Why Estimators Can’t Ignore AI Any Longer

When people ask what my typical day looks like as an estimator, I usually smile and say, “How much time do you have?”

Between digging through specs, chasing vendors, and racing against deadlines, most of my day used to get eaten up by one thing: takeoffs. On large projects with multiple revisions, I’d spend hours measuring and double-checking quantities, time that I knew could’ve been better spent figuring out how to win the job.

And that’s exactly why I believe we’ve reached a turning point in preconstruction.

The Reality No One Talks About

We’ve digitized a lot of the construction process, scheduling, project management, and even safety workflows, but preconstruction still operates like it’s 2005. I’ve used five different tools just to get one bid out: spreadsheets for pricing, takeoff software for measurements, emails for RFQs, and more. None of them talk to each other, and all of it slows us down.

Even finding the right bid opportunities is a whole job in itself. By the time I’m done identifying a potential project and getting the takeoff done, I’m already behind on three others.

I Used to Be Skeptical About AI - Now I’m a Believer

Like many in the field, I was skeptical when I first heard about AI in estimating. Could a machine really understand construction documents the way I do? Would it get the details right? Would it replace what I bring to the table?

What I’ve learned is this: AI isn’t here to replace us. It’s here to give us time back.

Now, instead of starting every takeoff from scratch, I review AI-generated ones. That shift alone has opened up hours in my week. And what do I do with that time? I strategize. I analyze competitors. I build stronger relationships with clients and vendors. I focus on asking better questions, the kind that can make a difference between winning a bid or losing it.

AI Helped Me Win While I Wasn’t Even in the Office

Two months ago, I was attending a full-week conference in Houston. At the same time, I had bids due. Thanks to AI takeoffs that Beam AI had completely done for me, I came back to the office with everything ready to go. Not only did I get the bids in on time, but I also won one of those jobs. That would’ve been impossible with a traditional process.

Where We’re Headed in Construction Estimating

I genuinely believe that by 2030, estimators won’t be doing takeoffs manually. AI won’t just generate quantities, it’ll surface strategic insights, flag constructability issues, and uncover cost-saving opportunities well before bid day. 

In fact, I’ve already seen this shift in action. One of our clients shared plans even before they were officially released. And we realized we could lower the entire site by two feet, dramatically reducing import fill and improving our bid position.

That kind of pre-bid intelligence is where our profession is headed. Estimators will evolve into true preconstruction strategists combining technical know-how with market awareness, client needs, and site-specific factors like soil conditions. 

Instead of spending hours tracing PDFs, we’ll spend that time refining strategy, reducing risk, and winning work. That’s where the value is going next.

If You’re Still on the Fence About AI Takeoff Software

Start small. Try AI on one project. Let your team experience what it’s like to focus on the meaningful parts of their job, not just the mechanical ones. In my experience, once you get that time back, you’ll never want to go back.

And one last thing: AI doesn’t reduce the value of an estimator. It reveals it.