How Estimating Link Boosted Bid Accuracy and Profit Margins in Civil Construction

A contractor enhances bid precision and boosts profits by adopting a streamlined solution.

Overview

Island Pavement, a New York-based civil construction company, specializes in infrastructure projects primarily for state and government agencies. With a strong emphasis on public works, Island Pavement holds certifications as a DBE, WBE, and FBE, allowing them to meet minority-owned business requirements for federal and state-funded projects. Their portfolio includes major initiatives such as foundational waterproofing and roadwork for iconic sites like JFK, LaGuardia, and the Javits Center.

  The Challenge

Before adopting Estimating Link, Island Pavement’s estimating process was hampered by an outdated and manual approach. “We were old-fashioned,” Lenox explained, “using pen and paper or just relying on what we’d been doing for years.” This method often led to inefficiencies, with estimates lacking the precision and consistency needed for large-scale public projects.

Efforts to modernize were met with disappointment when a previously purchased software failed to deliver on essential features. Lenox shared, “The program we bought before was supposed to be an all-in-one solution, but it didn’t do anything they said it would.” This software not only lacked the specific functions Island Pavement needed for civil and road construction but also created a frustrating, time-consuming experience. Without a reliable system in place, the team struggled to streamline their workflows, leading to inaccuracies and missed opportunities.

Adding to these challenges was the pressure to complete estimates and meet project demands under tight deadlines. “Everybody wants everything done yesterday,” Lenox noted. This fast-paced environment, coupled with the complexities of weather-sensitive, remote operations—particularly for temperature-dependent work like waterproofing—required Island Pavement to seek a software solution that could keep up, providing accurate, quick estimates while adapting to the unique demands of civil infrastructure projects.

  The Solution

Upon her arrival, Jennifer Lenox was tasked with modernizing Island Pavement’s bidding processes. She evaluated numerous software options, ultimately finding that Estimating Link best met their needs for several reasons:

• Industry-Specific Functionality: Unlike most software focused on vertical construction, Estimating Link catered to the unique needs of road and horizontal projects. “We do a good job, but we’re an asterisk,” Lenox said. “Trying to find a program that would work for us was a challenge, but Estimating Link met our requirements almost immediately.”
  
  
• Responsive Customer Support: Lenox highlighted the exceptional support Estimating Link provided. “I think within the first three weeks, I knew everybody’s voice,” she shared. “You could call anytime and actually get a person. That’s rare, and it’s so valuable in this industry.”
  
  
• Adaptability and Multi-User Access: The software’s cloud platform, Cloud Link, allowed multiple team members to collaborate seamlessly, even across remote locations. Lenox explained, “If I feel lazy, I can log in and see what other estimators are doing, make updates, and send it straight to him. It definitely improves efficiency and communication.”
  

Implementation and Training

Although Lenox was new to civil estimating, she adapted quickly, thanks to Estimating Link’s training resources and live support. “The in-person workshops were invaluable,” Lenox noted, adding that insights gained from other users helped them optimize their setup. “Hearing from other customers at the conference helped us learn features that we hadn’t fully explored yet.”

  The Results

• Efficiency Gains and Profitability: Estimating Link allowed the team to generate all-inclusive, precise bids that accounted for item-specific profitability. “Our bids now are much better. They’re all-inclusive, and when we win an award, we know it’s going to be profitable,” Lenox stated. By experimenting with various bid items, they could strategically maximize profits and avoid unprofitable projects.
  
  
• Improved Internal Communication: The multi-user feature streamlined collaboration between Lenox and her colleagues, who could view each other’s estimates in real time. “If it’s on paper, it’s harder to follow each other’s thinking,” Lenox explained. “With Estimating Link, everything is easy to read and track, so if he’s out or if I’m out, we can pick up where the other left off.”
  
  
• Project Selectivity and Profit Margins: Estimating Link’s forecasting and profitability tracking enabled Island Pavement to make more strategic project choices. "There have been times we’ve decided not to bid because the software showed us it wasn’t profitable,” said Lenox. “We’d rather break even or make money than take on projects that might set us back. Estimating Link shows us those numbers in black and white."

Looking Ahead

Island Pavement’s commitment to continuous improvement positions them for sustained success as they leverage Estimating Link’s capabilities. Lenox and her team can now make data-backed decisions to drive growth, maintain profitability, and deliver high-quality results on large-scale infrastructure projects throughout the eastern U.S., aided by Estimating Link’s training and support resources.

Conclusion

For Island Pavement, The Construction Link, Inc.'s estimating solutions transformed their approach to estimating and bidding by providing a robust, adaptable, and industry-aligned tool that improved project accuracy, communication, and financial decision-making. Lenox shared her endorsement, saying, "We don’t fit in any box, but Estimating Link fit us just right. Absolutely, we’d recommend it."

Ready to Transform Your Estimating Process?

See how Estimating Link can transform your business, just like it did for Island Pavement Cutting Co., Inc. Schedule a personalized demo today to explore how our user-friendly software can help your team save time, improve accuracy, and drive growth.