With rising costs, tighter timelines, and higher owner expectations, the margin for error in today’s construction projects is as thin as ever. Teams increasingly recognize that the best way to prevent issues, overruns, and delays is to curb them with effective planning—also known as preconstruction.
Ironing out the details of a project during preconstruction paves the way for greater predictability and a smoother construction phase. That's why having solid preconstruction teams and processes are foundational to project success.
Another critical component of preconstruction? Your tech stack. The right tools empower your teams to be more efficient so they can more easily carry out their tasks.
Preconstruction technology refers to the tools and software designed to streamline the planning and preparation phases of construction projects. These solutions facilitate cost estimation, scheduling, bid management, and more.
Teams that use preconstruction tools enjoy benefits such as better communication and faster workflows, so they can deliver accurate estimates, solid schedules, and seamless project coordination.
Preconstruction technology benefits multiple areas of the project. These tools can improve collaboration and keep teams on the same page, so there's less room for miscommunication. Technology also enhances accuracy, particularly when it comes to takeoffs and estimating. That way, you can avoid budget overruns and unexpected costs.
These improvements ultimately lead to time and money savings, happier stakeholders, and smoother project delivery.
What preconstruction tools should you invest in? The following solutions can help elevate your tech stack.
Construction document management tools for design and construction centralize essential project files, contracts, and designs to improve organization and streamline collaboration so all team members can access the latest information.
Autodesk's construction document management software centralizes all your data and documents—including designs, forms, and meeting notes—in a single, easy-to-navigate platform. Autodesk Docs keeps you organized with structured folders that make it simple to locate the files you need. And thanks to built-in permission tools, you can control who can access sensitive information without being overly restrictive.
Built for contractors, owners, and design teams, Join is a collaborative project delivery platform that facilitates decision-making for all stakeholders on a construction project. Join integrates with Autodesk Construction Cloud, allowing you to link accepted Items from Join with Potential Change Orders in Autodesk Build, eliminating double entry and ensuring accuracy across project phases.
PermitFlow uses software and local experts to help you prepare permit applications and ensure compliance with regulations. In addition to letting you submit, track, and manage permits on one platform, PermitFlow helps you collaborate with architects, contractors, and stakeholders to avoid bottlenecks and get the project moving faster. Submit, track, and pull permits in PermitFlow directly within your Autodesk Build Insight dashboards.
Built for specialty contractors, TopBuilder has multiple tools to manage the bidding process and analyze bidding performance with advanced analytics for contractors - ContractorBI™. From proposals and bid management to email marketing and construction CRM, TopBuilder brings essential data and tools into one solution so specialty contractors can improve efficiency, get better visibility into their business, and win more work. Electronically capture bid invitations, including any updates made throughout the bidding process, from BuildingConnected Bid Board Pro into TopBuilder.
These bid management tools simplify the process of managing construction RFPs, proposals, and selecting the best contractors.
With a strong network of over 1,000,000 construction professionals, you can find the right partner for every job. With BuildingConnected’s powerful bid management and collaboration tools, owners and contractors can manage bids from start to finish. General contractors can invite and qualify subcontractors for projects and track bid progress in real time. Meanwhile, subs can submit accurate proposals and collaborate with GCs.
ConCntric’s procurement module assists general contractors in the planning and development of project bid packages, providing an instant overview of ongoing work. The platform creates comprehensive bid packages that go beyond traditional documentation, offering dynamic insights into project buyout progress. Each bid package contains a detailed pull plan, along with supporting information, including estimated values, negotiation targets, and comprehensive collateral such as specs, drawings, and scoping documents. The entire bid package generated in ConCntric then syncs into BuildingConnected to distribute to subcontractors. Finally, the awarded values from BuildingConnected sync back into ConCntric to track the planned versus actual costs, keeping the team informed of buyout progress.
RhinoDox hosts bid data, invites, proposals, and job awards. From generating proposals and scope libraries to managing client bidding, RhinoDox streamlines the bidding process while ensuring you never lose track of critical details. The integration with BuildingConnected allows you to import Invitation to Bid data from Bid Board Pro directly into RhinoDox.
