Trimble, a technology company serving the construction, geospatial and transportation sectors, is adding more AI-based automation to its mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) estimating solutions.
The new capabilities automate several tasks involved in preparing construction bids, including setting up plan sets, recognising and counting symbols on drawings and measuring conduit runs. Trimble said contractors using the AI features in 2026 have reduced the time required for these manual tasks by up to 60%.
The capabilities are now available across Trimble’s MEP estimating solutions in North America and the UK.
AI takes on drawing takeoff tasks
Trimble’s software can identify the correct scale and name across entire plan sets, removing the need for estimators to complete those steps manually before starting a quantity takeoff.
For count-based takeoff, the AI recognises, labels and counts symbols such as receptacles, switches and light fixtures. Trimble said its automated takeoff feature has detected more than three million symbols to date, reducing the time needed for manual recognition by more than 50%.
The company has also added an auto-routing feature for length-based takeoff. It calculates linear footage for conduit, including vertical rises and drops, reducing the manual work involved in measuring those runs.
AI assistant works with estimating data
Trimble is also adding an AI Smart Assistant within Accubid Anywhere, its cloud-based estimating solution for electrical and industrial mechanical contractors.
Users can interact with connected estimate data through natural-language requests. The assistant can research historical material pricing and compare different versions of complex estimates.
Trimble said average time savings for researching historical pricing and comparing complex estimates exceed 80%.
More than 4,000 contractors are already using AI within Trimble’s MEP estimating solutions, according to the company.
Estimators continue to check the results
The new tools still require estimators to review the results. Users can apply their existing quality assurance and quality control processes to identify false positives and validate the data.
Trimble said real-time user input also enables the AI model to learn and improve over time.
Tim Jonas, executive director of estimation at Kidwell Electric, said estimators on his team who use Trimble’s AI tools heavily have reduced overall estimating time. He described the resulting workflow as more of a review process, allowing estimators to focus on higher-payoff activities rather than carrying out the entire takeoff manually.
Trimble said the time savings allow contractors to increase bid volume and accuracy without adding headcount.
