Beam AI vs Sketchdeck

Still Using Sketchdeck.ai? You’re Doing the Work Twice.

Beam AI Takeoff Software does takeoffs for you, covering the entire steel scope, including structural, architectural, misc., steel, and 16+ key trades.

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The ONLY AI steel takeoff software that does the heavy lifting for you

Complete AI-based takeoff software: Why Beam AI Wins for Steel Estimators

Beam AI

Sketchdeck

Complete steel takeoffs

Limited to basic beams and columns only

Joist coverage

Not supported

Miscellaneous steel coverage

Not supported

Connection detailing

Limited connection analysis

Finish details

Not available

Export options(Excel, PDF, etc.)

Seeing something inaccurate? Let us know

Why is Beam AI the best Workpack alternative?

Sketchdeck

Beam AI

Complete steel takeoffs

Limited to basic beams and columns only

Joist coverage

Not supported

Miscellaneous steel coverage

Not supported

Connection detailing

Limited connection analysis

Finish details

Not available

Export optionsExport options(Excel, PDF, etc.)

Seeing something inaccurate? Let us know

Why Beam AI is the best Sketchdeck.ai alternative for steel estimators

Spend more time coordinating with your customer and vendors

Takeoffs fully automated for you

Sketchdeck.ai uses AI to detect a few quantities like beams and columns, but takeoffs require manual corrections and review. Beam AI delivers complete, bid-ready steel takeoffs that are validated by professional estimators before delivery.

Spend more time coordinating with your customer and vendors

Reclaim 90% of time spent on steel takeoffs

Beam AI delivers estimator-approved results within 24–72 hours, freeing up days you would otherwise spend validating incomplete outputs. Let AI auto-detect specs, notes, and summaries to make assumptions.

Save 90% time with done-for-you concrete takeoffs

Built for complete steel scope - plus more

Beam AI covers the entire steel package, from structural to architectural and miscellaneous steel, including joists, plates, railings, anchoring, and 15+ more trades. Sketchdeck.ai offers partial takeoff outputs with just beams and columns.

See what our customers have to say

How does Beam AI help businesses save 90% of the time, increase bid volume by 30%, and secure more projects? Hear directly from our customers about their success.

"With Beam AI, we’ve doubled our revenue from $6M to $12M and cut our bid turnaround from five days to just two. Beam AI has been exceptionally helpful!"

John C Meyer

Project Manager & Business Development Services, Legacy Companies, Inc

"With Beam AI, we’re saving up to a full day on large projects, increasing bid volume, and improving turnaround time. We’ve submitted 50 more bids in just 6 months, and focused more on estimating, project management, and team expansion!"

Ryan Meers

Estimator/Project Manager, Bommarito Construction

Beam AI has proven to us that their AI is more than capable of handling the most complicated and detailed takeoffs beyond perfection... They take it to a level of art. The Takeoff presentation is so stunning I want to print out large scale reproductions to hang around the office so I can admire their architectural beauty all day long. We are BEAM believers!

Bram Bessoff

ADG Services

Using Beam AI's automated takeoff software has significantly improved our estimating process. It has allowed me to keep up with the 3 to 4 invitations and prepare more bids than my competitors. We have already begun to see our first successful bid with Beam - which we wouldn't have won without it.

Philip Butler

CEO, Spalding Concrete Company

"With Beam AI, we’re saving 2 days of work each week. Our bid volume has doubled, our win rate has skyrocketed, and we’ve grown from $900K to $2M in just a couple of months!"

Bryan Ramirez

Senior Estimator, Rays Stairs Inc.

Beam AI has been a game-changer for the business with its accurate, auto-generated takeoffs that keep my bids competitive. Their support team is incredibly responsive and ensures any issue is resolved quickly. I couldn’t recommend them more!

Steve Conley

Omnia Site Management

Beam AI has been fantastic, allowing me to focus more on reviewing every detail and specification instead of doing the takeoffs. It makes the bidding process more efficient, eliminates errors, and improves the accuracy of each deliverable.

Irana Perez

Estimator, Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors Inc.

Beam AI's automated takeoff software has streamlined our takeoff process, saving time and improving accuracy. I can now handle more bids than ever, and the seamless support made the transition easy.

Josh Tuttle

Senior Project Manager, Builders Stone and Supply

Beam AI delivers accurate takeoffs, ensuring no hassle in estimating, which has simplified our bidding process. It's a game-changer for contractors across all trades, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

David Smith

Impressions in Concrete Inc.

Beam AI has drastically reduced our bidding time, enabling us to take on more bids with fewer estimators. The team’s support has been exceptional, and we’re excited to see where this partnership takes us.

Dylan Wiman

Rocky Mountain Steel

Beam AI has been instrumental in streamlining our bidding process. Their dedicated team and excellent communication have made it easier for us to meet tight deadlines, providing much-needed relief during busy periods. We’re confident in the bright future ahead with Beam AI and truly appreciate the outstanding work they do.

Brent Wright

Senior Estimator

With significantly less time spent on takeoffs, we can focus on other critical aspects of the project—getting pricing from suppliers, checking material availability, and ensuring bid competitiveness.

Laura De Sanctis

Assistant Director, JBG Flooring and Installation Ltd.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Beam AI, and how does it differ from Sketchdeck.ai?

Beam AI is a complete AI-based takeoff software that automates steel takeoffs across 16+ trades. Unlike Sketchdeck.ai, which only identifies basic quantities like beams and columns and requires significant manual corrections, Beam AI delivers fully automated, bid-ready takeoffs that are reviewed by expert estimators before delivery.

What are the main benefits of using Beam AI over Sketchdeck.ai?

Beam AI offers full coverage across structural, architectural, and miscellaneous steel, including joists, plates, anchors, and railings. It supports connection detailing, finish differentiation, and multiple export formats. Most importantly, Beam AI drastically reduces estimator effort and turnaround time, delivering takeoffs in 24–72 hours with minimal need for manual validation.

What types of trades does Beam AI support?

Unlike Sketchdeck ai, Beam AI supports takeoffs for 16+ trades, covering the entire steel package—structural, architectural, and miscellaneous. This includes beams, columns, joists, lintels, plates, stairs, railings, anchors, stiffeners, and more.

Can users customize their takeoff reports in Beam AI?

Yes, you can! Beam AI not only automates your takeoffs but also gives you complete control to customize and edit them across multiple trades simultaneously. You can easily customize your takeoff using built-in editing tools, and our detailed report feature lets you see and edit all measurements in one place.

Beam AI supports multiple export options, including Excel, annotated PDFs, view-only links, and detailed sheets. You can also define your scope of work upfront, and every takeoff is reviewed by a professional estimator to ensure accuracy before delivery.

How can I get started with Beam AI?

Getting started is simple:
‍
• Upload your site plans in PDF format.
• Define your scope of work.
• Submit the project for AI processing.
• Receive your estimator-reviewed, bid-ready takeoff within 1–3 days.

You can book a free demo to see it in action and even get your first takeoff done at no cost.

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