# Best Enterprise Construction Estimating Software *By [Neya Kumaresan](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/neya-kumaresan)* Products classified in the overall Construction Estimating category are similar in many regards and help companies of all sizes solve their business problems. However, enterprise business features, pricing, setup, and installation differ from businesses of other sizes, which is why we match buyers to the right Enterprise Business Construction Estimating to fit their needs. Compare product ratings based on reviews from enterprise users or connect with one of G2's buying advisors to find the right solutions within the Enterprise Business Construction Estimating category. In addition to qualifying for inclusion in the Construction Estimating Software category, to qualify for inclusion in the Enterprise Business Construction Estimating Software category, a product must have at least 10 reviews left by a reviewer from an enterprise business. ## Category Overview **Total Products under this Category:** 258 ## Trust & Credibility Stats **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 12,200+ Authentic Reviews - 258+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. --- **Sponsored** ### Premier Construction Software Premier Construction Software is a global, AI-powered construction ERP that helps growing general contractors control job costs, cash flow, and risk across every project in one easy-to-use cloud platform. Replace disconnected accounting, project management, and field tools with a single source of truth for WIP, change orders, and forecasting, so your team can shorten billing cycles and keep margins on track. How we're different: • Built for general contractors, owners, and land developers managing multi-project, multi-entity portfolios. • Advanced construction accounting with detailed job costing, real-time WIP reporting, and cash-flow forecasting to spot issues before they hit the P&L. • Project and field management with RFIs, subcontracts, drawings, and change orders tied directly to the budget and schedule. • Automated billing, approvals, and payroll to reduce manual entry and speed up collections. • Unlimited entities, consolidated reporting, and role-based dashboards. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=384&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=386&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=neighbor_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=2355&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=53531&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=384&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fconstruction-estimating-software%3Fpage%3D9&secure%5Btoken%5D=3b9bbe1ce6f814a4e5bbc025e9d97eac258064cee083b8b21b69ba18771fbac2&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fpremiercs.com%2Frequest-demo%2Fg2&secure%5Burl_type%5D=book_demo) --- ## Top-Rated Products (Ranked by G2 Score) ### 1. [Autodesk Forma (formerly Autodesk Construction Cloud)](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-forma-formerly-autodesk-construction-cloud/reviews) Autodesk Forma (formerly Autodesk Construction Cloud) connects workflows, teams and data at every stage of construction to reduce risk, maximize efficiency, and increase profits. Autodesk Build is part of Autodesk Forma (formerly Autodesk Construction Cloud)'s newest set of products that further connect data, workflows, and teams throughout the entire building lifecycle. Build delivers a broad, deep, and connected set of field execution and project management tools for builders in a single software platform that is easy to deploy, adopt and use. Autodesk Build delivers the unification of best-in-class technology from PlanGrid and BIM 360, along with new functionality, to connect construction data and workflows across the headquarters, office, and jobsite. It offers tools for project management, quality, safety, cost, document management and project closeout workflows in a single application that is purpose-built for what you do and where you are working. -Supports integrated & digitized processes for the build phase of a project in a platform that is easy to deploy, adopt and use, while ensuring information sharing and workflows are tightly controlled and highly-configurable. -Standardized and centralized data collection from design through operations enables data-driven decision making, and predictive analytics provide visibility into high-risk issues that can impact project cost, schedule, quality, and safety. -Cloud-based document management provides a single source of truth for all project documentation for the owner, GCs and subs. Autodesk Takeoff empowers estimators to create fast, accurate takeoffs in a cloud-based solution that combines 2D and 3D workflows. Autodesk Takeoff is part of Autodesk Forma (formerly Autodesk Construction Cloud)'s newest set of products that further connect data, workflows, and teams throughout the entire building lifecycle. Autodesk Takeoff allows estimators to perform more accurate 2D takeoffs and generate automated quantities from 3D models in a single online solution. Preconstruction teams are empowered to win more work with integrated takeoffs and quantities that help produce quality estimates for faster, more accurate bidding. -Manage sheets and models in one data environment with Autodesk Docs -Easily capture project scope with linear, count and area takeoff -Generate multiple quantities and use custom formulas -Get instant access to quantities from models for automated 3D takeoffs -Access aggregated quantities from