up. Diesel, copper, aluminium are all up between 20-30% So what can you actually do about it? Well there are different options depending whether its pre-contract or post contract. Pre-contract, you should always have an escalation clause in your contracts and go back-to-back with subcontractors Post-contract you need to check what the T&Cs are in your head-contract and whether you can claim escalation. And for your sub-contractors, same principle I go into it in more detail in this video