Over 20 years ago the construction industry became more
efficient thanks to the introduction of computerized technology. In its early
days, this new computer technology was very expensive which made it difficult
for the average construction professional to access. Through the years more and
more companies emerged with new tech that was faster than its previous
counterpart and thanks to that continued growth, the price also became more
affordable. Suddenly, everyone could use their digitizer board and computer to
complete a takeoff and estimate quicker than doing it by hand. Next came the
launch of digital takeoff solutions that no longer required you to have to
print your plans and therefore allowing a tremendous cost savings that helped
every contractor’s bottom line. These products offered a familiar feel that was
easy to process and helped ensure a level of accuracy far better than methods
of the past. Digital takeoff solutions could allow users to easily calculate basic
area, linear and counts for any type of project, residential or commercial.
Only one drawback was still evident; there was no easy way to share completed
projects to help improve collaboration amongst team members. Desktop takeoff
and estimating software was the best you could get at the time to complete a
job.
It wasn’t until late 2014, with the
release of technology such as HTML5, did the industry start to realize that the
next step in the evolution of takeoff and estimating was about to happen. Suddenly,
online takeoff™ and estimating solutions could now be built with cloud
technology. This would usher such a change that by simply sharing a project,
would improve and change the model of how a company did business. No longer
being trapped by a desktop only solution, companies started to collaborate at a
level never thought of before. From being able to walk a site with a mobile
device and adjust and make changes that are instantly shared with all parties
involved, to simply being able to access your job from anywhere in the world. Never
again being confined to one operating system, thanks to modern technology you
can work from Windows, Apple iOS, Android or any platform where you can access
the web. Since this change, companies such as Square Takeoff™ have chosen to
leave the world of desktop technology behind and have successfully launched
into what the future has in store through the use of the cloud. So why not step
away from the past and take a new step forward into a future with a level of
potential that is only starting to be realized.
