Here at Cubicost, we strive to provide Estimators and Quantity Surveyors with the right tools to achieve your goals, whether that may include faster take-off, accurate tendering, or easier estimating. One way that we can enable you to do your job better is by sharing our knowledge of key trends impacting your industry.

Our team recently invited M&E professionals to take part in our annual research survey and we are excited to reveal our insights!

Keep reading to uncover what experts in your field say you must know as we head into Q3 & Q4.

Which takeoff method do you use at the moment?

Despite having access to modern software platforms which help professionals save time and boost productivity, a majority of M&E professionals surveyed are still using traditional methods for take-off. Pen and paper prevails as the go-to option for 76% of respondents, followed by Excel as the preferred choice by 62% of respondents. A smaller portion, 38% use a take-off software, while 11% specifically use Cubicost software.

Just because most professionals use old-fashioned take-off methods, doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the most efficient options. This raises the question - what is keeping these individuals from upgrading the way they work by using software? Our conclusion resembles the well-known quote, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it.” Meaning that most people are still wary of trying something new and different since the traditional methods provide satisfactory results.

What is your biggest challenges when pricing a project?

 When asked about their biggest challenge(s) while pricing a project, 56% of respondents were frustrated by the constant updates in structural and architectural drawings. During the planning stage of a project, changes and alterations are unfortunately unavoidable. Eliminating human errors and the speed at which a take-off process would need to reach completion both tied with 51% of respondents claiming them to be their biggest obstacles. Only 27% of respondents said that the lack of qualified personnel was their biggest challenge while 13% said their challenge was not listed in our survey.

The individuals who find it challenging to keep up with drawing amendments, as well as those who are frustrated with the high number of human errors in projects or their sluggish speed to take-off are the same individuals who use traditional methods of working (i.e. Excel). The respondents who faced other minor challenges or those who were working with unqualified colleagues were the individuals who already use either Cubicost or another software which eliminates the top industry challenges when pricing a product.

Everyone surveyed collectively agreed that following technology trends is valuable. On average, respondents ranked the importance of following technology trends at 7.27, with the lowest response being a 4 and the highest response being a 10.

This indicates a strong desire among participants to follow technology trends, the reality of how these same individuals conduct their day-to-day operations prove to be otherwise; technology has yet to be adopted into their daily processes. One factor could be the age of respondents; mature and more experienced surveyors are less likely to try new technology despite their interest in following the latest digital trends. This is where newer, more digital-savvy surveyors come into the picture. These individuals are comfortable trying new software and are able to quickly learn how to use platforms which can benefit the entire team to boost overall productivity.

Which performance gains are you most looking forward to in 2018?

In 2018, most respondents are looking forward to submitting more winnable tenders (60%), increasing work value to their organisation (49%), and increasing the accuracy of take-off in quantity or price (47%). A smaller portion of respondents value the importance of gaining better cost control (29%) and improving team collaboration (22%). 

It’s no surprise that most professionals prioritise the ability to submit more winnable tenders.

Tenders are a lucrative source of business, but they are also time-consuming and unpredictable.

Moreover, winning a tender is much like winning a competition. While you are working on a submission, remember that there could be a dozen or even hundreds of competitors doing the exact same thing.

To “win” against the competition, you’ll need an edge, and usually that comes in the form of having access to the right tool. Simply put, you wouldn’t enter a race without being prepared and having the right sports gear, so why shouldn’t you invest in having the right equipment to beat your competition at winning more tenders?

Cubicost, a digital transformation tool built specifically with the needs of M&E professionals to meet their goals, including enabling users to be more productive and win more tenders.

Our software has helped hundreds of Estimators and Quantity Surveyors to:

• Improve your work efficiency by up to 70%
• Save countless hours with material appropriate measurements
• Redefine the preparation, pricing, and analysis management of tender
• Convert drawings into 3D take-off models which generate element specific quantities instantly

 Click here to contact Cubicost for a personalised demo or free product trial today!