The best mechanical estimating software is optimized to aid your natural workflow and eliminate as much repetitive work as possible. It provides advanced capabilities like autofitting generation and value engineering, allowing you to spend less time in the office and more time in the field making money.
The program should also be able to export the takeoff results into an estimate. Ask your vendor if they offer this service.
Cost-effectiveness
The best mechanical estimating software is optimized to aid the estimator’s natural workflow and eliminate as much repetitive work as possible. It also provides advanced tools that make it easier to produce accurate and profitable estimates. It should look professional and be fully customizable to fit your company’s branding. It should also support the use of a variety of file formats and have options for printing or saving to PDF.
Many mechanical estimating systems offer a large library of pre-built assemblies that can help you build an estimate more quickly. In addition, they usually offer a database of mechanical-specific items and parts, and they often feature accurate item cost data through integration with a commercial pricing service.
Another important factor to consider when choosing a mechanical estimating system is the level of support offered. Many vendors offer online videos and training, while others will send a trainer to your facility. The cost of this service can vary greatly, so you should carefully evaluate it before making a decision.
Using the right mechanical estimating software can save you time and money. It makes it easy to create accurate bids with labor times and material costs built into the system. It also helps you perform digital takeoffs faster, so you can spend more time in the field. This can help you win more jobs and grow your business.
Time-saving features
The best mechanical estimating software is designed to make the drafting of estimates as fast and efficient as possible. It includes a variety of tools that automate calculations and save time, allowing you to spend more time in the field making money. It also enables you to quickly and easily create an accurate estimate for your client, which will help you win more business.
One of the most important features that you should look for in a mechanical estimating system is its ability to provide a number of reports. These can include project summary reports that provide cost data at different levels of detail. For example, you can view costs for individual components (e.g. 2×4 #2 studs or 4000 psi concrete mix), item categories (e.g. concrete, wood, finishes, etc.) or high-level groupings such as labor, materials, equipment, and services. Some systems even offer comparison reports that allow you to compare alternate estimates side-by-side.
Another great feature to look for is an integrated BIM tool. This technology is gaining popularity in large projects and can be especially useful in mechanical estimating. This feature allows you to eliminate the need for a manual takeoff, and it can automatically count most plan symbols for your estimate.
A good mechanical estimating software should offer a database of more than 100,000 items and parts for plumbing, piping, and sheet metal work. It should also include a comprehensive set of assemblies, including a library of common fittings and valves with their corresponding pipe sizes and joints such as soldered, brazed, welded, grooved, or pressed. It should also offer accurate item cost data through integration with a commercial pricing service such as Ferguson, Harrison, or Trade Services.
Accuracy
When evaluating mechanical estimating software, it is important to consider the accuracy of the system. Some vendors provide a variety of reports for estimators to view, including historical win rates and job costs versus estimates. This data can help estimateors determine their competitive edge.
Additionally, many of these systems offer a library of pre-built mechanical assemblies to help the estimator more quickly build their estimate. This can significantly reduce the time that is required to develop a mechanical assembly from scratch. In addition, these systems typically include integrated labor tables from MCAA or PHCC to assist the estimator in determining the types of labor that will be required on the project.
Lastly, look for systems that have a database of common piping materials and sizes used in mechanical systems. The database should also include a wide range of joining methods for pipes and fittings, such as soldered, brazed, welded, grooved or pressed joints. Additionally, it should include a database of light gauge and heavy gauge sheet metal work for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
In addition to these features, some mechanical estimating programs offer a comprehensive work order management suite and efficient scheduling and dispatching capabilities. This enables you to complete all of your estimating, scheduling and business processes on one platform. This can increase productivity and efficiency while reducing costly errors.
Flexibility
When choosing a mechanical estimating software, look for one that offers flexibility. It should be easy to use and customizable, so it can meet the specific needs of your company. It should also allow you to track labor and materials and create invoices.
Typically, the best mechanical price estimate systems will offer a large library of pre-built mechanical assemblies that can be used to more quickly build your estimates. They also provide integrated labor tables from MCAA and PHCC to help you determine the types of labor that are required for each project.
They will also have piping material pricing for copper, steel and brass up to 2” in various size breaks and all the typical joining methods, including soldered, brazed, welded, grooved and pressed joints. Some vendors may also include ductwork pricing for round and rectangular duct work as well as hangers.
Mechanical pricing estimating systems should have a feature that allows you to compare two drawings and highlight or mark any differences between them. This can save a lot of time when dealing with addendums or change orders.
Many mechanical estimating systems offer a mobile application for use on the job site or at home. This is a great feature for contractors who need to keep in touch with the office from the field. It also helps them create more detailed, accurate estimates.