Estimating Software for Plumbing, Mechanical, HVAC & Sheet Metal Contractors

In October 2007, FastEST, Inc introduced the award-winning On-Screen Digitizer for the FastPIPE and FastDUCT mechanical estimating software. On-Screen Digitizer provides several benefits over conventional digitizers that can improve the overall efficiency of your company.

The primary benefit of On-Screen Digitizer is that plumbing, piping, and sheet metal estimators can receive drawings electronically and perform estimates directly on their computer screen.  This eliminates the time, transportation, and printing costs for trips to the local printing shop which can cost hundreds of dollars on a single project!

Another benefit of On-Screen Digitizer is the ability to simultaneously count, mark, and record takeoff items on a mechanical, piping, plumbing, or sheet metal project. With On-Screen Digitizer, the entire takeoff process is now “heads-up” and takeoff items are marked directly on the computer screen while simultaneously recorded into the takeoff list.

With On-Screen Digitizer, interruptions and phone calls are much less likely to cause costly errors or omissions since there is a visual audit trail (marking) associated with each item on the electronic plan.
On-Screen Digitizer also provides many capabilities that conventional digitizers simply cannot support.

• Graphical markings and takeoff items can be copied and pasted between plans or even converted into custom assemblies used on multiple jobs.

• Graphical markings can be layered between different sections allowing the estimator to see clearly which areas of a job have yet to be completed.

• Entire electronic plans can be replaced if revised by addendum allowing the estimator to compare the original takeoff against the revised plan and quickly process changes.

Finally, conventional digitizers typically cost around $2500 and can require maintenance and technical support that is not required by the On-Screen Digitizer software.

On-Screen Digitizer is a key component of the next-generation estimating software. With On-Screen Digitizer, estimators and project managers will never have to rummage through piles of blueprints looking for a certain job or set of plans. For a video clip of on-screen digitizer in action, click on FastPIPE On-Screen Digitizer Video or FastDUCT On-Screen Digitizer Video.