Option 2: How AI Is Transforming Construction Takeoff Software
Option 3: Smarter Plan Parsing with AI-Powered Construction Takeoff Software
Option 4: Why Estimators Rely on AI-Powered Construction Takeoff Software
Manual plan review has always been a setback in preconstruction. Estimators and project managers spend countless hours sifting through construction drawings, manually marking quantities, and double-checking measurements.
While this traditional process has always been the norm, it is not the most efficient way to convert architectural plans into usable digital formats for construction project execution and planning.
Yes, this manual process is familiar, but it’s also slow, repetitive, time-consuming, and prone to human error. That’s why many contractors are adopting AI-based construction takeoff software. Instead of spending hours manually parsing PDFs, teams now rely on tech that automatically identifies building elements, classifies them by trade, and generates quantities with unmatched speed and accuracy.
Let’s explore how construction takeoff software is transforming plan parsing, and what it means for construction teams moving forward.
he Challenge With Manual Plan Parsing
Before exploring the benefits of AI-based construction takeoff software, it’s essential to understand why manual processes need to be left behind.
Time-consuming: Manually reviewing numerous sheets and marking all features by hand can be extremely time-consuming.
Inconsistency: Two or more estimators may interpret drawings differently, or might miss certain specs on the sheet. This can easily lead to variations in takeoffs.
Human Error: Humans get tired, machines don’t. Due to long hours of manual work, high-pressure jobs, and tight timelines, even experienced estimators can make costly mistakes.
H3: Poor Scalability: Many AI-based construction takeoff software can handle multiple jobs at the same time. When you do manual work, it’s likely that your bid capacity won’t scale till you add more staff.
Lost Opportunities: Time spent on manual takeoffs reduces bandwidth for higher-value tasks like bid strategy or value engineering.
These challenges hinder construction teams from submitting more bids and securing more jobs. In response to these challenges, many contractors and subcontractors are turning to plan takeoff software that integrates AI for a more reliable and scalable solution.
Why AI-Based Construction Takeoff Software Is The Best Solution
Modern AI-based takeoff tools don’t just digitize drawings and give you a space to use tools for digital manual takeoffs—they interpret plans, and also do the entire takeoff for you so that you can focus on other high-priority tasks.
Here is how AI-based construction takeoff software is transforming the process:
Automatic Feature Detection: AI-based tools can analyze blueprints based on the provided specifications and detect elements, such as walls, windows, fixtures, piping, etc.
rade-Based Grouping: The tech can easily group items by trade (e.g., mechanical, plumbing, drywall), ensuring nothing gets missed and drastically reducing the time spent on reviews.
Easy Collaboration: With all information centralized digitally, all major project stakeholders can review projects without missing details or wasting time searching for items or sheets.
Error Reduction: By standardizing all data identification, AI-based construction takeoff software reduces errors and common mistakes like missed quantity counts.
Frees Up Time: With AI-based plan takeoff software handling the heavy lifting, construction teams can allocate more time to other high-priority tasks, such as fine-tuning pricing, bid strategy, vendor communication, site visits, and building long-term client relationships.
Yes, instead of acting as a replacement for estimators, AI definitely acts like a digital assistant. By taking up most of the repetitive and time-consuming tasks, it drastically frees up estimator time.
For example, contractors who leverage AI-based takeoff solutions, such as Beam AI, have reported saving up to 90% of their time. Not only that, but it is also helping them bid 2x more jobs.
How Does AI-Based Construction Takeoff Software Benefit Contractors And Estimators?
Adopting AI-based construction takeoff software in your bidding workflow creates real, measurable advantages.
Faster Estimates: Estimators spend more than 50% of their time doing takeoffs. AI-based takeoffs can cut this time by taking up the heavy lifting.
Better Accuracy: Automated spec detection ensures that virtually no features and quantities are missed.
Consistency: AI ensures every estimator works with the same interpretation of plans.
More Bids, More Wins: Construction businesses can pursue more opportunities with the same team.
Take Petticoat Schmitt, for example. Before using Beam AI, they were spending 2-3 days on takeoffs per project.
This significantly slowed down their estimating workflow, leaving little time for other high-priority tasks.
As a result, the team had to pass on opportunities due to bandwidth constraints, limiting bids/week, and reducing client and subcontractor engagement.
Before You Go
The construction industry today is moving away from manually tracing and reading plans to AI-based construction takeoff software. Why? It’s accurate, less time-consuming, scalable, easy to use, and does not sacrifice estimator expertise.
But one must keep in mind that not all AI-based takeoff software is built the same. If it’s taking you more time to use the software than to do a manual takeoff, then you probably have the wrong fit.
In an industry where new players are constantly entering the market and competitiveness is at its peak, it is now essential to have the right technology as an integral part of your bidding workflow.
Choosing the best AI software for your team isn’t just about adopting technology for the sake of it.
The right tech is empowering. It provides your team with the efficiency, accuracy, and confidence needed to consistently win bids and stay ahead of the competition.
