An integral part of creating a detailed cost estimate for a construction job involves deciding the total material costs. The takeoff is used by the estimator to understand what materials they need for a project and how much those will cost. Manually performing takeoffs is time-consuming and requires a high degree of skill and considerable experience. Luckily, today’s estimators can produce digital takeoffs with construction takeoff software. There are many advantages that construction takeoff software provides during the preconstruction process. So, exactly what are the ben ..read more

Challenge:  A successful construction project is dependent on several interconnected processes. From the office to the job site, an on-time and on-budget build requires communication, collaboration, and connectivity. And yet, anyone who has worked in construction long enough knows that it’s easier said than done. Sometimes within construction teams, you don’t always have all the professionals or tools in-house that you need to complete a build. Many companies lack the budget and interest in hiring a full-time employee to manage certain workflows like accounting, takeoff, co ..read more

Challenge: Per the US Census Bureau, from 2012-2017, construction spending has doubled. 2019 has also seen massive growth rates, with US construction spending posting its biggest increase in 9 months this past March. There’s been a growing understanding among general contractors that prequalifying and picking the right subcontractors is crucial to keeping their construction projects on track. With over-worked subcontractors making project delays, experiencing manpower issues and creating defaults, there hasn’t been a more optimal time to reevaluate your subcontractor prequa ..read more

Challenge: In 2019, as subcontractors continue to be swamped with construction project opportunities, and general contractors face difficulty finding and qualifying the best subcontractors for their projects, the role of technology will continue to grow. General contractors are realizing the power of organizing and analyzing subcontractors’ bid and communication data to predict future project partners, and the value of using technology to do so. BIM coordination is helping owners and contractors speed up the estimating process and data analysis is finding costly issues befor ..read more

When? August 21st, 2019 from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Central Time Where? Hyatt Place Kansas City/Lenexa City Center 8741 Ryckert Street Lenexa, Kansas 66219 Who? Any and all SmartBid users are invited to participate in the Kansas City SmartBid Academy. What? A ‘can’t miss’ one-day SmartBid training event filled with educational tracks based on every “how-to” tip, trick, and process within the SmartBid invitation to bid platform. You’ll also learn industry best practices, methods and processes that will leave you walking away with hours of preconstruction expertise. What to Expect: The latest topi ..read more

Challenge: Within the last few years cloud adoption has been rising within the construction industry. According to a 2017 survey by Associated General Contractors of America, 85% of construction contractors use or plan to use cloud-based solutions. The main reason behind the increase being the need for improved communication and greater efficiency on the job site – sharing of drawings, documents, field reporting, etc. However, migration of back-office information, like financials, to a cloud-based system has lagged behind. Company management is afraid of relinquishing physical control of thei ..read more

Sabre Commercial is an Austin, Texas-based general contractor that specializes in general contracting, preconstruction services, risk management services, design build, and safety. Sabre mainly builds commercial general contracting projects like hospitals, schools, corporate offices, restaurants and more. They have been recognized by the Austin Business Journal, as well as received three Outstanding Construction Awards from the Associated General Contractors Austin Chapter. One of the primary factors behind Sabre’s success is their focus on collaboration and relationships. T ..read more

“From finding project leads, to performing takeoff and estimating, and ultimately submitting a bid, the preconstruction process will continue to evolve with the technology in use.” – 2019 Technology in Preconstruction Report  With great technology comes great responsibility… and no more spreadsheets. As traditional preconstruction roles take on more duties run by technology, and companies add new roles to support technology and data optimization, no employee will remain untouched by cloud software, mobile apps and innovative hardware. Understanding how to integrate precon solu ..read more

When? June 19th, 2019 from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM Mountain Time Where? Hilton Denver Inverness 200 Inverness Dr. W Englewood, Colorado 80112 Who? Any and all SmartBid users are invited to participate in the Denver SmartBid Academy. What? A ‘can’t miss’ one-day SmartBid training event filled with educational tracks based on every “how-to” tip, trick, and process within the SmartBid invitation to bid platform. You’ll also learn industry best practices, methods and processes that will leave you walking away with hours of preconstruction expertise. What to Expect: The latest topics ..read more

Challenge: As the construction industry continues to increase the use of electronic data, cloud technologies, and hosted services, companies should be constantly seeking new ways to combat cybercrime. Whether it’s reading an email on a personal laptop, accessing a mobile app on a jobsite tablet, or using company software in the office, every employee accessing data through the cloud is at risk to a malicious cyber-attack. Construction is also a lucrative, high-cash-flow business, which makes the industry more appealing to criminals. There are many types of cyber-attacks, how ..read more