The MTM construction team once relied on 'old-fashioned', time-consuming paper-based methods for estimating project costs but since their switch to the E1 digital commercial construction bidding platform, things have been way smoother.
"This digital platform brings main contractors and sub-contractors together in one spot, and it's a win-win for everyone involved. It has boosted the speed at which our jobs get off the ground. Not only does this save us money but it helps us build those all-important connections in the industry," said Steven Lyons, Estimator at MTM Construction.
Digitising the estimating process has created an easier, quicker and less complex workflow for MTM's estimating team. Now, they can upload project details, share documents, send enquiries, and get quotes from subbies all in one place, simplifying the project bidding process like never before.
The challenges of tendering
"We were relying heavily on spreadsheets and flicking through email address books. This was having a real impact on our work rate and found it was really slowing us down. Close collaboration with other team members and wider stakeholders within the business was also becoming a struggle - we just didn't have the tools for proper communication," said Lyons.
"Working with a smaller team and facing a growing workload, along with the absence of proper systems and processes, made it increasingly difficult to handle incoming projects efficiently and we needed a solution," Lyons continued.
MTM used to manually set up email groups just to shoot out tender requests. That meant deleting contacts they no longer needed, one by one, before hitting send - a long and tedious method that many firms still choose to follow.
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Collaborating with various stakeholders throughout the industry, the estimator is responsible for pricing projects ranging from £1,000 groundwork tasks to multi-pillion pound endeavours. As the MTM estimating team found themselves increasingly pressed for time, they realised they needed a quick-access digital database of subbie contacts to speed up the tendering process.
The streamlined solution
Since integrating E1 in 2023, MTM has been blown away by how much faster their estimation game has become, reporting a remarkable 75% in time-saving hours. Tasks that would previously take two full days to complete can now be done in just a matter of hours, seriously streamlining how they handle enquiries and submissions.
The platform in practice
During the tendering process for the recently completed Ford Hub project in Aberdeen, Scotland, the integration of the E1 platform played a pivotal role in improving the estimation process. Despite the project's complexity, MTM credited the platform for enabling swift adaptation to the specific requirements, effectively generating and distributing enquiries.
"Streamlining our approach in this way helped to simplify document management and ensure prompt subcontractor responses, alleviating those last-minute common anxieties that I have no doubt all estimators will relate to. It's fair to say that without the E1 platform, we wouldn't even be in the running for such large-scale projects." continued Lyons.
Better communication for all
Now, everyone on the MTM estimating team has visibility of each other's work, ensuring there's no duplication of efforts.
If the surveyor has a question, they can find the answer without digging through complex spreadsheets, spending time on lengthy phone calls or going back and forth on email chains.
"The platform has really given us a leg up in the market," said Lyons. "It's made a huge difference in how quickly we can facilitate the tendering process for each project from start to finish.
Having a sub-contractor database makes it far easier to access the exact information needed swiftly. The best part is how everything's centralised, so everyone's in the loop, including stakeholders. Being able to submit our bids on time puts us in a stronger position to win jobs.
Plus, by streamlining our process, we've reduced the need for extra hands on deck, saving the business money too. The E1 platform has been a real win-win for us!"
Simon Herod, International Lead at E1 concluded: "MTM Construction isn't alone in grappling with outdated and time-consuming estimation methods. It's a widespread issue that we're committed to addressing in the industry. We're excited about the enormous potential when it comes to the industry's transition toward digitalisation.
"As a company founded by estimators ourselves, we understand the frustrations often associated with the tendering process, especially the manual rework involved in sending out bids. As our work with MTM Construction demonstrates, E1 confronts these challenges head-on, making the entire process more efficient and user-friendly for everyone involved."
