Providing Tighter Financial Control Through Increased Precon Planning

Customers rely on our professional ability to deliver accurate estimates as major business decisions often hinge upon the potential cost of a project. As the economic landscape shifts from high-growth and expansion to a stronger focus on cost savings and return on investment, DPR remains a step ahead by continually enhancing not only our proprietary estimating system but our overall preconstruction process, as well, to provide increased financial control.

There are no “magic technology bullets.”

Estimating accuracy is only one piece of a much bigger puzzle. A lot of general contractors tout their state-of-the-art estimating technology but, just as critical, is the information captured in the system and how people utilize the data. DPR’s team of trained professionals continuously pushes the envelope to customize applications so that the latest data is readily available, offering the most precise cost feedback for our projects in all of the different regions across the U.S.

We also constantly measure ourselves by asking customers what they think during our in-person customer satisfaction surveys, which take place on every project, and we evaluate and incorporate this feedback to further improve our processes. Over the last year, DPR received an average score of 3.94 on a scale of 1 to 5 for its estimating performance and ranked 5 percent better than “Best in Class” by our customers (meaning we were better than the best contractor with whom they have worked). In addition, upon completion of projects, we look at the initial estimate and compare it to the final number to determine a cost-performance ratio. We use this ratio to track our performance with the goal of always providing a better overall experience for the customer.

More accurate information results in better decisions.

Managing a project’s cost goes well beyond just the estimate. Scheduling, punchlist, project closeout and safety all play equally important roles in the lifecycle of a project and can have a tremendous impact on the budget. As a result, we always begin each project with the end in mind and address all factors critical to the project’s success during preconstruction.

Part of the process includes preconstruction surveys on all of our projects, which ask our customers how we are doing in regards to estimating, planning and scheduling, value engineering, team organization, risk management, and our overall understanding of project scope and business terms. This year to date, we have received a 4.07 average rating for our preconstruction services, which is 7 percent better than “Best in Class.”

DPR believes in up-front planning for increased project efficiency and assess the mechanisms we have in place to ensure that we are meeting, and exceeding, customer expectations. Just as our customers’ needs change with every project so does the way they like to receive information. The tools and methods we use are designed to provide consistent and detailed data to ensure that customers receive the background and knowledge needed to make informed decisions. Through our comprehensive preconstruction approach, we help our customers stretch their project dollars in ways that make the most sense-adding value and maintaining the highest quality of service.