Construction Estimating Software
XSiEN's Construction Estimating Software is called the XMS' Tender Manger. The XMS' Tender manager solves many of the existing problems with current ways of estimating work in the construction industry.
The XMS has been created and developed alongside a well respected small to medium sized UK construction contractor. In depth scoping and analysis of reoccurring difficulties within the contractor company's tender process highlighted key issues that needed to be addressed.
These highlighted issues that needed to be addressed were:
- human input error due of repetition
- the estimation process taking too long
- missing costs during estimating
- estimating staff not able to access information quickly or easily
- missing client deadlines
- inconsistent presentation of tender information to client
In essence, the estimating process needed to be redefined in a simple but logical order. Here is how the XMS solved these costly problems.
Stopping human input error and repetition
All staff are susceptible to moments where concentration lapses and when it comes to number crunching, staff can and will make mistakes.
The XMS will not stop staff from making mistakes, but it does eliminate the need for mass repetition of data input. All rates and costs need only to be set up once in the XMS. For example, let's look at an example of a Site of 100 houses. All plots, regardless of whether the plot is an apartment or a house, require very similar work detail to a greater or lesser degree. The XMS allows the contractor to build one default plot type that contains all the costs, rates, materials that their company estimates for. The contractor can then duplicate this plot type, rename it and delete the unwanted items. This new plot type becomes a 2 bed house default or a top floor apartment. Those plots can then be duplicated and made into developer specific plot types, a set of plot types fro George Wimpey or Barrat Homes for instance.
Deleting the unwanted items is key to reducing the human error input mistakes. Because all your company's costs are already inputted, the once, simply duplicating plot types and deleting the unwanted items allows for consistent pricing every time.
With street scenes of Sites becoming increasingly important to the housing market, developers are requiring contractor companies to estimate very complex unique Sites. However, the actual differences to the plot types are limited to aesthetics such as chimney detail, porches, garages, bay windows etc.The XMS handles this problem by also allowing the contractor to create attached plot types. These attached plot types are built in the exact same way as regular plot types but can be added to them. So on a Site with 100 plots, there may only need to 15 actual plot types with a selection 10 attachments. Additionally to change a garage from an attached Plot Type to a regular one is one click of a button.
Stopping the estimation process taking too long
Two time consuming processes of the estimation process are firstly putting the costs to the Site and secondly checking to make sure those costs are accurate.
As we have already discussed, once the data for the base of all Plots is in the default plot type it is a very quick process of duplication and deletion. Of course Plot specs change but your staff will never need to enter the same information twice. Ever. The XMS allows for quick reference to a previous Site where a similar Plot Type may have been used. Find the Plot Type, change the name, tweak the contents and your new Plot type is ready. The sheer speed of the XMS workflow has come from making the estimating process a completely logical one. XSiEN have streamlined the work flow where possible and have left room for creative estimating where the construction market most needs it.
Not missing costs during estimating
Missing out Plot Type can cost huge money. I believe each and every one who reads this article will have had first hand experience with this. Minimising the occurrences of inaccurate estimating must be a priority for every company.
Because the XMS follows the same logical pattern of estimating, your staff get into a routine that feels comfortable and from that routine, missing off plot detail will happen less.
Naturally it is important to be able to easily check how a tender is progressing. That is why with two clicks any authorised member of your team, can download two excel files that show every element of the the Site estimation as it currently stands. The estimation Excel files produced by the XMS are clear, perfectly presented, accurate and up to date. Because the XMS is online it allows you to be anywhere in the world and so long as you have a laptop connected to the internet you can always stay in control of your company.
Stopping estimating staff not being able to access information quickly or easily
Because the estimating process is a complex one involving a team more often than not, giving that team access to the information they need when they need it is crucial to the success of winning contracts. The XMS empowers your staff to stop access that information instantly, without delay. If a member of staff is off sick or on annual leave, all the estimating information that is core to that Site is easy to find because it is all within the XMS.
Missing client deadlines
Missing client deadlines never helps a business relationship. Questions begin to be asked if your team do not deliver on their promises. Missing deadlines is usually from a lack of communication within the process of estimating or promises that simply can not be delivered because of a lack of resources.
The XMS can greatly speed up the process of a Tender, one XMS client explained to XSiEN how "it just didn't save hours off the process but in some cases three days. That is the power of such a tool. It simply is the right tool for the job!"
Also because the structure of the estimating is a logical one, a more understandable one, it offers a routine for staff and with that instinctive XMS process your staff will be able to lessen oversights and get the estimate to the client more efficiently.
Stopping inconsistent presentation of tender information to client
The first thing XSiEN get comments about is the design. This is not an accident. We believe better design can make using a system such as the XMS a better experience. We place a lot of emphasis on good quality design and the thought behind every part of design is immense.
The XMS' Excel files are no exception. They are clearly and concisely laid out for ease of viewing. The XMS offers various viewing options and you are able to quickly change mark ups, how the information is displayed, the depth the costings break down and whether or not you would like to round up the numbers to their nearest values.
The XMS is truly built for the construction industry.
Email info@xsien.com Call 0845 094 6019