True automated take-off for electrical estimators
4.7/5 (73 Bewertungen)Countfire is a true automated take-off solution for electrical estimators that allows users to automatically count symbols across multiple PDF drawings. The automatic matching algorithm works across all drawings and quantities, and is automatically broken down into areas. Features include linear and area measurements, automatic Excel spreadsheet creation, and accuracy reports.
Users can drag and drop PDF drawings directly onto the file upload drop zone to create a project. Projects can be broken down into disciplines in order to group all drawings together that have similar symbols, for example, all lighting drawings to the “Lighting” discipline, and all power drawings to a “Power” discipline. Users can rotate drawings and add drawing titles to have them carried over to the Excel spreadsheet. The search engine helps find symbol descriptions, and the editing tool allows single click removal of unnecessary elements.
Once a symbol is selected on the screen, the software’s counting algorithm will then automatically find all similar symbols on the current drawing, as well as count all similar looking symbols across all other drawings that have been uploaded into the same discipline. In addition to automatic counting, Countfire also provides a set of tools for manually counting symbols. Using demarcations Countfire allows users to break down quantities, usually according to a pricing schedule, which are included in their own column within the final Excel spreadsheet.
Countfire also allows users to calculate coverage areas to visually check for certain device types such as PIRs, Smoke Detectors, etc., to verify whether a system meets certain operational or regulatory requirements.
Vorteile
Easy and simple to use for a process that is inherently complex and difficult.
Nachteile
Countfire used to be heavily geared towards counting references and not linear measurements. There have been HUGE steps by the guys at Countfire to improve the linear side of things with many new additions to the software for this purpose. Some drawings on a large scale (1:200+) are hard to measure small lengths under 300mm, but this is a very minor issue that the support staff will help with on a project by project basis.
Excellent, the online support is fantastic, as is the software. There have been some containment drawings that I simply could not have lifted off with Pen and paper, but Countfire has made it possible and easy to review.
If in doubt do the trial on a big job and see how you get on!
Vorteile
Whats not to like? Not much. Its a fantastic tool for estimators, the more you use it the faster you get and the more confidence you gain.
Automatic counts - Brilliant
Manual Counts - When you cant use automatic counts this is still super fast compared to pen and paper
Measurements - Brilliant
Splits and multiples - essential and very helpfull
I have been using it for a year now and would recommend it to anyone involved in estimating or any other form of take offs.
Nachteile
Every now and again you get a bad drawing where all the symbols are slightly different and its a pain. Just use manual count and safe yourself a lot of frustration!
The cost is pretty high (but worth it in time saved) If I was self employed it could be out of price range.
Vorteile
Countfire makes doing takeoffs extremely easy and the amount of time it saves leaves more time to do other things that need doing.
Nachteile
not enough colours in the palette, When you measure & ask for itemised it measures every click not just start to finish giving far to many reults
Thanks Terry! I wanted to let you know we released an update recently to include more colours.
With measurements and how they're saved into the Excel spreadsheet, you have a choice between not itemised (just the overall total) and itemised (each individual measurement).
Itemising does definitely result in a larger spreadsheet because there's just a lot more information to represent within Excel, however, I also wanted to point you towards a workaround we have which allows you to round & summarise those measurements towards specific lengths (EG: set busbar lengths etc. There's more here:
http://help.countfire.com/workarounds/summarising-measurement-items
Well worth the effort to try out. I would really allocate this to only one or two persons in an office and let them develop the skills necessary to be productive and create accurate take offs.
I enjoy using it and continue to be surprised how well the end result evolves. Practice makes perfect, it can only get better.
Vorteile
As a Lighting Engineer with some knowledge of construction software and the difficulties one can experience in quickly getting up to speed with new programs, I was pleasantly surprised to find that even without reading any tutorials, I was able to navigate and complete a number of projects on my desk over a 24hr period.
The guys at Countfire patiently watched me and offered advice how to improve my takeoff but I just kept going and only when I got into some bother did I read their suggestions.
What this means is that a novice with some practical experience of popular programs such as Microsoft Paint etc. will quickly get a handle on the basics of this take off program.
As with most things today..easy to learn..to master, takes time.
Nachteile
Nothing to do with the software but it does pick up some inconsistencies amongst Architects and Drafts-persons, some who clearly do not anticipate a computer checking their work. Some very sloppy drawings out there.
I check the drawings now prior to uploading so that I have an idea of where I need to look closely. Again, it's not an issue with Countfire.
Very helpful in times of need when a project needs a quick turnaround! The customer service team are also very responsive and there when you need them! Would highly recommend for estimating larger projects if you want to cut down on estimating time.
Vorteile
Speed, adaptability to pricing schedules/demarcations and the fact Countfire themselves are open to taking on ideas for user interface improvements to make take off easier
Nachteile
When drawings take ages to load up
Contact Rapid Tender for detailed pricing information.
Countfire allows users to automatically count symbols across multiple PDF drawings within a project to help cut the time taken for take-offs.
Users check the paper size and scale of their drawings to set the scale, and then draw over the top of the lengths to measure.
Countfire includes four separate stages of checking built into the process of completing a project to help ensure accuracy.
Users can split quantities however they like - even after they've been counted - by creating demarcations.
At the end of each project, Countfire automatically generates an Excel spreadsheet which contains all symbols, lengths and areas quantified on a project.
Weiter unter folgen häufig gestellte Fragen über Countfire.
Countfire bietet folgende Kostenpläne an:
Preismodell: Abonnement
Kostenlose Testversion: Verfügbar
Contact Rapid Tender for detailed pricing information.
Countfire bietet die folgenden Funktionen:
Countfire hat die folgenden typischen Kunden:
Freie Mitarbeiter, Großunternehmen, Mittlere Unternehmen, Kleine Unternehmen
Countfire unterstützt die folgenden Sprachen:
Englisch
Countfire hat folgende Preismodelle:
Abonnement
Wir haben keine Informationen darüber, welche Geräte Countfire unterstützt
Countfire kann in folgende Anwendungen integriert werden:
Microsoft Excel
Countfire bietet folgende Optionen für Kundensupport:
Häufig gestellte Fragen, Wissensdatenbank, Online-Support, Telefon-Support, Video-Anleitungen
From a user perspective, Countfire is a lifesaver. You upload your drawings simply and easily and within minutes you can have a scaled, marked up set of drawings with all measurements documented in an excel spreadsheet. I take this output and use it to accurately build quotes and check quantities on all projects from single residential to large scale hotels and commercial. For us it means that we can have accurate information to supply alongside our quotes to give us peace of mind that our measurements are completely transparent to clients without sending physical copies of marked up drawings. The guys at Countfire are beyond helpful and have put a huge amount of work into making the software work for us, they are always easily contactable and jump right in to help whenever there may be a problem.
It's dramatically reduced the time we spend on quoting, and in turn improved our workflow and relationship with clients. I couldn't recommend it more.