When it comes to a job’s profitability, a skilled estimator is invaluable. While estimators often use their own customized spreadsheets, this practice can be difficult for another estimator to understand the nuances, formulas, and undocumented assumptions on a spreadsheet. As a result, an estimator’s knowledge and valuable historical information often leave a company when he or she walks out the door.

One way to prevent lost expertise – and potentially lost productivity and profitability – is to standardize and automate your company’s estimating practices. Whether your company has one lead estimator or an entire team, automating the process can increase its effectiveness.