Cost estimation of electrical project is an important time-consuming process in construction. As an electrical contractor, or an estimator, the clearer and more accurate your estimates, the more profit will generate.
Previously, there were so many depending on conventional methods such as pen and paper or even spreadsheets. However, as the electrical projects have become more complex and required accuracy, the market of the reliable electrical estimating software has boomed.
This guide will discuss the software electrical estimators apply, how it benefits them, and how to find or rather select a good piece of the software. Whether you are new to the industry or even planning to invest in an improved set of estimating tools, then this post is also going to assist you in making a better decision.
An Overview of the Electrical Estimating Programs
The electrical estimating software assists electrical contractors and estimators to develop very accurate and effective electrical project bids. The equipment helps to streamline measurements, calculation, and pricing of electrical work which are tedious jobs.
The application of these software solutions makes the task a breeze; whether one is engaging in a residential, commercial, or industrial project. Human error will be a thing of the past and precious time will be saved.
There are no more days of hand calculation of the amount of material, labor hours, and pricing. Advanced functions in modern estimating tools, such as on-screen takeoff, real time pricing updates and project management, have also been previously introduced above. The software creates a scenario whereby all the details are captured and it offers convenient tracking of estimates and bids in a period of time.
Which Software Is used by Electrical Estimators?
The landscape of electrical estimating programs is enormous; several programs exist which can be used by contractors of all sizes. Examples of popular software in the industry are Best Bid, Accubid, McCormick Systems, ConEst IntelliBid, and Electrical Bid Manager. All of these software solutions have their characteristic features and benefits depending on the requirements of the user.
Best Bid, say, is a very strong but low cost electrical estimating tool put together with consideration towards ease of use. It provides Best Bid Next Generation and Best Bid Hybrid Pro that are some of the highest preference of contractors to seek speed, accuracy, and flexibility in the estimates.
That is the reason why Best Bid is ideal:
• Low One-Time Price: As compared to other software, which needs periodic payments, Best Bid sells at a one-time price with lifetime access to modification and unlimited technical customer assistance.
Built In On-Screen Takeoff: The feature enables contractors to import PDF-based drawings, and directly undertaking correct takeoffs on their computer screens. This does away with third party takeoff software and the process can be quicker and more economical.
• Flexible Database: Best Bid offers an ability to make custom assemblies so that one can save it thus allowing reusability of materials and labor groups in future estimations.
No Recurring Charges: There are no hidden costs or running charges, which makes Best Bid a cost-effective long term investment to any electrical business.
Standards of Industry Practices
Industry standards and electrical estimator needs are the driving factors of the selection of software.
Electrical contractors are very likely to get engaged in complicated blueprints, code of electricity and specifications which are particularly demanding complicated calculations. Hence, software which is capable of practically adapting to industry culture is the necessary one with high quality that offers credible results.
In bigger companies and those with more complex processes, such as Accubid or ConEst IntelliBid software may be more to the point. These platforms are characterised by their sophisticated takeoff tools and versatility in the storing of data, which also are suited to fulfilling the needs of bigger projects. Nonetheless, it is possible to have one with higher price tags and cumbersome interface, which may not be necessary to a small business or individual contractors.
The Most Popular Software
These are some of the most common electrical estimating tools in the industry, summarized in a nutshell:
1. Best Bid: It is reputed to be easy to use, cheap and well-supported. Best Bid attributes well to the needs of the contractor at any level whether a small business or a large one.
2.Accubid: this is a premium solution that should be utilized by large contractors that will need handy takeoff tools and powerful database capabilities.
3. McCormick Systems: Provides the desktop and cloud-based solutions, offering flexibility in case of businesses that require to expand their operations.
4.ConEst IntelliBid: A comprehensive platform that has very powerful reporting and analytics functionality, an ideal choice of contractors, who want to know much about their estimates.
5.Electrical Bid Manager: A simple and affordable one most suitable to a small to mid-sized contractors offers bare minimum features but not complex.
Main Features to Take into Account when Selecting Software
When choosing estimating systems to work with as an electrician, some main functions can be singled out:
1. User-Friendly Interface
Despite the power of the software, it cannot be effective when the program is not easy to navigate. Examine software that is user friendly and uncomplicated. Best Bid can be taken as an example: the site is built to be simple. One can be quickly up to speed with its simple interface even by novice estimators.
2. Integration Capabilities
The software ought to perfectly connect with the other tools you work with, including project management solutions, accounting tools or client relationship management. An example is that Best Bid capacity to import and handle information of other origin makes the incorporation of workflow smooth.
3. Customization Options
Your software must also be dynamic that will cater to individual requirements of your business. Time-saving tools on your new projects would be custom assemblies, templates and pricing databases. The Custom Assembly feature in Best Bid means the contractor can save commonly used assembly of items to give quick access to the same set of items in an estimate later.
4. Cost Considerations
Although estimating software can be relatively cheap in initial outlay, ongoing costs such as patches and support, or per-license or per-user license cost, may soon increase. Best Bid is a no-recurring fee payment and a long term value because of the project being paid through a one-time fee.
5. Education and Mentoring
Seek software that has sufficient training materials, particularly in the case of inexperienced electrical estimators. Best Bid offers online training without a fee of charge and additional 24/7 customers services, which is a guarantee to users of all capacities.
Why Training and Support Are Important?
Electrical estimating software is one mighty tool however its ability to work lies in your understanding of how to utilize it. Availability of good training and after support can be a giant step.
Through Best Bid, you will get to have an online school through which you learn the basics of electrical estimating. This can be immensely useful to new as well as those estimators who would be looking to improve on their abilities. Also, the customer service of Best Bid is very appreciated due to its ability to respond fast and be helpful in case any technical question should come up.
Real World Applications and Case Studies
There are a lot of electrical contractors who have sailed through with the help of Best Bid and other estimating software. One of the contractors will provide the example of how the company managed to switch to new estimating procedures called Hybrid Pro provided by Best Bid.
Using the software, they could tell that the speed of estimating and the estimating accuracy had improved significantly, and this factor enabled them to win more bids and improve their workflow.
Still another successful story is of the small contractor who previously used spreadsheets to develop estimates. Once they moved to Best Bid, they realized they not only gave more accurate estimates but after each estimate was created their labor time decreased significantly so they could actually devote more time to developing the business and not crunching numbers.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The selection of the proper electrical estimating software plays vital role in determination of success of an electrical contracting business. Whether you are an independent estimator or work in a larger company, the use of the appropriate tools can mean a great difference in your profit.
Best Bid Is One Of The Best, along with the reasonably priced electrical estimating program that is easy to use and full-featured. It is a terrific value with lifetime updates, no recurring costs and excellent customer service which comes in handy as a contractor of any size.
And whether you want to do a better job estimating, you want to make fewer mistakes, or you want to win more work, then maybe it is time to consider Best Bid. To see more, book a demo or call Best Bid now.
Accept the future of electrical estimating implement what works best.
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