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Industry Insights focuses on what’s of interest to estimators—from technology trends and expert opinions to just-for-fun trivia.

Sparking Conversation

Four Reasons Electrical Contractors Should Be Using Electrical Industry Takeoff Software Gather ‘round, electrical contractors, and hear my story. Recently, I installed an electric boiler in my home, replacing a failing gas boiler. The unit powers a hydronic heat system, giving us warm floors throughout. I’m a fairly handy guy — but not an electrician […]

High-Strength Takeoff Tools for Structural Steel Estimating

The average person-hours required to produce a ton of structural steel has decreased from 12 in 1980 to just over 0.6 today. That’s a 180% efficiency gain. Apply that to your workday, and it would be akin to getting 40 hours of work done in just two hours. What if you could capture just a […]

Hot Off The Press: SnapAI Named a Hot Product by Construction Executive Magazine

“One of the best designed construction takeoff UIs on the market.” eTakeoff is proud to announce that Construction Executive Magazine has included SnapAI in their list of Hot Products for 2021. Construction Executive Hot Product Awards recognize products that play a transformative role in the construction industry. eTakeoff solutions received previous Hot Product awards in […]

Square Talk: Four Reasons Roofing Contractors Should Be Using Roofing Takeoff Software

Ninety percent of roofing contractors underestimate their bids. Let that figure sink in for a moment. While that statistic is a few years old, there’s every indication that it still holds true. A more recent survey conducted by Intuit found that only around 60% of contractors have confidence in their estimates. And one-third say they […]

Trust the Numbers: Pattern/Symbol Search and Auto Count

Humans are hard-wired to look for patterns. Recognizing patterns allows us to predict and expect what’s coming. Pattern recognition is efficient — it speeds decision making, and that’s what makes it so valuable to estimators. Pattern search, Symbol search or auto count as it’s also called, is one of the 10 features to look for […]

Assemblies Deliver Quantified Results

Earlier, we highlighted the 10 features that matter most in a digital takeoff solution, with a promise to circle back to take a closer look into several of them. Construction assemblies should be one of the essential features in an electronic takeoff application, especially if you use a spreadsheet as your cost estimating tool, yet […]

The 10 Features to Look for in a Digital Takeoff Solution

Electronic or digital takeoff applications have become indispensable tools for the estimators that depend on them. Electronic takeoff is at least 50% quicker than manual takeoffs in our tests. Estimators that incorporate electronic takeoff applications into their estimating process can get more done in less time with fewer mistakes. Not all takeoff applications are created […]

Rising Construction Costs — What Contractors Are Doing to Survive

Bought a two-by-four lately? How about a sheet of plywood? Since the start of the pandemic, lumber prices are up 280%, hitting an all-time high in early May. With futures for 2x4s jumping from $63 to $1,481 per thousand board feet, we are likely to see new pricing records set as spring turns into summer. […]

The Evolution of Takeoff

Where we’ve been and where we’re going Humans have been building things for nearly as long as there have been humans. And undoubtedly, when we started building, we started estimating what materials we’d need — writing them down in some way and adding them up. Here we take a quick walk through the evolution of […]

BIM takeoff is up and coming, but 2D still plays a leading role

Some construction industry watchers have been predicting the demise of 2D takeoff since BIM modeling hit the scene some 35 years ago. The reality is that 2D takeoff is not going anywhere soon. Estimators need rapid, reliable access to accurate data, whether that comes from 2D digital drawings, 3D models, or a combination of both. […]

Estimating Trends to Watch in 2021

In this 2017 article, authored by Walt Davis of Sage, Walt spoke with Nick Papadopolous, CEO of estimating and benchmarking technology consultant for Eos Group, to discuss construction estimating trends to watch. It got us thinking about what has and hasn’t changed over the past four years. So, we caught up with Nick to ask […]

Ready for takeoff

What’s the current state of estimating takeoff tools and when will they get better? The accuracy of takeoffs depends largely on the estimator’s experience reading drawings and on the tools he or she relies on. While new technologies are transforming many areas of the construction cycle, 2D takeoff tools haven’t seen much innovation in years. […]

5 Trends in the Construction Industry That Make Electronic Takeoff Software a Necessity

The construction estimating takeoff process went largely unchanged for decades. Until relatively recently, takeoff was entirely manual process where estimators would examine physical drawings or blueprints and painstakingly create lists of materials. Digital, or electronic takeoff capabilities began entering the scene in the late 2000s, providing estimators with a much better way to visualize the […]

Does technology hold the key to construction industry labor shortage?

Technology tools can help attract, retain, and engage a construction workforce The construction industry is facing one of the most significant labor shortages it has ever experienced. The shortage involves workers in virtually every construction role — from field to office to the upper levels of management. The fact that about 41% of the US […]

Will takeoff technology take off?

A look at the construction technologies impacting electronic takeoff software While everyone in the construction industry works hard, the industry has a reputation for being something of a slacker when it comes to adopting technology. For construction companies, producing takeoffs efficientlyand accurately is essential to speeding the estimating process, winning more bids and staying competitive. […]

BIM Basics for Estimators

Not exactly sure what BIM can do for you? Our business partner Sage has released a new e-book describing the fundamentals of building information modeling from an estimator's perspective. Get e-book

Estimating and takeoff head list of most requested software capabilities

Today’s construction software buyers want to speed up processes, improve tracking, and increase accuracy. A Software Advice report shows estimating and takeoff are the top software capabilities requested to meet those needs. View report

Takeoff – from ancient to modern times

The takeoff process is possibly as old as the pyramids themselves. Take this investigative journey through the evolution of takeoff. View Evolution

Top things to look for in electronic takeoff software

What should you keep in mind when selecting electronic takeoff software? This tip sheet lists the top benefits to expect from today’s takeoff technology. View Tip Sheet

What’s happening with 5D BIM

Model-based cost estimating (5D BIM) is the next frontier for advancing estimating efficiency, accuracy, and collaboration. Learn where 5D BIM technology is heading, including the latest articles on the topic. Visit BIM Integration