AI for Division 8 (Doors, Windows)

The construction industry is under pressure from stricter regulations, increased competition, and high interest rates that have shortened project timelines and reduced margins. For Division 8 manufacturers and suppliers, one of the most painful bottlenecks is hunting down the details for every single opening. This involves determining door and window types, hardware requirements, and specifications from fragmented sources. It's one of the most time-intensive and error-prone parts of project estimation, despite openings representing a significant portion of overall project costs. At Bild, we've witnessed firsthand how this challenge affects teams across the industry, and we're working to change that reality.

Traditional Takeoffs

The current takeoff process is broken. Estimators receive massive document sets – architectural drawings, specifications, schedules – often totaling hundreds of pages. Door and hardware details are scattered throughout these documents with no clear organization. Estimators must manually hunt through every page to piece together the complete picture for each opening.

The stakes are high. A fire rating upgrade note tucked into the architectural details on page 47 could cost tens of thousands of dollars if missed, yet human error in such extensive document reviews is inevitable. Once they locate all of the information, they then have to manually retype the data cell by cell into their ERP software – whether that's Comsense, Emullion, Avaware, or another platform. For a larger project, this process can take anywhere from days to weeks, tying up the estimator from being able to do other critical tasks. This ties up valuable estimators who could be building relationships with customers, pursuing more bids, and collaborating with manufacturers on project solutions. It affects the whole organization's capacity and competitiveness.

The Better Way

After seeing the industry-wide pain points, we're introducing Bild AI D8, a model built and trained specifically to serve the Division 8 industry. Clients upload the files they receive from the general contractors to our web platform where our models extract the information needed for a takeoff and import it directly into your ERP.

What makes our approach unique is that our models are not just trained for generic construction use – we've specifically trained them for Division 8, meaning they understand the nuanced language, conventions, and diagrams. With the ability to look at door tags, interpret door and hardware schedules, and understand fire ratings, we don't just give you all the data on a document – we take it a step further. Our system organizes information into structured door and hardware templates that integrate seamlessly with existing ERP systems. Whether your team uses Comsense, Emullion, Avaware, or another platform, we work directly with clients to ensure our output fits their established workflows without requiring process changes.

The accuracy improvements are equally important. By eliminating manual data entry and reducing the risk of overlooked specifications, teams can bid with greater confidence while minimizing the change orders and rework that erode project profitability.