Best Takeoff Software

What is Takeoff?

Takeoff, or quantity takeoff, is the process of estimating costs by calculating the quantity of material and other supplies required in construction project management before the project even begins. This estimation is then used as the structure for the project's cost and for bidding on projects.

The takeoff process involves a lot of data and meticulous planning. The data required for estimating the cost include things like

• the area of flooring, painting, and roofing

• area of landscaping and the volume of material required for it

• the length of pipes, wires, and cables required in a project

• numbers of joints, light fixtures, studs

The cost estimation is not only limited to the material cost of the project but also includes the labor cost, storage cost, and operational costs.

These details may seem inconsequential. However, when taken together in a large project, these can add significantly to the cost. Therefore, planning to provide an accurate, meticulously, or as nearly possible estimation for the construction bidding process is important.

Not too long ago, all these calculations were done manually. Each data computed from the project plans painstakingly slowly with a significant chance of human errors. Even a slight mistake could result in the company losing the bid for a project. Thus, to ensure more accuracy, takeoff tools, and software were developed, such as the on-screen takeoff and estimating software. They are now widely used by contractors all over the world.

What is Takeoff Software?

Takeoff software is software designed to help contractors estimate construction costs. It's mainly used to estimate bidding prices which later become part of construction contracts.

A takeoff tool or software is a computer program that helps contractors with the cost estimation of a project. The best takeoff software uses the digital blueprints of the project to calculate the material counts from it. Thereby producing near-accurate estimates. Oftentimes, the active takeoff tool also includes features to calculate the labor, storage, and other operational costs as well.

A contractor needs to upload the digital blueprint on the paid or free takeoff and estimating software, which can be in several formats, such as PDF, Dxf, SVG, etc. The contractor then needs to put in a few basic data while the rest of the work is done automatically by the best construction takeoff software. This eliminates the human error factor and also speeds up the process.

How Does Takeoff Software Work?

Takeoff and estimating software automate and streamline the process of creating material takeoffs. It handles various activities such as extracting information about the materials required from the engineer's specification, quantity of the said materials and presenting it in a simplified format with each description. Here, the material includes not only raw materials but also prefabricated materials. It then assigns a reasonable price to each of them, thus, calculating the total material price. It also considers any normal losses and the expected rise in prices based on current trends.

What are the Benefits of Takeoff Software

The benefits of using Autodesk takeoff software are not limited to the faster takeoff process and improved accuracy. The other advantages include:

• It is a cheaper alternative to manual estimation with the low pricing policies such as that of on-screen takeoff tool price as well as the free quantity takeoff and estimating software. More estimates can be created without any substantial increase in the cost to do so as there are free takeoff and estimating software available too

• Employees can be free for other operational functions rather than spending their time in meticulous calculations

• The blueprint can be easily uploaded on the Autodesk takeoff software, and the takeoff can be downloaded directly and submitted to the project manager.

• The material order process is also made efficient as the contractors would not have to wait for the engineering to be completed.

• The material requirements for the whole project can be ascertained before the start of the project; thereby, the bulk purchase is made possible.

• The best quantity takeoff software also enables the contractors to manipulate the data to run several precautionary scenarios and determine the effect caused by the change in a very short time.

• It also helps the individual processes by identifying the potential shortfalls and bottlenecks in factory production.

• The takeoff tool, such as the on-screen take-off system, also provides correspondence within the software, which can be used to send information to the engineer, manager, and other relevant people;

• Most importantly, the estimates would be uniform irrespective of the person running it, and training new members would be simplified.

What are the Key Features of Takeoff Software

• It counts the required items from the digital plants in a simple point-click method. The advanced takeoff and estimating software also uses optical recognition of the characters to count the numbers automatically.

• It allows the users to determine and measure the components required in the plan and the exact length of it for wiring, trimming, piping, or any such process.

• One of the major features is to measure the area. It allows the users to easily determine the location required for various processes such as drywalling, painting, and flooring. This not only helps estimate the cost of the material (with material management software) required but also the labor hours required to finish the task.

• In addition to area measurement, the active takeoff software allows measuring the volume from the given digital blueprint. The advanced 3D best construction takeoff and estimating software can visually represent the volume measurements, while the simpler 2D software includes it as a part of the notes and annotations.

Industry for Takeoff Software

The industry for plan takeoff systems is rapidly growing, with more and more contractors and engineers adapting the best quantity takeoff software for preparing the quantity takeoff because of the various benefits, including the significantly low cost of using the digital takeoff tool. Even medium and small-scale contractors are turning towards it.

Needless to say that larger contractors and engineers, whether individuals or as a firm, use takeoff and estimating software to provide their clients with accurate cost estimates of the project before taking on a project. The software, like the quick measure takeoff system, not only helps them ascertain the cost and profit relationship but also helps their clients understand the project's cost structure, thereby ensuring that their money is used wisely.

Types of Takeoff Software

There are two types of Autodesk quantity takeoff software: 2D and 3D.

The 3D quantity takeoff software gives you a visual representation of the plan and the material required as computed by it. Features such as volume measurement are available only on the 3D digital takeoff system.

However, there is not much lacking in 2D software apart from the visual representation. The 2D software charts out the data in a two-dimensional project blueprint.

Apart from this, the best takeoff and estimating software can also differ according to their features, the platform you use, the device on which it is used, and the different Quantity takeoff and estimating software providers. Most of the Autodesk quantity takeoff software is developed keeping the contractors in mind, but there are a few that allow other parties to use the automated software takeoff with ease as well.