An integral part of creating a detailed cost estimate for a construction job involves deciding the total material costs. The takeoff is used by the estimator to understand what materials they need for a project and how much those will cost. Manually performing takeoffs is time-consuming and requires a high degree of skill and considerableRead more

Challenge:  A successful construction project is dependent on several interconnected processes. From the office to the job site, an on-time and on-budget build requires communication, collaboration, and connectivity. And yet, anyone who has worked in construction long enough knows that it’s easier said than done. Sometimes within construction teams, you don’t always have all theRead more

Challenge: Per the US Census Bureau, from 2012-2017, construction spending has doubled. 2019 has also seen massive growth rates, with US construction spending posting its biggest increase in 9 months this past March. There’s been a growing understanding among general contractors that prequalifying and picking the right subcontractors is crucial to keeping their construction projectsRead more

Challenge: In 2019, as subcontractors continue to be swamped with construction project opportunities, and general contractors face difficulty finding and qualifying the best subcontractors for their projects, the role of technology will continue to grow. General contractors are realizing the power of organizing and analyzing subcontractors’ bid and communication data to predict future project partners,Read more

Challenge: Within the last few years cloud adoption has been rising within the construction industry. According to a 2017 survey by Associated General Contractors of America, 85% of construction contractors use or plan to use cloud-based solutions. The main reason behind the increase being the need for improved communication and greater efficiency on the jobRead more

Challenge: As the construction industry continues to increase the use of electronic data, cloud technologies, and hosted services, companies should be constantly seeking new ways to combat cybercrime. Whether it’s reading an email on a personal laptop, accessing a mobile app on a jobsite tablet, or using company software in the office, every employee accessingRead more

Challenge: Finding the right subcontractors to meet construction project needs is one of the biggest challenges general contractors face today. The top subcontractors are just too busy and aren’t actively seeking project opportunities or to connect with new GCs. With this in mind, GCs have to find new ways to improve trade coverage. However, manyRead more

  Challenge: The process of pricing and qualifying subcontractor proposals must be done with the utmost care. Without the proper due-diligence, GCs could be paying a lot more for less than what they need. Once each sub has submitted their proposal these bids need to be compared side-by-side with pinpoint precision to ensure which sub isRead more

Challenge:  The construction industry is constantly changing. Continuing education is vital for estimators and preconstruction professionals to maintain quality and stay current with the latest developments, skills, tools, devices, software, etc. Contractor continuing education is critical not only to renewing licenses and satisfying requirements, but to ensure optimal bids, project completion, and company success.  However, taking the time toRead more

Challenge: Subcontractors usually receive construction project documents from general contractors in five formats: PDF; Paper; Excel spreadsheets; Sharepoint, or other cloud document formats; and Building Information Models (BIM). Organizing, coordinating, and using this project information to submit an accurate bid to the general contractor can be a formidable challenge for subs. For large or complexRead more