OdehaEstimating, bidding and securing construction projects is a complex process involving coordination between contractors, suppliers, owners and more. Modern mobile apps bring structure and efficiency to all parties. Let’s explore top purpose-built options.
The Construction Bidding Process
To understand mobile app benefits, let’s overview typical workflow:
– Owners release public bid documents detailing project requirements.
– Contractors evaluate plans and specs, sometimes doing on-site takeoffs.
– Teams prepare highly-detailed line-item estimates factoring labor, materials and equipment.
– Binding bids are submitted before a deadline, usually by mail or in-person.
– Owner reviews all bids, often with construction manager, and awards contract.
– Extensive paperwork and communications are required throughout this phase.
Apps streamline these exchanges to win more bids on tighter deadlines.
Evaluating Contractor Bidding Apps
Key features to consider in a bidding app solution include:
– Digital bid document access and markups on plans for remote takeoffs.
– Material quantity surveying tools linked to vendor pricing updates.
– Labor and equipment cost database lookups for fast assemblies.
– Templated estimate formatting for consistency and accuracy.
– Secure digital bid submission with automatic attachment packaging.
– Communication portals to ask questions and receive addendums.
– Integrations with accounting platforms for invoicing on contract awards.
With new projects requiring bids daily, optimized mobile workflows save hours.
Popular Construction Bidding Apps
Top apps used by contractors include:
– Esticator – full-featured with estimating, bidding, and job management modules.
– PlanSwift – option for takeoffs and estimates directly on scanned plans.
– Procore Estimating – integrated with Procore’s platform for seamless project handoff.
– Stack Estimating – simple interface tailored for quick material takeoffs.
– Sage Estimating – powerful solution from Sage with accounting integrations.
– On Center – full service which also handles public bid searches and document access.
Research offerings to select the best specialty, team size and ecosystem fit factors.
Implementing Contractor Bidding Apps
For successful app deployment:
– Designate an admin to configure templates, cost databases and user profiles.
– Train employees during paid workshops on estimating best practices.
– Push estimating to the field with offline access for remote plan reviews.
– Integrate with accounting software to streamline from estimate to job costing.
– Benchmark workflows quarterly and solicit feedback for process improvements.
Proper onboarding paired with continuous optimization ensures apps pay off in more bids won over the long run.
Perspectives from Owners & Suppliers
Bidding apps impact all parties when adopted broadly:
– Owners gain real-time bid tracking and secure digital submissions on any device.
– General contractors access deeper subcontractor and supplier networks.
– Subcontractors bid more projects competitively thanks to app estimating aids.
– Material suppliers plug APIs to stay connected with job requirements.
As the industry embraces mobile, purpose-built construction bidding apps raise productivity across stakeholders throughout the process. Strategic usage cuts costs and complexity for all.
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