drawings and models Autodesk BIM Collaborate is part of Autodesk Forma (formerly Autodesk Construction Cloud)'s newest set of products that further connect data, workflows, and teams throughout the entire building lifecycle. BIM Collaborate empowers project teams to align and execute on design intent and constructability by managing the entire design collaboration and coordination workflow. Autodesk BIM Collaborate empowers design and construction teams to align and execute on design intent and constructability in a single online solution. By allowing teams to manage the entire design collaboration and coordination process in a single common data environment, BIM Collaborate reduces rework and improves overall design quality. -No limits on projects or file storage -Subscribe once and use on any project you are working on -Flexible subscription offerings for users, projects and businesses -Easily add subscribers and models as your business grows -Keep the same central administration and user login when adding new products **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 5,192 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Work Breakdown Structure (WBS):** 7.1/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Integrations:** 7.7/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Digitizing Quantities:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Autodesk](https://www.g2.com/sellers/autodesk) - **Company Website:** https://www.autodesk.com - **Year Founded:** 1982 - **HQ Location:** San Francisco - **Twitter:** @autodesk (275,060 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/autodesk/ (15,679 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** BIM Manager, Project Manager - **Top Industries:** Construction, Architecture & Planning - **Company Size:** 45% Mid-Market, 31% Enterprise #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (944 reviews) - Collaboration (773 reviews) - Team Collaboration (663 reviews) - Sharing (537 reviews) - Easy Access (503 reviews) **Cons:** - Missing Features (511 reviews) - Limitations (386 reviews) - Access Limitations (337 reviews) - Lack of Features (299 reviews) - Improvement Needed (287 reviews) ### 2. [Methvin](https://www.g2.com/products/methvin/reviews) Construction estimators don't lose bids because they priced too high. They lose because their numbers weren't built on solid ground. Methvin is the only platform that calculates costs from first principles. While other tools rely on historical averages that no longer reflect the market, Methvin builds every figure from scratch, labor, plant, and materials. One miscalculation on a tight-margin project doesn't just hurt the job; it can wipe out the profit from three others. Stop guessing. Start winning bids you can actually deliver on. --- WHY TOP FIRMS CHOOSE METHVIN --- ACCURACY: Automate heavy lifting and turn around accurate tenders faster without cutting corners. SCALABILITY: From small fitouts to large civil infrastructure, the platform scales without breaking your process. FLEXIBILITY: Configure workflows to match how your team actually estimates. Methvin adapts to you, not the other way around. REAL-TIME COLLABORATION: Everyone works from the same numbers, from anywhere, in real time. --- THE FULL PROJECT LIFECYCLE --- Beyond estimating, Methvin handles the heavy lifting of project management: Takeoff tools to measure quantities directly from plans. Gantt scheduling to keep timelines and dependencies visible. Job costing to track spend as it happens. Cost-vs-Allowable reporting to flag variances before they become problems. --- THE INTELLIGENT RECORD --- Most platforms miss the biggest risk: the "he-said, she-said" of site disputes. Methvin’s Correspondence module brings every contract, RFI, site instruction, and variation into one place. You can ask it questions in plain language: "What was agreed on the structural steel spec?" or "Has the client signed off on the drainage scope?" The answer comes straight from your documents instantly. In construction, a missed instruction can cost more than the original estimate. An intelligent, searchable record isn't a luxury, it is how professional teams protect their margins. Methvin is purpose-built for construction. If your current tools feel like you're working around them, it's time to see what a platform built for this industry actually feels like. **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 101 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Work Breakdown Structure (WBS):** 9.8/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Integrations:** 9.8/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Digitizing Quantities:** 9.9/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Methvin](https://www.g2.com/sellers/methvin) - **Company Website:** https://www.methvin.org - **Year Founded:** 2018 - **HQ Location:** Albany, Auckland - **Twitter:** @Methvin (15 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/methvin (7 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Construction, Civil Engineering - **Company Size:** 54% Small-Business, 30% Enterprise #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Estimating (28 reviews) - Ease of Use (24 reviews) - Estimating Tools (21 reviews) - Project Management (21 reviews) - Collaboration (19 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (20 reviews) - Steep Learning Curve (16 reviews) - Difficult Learning (15 reviews) - Poor Interface Design (13 reviews) - Difficult Learning Curve (11 reviews) ### 3. [Procore](https://www.g2.com/products/procore/reviews) Procore construction