In short:
- Why is fast construction estimating critical today? According to FMI’s Labor Productivity Study, less than a fourth of construction organizations reported productivity improvements. With estimators facing tighter deadlines and heavier workloads, faster estimating helps teams submit more bids and stay competitive.
- How does technology remove bottlenecks in construction estimating? Grand View Research forecasts a 10.2% annual growth in the construction estimating software market from 2025 to 2030. AI-powered takeoff tools, such as Takeoff Boost™, and connected estimating software automate repetitive tasks and reduce errors.
- Where do tools like ConstructConnect® Project Intelligence, On-Screen Takeoff® with Takeoff Boost™, and Quick Bid® fit in? Project Intelligence identifies the right projects quickly, On-Screen Takeoff + Takeoff Boost accelerates takeoffs, and Quick Bid helps you complete fast, accurate estimates.
- What best practices help estimators improve speed and accuracy? Automate repetitive tasks, standardize takeoff and estimating workflows, review estimates carefully with help from software, and keep data connected across the entire preconstruction process.
- Where is construction estimating headed in the future? AI, cloud tools, and integrated project data are automating tedious tasks, making estimating faster, more collaborative, and more accurate, while human expertise remains essential.
Estimating Under Pressure
Every estimator is fighting the same battle: you’re asked to turn around more bids, in less time, with fewer people. Every day, the work just keeps coming.
Manual takeoff and scattered tools slow everything down. In today’s market, slow is a liability. Projects move fast, competitors move even faster, and the teams that win are the ones that work efficiently.
Why Fast Construction Estimating Matters More Than Ever
Speed has become a critical advantage in estimating, and the data backs it up.
Only 23% of construction organizations saw productivity improvements in the last 12–18 months (FMI’s 2023 Labor Productivity Study).
The construction estimating software market is projected to grow at 10.2% annually from 2025 to 2030 (Grand View Research).
When productivity drops, and workloads rise, manual processes just can’t keep pace. That’s why reliable technology is becoming the determining factor between winning and losing profitable work.
How Construction Estimating Software Speeds Up Bids
The biggest drag on estimating speed isn’t skill. It’s the busywork.
ConstructConnect removes that drag by connecting three major parts of the workflow:
- Finding the right projects
- Completing takeoff quickly and accurately
- Building tight estimates and professional proposals
Here’s how each part works.
Use ConstructConnect Project Intelligence to Find and Track Construction Projects
Slow estimating often starts before a takeoff even begins. Quickly finding projects worth bidding on or skipping can change your entire timeline.
Project Intelligence gives you:
- Access to 825,000+ public and private commercial projects across 400+ markets
- Real-time updates and detailed project insights
- Easy filtering to quickly spot the right opportunities
- The ability to send plans directly into On-Screen Takeoff
You get current, verified project data gathered by ConstructConnect’s in-house research team, so you spend less time hunting for information and more time actually bidding.
Reduce Takeoff Time with On-Screen Takeoff and AI-Powered Takeoff Boost
Takeoff can be the most time-intensive part of estimating (and also the most repetitive).
On-Screen Takeoff (OST)is already the industry’s go-to digital takeoff tool, but Takeoff Boost levels it up with AI capabilities that can:
- Auto-count objects
- Auto-measure areas and linear items
- Process a page in as little as 30 seconds
- Run on up to five pages at once
This feature alone can cut takeoff time by up to 95%.
It doesn’t replace your expertise. It just gives you more time to breathe.
With the tedious parts handled, you can shift your focus to reviewing results, catching errors, and pricing more strategically.
Build Accurate Bids Faster with Quick Bid®
Once the quantities are set, Quick Bid helps you assemble accurate estimates without wrestling with spreadsheets.
You can:
- Pull in your takeoff directly from OST
- Manage material pricing with integrated supplier quotes
- Track labor, subs, markups, and indirect expenses
- Generate professional, consistent proposals
It brings consistency and speed to a part of the process that can easily get messy under tight deadlines.
Benefits of Faster Construction Estimating
More Bids Submitted
When takeoff goes from days to minutes, you can pursue more opportunities without adding more burnout.
“If it’s taking me 10 minutes to do a wall takeoff, Boost has it completed in 30 seconds to a minute. If I can rely on Takeoff Boost, that’s a no brainer, that’s extremely fast compared to what I can do.”
Zach Batson, Estimator, Zook Interiors
More Accurate Numbers
Automation reduces the human error that contributes to cost overruns.
“Corners have gotten cleaner and crisper with Takeoff Boost, takeoffs and soffits are being picked up better, and wall tags have improved. It’s continuing to develop and helps my case for implementing this technology across our teams.”
Shane Mills, Estimating Manager, KLOVER Contracting
Greater Competitiveness
You’re not just fast. You’re also confident in your numbers.
“We’ve seen real impact—our team bids faster, makes fewer mistakes, and has more time to think strategically. AI didn’t take over our jobs; it took over the grunt work.”
Raal Alkass, Director of Preconstruction, Central Ceilings Inc.
Less Chaos, More Consistency
When project data, takeoff, and estimating live in one connected workflow, you remove the gaps and missteps that eat time.
“Takeoff Boost frees up my time so I can focus on the critical project details that really matter – ensuring nothing gets missed on our bids.”
Sheri Winslow, Lead Estimator, AKS Interior Systems
Construction Estimating Best Practices for Speed and Accuracy
- Automate wherever possible, especially in takeoffs, where AI can eliminate hours of repetitive work.
- Use a systematic takeoff approach to reduce missed materials or quantities.
- Standardize your estimating workflow to avoid errors and improve repeatability.
- Give yourself more time for review. Fast tools free you to double-check the details that matter.
- Keep everything connected, from project discovery to proposal.
The Future of Construction Estimating
AI, cloud tools, and integrated data are reshaping estimating. The work will always need human judgment, but the tedious parts are rapidly becoming optional.
ConstructConnect is continuing to invest in AI, research, and user experience so estimators can move faster, make better decisions, and win more profitable projects without sacrificing accuracy.
If your current workflow still feels slow, manual, or patched together, this is the moment to rethink how you work, because speed is no longer a luxury. It’s the new competitive advantage.
Ready to give your takeoff and estimating process a boost? Schedule a demo today to see what our preconstruction software can do for you.
