January 2023 Newsletter

Happy New Year

Wishing y’all the best of everything throughout the year!

This newsletter provides insight into Vertigraph, its products and the takeoff and estimating marketplace. If you have any questions or thoughts, please contact us at 214-340-9436 (800-989-4243 US and Canada), support@vertigraph.com or thru our website at www.vertigraph.com.

The following topics are covered in this newsletter:

• Vertigraph Awards and recognition
• Changes in the cost to license SiteWorx/OS
• Site Excavation Takeoff Software and Machine Control Equipment
• BIM and quantity takeoff
• The importance of quantity takeoff
• Explore the various White Papers found at www.vertigraph.com
• Software Videos

Vertigraph Awards and recognition

Vertigraph, a pioneer in the development of quantity takeoff software for the construction industry, continues to receive recognition and awards.

Vertigraph and its BidScreen XL and SiteWorx/OS software were noted on Construction Executive’s highly regarded 2022 Top Construction Technology Firms Listing. To view listings click here.

Construction Executive, since first being published by the ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors trade association) is the leading source for news, market developments and business issues impacting the construction industry. Click here for the full press release.

Earlier in the year, Vertigraph’s SiteWorx/OS version 10 software won a Top 100 New Product award from Construction Equipment magazine, a publication that is considered the most authoritative equipment publication in the industry.

Late last year, Vertigraph was also named an award winner as the best takeoff and estimating software company by New World Report, a business news platform that recognizes the efforts of pioneers and disruptors of modern technology.

We thank all of our employees and stakeholders for contributing to our success.

Changes in the cost to license SiteWorx/OS

In reviewing the licensing costs for site excavation software (Click here to see the analysis), we learned that SiteWorx/OS was way too inexpensive when comparing it’s features and price to all of the other, often inferior, solutions available. We would have liked to maintain our low price, but with inflation and due to the competition and contractors’ perceptions we have decided that on April 1, 2023, the price of a SiteWorx/OS perpetual license will increase from $1,950 to $2,795 and the cost of the annual license shall increase from $850 to $1,295. This new pricing better reflects the quality of the SiteWorx/OS software solution. As a result, if you are thinking about implementing or changing software for calculating cut and fill volumes, licensing the SiteWorx/OS software before April 1, 2023 will save you money.

If you’re exploring the benefits and costs of takeoff software, please contact us at any time and we’ll provide you a live web demo of our software’s competitive advantages.

Site Excavation Takeoff Software & Machine Control Equipment

When excavating most sites, machine control equipment provides a competitive advantage by requiring less man hours, machine hours and fuel to complete the project. Normally, you won’t over excavate with machine control equipment. The leading vendors for machine control equipment are Trimble, Topcon and Lycia. Interesting, all of these companies offer quantity takeoff software and they do their best to sell you their flavor of takeoff software. It is our understanding that you do not need their excessively priced takeoff software to create machine control models. If your takeoff software automatically creates line files as a DXF or DWG file and the surface models as a DWG or XML file, you can use any takeoff software, include SiteWorx/OS, to create the machine control models without purchasing expensive and cumbersome takeoff software from the machine control equipment vendors. Many contractors use takeoff software that’s from a different company than the software used to create the machine control models. A lot of machine control models are created directly from the AutoCad file, not from their takeoff software. Also, the individual creating the takeoff is usually a different person than the individual creating the machine control models. The takeoff professional must be fast and accurate; bidding work is the key. The person creating the models, after winning the job, is generally much more detailed oriented and methodical. Based on the above, bidding the jobs is critical to success. After winning the bid, using machine control models to manage the equipment will save you time and money. In summary, the software to takeoff and estimate the project can be the same or is frequently different than the software used to create the machine control models. Takeoff software should stand on its own, and should enable your estimating professionals to complete bids quickly, easily, affordably and accurately. We know you’ll find that SiteWorx/OS is the best software for automating the takeoff process in comparison with all of the other solutions available.

Click here to download a 14 day evaluation of SiteWorxOS Version 10 now.

BIM and quantity takeoff

The ideal world is where the designer (i.e., Architect) develops a BIM model that contains a detail listing of materials and quantities. This information is then provided to the contractors who will no longer need to create a quantity takeoff. Estimating and bidding will be easier, quicker and more consistent since everybody involved is using the same, correct quantities.

The reality is that designers have never provided quantities. Historically, the quantity takeoff has been the responsibility of the contractor. Who has the liability for any mistakes in the takeoff is the big issue. Unless the liability for mistakes can be shifted from the contractor to the designer, it appears the contractor will continue to be responsible for creating an accurate takeoff. Due to legal liabilities and corporate structures, it appears BIM models with quantities will not be provided to the contractor until the contractor controls the design. We believe that for BIM to be fully implemented where quantities are provided, the designer and contractor can’t be pointing fingers and they need to be one entity known as a design/builder. The corporate structure must change where one entity (the design/builder) not only builds but also designs the project. When one entity has responsibility for the design and construction, BIM models with quantities may become a reality.

The importance of quantity takeoff

Creating a proper takeoff of materials, labor and equipment is essential for an accurate estimate. The takeoff process for most trades involves measuring items from the drawings and then applying calculations to these measurements to arrive at the takeoff quantity. Estimating is applying prices to these quantities. An inaccurate takeoff will generate an improper estimate. In our view, the quantity takeoff is the activity that takes the most time, is subject to the most errors and is the most important part of generating a reasonable estimate. It is also the easiest activity to automate or computerize. When automating any estimating process, the takeoff software utilized is the key to success. And its integration with estimating software, such as Excel, is also important. For those documenting their takeoff is Excel, look at BidScreen XL for an affordable, easy to use program that documents the measurements directly in any Excel workbook. For site excavation takeoffs, SiteWorx/OS is affordable, easy to us and accurate.

Explore the various White Papers found at vertigraph.com

We believe that providing prospects and customers with clear, no-nonsense information is always the best way to do business. Many software vendors do not readily provide pricing, working software for evaluation or software tutorials. Talking to a slick salesperson may be required to obtain product information from other suppliers. Various informative and educational white papers are available from Vertigraph’s News section.

White Papers of interest include:

Automating the Takeoff and Estimating Process

Best practices for calculating cut and fill quantities

It is all about Productivity

File types – raster and vector files

The strange history of the takeoff and estimating software marketplace

Why BidScreen XL is the best takeoff software available

Listing of Available Takeoff Software for Site Excavation

Vertigraph Software Videos & Product Information

Presentation Video of SiteWorx/OS

Presentation Video of BidScreen XL

 

Please note the following information found on Vertigraph’s website:

To install and use working, evaluation software, click here.

The price to license our software is located here.

To purchase a software license, click here.

Click here for training videos.

Printed PDF tutorial document for SiteWorx/OS is presented by clicking here.

How to use BidScreen XL tutorial document is available by clicking here.

In closing, we again wish everybody good health, good fortune and the best of everything in the years ahead. Thank you for reading our newsletter. If you have any questions or seek any information whatsoever regarding the takeoff and estimating process and the software available, please visit us at www.vertigraph.com or call us in the US at 800.989.4243 or 214.340.9436.

Vertigraph, Inc.
Dallas, TX
214-340-9436
800-989-4243 (US & Canada)
support@vertigraph.com
www.vertigraph.com

Authorized Resellers:

P&D Online Ltd United Kingdom www.takeoffsoftware.com
Interworld Electronics Computer Industries Inc. Canada www.interworldna.com