What Software Does Electrical Estimators Use?

New industry research reveals that over the last five years, increased demand for digital estimating tools has enabled contractors to increase their bid accuracy and minimize manual errors. Electrical estimators leverage software that integrates digital takeoff tools, estimating databases, automatic calculations and project management integration to create quick and accurate bids. If these tools are not available, contractors can be subject to missed quantities, out-dated prices, and time-consuming revisions.

The process involves plans review, quantities, cost calculations and organizing of estimated data. This framework describes software that electrical estimators use, the most important software features and how contractors select the tools that meet the needs of their business.

The Digital Powering Modern Electrical Estimates

Electrical estimators utilize a variety of software packages to conduct a digital takeoff, arrange quantities of materials, estimate labour and prepare project estimates. The best software is sometimes limited by the size of the company, the complexity of the project and how the project is estimated.

Why Accurate Estimating Is Dependent on More than Software?

Digital takeoffs, material quantities, labor estimates and project quotes are all done with several software platforms by electrical estimators. The type of software that’s needed can be dictated by company size, complexity of the project, and how you prefer to work when it comes to estimating.

Why Accurate Estimating Depends on More Than Software

Many contractors researching the best mep estimating software compared features that impact the bid  accuracy and project budgeting. These features include cost estimation, material calculation, volume analysis, and project planning support.

PlanSwift

Many contractors use a software program called PlanSwift to measure conduit runs, count devices and calculate quantities directly from drawings from their desktop. It’s a popular choice for smaller businesses due to its versatility in takeoff templates and relatively easy workflow.

Trimble Accubid Anywhere

Trimble Accubid Anywhere is a Cloud-Based estimating platform for large electrical contractors and enterprise estimating teams. It has comprehensive assemblies, rich material libraries and collaboration tools to enable larger commercial and industrial projects.

ConEst IntelliBid

ConEst IntelliBid is created with electrical, low voltage and solar estimating in mind. Combines digital takeoffs with estimating databases that enables quantities from plans to be transferred to project estimates.

McCormick Estimating Software

The takeoff and estimating capabilities are integrated into a single platform with McCormick. It offers a vast Electrical database, reusable assemblies and reporting features to aid larger estimating operations and multi-trade contractors.

Countfire

Countfire is mainly a motor take-off. It is equipped with an automated symbol recognition feature that recognizes and counts repetitive symbols from sets of drawings, thus minimizing the manual counting of repetitive symbols on large projects.

STACK Estimating

STACK is a cloud estimating system that is utilized in numerous construction businesses. It also provides the ability to take off digitally as well as to collaborate on projects, but it does not have as many electrical-specific automation tools as software designed specifically for electrical estimating.

Electrical Bid Manager

Electrical Bid Manager is designed to take contractors from estimating spreadsheets to digital workflows. It also has electrical databases and organizational tools for service companies and smaller contractor companies.

Quick Comparison of Popular Electrical Estimating Software

Software	Best For	Deployment	Pricing Model
PlanSwift	Generally, we can take off from smaller volumes with electrical takeoffs.	Desktop	One-time license
Trimble Accubid Anywhere	Large EECs and enterprise teams.	Cloud	Subscription
ConEst IntelliBid	Small to medium sized electrical, low voltage companies	There are several options to choose from, such as desktop, network, or cloud.	License plus maintenance
McCormick Estimating	Multi trade mid to enterprise size MEP contractors	Cloud or desktop	License or subscription
Countfire	Symbol-based takeoff in a fast time.	Cloud	Subscription
STACK Estimating	Multi trade contractors looking for one platform	Cloud	Subscription
Electrical Bid Manager	Small to mid-size contractors/single service businesses	Desktop	One-time license

Why Do Different Electrical Contractors Choose Different Software?

There’s never a single estimating platform that’s appropriate for every contractor. The software needs may vary based on the size of business, intricacy of the project and the workflow choices.

Small Contractors vs Large Firms

Smaller contractors tend to take on fewer projects and more often will like a work flow that is less complex and has less set up and training. Advanced reporting, collaboration features and vast amounts of material databases are often required for larger firms, who work on bigger projects and multiple estimating teams.

Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Projects

The material list and estimating requirements are typically easier to come up with in residential projects. Commercial and Industrial projects may have more complex components, higher volumes and require more sophisticated demands for documentation.

Cloud-Based and Desktop Preferences

Cloud-based platforms enable teams to work together from various locations and retrieve project data from the cloud. Contractors may prefer desktop software, as it offers more control over company data and the option to install it on their own computers.

