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HBXL is a company that has arisen out of a combination of experience, insight and intuition. Our founder, Adrian Wild worked as a builder and developer for around 25 years, building over 300 extensions and 80 new builds during this time. As a result, he not only grew his building firm from one manager and a small group of contractors to a company of 6 staff and over 40 regular subcontractors, but he also crucially had the innovation to see the need for something different. HBXL Building Software is the result, allowing the building business to adapt, without compromising.

How a building business stopped being stuck in the past

In order to explain how Adrian developed the idea of a software solution to construction management we must travel back in time to his building firm, Ashby Design and Construct and the early 90’s. Ashby Design and Construct at that time comprises 6 staff at this point, Adrian, Darren, Sylvia, Geoff, Anne and Robert. Each manager has a different role in process of winning the job, delivering the project and monitoring the profitability of the business. Communication between the team is vital to a successful and accurate project. Had HBXL Building Software been around, this communication between different departments and aspects of the project would have been a lot easier.

X-Connex connects HBXL Building Software

Due to the unique X-Connex technology which links HBXLs software tools, the information input at the first stage of the process can now be shared with all the later stages to ease the flow of information, increase accuracy and improve efficiency. Watch the video below to get a snapshot of how X-Connex technology can ensure a seamless build project and then read on to see how this process would work in practice using Ashby Design and Construct as our case study.

How Building Software took a company from the 90s to now.

Adrian is the initial contact with the client. His job is to interpret what the client wants and relay to the rest of the team so that they can produce plans, estimates, quotes for Adrian to pass back to the client in order to win the work. As the job progresses the team will then need plans, materials schedules, variation control and effective communication to track the profitability and delivery of jobs. Potentially even a number at the same time.

Drawing the designs in-house and keeping control

Darren is the company designer. His job is to interpret what Adrian and the client have discussed. He then draws up a plan and when the client is happy, he passes this back to Adrian. If Darren was able to use PlansXpress to create his drawings he would import the drawing into EstimatorXpress with a couple of mouse clicks to instantly generating a detailed quote using live prices from many of the UKs leading merchants and his own local suppliers. Darren also could print plans, elevations and 3D models for Adrian to help him wow the client, demonstrate Ashby’s professional standard and secure the business.

Getting quotes to customers that help you win work

Normally Sylvia receives Darren’s estimate and notes and gets to work typing out the quote which can take quite and long time and runs the risk that the abbreviate quote she provides differs slightly from what Darren had intended, creating further problems later on.

Now with the combination of PlansXpress and EstimatorXpress  (a powerful toolset we call 3D Visual Estimating)  Darren produces everything with a few mouse clicks, for straightforward jobs, plans, 3D Models and quotes can be produced in just a few minutes including a professional estimate, quote and letter all taking into account the margins, profit and wastage for the project. In some companies the designer would now go out and meet the client armed with his laptop and prepare the scheme drawing with the client, saving Adrian more time to run the business or even a well-deserved break!

At this point, without HBXL both Sylvia and Darren would have put in a considerable amount of work in order to try and win the project.  If the client felt they wanted to pay less than the estimated cost, the team may be more inclined to accept a lower cost to produce having previously put so much work in. This would mean already eating into their profit margin. Compare this to the fast and easy process using HBXL Building Software where this pressure wouldn’t exist. Some of our current users even report that it has helped them choose what projects are the best for them in terms of amount of return for time and effort- putting the control back in your hands.

Once the contract has been won the scheme drawings can quickly be converted into working drawings and submitted to the Local Authority for Planning and Building Regulation approval. This is made even easier with the Visual Estimating software as it automatically produces a draft set of Building Regs notes with a couple of mouse clicks, again saving hours of pains taking work for Darren. The software also saves Darren even more time by automatically generating all elevations with a handful more mouse clicks..

Managing the Building Process with clients and contractors

In the past, Geoff – the site manager – would have been passed the estimates and plans, and then would begin juggling multiple spreadsheets, trying to coordinate materials, contractors, and timelines across different projects. From the moment a project is secured, BuildProjex allows Geoff to meticulously plan every phase of the build with just a few clicks.

