October 29, 2002--New capability allows estimators to conduct on-site takeoffs and wirelessly send data from the field to the office.
McCormick Systems (www.mccormicksys.com), a provider of estimating and takeoff software for electrical and telecommunications contractors, has adapted its software so that its estimating database can be loaded onto a personal digital assistant (PDA). "After doing a takeoff at a remote location, an estimator sends the data from a handheld to the company office wirelessly, or just downloads the data from the PDA to a main system at the office," the company said in a release announcing the new capability.
Company president Todd McCormick says, "Our company's focus has always been on helping contractors be more productive and accurate in their estimating work. We're certain that enabling ... estimators to do takeoffs anywhere with a PDA-instead of pieces of paper or a laptop-is going to result in greater savings and accuracy."
A contractor using McCormick Systems software can load its estimating database onto a PDA, enabling the estimator to do an on-site takeoff. In doing on-site counts, the estimator can just tap the button on the PDA once for each item, getting a lump-sum total at the end of a walk-and-count operation.
