The Issue
Landmark Construction faced several critical challenges in its estimating process by relying on manual spreadsheets and calculations, which made their workflows time-consuming and prone to human error. Estimators were burdened with repetitive administrative tasks, such as constructing crews and inputting data, leaving them with less time to focus on analyzing the details of each project. The complexity of utility work, with its thousands of materials and components, also made it particularly difficult for junior estimators to succeed, leading to steep learning curves and frequent mistakes.
The Solution
To address these challenges, Landmark Construction implemented HeavyBid. The software allowed them to streamline and automate the bidding process while eliminating the need for manual calculations by automating complex formulas and integrating data from multiple sources. This reduced the risk of errors and freed up estimators to focus more on project strategy and less on data entry. For junior estimators, the software provided a more accessible platform to learn and produce accurate bids, even for complex projects, shortening the learning curve and improving overall performance.
The Outcome
- Enhanced bid accuracy and reduced errors by automating calculations and data integration.
- Increased bid-hit ratio by freeing up time to spend analyzing the project and not constructing crews, so the bid goes out in a structured order.
- Improved estimator efficiency as less time is spent on administrative tasks, and more time to focus on analyzing project specifics.
- Higher estimator satisfaction since the reduction in manual workload contributed to higher job satisfaction and better retention of skilled estimators.
“We improve the accuracy of our bids using the HCSS system because it gives us more time. I’m not blowing smoke up your skirts here, folks. We couldn’t bid jobs like we do, with the volume that we do, without HeavyBid. Not even close.”
– Jeff Bailey, Director of Estimating, Landmark Construction
From Bid Accuracy Struggles to Maintaining a Solid Bid-Hit Ratio
Established in 1965, Landmark Construction thrives from its home base in Charleston, South Carolina, and prides itself on their people – great ones – who know how to foster teamwork, overcome challenges, and pursue excellence relentlessly. Before implementing HCSS and becoming a champion of HeavyBid estimating software, a challenge the company was looking to overcome was its struggles with bid accuracy and volume.
Maintaining a solid bid-hit ratio is key for any construction company to succeed financially. Landmark has recently won some massive jobs, from the Charleston International Manufacturing Center Rail project in Goose Creek to the Port 95 Business Park in Dorchester County. Another recent job was Project Connect for a Scout Motors Facility, where they relocated over 24 million cubic yards of earth, a behemoth task requiring 165 pieces of equipment and over 100 field employees.
Landmark is no stranger to scope, and they keep winning big job after big job. Providing the inside scoop is Jeff Bailey, Director of Estimating.
“We’ve been able to improve our bid-hit ratio by using HeavyBid because of the time we can spend analyzing the project and not constructing crews, so [the bid] goes out in a very structured order,” he says.
Landmark is especially proud of the many compliments it receives from private contractors regarding the quality of its bids, including how thorough they are. Ultimately, that quality amounts to trust.
“We’re able to give them a solid breakdown of so many items in a bid,” he continues. “A lot of our competition doesn’t go to that extent, and our customers appreciate it. It helps them compare bids, and quite frankly, it just makes us look more professional that we can send out a bid in a format that they can understand.”
When bids impress clients to this extent, they naturally trust that Landmark understands the job better than anybody. “We’re going to give you the job,” is then the usual response.
“That’s how we get a better hit ratio,” Bailey says with a grin.
Overcoming Labor Shortages and Retaining the Best Estimators
As an estimating director, Bailey is well familiar with the labor shortage in construction, including how difficult it can be to keep the best estimators on staff. HeavyBid helps Landmark retain experienced estimators because they can focus on the actual bids without getting bogged down in the mechanics.
“Some of my guys, they’re not very good with Excel spreadsheets,” Bailey admits. “They would hate their job if they had to manipulate Excel spreadsheets to get their answers every day. They couldn’t be successful doing that.”
When a bid is all set up and ready to go, the estimators at Landmark tick off a list they’re modifying. As part of Landmark’s rigid process, they modify every item and activity. However, the difference is that estimators are now working on what their expertise is.
“They can look at the logic, and that’s the kind of stuff good estimators like to do,” Bailey adds. “More experienced guys, they’ve been here for years. They stick around, and I feel like we made it easy for ‘em to do what they like to do.”
Boosting the Overall Accuracy of Bids
It certainly doesn’t hurt that Landmark Construction has such a good reputation in the industry. They’ve definitely made a name for themselves, and frequently, developers, general contractors, and owners already know the value Landmark can bring to the table.
“We tell our customers we want them to be successful, so they’ll come back and work with us again,” says Bailey. “That’s what we’re about.”
For Landmark, HeavyBid has helped their junior estimators because of all the work put into the front end to set everything up.
“You get into some of the utility work we do; there are thousands of material items,” Bailey says. “A junior guy isn’t going to know all that, especially with the scope of work we cover. So it helps everybody, but especially the junior guys.”
Landmark now has its system set up so that when you get in there, you don’t have to perform a substantial amount of adjusting.
“There are some great tools in HeavyBid with the import and export from Excel. When we were first setting this thing up, our entire codebooks went back and forth to Excel hundreds of times a day. If you take the time to learn it, it’ll save you a ton of time and let you get your codebook set up where you can get to work faster.”
Time is certainly a scarce commodity in the construction field, but it doesn’t have to be.
“We improve the accuracy of our bids using the HCSS system because it gives us more time,” Bailey notes. “I keep repeating that, but we have more time to analyze the bid and not do the mechanics of putting together a spreadsheet or making sure the formulas are right. Once they’re in there, they’re right. They don’t change. You don’t have to worry about it.”
In other words, the person in charge of the takeoff doesn’t have to rush through it. In many cases across the industry, employees would be running out of time because of an abundance of items to input.
“Once the takeoff’s done and it uploads into HeavyBid, it’s like the weight of the world comes off my shoulders,” Bailey says. “I can focus again on letting that takeoff guy go back and make sure he’s got all the fine details. We can get all the solicitations out. We’ve got time to talk to subs and vendors. We’re just ahead of the game, and we have time to put a better bid together.”
Find Out If HeavyBid is Right for Your Team
All in all, it’s entirely fair to say that Jeff Bailey and his Landmark Construction estimating team are officially dyed-in-the-wool champions for HeavyBid.
“I’m not blowing smoke up your skirts here, folks,” he says. “I’m telling you the truth. I’ll tell anybody. We couldn’t bid jobs like we do, with the volume that we do, without HeavyBid. Not even close.”
Ready to speak with a product expert about quickly enhancing your estimating process? A comprehensive, technology-driven solution to your biggest problems awaits. Explore HeavyBid today!
