How AI is revolutionizing estimating workflows

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Learn how automation helps roofers do the tedious stuff faster. 

In a rapidly shifting industry landscape, one thing is clear: artificial intelligence isn’t just a fad; it’s helping roofing professionals work smarter, not harder. That was a key takeaway from this Coffee Conversations, hosted by Heidi J. Ellsworth and featuring tech veterans Dave Chapman of Estimating Edge and Marty Cornish of Workpack (now part of Beck Technology). 

One of the most impactful and immediate applications of AI in construction is transforming quantity takeoff, the time-consuming task of measuring and calculating materials from blueprints. In an industry where every minute counts, automation is stepping in to handle the repetitive workload at an unprecedented speed. “We have focused on quantity takeoff for the last six years and we've automated a lot across a wide variety of different trades,” said Marty. “You give the construction drawing some context, it generates the takeoff, then you edit it to make it your own. It does it in two minutes rather than two hours or two days.” 

Dave, who has been with Estimating Edge for more than two decades, reinforced the point. “That’s where AI shines the brightest for our construction field. It’s taking that redundant task,” he said. “It’s a huge time saver.” But Dave said that AI is not a silver bullet. “There’s always going to be that human element,” he explained. Factors like job site access, crew efficiency and production rates still require a skilled eye. “AI will help analyze jobs across historical data. But there’s always going to be the human element of looking at that particular job.” 

That’s the nuance that often gets lost in the buzz. Marty called it the “offensive coordinator” approach: “You're providing information for the AI model to have enough context to generate the information you're looking for.” In short, AI isn’t replacing estimators, it’s relieving them from the mechanical drudgery so they can focus on higher-level strategy and accuracy. 

The shift is happening fast. But it’s not about going all in overnight. “Tiptoe now so that you have some sense of what you actually want in an AI software,” advised Marty. “Then, if the water feels comfortable, take a step.” 

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about where AI is headed next in the tech stack!