Overview

Southern Services & Equipment, Inc. (SSE), a steel fabrication company based in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been providing the construction industry with high-quality steel estimating and fabrication services. The company takes pride in delivering precise and timely project estimates, a crucial factor in maintaining its competitive edge in the industry. But they needed help.

The Situation

SSE faced a major challenge when their lead estimator unexpectedly left, disrupting their workflow and eroding team trust. Located in a region with a limited pool of qualified estimators, finding a competent replacement was difficult.

Justin Airhart, SSE's COO, was forced to balance project management and estimating duties, stretching resources thin and risking project delays. This situation threatened to compromise project quality and client relationships, adding pressure to the already strained team. That's when Justin started researching his options.

The Solution

SSE contacted SketchDeck.Al to discuss their Al-powered software, LIFT, which offered a promising solution. Initially, the team was skeptical, but the potential to automate complex estimating tasks and improve accuracy was compelling. The Al's ability to read and interpret drawings, and handle repetitive tasks like beam and weight calculations, provided immediate relief.

Over the months, LIFT evolved to capture nearly all details from project drawings, significantly improving its efficiency and reliability.

The Result

The implementation of LIFT has transformed SSE's estimating process. Justin now completes estimates in a fraction of the time previously required. A recent large project, which would have taken approximately eight hours to estimate manually, was completed in just an hour and a half with LIFT.

This newfound efficiency has allowed SSE to bid on more projects, resulting in a substantial increase in revenue. In two years, the company grew from $8 million to an anticipated $40 million in annual revenue.