Which file types does it accept (PDF, CAD, images)?

Why it matters: Vendors publish different lists. Exayard lists PDF, image, and CAD (DWG/DXF/DGN); Kreo lists PDF, CAD, and images; Countfire describes PDF takeoff. We did not record a file-format list for Togal. In the demo: Ask them to load the format you actually receive at bid time, not a sample they prepared.

Is AI detection included in the plan you would buy, or only in a higher tier?

Why it matters: Kreo lists its Lite and Plus tiers as without AI-powered tools, with AI tools on Pro. Exayard includes a monthly amount of AI credits per plan. ConstructConnect lists AI Auto Takeoff on Takeoff Professional, not Starter. In the demo: Ask what happens when included AI usage runs out, and whether the demo is running on the tier you would buy.

How long does a human take to review and correct the AI's quantities?

Why it matters: Minutes to first result and minutes to human correction are two of the measures in our planned test protocol, because a fast first pass can still take a long time to fix. In the demo: Ask to see the correction step live: deleting false counts, adding missed items, and fixing a wrong scale.

What is behind the accuracy figure?

Why it matters: Some vendors publish accuracy claims, for example Togal (up to 98% on floor plans), Beam AI (99%+), and Civils.ai (97%+ on takeoffs). We report these as claims; none has been verified. In the demo: Ask on what kind of drawings, measured how, and against what answer key. Our planned metrics are overall error %, missed items, and false counts.

How does it handle revised sheets and addenda?

Why it matters: Several vendors describe revision features: Countfire describes auto-counting revised drawings, Togal describes drawing-set comparison, and STACK describes flagging revisions. In the demo: Bring a sheet and its revision, and ask the tool to show what changed in the quantities.

Can quantities be exported to the estimating system you already use?

Why it matters: Export paths differ. Countfire produces Excel quotes, Exayard offers a REST API, MCP server, webhooks, and CLI, and heavy civil shops often price in systems like HCSS HeavyBid or B2W Estimate. In the demo: Ask to see an export land in your format, with item names and units intact.

Does it work on site and civil sheets?

Why it matters: Some vendors describe their AI in terms of building drawings: Togal's accuracy claim is for floor plans, and Handoff AI's takeoffs are for residential plans. Our heavy civil hub also suggests asking which surface, CAD, and point-cloud formats an earthwork tool reads. In the demo: If you bid site/civil work, ask to see a civil plan set (plans, profiles, cross-sections), not only a floor plan.

How are your documents stored, and are they used to train models?

Why it matters: This question appears on our document and drawing review hub and applies equally to takeoff tools that ingest full bid sets. In the demo: Ask for the answer in writing before uploading client drawings.

Home / Guides / Questions to ask an AI takeoff vendor before a demo

Questions to ask an AI takeoff vendor before a demo

A checklist for estimators getting ready for an AI takeoff demo. These are our suggestions, drawn from the questions on our takeoff category hub and the measures in our planned test protocol. They are not findings: Means & Methods Lab has not tested any tool yet. Where a question mentions a vendor, it points to something that vendor publishes, so you can see why the question matters.

SUGGESTIONS, NOT FINDINGS. No tool has been tested by Means & Methods Lab. Vendor facts are desk research from vendor websites and are not verified. Updated 2026-10-14.

The questions (8)

Q01Which file types does it accept (PDF, CAD, images)?
WHY IT MATTERS · Vendors publish different lists. Exayard lists PDF, image, and CAD (DWG/DXF/DGN); Kreo lists PDF, CAD, and images; Countfire describes PDF takeoff. We did not record a file-format list for Togal.
IN THE DEMO · Ask them to load the format you actually receive at bid time, not a sample they prepared.
Q02Is AI detection included in the plan you would buy, or only in a higher tier?
WHY IT MATTERS · Kreo lists its Lite and Plus tiers as without AI-powered tools, with AI tools on Pro. Exayard includes a monthly amount of AI credits per plan. ConstructConnect lists AI Auto Takeoff on Takeoff Professional, not Starter.
IN THE DEMO · Ask what happens when included AI usage runs out, and whether the demo is running on the tier you would buy.
Q03How long does a human take to review and correct the AI's quantities?
WHY IT MATTERS · Minutes to first result and minutes to human correction are two of the measures in our planned test protocol, because a fast first pass can still take a long time to fix.
IN THE DEMO · Ask to see the correction step live: deleting false counts, adding missed items, and fixing a wrong scale.
Q04What is behind the accuracy figure?
WHY IT MATTERS · Some vendors publish accuracy claims, for example Togal (up to 98% on floor plans), Beam AI (99%+), and Civils.ai (97%+ on takeoffs). We report these as claims; none has been verified.
IN THE DEMO · Ask on what kind of drawings, measured how, and against what answer key. Our planned metrics are overall error %, missed items, and false counts.
Q05How does it handle revised sheets and addenda?
WHY IT MATTERS · Several vendors describe revision features: Countfire describes auto-counting revised drawings, Togal describes drawing-set comparison, and STACK describes flagging revisions.
IN THE DEMO · Bring a sheet and its revision, and ask the tool to show what changed in the quantities.
Q06Can quantities be exported to the estimating system you already use?
WHY IT MATTERS · Export paths differ. Countfire produces Excel quotes, Exayard offers a REST API, MCP server, webhooks, and CLI, and heavy civil shops often price in systems like HCSS HeavyBid or B2W Estimate.
IN THE DEMO · Ask to see an export land in your format, with item names and units intact.
Q07Does it work on site and civil sheets?
WHY IT MATTERS · Some vendors describe their AI in terms of building drawings: Togal's accuracy claim is for floor plans, and Handoff AI's takeoffs are for residential plans. Our heavy civil hub also suggests asking which surface, CAD, and point-cloud formats an earthwork tool reads.
IN THE DEMO · If you bid site/civil work, ask to see a civil plan set (plans, profiles, cross-sections), not only a floor plan.
Q08How are your documents stored, and are they used to train models?
WHY IT MATTERS · This question appears on our document and drawing review hub and applies equally to takeoff tools that ingest full bid sets.
IN THE DEMO · Ask for the answer in writing before uploading client drawings.

What to bring

A sheet or small set you have already taken off by hand, so you know the right answer (a public bid set if you cannot share client drawings).
A revised version of one sheet.
Your bid-item or cost-code list, to check whether exports map to it.
A timer, so you can note minutes to first result and minutes to correct it.

Tools mentioned (alphabetical, not ranked)

Beam AI · Takeoff & estimating
Civils.ai · Takeoff & document checks
ConstructConnect · Project leads, takeoff & bidding
Countfire · Takeoff & estimating
Exayard · Takeoff & estimating
Handoff AI · Estimating
Kreo · Takeoff
STACK · Takeoff & estimating
Togal.AI · Takeoff

Side-by-side comparisons

Means & Methods Lab has no commercial relationship with any vendor on this page. Rankings and placement are never for sale. See how we make money.

Questions to ask an AI takeoff vendor before a demo

The questions (8)

What to bring

Tools mentioned (alphabetical, not ranked)

Side-by-side comparisons

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