Vico Software Estimator™ 2008 is a unique 3D model-based estimating system which generates highly accurate estimates in less time.

Model Based Estimating

Vico Software Estimator provides patent-pending and award-winning technology for the integration of 3D design models with estimating.

Recipe-Based Estimating
Estimator offers Recipe-based estimating, which allows you to organize all activities (Methods) and means (Resources) that are required for building elements into smart estimating data packages.

Cost Range Estimating
Cost Range Estimating provides support for estimating and reporting the cost variance that exists in the early phases of projects: Assign an expected cost range to a Recipe and analyze where the largest variance between highest and lowest price is in your project.

Constructor Model Link
Tight Integration with Vico Software Constructor™ delivers a fast and highly accurate model-based estimating process. With Estimator 2008, you can extract quantities from the Virtual Building elements. Quantities are saved by Recipe and by Location, which offers your estimate accurate and detailed quantity input. The new WBS selector allows users to update existing structures, or add imported information as an additional Location structure.

Customizable Estimating & Scheduling System
Vico Estimator’s highly flexible environment enables you to customize estimating content and data structure to reflect your company’s estimating and scheduling methodology and reporting standards.

Conditional Methods
Estimator’s new Conditional Methods functionality provides users with estimating flexibility that results in higher estimate accuracy, without increasing the amount of estimating Recipes.
Recipes can now contain several options for one Method; Estimator analyzes the properties for each element from the Constructor model and assigns its quantities to the Method option that has a condition that matches the element’s properties.
Conditional Methods can be defined on model-based content and saved to the knowledge database.

Link Multiple Models
Split your project as desired for workflow and performance requirements, and combine them in one single estimate

Estimating Knowledge Database
Estimator’s Standard database allows you to establish a company (and/or project-type-specific) estimating knowledge database.

Report View
Communicate your schedule using the Estimator report engine. Categories and content are easy to read, thanks to banded cost reports: Categories and cost items are shown with a specific color, making it easier to recognize and interpret the cost report.

Spreadsheet Mode
With the spreadsheet mode, you can be productive from the first day. Methods and Resources can now be viewed and edited in an environment with a spreadsheet look and feel. In the Spreadsheet Mode, data can be updated interactively, without the need to open any dialog boxes.

Traditional Estimating

In addition to model-based estimating, Estimator also provides functionality for Traditional Estimating, with manually-entered quantity data.Recipe-Based Estimate
In the Traditional estimating mode, you can pull Recipes from Estimator’s knowledge database and manually enter element quantities.Method-Based Estimate
For activity-based estimates; Estimator features a Method-based Traditional estimating mode: Manual quantity take off data can be entered by activity. Predefined Methods can be used from the knowledge database.

Bid Packages

Defining Bid Packages and receiving and rewarding quotes is generally the next step in the estimating process. Bid Package functionality is now supported in Estimator 2008.

Define Bid Packages
Methods, Estimator’s activity-based cost entities, can be grouped in Bid Package folders as files in Windows Explorer. Quantities and estimated costs of the created Bid Packages are automatically derived from the included Methods.

Quotes View
Review and compare subcontractors’/suppliers’ quotes using Estimator’s comparison functionality; including “plugging” the highest, average and lowest prices from other quotes.

Bid Package Project Cost Reporting
With this function, you can gradually increase the accuracy of the cost estimate until it reflects the actual subcontracted cost price for the project. When quotes are selected, the quoted price is included in the project cost estimate: The quoted price replaces the existing estimated price. 

Versions and Version Management

Track changes and maintain historical data. Versions published from Constructor are logged and maintained in Estimator. This allows users to see when a version was published and if, or when, it was imported into the estimate.

Import Model Data
After starting the import function, users are presented with a list of model quantity exports. The list shows when the quantity export was created and, if it was imported into the estimate, when that was done.Quantity Data
Quantity data of versions that are no longer in use can be removed from the database, thus helping to reduce database size.

Publish to Cost Manager