software manages your construction projects, resources and financials from planning to closeout. The platform connects every project contributor to solutions built specifically for the industry for the owner, the general contractor and the specialty contractor. The ability to communicate across teams makes it easier to work together by establishing a single source of truth. This is how Procore gives your team easy access to everything they need to know to get the job done. **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 4,082 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Work Breakdown Structure (WBS):** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Integrations:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Digitizing Quantities:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Procore Technologies](https://www.g2.com/sellers/procore-technologies) - **Company Website:** https://www.procore.com - **Year Founded:** 2003 - **HQ Location:** Carpinteria, CA - **Twitter:** @procoretech (16,470 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1912597/ (4,722 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Project Manager, Project Engineer - **Top Industries:** Construction, Architecture & Planning - **Company Size:** 49% Mid-Market, 39% Small-Business #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (670 reviews) - Project Management (355 reviews) - Centralization (343 reviews) - Document Management (293 reviews) - Intuitive (292 reviews) **Cons:** - Missing Features (231 reviews) - Learning Curve (192 reviews) - Limitations (156 reviews) - Difficult Learning (148 reviews) - Improvement Needed (144 reviews) ### 4. [HCSS](https://www.g2.com/products/hcss/reviews) Heavy Construction Systems Specialists (HCSS) is the leading provider of construction management software designed to connect the office to the field across the lifecycle of heavy civil and infrastructure projects. Founded in 1986, HCSS has established itself as the industry leader by offering a comprehensive suite of tools to enhance productivity, streamline communication, and improve project outcomes. HCSS platforms cover every aspect of heavy civil and infrastructure projects, from preconstruction to project closeout. Solutions offered include estimating, job costing, project management, safety, and fleet management. By centralizing project data, HCSS ensures all stakeholders have real-time access to critical information, enabling more informed decision-making and reducing the risk of errors and rework. **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 251 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Work Breakdown Structure (WBS):** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Integrations:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Digitizing Quantities:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [HCSS](https://www.g2.com/sellers/hcss) - **Company Website:** https://www.hcss.com - **Year Founded:** 1986 - **HQ Location:** Sugar Land, TX - **Twitter:** @hcss (2,477 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/28223/ (692 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Estimator, Senior Estimator - **Top Industries:** Construction, Civil Engineering - **Company Size:** 57% Mid-Market, 29% Small-Business #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (55 reviews) - Customer Support (50 reviews) - Helpful (28 reviews) - Efficiency Improvement (27 reviews) - Estimating (24 reviews) **Cons:** - Improvement Needed (19 reviews) - Missing Features (19 reviews) - Expensive (11 reviews) - Inefficient Processes (11 reviews) - Integration Issues (11 reviews) ### 5. [Assemble](https://www.g2.com/products/assemble/reviews) Assemble Systems provides a SaaS solution that enables construction professionals to condition, query and connect BIM data to key workflows including design reviews, takeoffs, estimating, change management, value engineering and schedule management. Instant Access to BIM: Provide the entire project team with access to the model and drawings in the cloud to quickly group, sort, and filter quantities and associated meta-data Instant Access to Quantities: Instant access to complete project inventory to easily organize project data by user defined parameters such as bid-package, locations, phase, WBS or Work Activity codes Improved Workflows: Leverage aggregated quantities by trade in Assemble for construction workflows including Work in Place (WIP), lookaheads, status tracking and inventory management **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 85 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Work Breakdown Structure (WBS):** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Integrations:** 7.1/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Digitizing Quantities:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Autodesk](https://www.g2.com/sellers/autodesk) - **Year Founded:** 1982 - **HQ Location:** San Francisco - **Twitter:** @autodesk (275,060 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/autodesk/ (15,679 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NASDAQ:ADSK **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** VDC Manager, Estimator - **Top Industries:** Construction - **Company Size:** 55% Enterprise, 41% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Features (1 reviews) - Model Coordination (1 reviews) **Cons:** - Update Issues (1 reviews) ### 6. [ConWize](https://www.g2.com/products/conwize/reviews) ConWize is a cutting-edge cloud-based software utilized today by general contractors, developers, subcontractors, and