When Ashby’s add BuildProjex, job management is simplified. The cloud-based software lets Geoff schedule tasks, allocate resources, and adjust timelines as needed, ensuring that every aspect of the build is on track. Materials are ordered just in time, and contractors are scheduled efficiently, reducing downtime and keeping the project moving smoothly.

And when the inevitable delays occur—whether due to bad weather or supply chain issues—BuildProjex makes it easy to replan. Geoff can quickly adjust the schedule and notify everyone involved of the changes, minimising disruption and keeping the project on course. The software also allows the entire team to view floor plans, documents and images added to the project, providing a clear understanding of where the project is at, either to other team members, or with the clients themselves.

For those who prefer a different approach, there is also ProjectXpert, another robust project management tool. Like BuildProjex, ProjectXpert helps to streamline the building process by allowing for easy scheduling, resource management, and project tracking. Both tools are designed to reduce the stress of managing multiple projects and ensure that everything runs smoothly, no matter the size or complexity of the job.

In summary, whether using BuildProjex or ProjectXpert, managing the building process has never been easier. These tools provide Geoff with everything he needs to ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standard, allowing him to focus on delivering exceptional results every time.

Contracts are key to maintaining profitability

Anne and Robert look after the accounts, legal and contacts part of the business. Prior to a software tools like ContractsXpert, Anne would have had to go through all the details of the project line-by-line and create separate documents for everyone involved in the projects.

Contractors, suppliers, clients and more. Everyone you work with will require a contract, and as the jobs progress, further amendments will be required. Doing this all manually, or even inputting the data into a Word document might work, but it takes time and increases the risks of mistakes.

In today’s construction industry, a clear and legally binding contract is essential from the moment a job is won. With ContractsXpert, once a project is secured, Anne can quickly generate a comprehensive contract tailored to the specific needs of the job. All of the key elements are covered, from payment schedules to project scope, leaving no room for dispute.

As each stage of the project progresses, any changes or variations can be swiftly updated in the contract, keeping both the client and Adrian’s team on the same page. This means no more worries about miscommunication or disagreements down the line—every detail is clearly documented and agreed upon. Adrian’s business is protected. Giving him peace of mind that every project is backed up, reducing the risk of non-payment or other contract issues.

Having a clear, professional and watertight contract puts the client at ease and helping ensure your payment for work undertaken. No awkward discussions about payment or changes to work, just simple straightforward and legally binding contracts to put both client and builder at ease. In fact, if you don’t have a legally binding professionally written contract with all the necessary clauses in place, the customer can simply walk away without paying a penny…even if the job is 100% perfect and on time! Adrian is generating profit now!

Managing modern Health and Safety requirements

Now we flash forward to the new managers and job roles needed. Health and safety and building contracts weren’t so much of a thing back then, but they are an essential part of any successful business plan now! Before, health and safety was an important consideration of course, but as long as you were being responsible you felt you were alright. Now, you need to cover documentation and demonstrate that you have considered all the risks, to ensure all your contractors are appropriately trained and set up a construction phase plan. Nobody wants anyone to get hurt onsite, but also importantly, nobody wants to get a great big fine slapped on them for not having the right bits of paper with you! Having Health & Safety Xpert removes all these worries, helps you create a safe work environment and allows you to fly though the paperwork required to do so!

How can you get your building business out of the past?

As you can see, Adrian has thought of a software solution for every step of the build process as a result of experiencing every step. Ashby Design and Construct was a successful business in the 90s but the question is, would it still be as successful today if it didn’t have HBXL Building Software? Can a company that is ‘stuck in the past’ keep up with the pace of the modern construction market? Or better still, can a company that keeps up with advancements in technology and the construction market thrive and exceed its targets?

The reality is that with the new HBXL software Ashby Design and Construct could have taken on even more work; which would have been easily achieved as HBXL’s customers say that with the estimating alone they save on average 63 working days and win 230% more at improved margins….not to mention the enormous savings and advantages that all the other modules deliver.

So will it save you time and make you more profitable? 12,000 of our users seem to think so! Take a look at their stories here, or find out how you can step out of the past here.