New Trimble AI Takeoff Capabilities Cut MEP Estimating Time and Increase Accuracy

AI-powered workflows streamline the bidding process to optimize workforce productivity and increase bid accuracy

WESTMINSTER, Colo., June 30, 2026 - Trimble today announced new AI capabilities across its mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) estimating solutions. These new capabilities eliminate tedious pre-takeoff setup tasks and automate object recognition directly from construction drawings. Data from contractors using these AI features in 2026 indicates that they have cut the time required to complete these tasks manually by as much as 60%. The savings allow them to increase bid volume and accuracy without adding headcount.

Trimble continues to expand specialized AI capabilities across its construction ecosystem. The new MEP capabilities include an AI Smart Assistant within Trimble Accubid^® Anywhere software. Built on Trimble's agentic AI platform, the assistant enables users to query their connected data using natural language for autonomous tasks, such as researching historical material pricing and comparing complex estimate versions.

"Manual takeoff is a massive drain on an estimator's time," said Lawrence Smith, senior vice president of construction management solutions at Trimble. "With over 4,000 contractors already leveraging AI within our MEP estimating solutions, we're seeing a fundamental shift in pre-construction efficiency. For example, our automated takeoff feature has detected more than three million symbols to date, allowing estimators to bypass manual effort and focus entirely on high-value, strategic decision making."

Trimble is leveraging decades of industry experience to introduce highly specialized AI capabilities across its technology portfolio. This aligns with the company's mission to transform the way the world works by connecting people, data and workflows through an intelligent, unified ecosystem.

Modernizing the bidding process

The new AI capabilities streamline MEP estimating by automating its most time-consuming and error-prone tasks across the workflow, including:

• Eliminating pre-takeoff setup: Trimble MEP estimating applications can leverage AI to instantly identify and set the correct scale and name across entire plan sets, allowing estimators to move from document upload to quantity takeoff in seconds.
• Automating count-based takeoff: AI interprets construction drawings to recognize, label and count symbols - such as receptacles, switches and light fixtures. Over three million symbols have been detected automatically, reducing the time needed for manual recognition by more than 50%.
• Automating length-based takeoff: A new auto-routing feature eliminates most of the manual effort involved in conduit measurement by automatically calculating linear footage, including vertical rises and drops.
• Always-On assistant: Built directly into Accubid Anywhere, the AI Smart Assistant allows users to interact with their estimates using natural language, helping them quickly access data, automate tasks and make informed decisions without altering their workflow. This improves estimating efficiency, with average time savings for researching historical pricing and comparing complex estimates exceeding 80%.

Empowering the "human in the loop"

The new Trimble AI tools operate as intelligent collaborators. Estimators use their own built-in QA/QC process to identify false positives and validate the data, while real-time input enables the AI model to learn and improve over time. This 'human-in-the-loop' approach ensures that estimators maintain full oversight and control over each and every estimate.

Tim Jonas, executive director of estimation at Kidwell Electric, said, "The estimators on my team who are heavy users of Trimble AI tools cut overall estimating time significantly, which leads to more jobs, more projects and better accuracy. It's really more of a review process for the estimator that allows them to focus on higher payoff activities rather than an actual takeoff process."

Availability

The Trimble AI capabilities are now available across Trimble MEP estimating solutions in North America, and in the UK. For more information on Trimble's connected estimating and takeoff workflows, visit: https://www.trimble.com/en/solutions/estimating-takeoff

About Trimble

Trimble is a global technology company that connects the physical and digital worlds, transforming the ways work gets done. With relentless innovation in precise positioning, modeling and data analytics, Trimble enables essential industries including construction, geospatial and transportation. Whether it's helping customers build and maintain infrastructure, design and construct buildings, optimize global supply chains or map the world, Trimble is at the forefront, driving productivity and progress. For more information about Trimble, visit: www.trimble.com.

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