management companies. Our customers' biggest challenge in bid management and estimating is entirely solved by a sophisticated yet user-friendly tool, resulting in substantial savings of up to 50% of the time working on a tender while enhancing the accuracy of cost estimations. The solution also provides the ability to plan and manage contractual engagements, along with a complete and digital procurement process at the execution phase. Our users experience a remarkable ROI in less than 3 months! ConWize integrates with Autodesk Construction Cloud. The integration allows users to extract the bill of quantities from the 3D model and calculate quantities automatically, simplifying the entire process. ConWize also integrates with Procore and is available in Procore's marketplace. **Average Rating:** 4.9/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 104 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Work Breakdown Structure (WBS):** 9.8/10 (Category avg: 8.3/10) - **Integrations:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.0/10) - **Digitizing Quantities:** 9.8/10 (Category avg: 8.4/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [anyService Ltd.](https://www.g2.com/sellers/anyservice-ltd) - **Company Website:** https://conwize.io - **Year Founded:** 2017 - **HQ Location:** Center, IL - **Twitter:** @conwize_io (50 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/conwize/ (9 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Bid Manager, Estimator - **Top Industries:** Construction, Civil Engineering - **Company Size:** 58% Mid-Market, 32% Small-Business #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (17 reviews) - Centralization (7 reviews) - Data Management (7 reviews) - Estimating (7 reviews) - Useful (7 reviews) **Cons:** - Inefficient Processes (6 reviews) - Learning Curve (5 reviews) - Upload Issues (5 reviews) - Steep Learning Curve (4 reviews) - Data Importing Issues (3 reviews) ## Parent Category [Construction Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/construction-management) ## Related Categories - [Bid Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/bid-management) - [Construction Project Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/construction-project-management) - [Takeoff Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/takeoff) --- ## Buyer Guide ### What You Should Know About Construction Estimating Software ### What is Construction Estimating Software? Construction estimating software helps construction managers, contractors, and companies better calculate the total cost of a construction project. Interesting features of construction estimating software are its accuracy and automation with speed playing an important role in both. Before a contractor begins a construction project, they are required to submit a bid to their clients. The bid is made up of many elements, including estimating the cost of materials, predicting the number of manpower hours a project will take to complete, and comparing resources and labor costs with competitors. A construction project cannot begin without the draft of a cost estimate. The estimated cost may fluctuate when certain aspects of the project were not accounted for or were either overrepresented or underrepresented in the initial bid. The potential for human error is massive in construction projects, which increases the overall cost of the project. Construction estimating software may either be purchased as a standalone product or bundled within a construction project management platform or construction ERP software. Construction estimating software provides users with tools that automate data entry, pulls the most up-to-date prices of materials and equipment, and identifies labor and overhead costs. Key Benefits of Construction Estimating Software - Helps draft accurate bids, aids contractors and construction professionals in moving away from time-consuming legacy tools, and instills more confidence in clients - Provides users with tools that automate data entry and retrieval, ensuring accuracy and speed - Reduces the potential for users to misattribute numbers or forget to double-check the availability of a materials - Enables both the easy adjustment of estimates as well as instant takeoffs (generating a list of materials needed for a project) - Tracks any deviations and alerts contractors and clients about changes to the final cost, helping contractors to stay close to the original estimate ### Why Use Construction Estimating Software? Contractors and companies are enabled to bid on more projects and win more clients by utilizing construction estimating solutions. With this software, construction professionals spend less time on calculations and focus on cultivating productive client relationships and building financially sound construction projects. Such software helps reduce manual efforts, allowing users to concentrate on critical labor and project management. Construction estimating software is used in both the pre-construction (“pre-con") and operational stages of the construction project lifecycle. For example, when construction estimating software is used post bid as the project progresses, it keeps track of materials management and ongoing costs and also predicts any potential deviances to the initial estimate. **Reporting —** Most, if not all, construction estimating software generates reports. Those reports range from straightforward estimates to historical project data to predictive business intelligence. Reports equip contractors with more proof of progress and support the need for increasing