FINANCE, INSURANCE & SOFTWARE 29
ESTIMATING A FULL RECOVERY
Marcus Jefford of Build Aviator explains how some of the supply challenges faced by housebuilders and developers as a result of Covid can be relieved with the help of intelligent estimating software.
building hasn’t been spared. The number of starts on site dropped an eye-watering 52 per cent between April and June 2020 versus the previous quarter (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) and likewise, the number of completions fell by a massive 62 per cent. While confusion on whether construc- tion workers were able to be on site – and latterly, the challenges of social distanced working – have undoubtedly contributed to these figures, supply and demand has also disrupted our industry enormously. The construction supply chain was
T
particularly hard hit. Some building product manufacturers closed during our initial seven-week lockdown or faced port restrictions leading to a lack of raw materials. When you then add in the challenges of adapting to social distanc- ing, you can see why the Manufacturers’ Organisation predicted it won’t be until 2022 before companies are back to pre- Covid form.
he coronavirus has had a profound effect on every aspect of our daily lives, and unfortunately, house-
So, where does that leave construction
in the meantime? While initially, it was doom and gloom
for our industry, as summer 2020 came we started to see green shoots. Quotes and conversions of quotes increased, and there was, broadly, a sense of optimism. While this rebound was just what our
industry needed, the days of always being able to get the materials or subcontractors you need at the drop of a hat are now few and far between.
FORWARD PLANNING While some in the construction industry have found ways around product avail- ability with clandestine WhatsApp groups for bricks, blocks and plaster, this approach isn’t sustainable. Instead, estimating software could hold the key to many of the challenges we now face as we recover from the pandemic by, amongst other things, enabling better forward planning. The better estimating software available
can help with product availability by integrating with merchant software,
giving a truer picture of lead times, and flagging potential supply issues even before the start of a project. What’s more, as robust estimating
reports also include a schedule of works, you can easily see when you’ll need harder-to-source materials and how much you’ll need, too. This means you can work with your merchant to make sure it’s ordered well in advance and there ready and waiting when you need it.
COMPARISONS But of course, there’s always a time when something you’ve specified just isn’t avail- able. In these instances, estimating software can help too. Some comparison tools created by
construction software providers can show the difference between an original estimate and an amended one, as well as highlight changes that may impact on safety, performance and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). Removing the need to go through a quote line by line and side by side, these tools can save you lots of hassle, help you
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