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Calculate with AI and order materials at the touch of a button

New technological approaches promise exciting jobs in the SME sector

Jobs with excellent career opportunities in the construction industry are not always only to be found in large corporations. Especially in the construction sector, smaller and medium-sized companies often know how to score points with very modern, technological solutions and an openness to new ideas. Augel GmbH from Weibern in the district of Ahrweiler calculates with a particularly innovative approach and is currently looking for calculation professionals who would like to work with the system and improve it even further.

Originally founded in 1928 as a building materials dealer, Augel GmbH is today an innovative construction services provider specialising primarily in work in sensitive industrial areas in the petrochemical and manufacturing industries as well as in the energy sector. For many years, the family-run, medium-sized company has been characterised by partnership-based cooperation with its customers. Modern technologies and innovations play a key role at Augel: whether in machinery, equipment, process engineering or the construction materials used. Digitalisation is also a top priority at Augel in Weibern. For many years, time and equipment data recording has been digitalised throughout the company. 3D machine control with digital terrain models supports surveyors and simplifies their daily work. And surveying with drones, including analysing the high-resolution images, is part of the construction company's service portfolio. Rolf Scharmann and his team have been relying on state-of-the-art hardware and software for many years. This enables the company to continuously improve quality and added value. Not only for the customer, but also for the employees.

Calculating with IT support: Exciting jobs with modern technology
The company has introduced the pds software for costing. Originally designed as tradesman software, the system has made a name for itself in the HVAC and plumbing industry in particular and is used by many companies. Guiseppe Di Figlia, Head of Core Processes and IT at Augel, has adapted the system to the needs of construction costing in the company, established new workflows for the Augel teams and created a connection to suppliers and wholesalers. This not only made efficient support for costing at Augel a reality, but also the opportunity to organise the job more creatively and to focus on those tasks that bring both the company and the individual forward. Thanks to the IT solution, the previously dull and, above all, tedious tasks of the calculation business are now taken over by artificial intelligence.

‘The construction tasks are usually specialised and focus on specific areas of expertise, such as pipework construction,’ explains Di Figlia. ‘For this reason, the services that are calculated in the company are also repetitive,’ he adds. The AI within the pds software is now supposed to search for identical or similar items in the existing service specifications. If matches are found, it is the task of the estimators to check and evaluate them in the next step and, whenever appropriate, submit alternative offers. 'The employees benefit from all the calculations they have already created in the past. And with every new calculation, the knowledge database grows and the work will be even faster and easier in future', he continues.

Calculation professionals and AI work hand in hand
The AI at Augel usually operates at night. There is enough time to search through the numerous databases, which grow day by day, and find the right service items for new construction tasks. Calculations including wages, equipment, building materials and even external services for new projects can often be transferred directly. The time savings are therefore immense.

Nevertheless, this does not mean that calculators will no longer be needed at some point. The tasks will simply shift and take on a different focus. ‘It will never work completely without people,’ reveals the IT and AI expert from Augel. Feasibility, for example, must always be carefully checked. Because every construction task is different. Humans are essential here. It requires an overview and experience, as Guiseppe Di Figlia reveals.

The direct line between construction companies and wholesalers
In a pilot project, the IT system is currently being connected directly to the databases of various wholesalers via a standard interface. 'In the traditional way, this process is lengthy and complex. And it usually takes time', as Di Figlia knows from his own experience. Construction companies first send a GAEB file (standardised electronic tendering and bill of quantities format used in Germany) to the wholesaler or supplier, request specific prices and, as soon as they receive them, have to enter them manually into their calculations again and again. Thanks to the direct connection, the bill of quantities information is now directly integrated with the wholesalers' material data. Calculators no longer have to make a price enquiry, but can view the current product prices directly, read data sheets or texts, view photos and much more. As part of this pilot project, Augel convinced suppliers to use the interface already established in the building services engineering sector, thus establishing a direct line between construction companies and wholesalers. Ordering at the touch of a button is now also possible via the new connection.

Networking information – increasing added value
There is a wealth of data everywhere along the construction value chain. However, they are only ever partially networked or, in the worst case, not networked at all. The result is often duplication of work. Through the valuable connection and integration of information, professions within the construction world can be significantly simplified and changed. At Augel, the focus is always on strengthening collaboration: Within Augel's own team, with suppliers and also with customers.

The use of AI and the connection to wholesalers with the calculation software from pds is just one example of the implementation of ideas and creation of innovation at the family business Augel. Here and in many other areas, the medium-sized company is always open to new, modern approaches from creative minds. Right from the start, Augel GmbH has always been interested in technological innovations and also offers career opportunities for young professionals from various fields of the construction sector, not just from the field of construction costing.

Modern HR concept for highly specialised professionals
Augel GmbH in Weibern has had a modern HR concept in place for several years now, which also offers specialists a great deal of flexibility in their jobs. ‘As a medium-sized employer, this is extremely important for us, as we are looking for highly specialised people,’ explains Managing Director Rolf Scharmann.

‘We are looking for new colleagues who want to actively shape the jobs of the future together with us,’ reports Scharmann, who is now the third generation to manage the company. ‘We would love to get to know anyone who is interested in working with us to develop visions and strategies that will consistently drive themselves and our company forward,’ concludes Scharmann. The company has compiled detailed information on current vacancies on its website https://augel.de under Careers .

 

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Image 1: The AI within the pds software searches for
identical or similar items in the existing bills of quantities (BOS). If
matches are found, it is the task of the estimators to
check and evaluate them in the next step and, whenever appropriate,
to submit alternative offer.

 

Image 2: The knowledge database grows with every new calculation and
work should be even faster and easier in future.

 

Image 3: In a pilot project, the IT system is currently being directly connected to
the databases of various wholesalers via a standard interface.
In this way, the BOS-information is now directly
integrated with the wholesalers' material data. Calculators no longer have
to submit a price enquiry, but can view the current product prices directly,
read data sheets or texts, view photos and much
more.

 

Image 4: Modern technologies and innovations play a
key role at Augel: whether in machinery, equipment, process engineering or
the building materials used.

 

Image 5: ‘The involvement of colleagues in shaping visions,
strategies and solutions has always been part of Augel's corporate culture.’

(Images: Augel GmbH/Dominik Ketz Photography)