'A system that minimizes the time and effort taken to develop an estimate for any type or size of project whilst providing maximum control and flexibility'

EstimaX is a generic project estimating system designed around methods used for large construction projects although it is applicable in any organisation for jobs of any size. The system also includes extra efficiency features when using QuantimaX for projects involving extensive fabrication of piping. 

The system is designed to:

EstimaX is used to build project estimates with work or material items structured in sections and sub-sections. Items are entered at "cost" rates and then standardised, uplift percentages are applied relevant to the type of item to calculate basic "sale" rates. Allowances can be applied to add "pad" quantities and further mark-up adjustments may be applied at the various levels in the estimate and all the totals are immediately recalculated and displayed. A lump sum addition or reduction (discount) can also be applied to an Estimate.

When the estimate information has been compiled, EstimaX can produce a professional, itemised tender submission document including your quoted prices with any qualification notes and, if required, it is straightforward to transfer data in electronic format for loading into other systems. A number of standard reports are incorporated; one of these is a "management", working document for a hard copy check of the estimate showing basic costs as well as quoted prices together with details of any pad and mark-up enhancements applied.

EstimaX features the ability to pre-build standardised groups of items referred to as a "spread" that may easily be copied in as an estimate item. An example of using a "spread" may be the daily cost for a work boat where individual rates can be entered for each of the crew, the various equipment hire /rental costs and consumables. Standardised basic uplift percentages are applied to items and the system calculates the total for the "spread" to give a daily cost rate and daily selling rate for the vessel. In a similar manner, frequently repeated sets of work activities can be built up as standard spreads to give a rate for any relevant unit of measure. There is no limit to the use of the spread features in construction, manufacturing, services; in fact any business sector needing to tender / bid for jobs or to establish sound estimated budgets for in-house projects.

A "price" catalogue is included as an integral component in EstimaX allowing items to be priced very quickly, easily and consistently. The price catalogues are simple to maintain with item prices being applied according to time period validity. Facilities are included so that information can be loaded from other sources to maintain any number of price sets as may be appropriate and can encompass labour, hire/rental and materials. The prices are maintained in your "base" working currency and, with the simple maintenance of the exchange rate tables, estimates can be compiled in any currency and conversions are fully automated.

Functions are included to import estimate information and a framework is provided to automate a lot of the work involved in estimates for very large construction projects. For example, it is quite straightforward to import basic Bill of Material lists from drawing takeoffs, obtain the purchase prices and then generate items with cost / sale rates.

EstimaX is designed to operate as a modular component within existing company systems and, most significantly, to apply item cost allocation to the normal company cost codes. Features are included to allow controlled synchronisation of cost codes with standard chart of account tables.

"Classification", "type" and user definable references can be applied to enable data analysis. They are included with other criteria on list selection facilities allowing rapid access to information.

Additional time saving features are included, with automated data imports, when incorporated with QuantimaX, a MatriX component used for material quantity takeoff including the application of work "norms" to generate activity man-hours and costs.

For successful tenders, there is the capability to generate information to establish budgets in a project control system. Also, an option is provided that can enable "actual" data to be imported back into the system so that the original estimate accuracy can be monitored for the project, sections, sub-sections and items.

In common with all the MatriX modules, there are numerous features enabling deployment in any size of organisation and maximising efficiency, such as:

EstimaX is a particularly easy system to use cutting the time and cost involved in estimating. It offers the ability to gain a competitive advantage to give a better chance of tender success and provides very good control of mark-up margins. EstimaX allows you to prepare tenders with maximum efficiency and then sleep nights while your competitors are still crunching numbers.