Rumours of the estimator’s demise have been greatly exaggerated – they have not been replaced by digital technology and AI. If anything, estimators’ skills and experience are more necessary than ever.
That was one of the conclusions from the final webinar of this year’s Digital Construction Summit. The webinar brought together representatives from Balfour Beatty and Sizewell C’s Civil Works Alliance, Arcadis and RIB Software.
James Rickett, managing estimator at Balfour Beatty and head of estimating at the Sizewell C Civil Works Alliance, highlighted how the role of the estimator has evolved, reflecting the influence of digital transformation.
He said: “I remember 10 years ago attending a workshop on the future of construction roles. The multidisciplinary panel was asked which role they foresaw not being there in five years. All individuals, except for myself, suggested that the estimator would be replaced and made redundant. At the time, the department I worked for had 10 estimators of varying levels. Today, that same department has circa 28 estimators and is seeking to expand.
“Clients are asking for support earlier in the process to support funding and develop a sustainable budget. The estimator that supports this can then find themselves developing optioneering, risk and value management support,” noted Rickett.
“As packages proceed through design, dependent on contracting forms prior to contract award, some estimators may find they are pricing various revisions at different estimation classifications to ensure any baseline budget is maintained. Most commercial leaders recognise that change management is best delivered as a blend of estimation and commercial management, which then leads estimators into delivery.
“The nature of a good estimator with a good bottom-up principle knowledge means that support for estimate-to-complete exercises can often be led or supported by an estimating team.”
Reacting to estimators’ pain points
RIB Software customer success director for UK & Ireland, Graeme Braybrooke, revealed how the estimator’s pain points drive the software developer’s thinking.
He said: “The estimator’s pain points drive the strategy for a lot of what we want to incorporate in our software.”
The pain points he listed are:
- too many systems being used;
- margins not being protected;
- the management of change;
- managing different resource types;
- department silos with no sharing; and
- no access to real-time information for on-the-fly thinking.
Forensic nature for auditing
On Sizewell C in particular, Rickett added: “We have found that the forensic nature of a confident estimator means they provide excellent auditing capabilities when it comes to cost verification. We also find the estimating department being engaged throughout the process in carbon estimating, collating, reviewing and using benchmarking data to assist and verify proposals.
“To assist the estimator, we’re heavily engaged in digital tools, and wherever possible, seek to use these to improve processes and procedures within the Civil Works Alliance.”
He concluded: “A career in estimating is not going to the dark side: it is an opportunity to see the light and broaden your horizons in construction.”
Carlo Gabriele Borri MCIOB, director of Arcadis, and William Cottrill MCIOB, associate director at Arcadis, echoed Rickett’s points.
Cottrill said: “AI is a big thing at the moment, but AI can’t do estimating without our integration. It needs us.”
Considering benchmarks in estimation and the role of data, he declared: “A good benchmark is honest data, interpreted by experienced professionals – not by algorithms alone.
“A benchmark without context is a risk. We normalise for inflation, geography and delivery model, storing everything in [RIB’s] CostX with traceable metadata. It’s how we stop benchmarking from becoming guesswork. Benchmarking with Integrity means turning past data into future confidence – with full context and traceability.”
Estimators are decision engineers
Borri added: “I like to think of estimators as decision engineers. We translate uncertainty into business intelligence. Every model we build, every assumption we question, helps our clients make better, braver decisions.
“At Arcadis, digital tools like CostX make that translation faster and more transparent, but the real value still lies in professional judgment.
“I believe that’s where our industry is heading: toward a model where cost professionals lead strategic insight – combining data, design intent and storytelling into one discipline. That’s something I’m deeply passionate about: building a culture where estimators are recognised as architects of cost intelligence.”
Sizewell C: the estimating club sandwich
In comparing and contrasting estimating on major projects and any smaller project, Rickett detailed an intriguing analogy.
“I think the analogy of the estimate being a filling between two slices of bread is often used in the industry – the bottom layer of the bread being the design and the top layer of bread being the delivery. At times, estimation is squashed between those slices,” he said.
“In essence, at Sizewell C, we’re potentially turning this sandwich into a club sandwich with three fillings, considering not only the estimate for the contract, but also establishing and maintaining a baseline for the technical lifecycle as we proceed to construction, followed by assisting the commercial teams in delivery, and establishing and maintaining a clear view for the estimate to completion.
“Each of these fillings is accompanied by varying layers of garnish in the forms of assurance that provide that added layer of interface that ensure estimates are transparent, rigorous and robust.”
The Digital Construction Summit took place from late October until early November. The series of webinars – supported by Elecosoft, Glider, RIB Software, Trimble, CIOB and Construction Management – brings together leading voices from across the construction sector to explore the future of digital transformation.
All of the Summit webinars can be watched on demand for free.
