Valuation is central to the construction industry: it is the engine of growth for companies and thus ensures its sustainability. But today, with teams at full capacity and an ever-increasing volume of requests, much of estimators' time is absorbed by repetitive tasks that don't add value.

It is exactly in this space — between what takes time and what really requires the eye of an expert — that AI finds its full usefulness. It fits in where teams get lost in repetitive tasks, on tasks that slow down progress and end up reducing productivity.

At Explorai, after having accompanied many estimators and construction contractors, we see the same reality: the teams know what to do, but lack the time to do it effectively. It is in this gap that three levers are naturally necessary to improve the estimate without disrupting practices: automating the survey, strengthening documentary rigour and supporting technical decisions.

1 - Automating repetitive tasks in estimating with AI

AI to speed up quantity extraction

Estimators see it every day: opening, sorting and analyzing plans always takes a lot of time, no matter how big or small the project. It is an essential step that comes back with each submission and represents a constant and inevitable burden for them.

As mentioned by Benoît Carle, Director of Business Development: " AI now makes it possible to automatically recognize a large majority of the elements present on construction plans. In many cases, it can extract up to 80 or 90% of the components needed for estimation. This does not replace the estimator, but reduces the burden of collecting and transcribing data. The professional role shifts to validation, adjustment and critical analysis. »

Addenda are another sticking point. Comparing versions of plans, identifying changes and measuring their effects requires a lot of rigor. AI can automatically compare documents, spot differences — clouds, announced changes, adjustments — and give an initial idea of the impact on quantities. The estimator thus arrives in front of an already prepared file, which limits omissions and allows him to validate quickly and with certainty what has really changed

2. AI that reinforces documentary rigor

The preparation of the form is one of the stages where errors cost the most: omission, incorrect reading, incorrectly transcribed quantity, etc. In addition, the time spent on estimating is never billable, which increases the pressure on the teams.

Winning a bid isn't always synonymous with celebration. Often, a winning price means that the bid submitted was lower than that of the competitors. And when a price is too low, one question always comes up: what did we miss?

Were we wrong?

This doubt often forces the estimator to revisit everything: plans, specifications, specific sections, quantities. These repeated revisions increase fatigue and the risk of errors.

This is where AI provides concrete support. By analyzing the entire tender file, it can generate a structured and standardized schedule. It identifies discrepancies, indicates the areas to be clarified and proposes a uniform organization. This rigor reduces human error and reduces the risk of double-checking a supposedly completed project.

By boosting document quality from the start, AI helps limit afterthought and focus efforts on what matters: optimizing strategy and improving margin.

3 - Easy access to key information in plans and specifications

The estimate is often based on long research, technical requirements, standards, equipment, complex sections of the estimate. Each estimator has his or her own way of working, which makes it difficult to keep a file going to a colleague.

AI can find a note, clarify a requirement, or summarize a complex section in seconds. It presents information in a uniform and organized manner, which reduces discrepancies between estimators and allows a file to be restarted quickly, without having to decode everything.

But its value does not stop there. By centralizing data from the same project, AI creates a continuity that traditional methods do not allow. Estimators no longer have to navigate through dozens of documents, or reconstruct the logic used by a colleague. Important information emerges faster, and the overall understanding of a project becomes more accessible.

This consistency improves the fluidity of teamwork: more time is spent analyzing than searching. AI speeds up decision-making and decreases unnecessary back-and-forth between documents, which becomes increasingly essential as projects come and goes.

How AI is redefining estimating without replacing the business

AI is not a substitute for estimators. It has neither the objective nor the capacity to execute the entire estimating process, and it does not claim to understand the intricacies of a project in the way that someone with years of experience can. The estimator's judgment, experience and intuition remain at the heart of every important decision.

What AI really changes is how the estimator allocates their efforts. It takes over the heaviest and most repetitive segments of the process—those that consume time without requiring true judgment—and transforms them into faster, more structured steps.

This gives the estimator the ability to stay focused on what really makes a difference in a quote. Understand the project, assess the risks, compare scenarios, validate technical choices, invest energy where its expertise is valuable.

And the effect is quickly seen: each hour freed up improves the quality of work and strengthens confidence in submission. AI doesn't transform the business, but it does adjust the pace so that teams can move forward more efficiently, with more clarity and control.

An inevitable step for construction companies

Cost pressures, labour scarcity and increasing project complexity are creating an environment where companies must do more with less. And in this context, the estimate is often the first to feel the pressure because it is a very explosive part and crucial to the advancement of mandates.

Organizations that adopt AI early quickly gain a real advantage: better operational capacity, greater rigor, and greater flexibility to absorb fluctuations and peak periods. AI doesn't replace anything essential, but it gives teams some breathing space and improves their productivity.

As Hugues Mailhot, Partner and Vice-President Explor.ai, points out: "The question is no longer whether AI should be part of the estimation work, but when. The technology is finally mature and ready to be implemented. Companies that get ahead of the curve will develop a maturity that will become difficult for others to catch up. »

The estimate changes, and the tools must follow

AI can now reduce time spent on repetitive tasks, improve the quality of submissions, and support technical decisions. The role of the estimator remains central: he is the one who ensures the accuracy of the price. Companies that integrate these tools respond faster, with less stress and fewer oversights, which naturally protects their margins.

With Estim.ai, we help construction estimating teams speed up the survey, compare addenda and structure the slip, while keeping human validation at the center. The platform integrates with your current methods and above all removes the irritants of everyday life.

To learn more, visit: www.estim.ai

Estimating and AI: Three Key Opportunities for Construction Contractors