Building and Construction

Building & Construction Estimatng Solutions from Benchmark Estaimtg Software Benchmark Estimating offers quantity takeoff and estimating solutions for the building and construction industry. Benchmark Estimating Software is suited to commercial companies operating in the general construction market, as well as subcontractors who specialise in areas like Precast Concrete, Plumbing and Formwork/Scaffolding works.

Our estimating software solution offers you resource-based (labour, materials, subcontract, plant/equipment) detail within your construction estimates while maintaining the ease of use and flexibility that makes our Software stand out from its competitors.

You can import your takeoff data electronically, or import a bill of quantities issued to you by a Client from a spreadsheet. Preparing a price within Benchmark Estimating Software is very easy – you can utilise your database of rates in your “Item Library” to save time and eliminate the chance of leaving things out of your estimates. You also have immense power at your fingertips with time-saving features like “Auto Allocate”, “Production Rates”, user-defined “Variables” and “Routines”.

For some market segments like Precast Concrete and Formwork/Scaffolding, our “Power Routines” feature is ideal for efficient, consistent pricing of tenders which involve many buildings or walls where there is a similar operation for each element of the project.

Benchmark Estimating Software will generate for you a highly Professional Quote in Microsoft Word (based on your own templates). You can also export your estimate data to Microsoft Excel and create a program in Microsoft Project. Our software even allows you to manage quotes from Subcontractors as well as creating Progress Claims and pricing Variations.
Below are just a few of the Benchmark Estimating Software features that are helping the Building and Construction industry produce better construction estimates.

Import/Export a Schedule of items

Benchmark Estimating Software saves you time and eliminates typing errors by allowing you to import a schedule of items (bill of quantities) from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. After you have priced your construction Project you can also save your submission rates directly into the same spreadsheet making it easier to keep track of your data by avoiding duplication of files.

Auto Allocate

If you price many schedules of items from the same client and their standard schedule or specifications rarely change, then Benchmark Estimating Software’s Auto Allocate feature is a must for your business. Auto Allocate can bid an entire construction estimate in minutes, by automatically pricing the Items in your estimate using the same (or similar) Items from your Item Library. This cuts down your estimating time dramatically and increases the consistency of your construction estimates.

Quantity Takeoff Sheets

You can perform detailed Item quantity calculations by using Benchmark Estimating Software’s Quantity Takeoff Sheets.These sheets are in a spreadsheet format and can be based off standard sheets from a Library, or created on a project by project basis.

The Quantity Take-off Sheet to the right is a simple example of how the total volume for a number of trenches within a Project can be quickly and accurately calculated.

Takeoff Integrator

Benchmark Estimating Software offers clients the ability to integrate with On-Screen Takeoff, a quantity takeoff software from On Center Software. Our Takeoff Integrator works by importing your construction takeoff data from On-Screen Takeoff directly into Benchmark Estimating Software.

Once your construction takeoff data has been imported and a Benchmark Project is populated with the values from your takeoff, you have the flexibility to use a variety of Benchmark Estimating Software features including Auto Allocate, the Item Library and Routines, to quickly create a price for your construction Project. The easy integration between the two software programs cuts down both your construction takeoff and overall estimating time meaning more cost effective project estimates.

Progress Claims

Benchmark Estimating Software allows you to generate Progress Claims for your construction Project directly from our system. You have the option to produce your progress claims either by percentage or by quantity complete. Benchmark Estimating Software even handles Retentions.

Our software features a range of progress claim reports including a one-page Summary (cover sheet), a Claim Report with Options (so you can customise the format of the report), detailed reports Item by Item and a report showing summary data for the last four claims made.

Subcontractor Manager

Our estimating software allows you to import quotations from Subcontractors and Suppliers in electronic form allowing you to compare quotes in a comparison screen. Benchmark Estimating Software then automatically updates your construction estimate with your selected Subcontractor or Supplier saving you time and resulting in increased accuracy.

Export to Microsoft Project

Benchmark Estimating Software’s resource-based export to Microsoft Project automatically creates a gantt chart for your construction project. This powerful export automatically calculates the duration of each Item (activity) in your construction Project and exports the Resources and costs to Microsoft Project as well.