For PENTA Building Group, the challenge with takeoff wasn't simply the time it took to measure a project. A significant amount of time could be spent getting the drawings ready before the takeoff could even begin.

For Senior Project Engineer Will Scott, that was one of the biggest frustrations with PENTA's previous workflow. On complex projects, particularly hospitality and casino work, getting a drawing set organized, prepared, and ready to take off could take hours — sometimes an entire day. Once the takeoff finally began, complex projects could take days or weeks to work through.

Today, PENTA uses Togal.AI to streamline that process from the moment drawings come in through the takeoff itself. Will estimates that PENTA's takeoffs now take 25–50% less time than they did with Construct Connect.

More importantly, that time gives PENTA's estimators more bandwidth to focus on the project itself: Understanding the drawings, checking quantities, identifying missing scope, and producing a more complete estimate.

Getting Started on Takeoff Is Easier With Togal.AI

Will has been with PENTA since 2012, first working in the field before moving into preconstruction. For much of his career, PENTA relied on Construct Connect and manual takeoff workflows.

The biggest problem wasn't always the measurement itself. It was everything required to get the drawings ready.

A typical project might begin with a PDF that needed to be opened, drawing titles and numbers corrected, files saved, and sheets uploaded individually. Proper drawing names and organization were important because estimators needed to work with addenda, overlays, and drawing changes throughout the estimating process.

On large drawing sets, that preparation could take hours or even a full day. And because it was repetitive work, it was all too easy to put off or skip steps — creating more work later when estimators needed to compare drawings or figure out what had changed.

“The number one pain point is just getting started.” ~ Will Scott, Senior Project Engineer at The PENTA Building Group

With Togal, that starting point looks very different. PENTA can upload a drawing set and have Togal automatically and immediately label and organize the drawings, allowing estimators to get into the project and begin working much sooner.

“Now getting started can happen in minutes.” ~ Will Scott, Senior Project Engineer at The PENTA Building Group

For Will, that change is bigger than it might sound. When the setup process stops being a project of its own, estimators can get to the higher-value work that actually requires their attention.

Thanks to Togal.AI, a Quick Takeoff Is Actually Quick

Once PENTA's estimators are in the drawings, Togal.AI also reduces the time required to perform the takeoff itself.

Will estimates that PENTA is spending 25–50% less time on takeoffs compared with Construct Connect, depending on the project and type of work.

For certain takeoffs, the difference can be even more dramatic. Will described wall takeoffs where the time savings can approach 90%, particularly when Togal's AI-assisted functionality is combined with the manual tools estimators use to refine and organize the work.

That combination is important to PENTA. Estimators can use AI-assisted takeoffs to get measurements started, then use tools such as Split and Merge to refine quantities and assign them where they belong. The result is a workflow that keeps the estimator involved while removing much of the repetitive work.

“[With Togal], a quick takeoff actually is a quick takeoff.” ~ Will Scott, Senior Project Engineer at The PENTA Building Group

More Time to Focus on Preconstruction and Estimating

The time PENTA’s estimating team saves means they can spend more time understanding the project specifics and needs more deeply.

Will says estimators can use that additional time to review drawings, check subcontractor quantities, identify potential holes in an estimate, and investigate scope that might otherwise be missed. During earlier design phases, Togal.AI can also help identify missing information and give estimators a starting point for questions and RFIs.

That matters because an estimator's job doesn't end when the measurements are complete. The quality of the estimate depends on how well the estimator understands the project behind those measurements.

“The work product that you make, it’s higher quality because you’re able to focus on understanding the project better as opposed to being up against it.” ~ Will Scott, Senior Project Engineer at The PENTA Building Group

Will also sees a financial benefit to reducing repetitive, redundant work. Hours spent on manual preparation and takeoff represent real labor costs, and he approximates that the time saved could translate into thousands of dollars in labor savings.

But for PENTA, the larger value is what happens when those hours are no longer consumed by repetitive work. After all, less time preparing and measuring means more time estimating.

More Consistent Estimating Across PENTA

PENTA's use of Togal extends beyond individual estimator productivity.

The company has roughly 30 people working across preconstruction teams in multiple regions, while operations staff also perform takeoffs. With people working across different offices and projects, creating a consistent way to organize takeoff information has become increasingly important.

PENTA is using Togal's Custom Libraries to establish standardized folder names and naming conventions, giving teams a shared structure for organizing their work.

For Will, that's part of the larger value of having a common platform. Instead of every estimator developing their own approach, PENTA can create more consistency in how teams organize and perform takeoffs.

The same applies to the tools estimators use every day. Will relies heavily on Togal's Split and Merge tools, along with AI-assisted takeoffs, while Togal.CHAT helps him locate information in drawings, identify potentially missed scope, and work through questions about the project.

Rather than treating each of these as separate features, PENTA is incorporating them into a broader estimating workflow.

Making a New Estimating Workflow Stick

Changing their estimating and takeoff workflow hasn't happened overnight. PENTA's estimators had spent years — in some cases 10 or 20 years — working with familiar takeoff tools. Moving to a new platform meant changing habits that had become second nature.

Will says it took him a couple of months of regular use to become comfortable with some of Togal's more advanced tools. Ongoing training and support have been an important part of helping the team build that familiarity.

For PENTA, adoption has been less about asking estimators to abandon everything they already know and more about giving them better tools, training, and support as they learn a new way of working.

That approach has helped PENTA move beyond simply introducing new software and toward building a more efficient, consistent takeoff process.

Faster Takeoffs Lead to Better Estimating

PENTA's experience with Togal starts with a straightforward problem: too much time was being spent getting drawings ready and working through repetitive takeoff tasks.

Togal.AI has helped reduce that friction — from getting a project ready in minutes to cutting overall takeoff time by an estimated 25–50%.

But the real benefit is what PENTA can do with the time it gets back. Estimators can spend more time understanding the project, checking scope, validating quantities, asking better questions, and producing a higher-quality work product.

For Will, that's what makes the difference.

“It’s nice to be able to be more efficient and save time, while still producing a good, high-quality takeoff.” ~ Will Scott, Senior Project Engineer at The PENTA Building Group

Want to transform your construction takeoff process for the better? Request a custom demo of our AI-assisted takeoff software today!