London, UK - 17th October 2024 - Sterling is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest innovation, Smart Builder, a revolutionary tool designed to transform the estimating process for cost and carbon management within the construction industry. This new functionality will enable our users to determine the best approach to suit their project needs by linking various project structures and employing an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. After years of grappling with the limitations of traditional estimating solutions, our dedicated team, alongside invaluable input from our advisory groups, has developed a tool that simplifies the creation of Cost Plans, Bills of Quantities, and Estimates.
Steve Brunning, CEO of Sterling DCS, stated, “At Sterling, we believe that simplicity should drive performance. Smart Builder embodies our commitment to providing powerful tools that enhance the estimator's experience while maintaining the integrity of complex data. By avoiding the constant flipping between processes, users can now copy one, many, or entire preferred structures seamlessly. The team has extended this functionality to allow for easy switching between structures and resources at any time, which will save a significant amount of time and reduce errors. This feature not only reduces friction in the estimating process but also empowers users to take control of their projects with confidence.”
A New Era of Estimating
Smart Builder empowers users to employ asset structures, such as buildings, and nest multiple breakdown structures beneath them. This capability brings clarity and organisation to the estimating process, allowing users to view their projects holistically while also drilling down into granular details as needed.
Key features of Smart Builder include:
- Rapid Cost Plan Formulation: The tool allows users to quickly select their preferred structures, enabling them to quantify and price at any level with remarkable efficiency. This rapid formulation of cost plans is critical in today’s fast-paced construction environment, where timely and accurate estimates are essential.
- Effortless Validation: Users can easily drag and drop individual lines, groups, or entire sections of NRM2 into their cost plans, complete with their IDs for validation against relevant rule sets. This feature not only simplifies the validation process but also enhances accuracy, reducing the potential for errors.
- Simplified Resource Selection: Smart Builder streamlines the selection of multiple resources and complex resource pricing, allowing users to accomplish these tasks in one straightforward process. This capability is particularly beneficial for estimators managing diverse resources across multiple projects.
- Transparency in Merging Cost Estimates: With Smart Builder, users can establish the project structure at the top level, applying NRM1 for quantifying and pricing at any level. As project details evolve, users can integrate a comprehensive array of NRM2, SMM7, and, when appropriate, CESSM structures within a single solution. This fosters transparency and consistency across the estimating process.
- Customisable Reporting Structures: Understanding that each project has unique reporting requirements, Smart Builder offers the ability to pivot estimates to preferred reporting formats. This ensures that stakeholders can access data in the manner that best suits their needs, promoting informed decision-making.
- Intuitive Design: Recognising the challenges that estimators face with existing solutions, Smart Builder has been designed to be exceptionally intuitive. By eliminating the need for multiple windows or forms, this feature transforms a typically cumbersome task into a simple, efficient workflow, allowing estimators to focus on what truly matters—delivering accurate estimates that drive project success.
James Hunter, CTO of Sterling DCS, added, “We are delighted to launch Smart Builder. Our goal was to create a solution that bridges the gap between simplicity and powerful functionality. With Smart Builder, we are enabling our users to formulate accurate estimates efficiently, paving the way for more sustainable construction practices. The feedback we’ve received during the testing phase has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing our belief that Smart Builder will set a new standard in the industry.”
The Future of Estimating
The launch of Smart Builder is more than just the introduction of a new feature; it represents a significant milestone in Sterling’s mission to revolutionise the construction estimating landscape. By leveraging advanced technology and user-centric design, Smart Builder aims to address the ongoing challenges faced by estimators and project managers in the construction industry.
As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, Sterling will also provide ongoing support and resources to help users maximise their experience with Smart Builder. This includes training sessions & webinars, to ensure that all users can take full advantage of the capabilities Smart Builder has to offer.
About Sterling DCS: Sterling DCS is at the forefront of technological advancements in construction, providing a comprehensive suite of tools for cost and carbon estimating, take-off, package management, and lifecycle management. The company is dedicated to sustainability, offering unique carbon estimating tools that allow users to assess and minimise the environmental impact of their projects. As part of our ongoing work to create a sustainable construction solution ecosystem, we are delivering new integrations on a monthly basis. Sterling is already integrated with several construction platforms, including the Autodesk Construction Cloud and Building Transparency’s EC3 Tool.
