Masonry Magazine March 2010 Page. 37
MASONRY COMPUTER ESTIMATING
ping through the cracks due to a lack of internal communications or coordination.
Multiple systems can equal multiple problems
IN MANY CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES, the estimators, project managers, and accounting team work in their individual silos and share little, if any, information with one another. This further hinders the owner's ability to manage effectively and keep an eye on true costs and profitability.
This type of work environment has been amplified as a result of the growing number of technologies available to help contractors improve their businesses. Estimators have become more efficient with automated takeoff and estimating solutions. Project managers are able to run projects more effectively with software specifically tailored to their needs. And, the accounting team has been able to process payroll and better manage financials with their software tools.
These various software tools can help contractors; however, as disparate systems, they also present some serious challenges. If you are using different software packages to handle estimating, project management, financial management, workforce management, equipment and materials management, and procurement and inventory, your team is entering the same information about a project in multiple systems, multiple times.
Duplicate data entry is time consuming, and redundancy is often prone to error or even worse, omission. This hits your bottom line hard, and often without you even realizing it. Your errors and omissions equate to reduced profit or financial loss on jobs. Accuracy is also an issue. If two departments are working from different sets of data, it will be difficult to determine what information is accurate. Also, in order to produce the necessary management reports, data must be pulled from separate systems and then merged. This is time consuming and hinders timely response to issues. When you can't react quickly, can't make confident and informed decisions, and can't trust the integrity of your data, you're most certainly not managing for optimal profitability.
From bid to cash
THE ANSWER? Utilize a complete solution from one vendor to streamline operations from bid to cash. By having everyone on your team using the same solution with features tailored to each particular role, you will achieve true connectivity between departments, increase productivity, improve data integrity, and gain better control of your business.
With an end-to-end solution, your takeoff and estimate details are automatically carried through to project scheduling and used in procurement and billing, and beyond. By having takeoff, estimating, proposal management, project management, financial management, service management, and procurement management all handled with one solution, you are able to monitor and control profitability and productivity for jobs of any size and make the most of every project.
Something for everyone
With digital or digitized takeoff, you will save time, improve accuracy, and cut costs on paperwork. By automating your esti-
www.masonrymagazine.com
MASONRY COMPUTER ESTIMATING
Masonry Computer Estimating
That Does It All... in 3D!
by TRADESMEN'S SOFTWARE
On-Screen 3D Take-Off
Just point and click on the digital blueprint and see your walls displayed. Our new On-Screen 30 Take-Off Engine makes it simple and fast. Runs on Windows PCs and Bootcamp/Windows on Intel Macs. 30 day money back guarantee. Support available 7 days a week. 152 Comes with more than 400 items in material database. See the actual building being displayed in 3D as you do your take-off in either PLAN mode, PERSPECTIVE mode, OUTSIDE mode, INSIDE mode or at any ELEVATION. Complete your take-off, then walk through or around and see the actual finished building(s). Calculates CMU: HALF and FULL BULLNOSE, DOUBLE BULLNOSE, CHAMFER, or SASH for any or all OPENINGS, JAMBS, CORNERS, CONTROL JOINTS and any SPECIAL CUTS. Integrate with Accounting Software and transfer data to Microsoft Excel. Negotiating projects with a 3D image will win you more contracts and enhance your professional image
TRADESMEN'S SOFTWARE, Inc.
1-800-494-4899
See for yourself at:
www.tradesmens.com
READER SERVICE #163
March 2010
MASONRY
27