materials or labor. Additionally, some construction estimating solutions provide access to an industry database of materials and resources, which helps with initial estimate creations. **Speed —** Construction estimating software automates the manual processes that contractors and project managers followed in the past to calculate all costs that a construction project incurs. Construction industry professionals have turned to spreadsheets to offset some of that manual effort, but even spreadsheets are prone to human error and do not necessarily reflect or enable data consolidation. The most compelling reason to use construction estimating software is speed. Increasing estimation speed results in time saved, meaning increased efficiency and productivity. Speed assists in cutting down the number of hours spent on drafting up one or multiple estimates; it also enables users to minimize data duplication, ensure standardization and consistency across countless projects taking place simultaneously, and facilitates collaboration between project owners, project managers, and individual construction industry professionals. **Process consistency —** Additionally, construction estimating software makes processes more consistent, improving the entire construction project lifecycle to help construction businesses scale in the future. With construction estimating software, project managers are enabled to better supervise project progress, delegate responsibilities throughout the entire project lifecycle, and effortlessly review the expenses accrued versus the resulting total profit. ### Who Uses Construction Estimating Software? All types of stakeholders in the construction business use construction estimating software. For construction firms to not exceed budget and resources, they must pull historical project data in addition to analyzing the breadth of the current project via an estimate. While trade-specific estimating software does exist, most general or subcontractors find that the majority of construction estimating solutions fit their needs. ### Kinds of Construction Estimating Software Two specific subsets of construction estimating software include takeoff and bid management. Standalone takeoff and bid management solutions make it easy for smaller construction firms and stakeholders to integrate them with existing solutions and frameworks. Similarly, many construction estimating solutions offer takeoff and bid management functionality within their platform to enable streamlined workflows. **Takeoff —** Takeoff functionality automates the quantification of materials and resources vital to a construction project. Effective takeoff streamlines the entire bidding process and showcases granular costs that a construction project will incur. **Bid management —** Bid management functionality simplifies and automates the manual process of creating and submitting bids, tenders, and proposals that are critical to construction companies for winning projects. ### Construction Estimating Software Features Construction estimating software offers several critical features along with some “nice-to-have" features that are listed below. **Real-time calculations —** Construction calculators automatically estimate or determine the costs of a construction project. Such calculators often have the ability to update costs as a project progresses. **Adjustments to specific or overall bid estimates —** Construction estimating software provides the ability to monitor and update costs and track any alternate or substitute resources used during a project. This feature is helpful for progress tracking. **Blueprint or computer-aided design (CAD) image import and export —** Import and export of an existing or newly created blueprint or CAD image into the construction estimating software is facilitated. **Proposal templates —** Either the software comes prepared with bid proposal templates where users drag and drop data points, or it enables the creation of specialized templates to use in the future. **Proposal generator —** Construction estimating software should be able to pull data from takeoff, the resource cost database, the historical database, and any imported data into an integrated proposal generator. The generator is responsible for efficiently and accurately calculating bids that are submitted as part of a construction proposal. **Takeoff —** With construction estimating software, estimators are able to effectively estimate the quantity of items that are determined necessary from initial blueprints. #### Additional Construction Estimating Features **Historical database —** Construction estimating software provides a built-in solution or access to a database that tracks and monitors the materials used, contractors employed, jobs completed, and other related data of past construction projects. Users leverage the data to better estimate costs, time, and resources spent on similar projects. **Materials and resource cost database(s) —** The software offers a built-in solution or access to a database full of material inventory, along with the cost of those resources. Users are able to pull material prices directly from the database, which is comprehensive and up to date. **Project progress reporting and tracking —** While construction estimating solutions generally do not offer comprehensive project management functionality, these tools may still be able to keep tabs on a construction project in the context of helping users align the initial project estimate with its most current state. Other Features of Construction Estimating Software: [Electrical