Which Features Matter Most in Electrical Estimating Software?

Some features are always useful in improving the accuracy of estimating and bid.

Automated Digital Takeoff

Digital takeoff software provides an alternative to estimators’ ability to measure plans off of paper. This process saves time and prevents errors in measurements by man.

Material and Labor Databases

Built-in databases assist estimators to streamline and organize quantities and apply labor units uniformly when working on different jobs. They also minimize repetitive data entry and standardize the estimates.

Custom Assemblies

Reusable assemblies are a collection of materials and labor. These assemblies can be used again and again without having to re-estimate.

Integration Capabilities

A significant number of contractors link their estimating software to their accounting and project management software. Integration minimizes the amount of duplicated data entry and streamlines workflow.

Mobile Accessibility

Mobile access enables estimators to access plans, measurements and estimate data while on-site or off-site at project locations.

How Does Estimating Software Improve the Bidding Process?

Today’s estimating software transforms the way that contractors approach and approach bidding.

Faster Estimate Preparation

Many repetitive jobs are eliminated with digital takeoff and automatic calculations. Estimators can make faster bids, and keep to deadlines.

Improved Bid Accuracy

Automated calculations minimize math errors and aid in maintaining project quantities across the estimating process.

Easier Revisions

Often, there are changes in construction drawings during the bidding process. Estimating software is a tool that can be used to quickly and easily adjust quantities and calculations without having to recalculate entire estimates.

Better Cost Tracking

Contractors use centralized estimate data to compare estimated costs with actual costs on a project, and to enhance their estimating process for future projects.

Increased Collaboration

Cloud platforms enable several team members to collaborate in making estimates together and communicate better.

What Skills Matter More Than Software?

The use of technology makes things more efficient but professional knowledge is still necessary.

Reading Construction Drawings

Before starting any takeoff, it is important for the estimator to become familiar with symbols, schedules, specifications and drawing notes. No matter what software is used, interpretations of the plan can be incorrect leading to incorrect estimates.

Understanding Electrical Codes

Electrical codes have an impact on the type of materials, methods used for installation and labor needed. While software can help organize information, it is not a substitute for professional judgment in interpreting the requirements of code and in interpreting project specifications.

Labor Productivity Analysis

If a project involves the same amount of materials but has different installation challenges, building layouts or site conditions, then the labor hours may differ between the two projects. Estimators who are familiar with the project can incorporate these factors into their labor estimates.

Identifying Project Risks

Effective estimators assess sketching and scheduling problems, as well as challenging construction site conditions prior to making bids. Risk assessment is still a responsibility of the human being.

What are the trends that will impact the future of electrical estimating?

What Trends Are Shaping the Future of Electrical Estimating?

The estimating industry is still evolving in their use of new technologies.

Artificial Intelligence

Several estimating platforms have a new feature for quantity extraction and symbol recognition that incorporates artificial intelligence. These tools eliminate repetitive tasks and can help the estimator to invest more time in project analysis.

Cloud Collaboration

There is an increased number of contractors who work from several offices and project sites. Systems that run in the cloud enable real-time collaboration and help to ensure that estimated information is available virtually anywhere.

Data-Driven Forecasting

Historical project information enables contractors in making better estimates of labor and material requirements. Companies are able to make comparisons between their estimated costs and what their projects have achieved and extrapolate improvements for future estimates.

Workflow Automation

Today’s estimating programs still help to automate tedious functions such as report generation, quantity transfers and data organization. When estimators are able to do more of this work in a streamlined fashion, they can focus on project details and make informed decisions.

Conclusion

To help break down how today’s electrical contractors prepare accurate and organized project estimates, it’s important to know what software they have in their toolbox. The current estimating packages include the ability to do digital takeoffs, material calculations, labor analysis and project coordination. But software doesn’t always lead to successful bids. 

For reliable estimates and effective project cost management, skilled estimators integrate technical expertise and use digital tools. With the increasing complexity of electrical projects, it is still critical to both have a feel for the principles of estimating projects and the software tools available to prepare an accurate and competitive bid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Which Is the Most Popular Electrical Estimating Software?

A number of estimating platforms are in use in the entire Electrical industry. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, it depends on the size of the company, complexity of the project, and the workflow requirements.

Q2. Is There a Way to Estimate Software to Replace an Electrical Estimator?

No; Estimating software will automate calculations and organise information but estimators will still need to review the requirements of projects, make decisions and utilise professional knowledge when bidding for projects.