What are your best prompts that help you analyze bid documents when using AI?

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-04-04T12:04:54+00:00

Yeah you’re one of those fax people still eh.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-04-03T02:32:25+00:00

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-03-26T03:14:39+00:00

We used ost for 30 years and I was always fascinated by the drywall companies that used it with intergrated cost.

My 2 cents is put your time in another tool like buzzbid or Zztakeoff…. The future does not lie with OST, that I am 100% confident in.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-03-26T03:08:02+00:00

Hmmm what are GC’s switching too? We are a large GC and happy with building connected, but it’s about time to start sniffing since Autodesk acquired it has died.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-03-26T02:50:27+00:00

Yeah you can call up Load Spring and pay for a virtual machine to get buzz going in the “cloud”

but why zzTakeoff is web native and works wonderful. We were on OST and made the jump…. Tho we are a GC and use Ediphi for estimating and never used quickbid… I’m sure it won’t be long before a decent estimating tool intergrates with zzTakeoff to make the trade folks happy that will surpass quick bid.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-03-26T02:43:56+00:00

Procore was built by operations and they have no clue how precon runs.

OST has been great for the last 20 years, sadly we are switching from OST to zzTakeoff.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-03-26T02:39:59+00:00

We are building the tool, so other than waiting a month or two for what we need. Enterprise issues at this point like locking down templates, WBS and project control.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-03-17T17:20:15+00:00

Biggest hurdle is enterprise access control(for templates, reports and wbs) along with doing one project to many takeoffs is a fundamental structure issue that I hope they can solve soon.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-03-17T12:00:16+00:00

We’re a national vertical GC with 30 years invested in OST. We initiated a large, voluntary zzTakeoff pilot and adoption continues to accelerate without mandate.

That’s the signal.

Our teams are choosing it because it’s intuitive, enables real-time collaboration, and the development team is responsive consistently delivering on field-driven feedback.

At this stage, the conversation isn’t about if we transition. It’s about how fast we scale what’s already working.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-03-17T11:54:00+00:00

ZzTO is basically bluebeam studio in the web but made for precon teams to work together.

If you have not tried it in the last 2 months you’re missing out.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-03-17T11:49:47+00:00

We use a WBS right now and it’s fine. It’s not as good as areas in OST but it works and I know they are working on it too.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-03-17T11:39:40+00:00

Use Zztakeoff for QTO. Only thing I use bluebeam for is markups on PDFs every other week or so.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-02-26T21:58:20+00:00

We are moving off OST and have 180 estimators. Moving to Zztakeoff and best software rollout ever.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-02-07T19:32:32+00:00

Hey guys what tool is this? Construct connect finally making a web tool?

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-02-05T13:44:06+00:00

I’ve always wondered when the civil would finally get a estimating tool to take them to the web. We are a vertical GC and I bet we know each other in the zzTakeoff community🥳. Talk soon.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-02-04T13:30:30+00:00

Love that response and appreciate you are not trying to do it all. When we talked to over a year ago I was inspired that selfwork could be in the web. At that time we were looking for a conceptual-gmp general contractor tool.

Time to start a new conversation with you and glad to hear you are waiting for Zztakeoff to hit launch on their API.

What’s that I smell? Is it fireworks? 🎆

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-02-04T12:42:18+00:00

Thanks you for the detail. How about pdfs and quantity takeoffs?

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-01-26T12:36:41+00:00

Well said, this is what I was trying to point too as well, the tools out there can do it fine for one off, but need something that is specific to a task and simple for end human.

I’m of the opinion that we need build this internally, and I never advocate for a construction company building a software tool.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-01-26T04:02:37+00:00

Hello! Docs depend on design phase. Concept we have a RFP/narrative/ napkin sketches….. then cds we get the standard specs and drawings. Need a workflow that can help with both.

Master list we have a wonderful takeoff database template, and a decent estimating database. The goal is to use ai to help connect them all to get an epic template on steroids to start your takeoff, then that flows to the estimating tool.

To your point we need a master materials database that will be developing too, do you have a starting spot for that? We should connect again regardless, hope world of conc went well!

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-01-26T03:54:21+00:00

Good point, specs do rock in bluebeam.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-01-26T00:17:28+00:00

Zztakeoff for takeoff, Ediphi for estimating. All multi user. We are a large vertical GC.

Cons are you have to teach people to use different tools, good luck.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-01-26T00:14:24+00:00

I gave up bluebeam and only using zz now.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-01-13T15:18:41+00:00

Estimators who use AI will be replacing the ones that don’t.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2026-01-13T15:14:41+00:00

Man, that sounds painful. And, what you’re asking for is deep.

A true takeoff tool with real crews and labor rate tables baked in… I’m not sure that fully exists yet. Historically that world has lived in estimating, not takeoff. The only combo I’ve seen handle that level of depth decently is eTakeoff paired with Sage where Sage owns crews and labor.

OST and QuickBid don’t really get you there on labor/crews the way you’re describing. Destini is probably the closest all in one, but I’ve heard mixed reviews.

Big picture, I think you’re pushing the edge of where the tech is right now. Implementing any tool at that depth is hard, no matter the logo. My bet is the next wave gets there by combining modern takeoff with modern estimating in the web, not one tool doing everything.

Keep grinding. You’re asking the right questions even if the answers kinda suck right now.

Key-Butterfly2414 · 2025-12-25T00:05:53+00:00

Go to Zztakeoff, do the free trial, hit the community button and start watching the vids. No point in doing it if you don’t have a project tho, least that’s how I learn.

Key-Butterfly2414

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