ProjectMark is a CRM solution built specifically for general and specialty contractors, designed to simplify preconstruction workflows. Updates made to opportunities in BuildingConnected flow directly into ProjectMark in real time, creating a unified workspace for contracting teams. Beyond managing opportunities, ProjectMark empowers teams to track relationship history, assess internal workforce capacity, and analyze project data, generating actionable insights and tailored reports to drive strategic direction. This ensures contractors are not only prepared for bid meetings but also positioned to win more work while strengthening key relationships.
Construction takeoff and estimation software can assist you in creating precise estimates so you can win more bids.
Create 2D and 3D takeoffs using one solution with Autodesk Takeoff. This cloud-based tool helps you create more accurate estimates faster by digitizing quantity takeoffs, centralizing data, and providing real-time collaboration tools. Plus, you can use takeoff types across 2D and 3D takeoffs, giving your team a unified view of quantities. Additionally, you can apply unit costs to the outputs of 2D and 3D takeoff types, which can help establish rough budgets and estimates. Using the digital comparison process in Autodesk Takeoff, estimators can effortlessly compare project snapshots with current work in progress to quickly identify differences between milestones in takeoff quantities and associated costs, facilitating more data-driven discussions.
Looking to deliver accurate estimates and competitive bids? ProEst has got you covered. Access cost databases to ensure the most updated labor and materials data is incorporated into your bids. Other powerful features include digital takeoffs, bid management, CRM, and reporting—all of which can optimize your estimating process and help you win more work.
Cost and carbon tools help your teams balance budgets with environmental goals so you can build sustainably without compromising efficiency.
One Click LCA is an end-to-end sustainability platform that decarbonizes construction and manufacturing through automated life-cycle assessment (LCA) to reduce environmental impacts of building projects and products. Import 2D or 3D Takeoff packages from Autodesk Takeoff into One Click LCA to automatically detect the materials used in estimations and calculate their environmental impacts.
Sterling makes cost and carbon estimating a breeze. You can leverage the tool to calculate costs and carbon footprints for materials, labor, plant and subcontract resources, making it easier to align projects with budget and sustainability goals. Import 3D models from Autodesk Build or Autodesk Docs into Sterling for efficient quantity take-offs.
This free tool uses Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) data to assess embodied carbon impacts. With Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) tool, you can view how different materials affect the environment and select the most sustainable options to meet your project's green building goals. Just import the project and desired 2D and 3D takeoff quantities from Autodesk Takeoff into EC3 and start choosing materials with the lowest carbon impact.
Bimmatch is an AI-powered solution that automatically connects all contractual obligations documents with your 3D project elements to ensure real-time project compliance. Bimmatch generates Bills of Materials (BOM) from 3D models stored in Autodesk Construction Cloud and analyzes & verifies your project's specific requirements, standards, and budget within your 3D models.
Managing materials, logistics, and deliveries can be tedious. These tools can help you stay organized and save time.
Kojo is an AI-powered system for materials procurement and inventory management. Whether you need to request quotes and create POs or compare pricing and availability, Kojo offers the tools and data you need to get things done with less manual work. Access Kojo directly from your Autodesk Build Insight dashboards.
PLOT aggregates and automates the processes of approving, ordering, and delivering material to jobsites. Autodesk Build submittal items can be synchronized with PLOT’s procurement scheduling tool, streamlining the procurement log workflow typically managed by spreadsheets.
ConstructivIQ is a procurement planning and material tracking system for construction teams. Submittals managed in Autodesk Build can be imported into ConstructivIQ and linked with related materials, equipment, and schedule activities, allowing you to closely monitor which procurement items are at risk, evaluate how they impact schedule activities, and proactively take action to mitigate risk.
Preconstruction technology is transforming how construction teams plan, collaborate, and execute projects. Set up your projects for success by investing in tools that keep your preconstruction workflows running smoothly.
The good news? There are plenty of solutions that can help. Whether managing bids, streamlining takeoffs, or balancing cost and carbon, the tools above can elevate your tech stack and help you get ahead.