estimating](https://www.g2.com/categories/construction-estimating/f/electrical-estimating), [Framing estimating](https://www.g2.com/categories/construction-estimating/f/framing-estimating), [HVAC estimating](https://www.g2.com/categories/construction-estimating/f/hvac-estimating), [Mechanical estimating](https://www.g2.com/categories/construction-estimating/f/mechanical-estimating), [Plumbing estimating](https://www.g2.com/categories/construction-estimating/f/plumbing-estimating) ### Trends Related to Construction Estimating Software Mobility and intuitiveness of construction software remain critical in the case of construction estimating software. However, the biggest trend in construction software is the consolidation of solutions. Users (whether they are project owners, general contractors, or any other individual stakeholder) are turning away from a technology stack made up of disconnected products towards a comprehensive ecosystem of solutions. Whether such an ecosystem is an end-to-end platform or connected through a series of seamless integrations and APIs, users want effective tools that make it easy to store, analyze, and share project information and data. Additionally, vendors have realized that both current and prospective buyers centralize all processes around the construction project lifecycle and that the project lifecycle is a fluid one. For example, bid management and construction estimating software can be used across the entire lifecycle, not only during the pre-con process. Construction software has to be able to support such fluid workflows, and vendors are taking note of this rising trend. ### Potential Issues with Construction Estimating Software It is important for business owners and contractors to weigh the pros and cons of investing in construction estimating software. Key stakeholders of a construction company are required to judge if the business has the bandwidth to overcome the pain points of construction estimating software’s learning curve. Other points to note are whether it is financially feasible to adopt new technology and which aspects of the construction project lifecycle they want to streamline, make more efficient, or if they want an entire overhaul. Several issues potentially crop up when deploying and implementing construction estimating software. **Integration —** Compatibility is vital with construction estimating software. For example, if the software refuses to, or is reluctant to integrate with accounting solutions, then it adds an unnecessary step to the construction project lifecycle. The construction estimating software takes care of the financial aspects of a construction project but may fail to integrate with the existing accounting solutions. **Unfamiliarity —** Spreadsheets are common and rampant within the construction industry because of their familiarity among contractors and other stakeholders of a construction business. Additionally, while construction estimating software tries to be as high level as possible, some specialties are too niche for the tool to adequately support. **Cost —** The cost of construction estimating software is more than just the actual cost of the tool. Training, support, and the provision of software updates need to be taken into consideration. Costs of software updates should be considered because if a vendor doesn’t offer regular updates to the product, then a company runs the risk of noncompliance as well as missing out on construction industry trends. ### Software and Services Related to Construction Estimating Software The following solutions can be used in conjunction with construction estimating software to enhance the latter’s functionality, or be used as a supplement to the software throughout the construction project lifecycle: **Construction project management —** [Construction project management software](https://www.g2.com/categories/construction-project-management) provides project owners and managers an industry-specific project management solution to better manage project workflows and enable effective communication between all parties. Many construction project management software is designed to transfer information with construction estimating software. **Bid management —** [Bid management software](https://www.g2.com/categories/bid-management) eases the creation and submittals of request for proposals (RFPs) and request to tenders (RTTs). With bid management software, contractors and project owners automate the task of creating bids, store historical bids for future reference, and enable accountability and visibility of disparate teams. Accurate bids create more accurate construction project estimates. **Construction accounting —** [Construction accounting software](https://www.g2.com/categories/construction-accounting) takes basic accounting software capabilities and specifically tailor them to the construction industry. They provide users with financial management and accounting insights into construction projects and the company as a whole. Construction estimating software feeds into construction accounting solutions to enhance the reporting and management of a construction project’s financial health, and vice versa. **Prequalification —** [Prequalification software](https://www.g2.com/categories/prequalification) and bid management software automates the sourcing of trade workers prior to them being hired onto a construction project. Both these solutions may be used to supplement data that is utilized by construction estimating software. Verified and validated bids lead to a better scope that validates the generation of construction project estimates.