Trimble AutoBid logo

Trimble AutoBid

by Trimble · Since 1978
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ActiveAvailable globallyCloud
Quick facts
VendorTrimble
Year launched1978
StatusActive
Location10368 Westmoor Drive Westminster, CO 80021 USA
Countries servedGlobal
Languages4
IntegrationsN/A
Free tierNO
Free trialNO
Contact salesYES

About Trimble AutoBid

Trimble AutoBid is a powerful estimating platform tailored for commercial and industrial HVAC, plumbing, and piping contractors.

Trimble AutoBid is a powerful estimating platform tailored for commercial and industrial HVAC, plumbing, and piping contractors. It replaces manual takeoff processes with a specification-driven, data-rich environment that automates material selection, autofitting generation, and complex assembly creation, enabling estimators to produce accurate bids quickly and efficiently. The OnScreen View allows precise graphical takeoffs from digital blueprints, while value engineering tools make it easy to compare material or labor alternatives across an entire project. Designed for large-scale operations, AutoBid supports multi-user collaboration within a shared database and integrates with market pricing systems, ERP exports, and the broader Trimble Construction One ecosystem. While its Windows-based interface and dense configuration tables present a steep learning curve for new users, the software’s speed, accuracy, and robust reporting capabilities make it indispensable for contractors handling high-volume, complex bids. Cloud-hosted deployment options now provide remote access for distributed teams, complementing its traditional on-premise setup. Overall, Trimble AutoBid is best suited for commercial HVAC contractors, industrial piping firms, plumbing contractors, and multi-office MEP enterprises seeking precision, efficiency, and audit-ready documentation in their estimating workflows.

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • The software provides highly accurate pricing and estimates, ensuring consistency and reliability across projects.
  • On-screen takeoff is intuitive and efficient, reducing reliance on printed plan sets and manual processes.
  • Flexible project setup allows users to manipulate systems, create zones, and customize line items easily.
  • Audit trails and reporting features make tracking changes and verifying estimates straightforward and transparent.
  • Customer support is responsive, with many users praising quick resolutions and helpful guidance during projects.
Cons
  • Some users find the menus and specifications confusing, with assemblies difficult to build intuitively.
  • The database can feel cumbersome for new users, requiring extra training to navigate effectively.
  • Lack of integration with certain tools, like Alpriser, forces manual updates into external databases.
  • Missing keyboard shortcuts for basic takeoff functions slow down workflows and reduce efficiency.
  • Updates have been inconsistent, leaving some users concerned about the pace of software improvements.

Features

Key features

Autofitting Generation

Automatically generates fittings while touching points along the route line in OnScreen View, significantly reducing takeoff time.

Live Pricing Services

Connects directly to Trimble’s industry-leading MEP pricing services to maintain real-time material cost accuracy.

Value Engineering Module

Allows for quick comparison of different installation costs by swapping specifications to analyze potential project savings.

OnScreen View Takeoff

Enables digital graphical takeoff directly on imported electronic drawings, creating a visual audit trail of all connected items.

Integrated Industry Labor Units

Features built-in standard labor units from MCAA and PHCC, providing reliable benchmarks for labor hour estimation.

Rapid Reporting (Pivot Tables)

Uses a pivot-table style reporting engine to summarize data in over 10 categories for highly flexible project analysis.

Additional features

Autofitting Generation

Automatically inserts and counts the correct fittings and hangers as you draw pipe lines, reducing manual work and improving accuracy.

OnScreen View Takeoff

Provides a graphical interface where users perform takeoff by clicking on imported digital drawings, eliminating the need for digitizers.

Value Engineering

Facilitates budgeting and conceptual estimates by allowing users to change specifications and see the cost impact instantly.

Custom Exports

Enables the creation of material and labor reports that can be directly imported into accounting or scheduling software.

Rapid Reports

Generates highly customizable summaries and configurated data sets using an Excel-based reporting engine.

Pricing Services

Provides a live link to Trimble's database of over 2 million MEP items for up-to-the-minute material pricing.

Industry-Standard Labor Units

Includes pre-loaded labor data from MCAA and PHCC to ensure bids align with industry performance standards.

Pre-built Database

Offers an extensive library of over 100,000 items and pre-built assemblies to speed up initial project setup.

Autofitting Specification Driven Takeoff

Applies rulesets that automatically determine material type, schedule, and connections based on the project specs.

Audit Trail

Creates a corresponding visual record of all items taken off on the drawing for easy review and verification.

Change Order Management

Highlights differences between original bid drawings and addendums in red to quickly identify cost variations.

Pricing

Free trial
Free version
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Countries & Languages

Global
Countries served
4
Interface languages
7
Billing currencies

Interface languages

EnglishFrançaisNederlandsDeutsch

Billing currencies

🇺🇸USD🇪🇺EUR🇬🇧GBP🇦🇺AUD🇨🇦CAD🇯🇵JPY🇨🇭CHF

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