🔧 Software Watch

August 12, 2026 — 12 new tools for construction & glazing

Latest

Exayard

Estimating/Takeoff / AI Glazing Takeoff
What it does: AI-powered glazing takeoff software that reads window schedules, counts type marks on floor plans and elevations, and extracts frame dimensions from details — all simultaneously. Produces complete unit counts with sizes from PDF drawings.
Legacy alternative: Manual window counting, PlanSwift / On-Screen Takeoff, spreadsheet tallying
Key differentiator: Purpose-built for glazing, not general takeoff. The AI understands window type marks and matches them to schedule entries automatically — eliminating the most tedious, error-prone part of glazing estimating.
Pricing: Not public (likely per-user subscription, similar to Quotr.ai range)
Glazing applicability: High — Directly reads window schedules and type marks for glass/glazing unit counts and sizing
MVP trial: Upload a set of glazing shop drawings / window schedules to the Exayard demo
Try Now

GlassBook

Estimating/Takeoff / Cloud Glazing Estimating
What it does: Cloud-based estimating software tailored for the glass and glazing industry. Enables digital takeoffs, accurate bid generation, and job tracking from a browser.
Legacy alternative: Manual estimating, desktop takeoff tools, spreadsheet bids
Key differentiator: Industry-specific for glass/glazing with digital takeoff + bid generation in one cloud workflow. No desktop install required.
Pricing: Not public (subscription-based)
Glazing applicability: High — Built specifically for glass/glazing estimating workflows, digital takeoffs, and bid generation
MVP trial: Request a demo and trial with a sample commercial glazing project
Try Now

Glazyr

Estimating/Takeoff / Glass Estimating
What it does: Glass estimating tool focused on glass-specific workflows with project-oriented quote creation and material calculations. Emphasizes quick takeoff for common glazing elements and generates customer-ready outputs from those inputs.
Legacy alternative: Manual glass estimating, Excel-based quoting, generic takeoff tools
Key differentiator: Optimized for glass estimating with quick takeoff for common glazing elements and customer-ready quote outputs — simpler and more targeted than general-purpose estimating suites.
Pricing: Not public (early-to-mid stage)
Glazing applicability: High — Purpose-built for glass estimating workflows and quote generation
MVP trial: Create a test quote from a small glass project spec
Try Now

OnRamp

ERP / Fabrication Shop ERP
What it does: ERP built inside a real metalworking/fabrication plant (Mancor Industries, Ontario). Scheduling, inventory, MRP, quality, shipping, maintenance, and accounting all run off the same data model — no bolt-on modules.
Legacy alternative: Sage, QuickBooks + spreadsheets, generic ERP with bolt-on manufacturing modules
Key differentiator: Built and tested inside a live fabrication plant — every update is validated against real production before release. Single data model means schedule, inventory, and cost stay in sync automatically.
Pricing: Not public (per-seat SaaS, built for 20–75 employee fabrication shops)
Glazing applicability: High — Fabrication-heavy ERP model fits a glazing shop's make-to-order glass, frame, and hardware workflows
MVP trial: Request a live demo using PGC's typical fabrication job flow
Try Now

HxGN SMART Build

Project Management / Construction Platform
What it does: Hexagon's (Leica Geosystems parent) construction management platform built from the ground up for the industry — connecting field data, models, and project workflows. Part of the broader Hexagon smart construction ecosystem.
Legacy alternative: Procore, Autodesk Build, Trimble Connect
Key differentiator: Backed by Hexagon's world-class measurement and reality-capture tech — tighter integration between survey/LiDAR field data and project management than software-only competitors.
Pricing: Not public (enterprise subscription)
Glazing applicability: Medium — Useful for field-to-office workflows and integrating measurement data with project tracking on curtainwall installs
MVP trial: Request a Hexagon/Leica demo focusing on field data integration
Watch

Manifold

Field Measurement / LiDAR Scanning App
What it does: LiDAR scanning app for contractors — captures 3D scans, floor plans, and measurements using phone/tablet LiDAR (iPhone/iPad). One of six LiDAR apps tested for accuracy in 2026 for construction use.
Legacy alternative: Manual tape measuring, laser distance meters, expensive 3D scanners
Key differentiator: Phone-based LiDAR with construction-grade accuracy focus — captures dimensioned floor plans and 3D data on the spot without specialized hardware.
Pricing: Freemium (Pro tier for exports/advanced features)
Glazing applicability: High — Field measurement of openings, rough openings, and existing glass for retrofit takeoff without manual measuring
MVP trial: Scan a window opening in the office, export dimensions, compare to tape measurement
Try Now

Magicplan

Field Measurement / LiDAR Floor Plans
What it does: Mobile app that creates floor plans, estimates, and site documentation from LiDAR scans and AR. Used widely by contractors for field capture and measurement.
Legacy alternative: Manual sketches, tape measuring, dedicated floor-plan drafting
Key differentiator: AR + LiDAR floor plan creation with built-in project management and estimating hooks. Widely adopted, iOS and Android.
Pricing: Freemium (Pro ~$9–25/mo)
Glazing applicability: Medium — Field measurement and floor-plan capture for retrofit glazing, opening layouts, and documentation
MVP trial: Scan an office space, generate a floor plan, check dimensions for glazing openings
Watch

VisualLive

AR/VR / Construction AR Visualization
What it does: Augmented reality plugin for Revit and Navisworks that converts BIM models into full-scale AR overlays. Position models to align with real-world structures on-site for visualization and QA.
Legacy alternative: 2D drawings, manual layout, expensive VR setups
Key differentiator: Full-scale BIM-to-AR on-site alignment — walk a space and see the model overlaid at true scale, catching clashes and installation issues before work happens.
Pricing: Not public (per-seat plugin license)
Glazing applicability: Medium — Visualize curtainwall/glazing assemblies full-scale on-site, check alignment and clearances before installation
MVP trial: Request demo with a glazing model in Revit
Watch

Autodesk Forma (ACC Integration)

CAD/BIM / Cloud Platform
What it does: Autodesk Construction Cloud was officially integrated into Autodesk Forma in early 2026, merging construction management tools into a broader cloud environment spanning planning, design, execution, and operations.
Legacy alternative: Disconnected design (Revit) and construction (ACC/Build) tools
Key differentiator: Unifies the whole project lifecycle — planning, design, construction, operations — in one cloud platform, closing the design-to-construction handoff gap.
Pricing: Subscription (Forma + ACC tiers)
Glazing applicability: Medium — Better design-to-construction continuity for glazing submittals and shop drawing coordination if PGC works in Autodesk ecosystem
MVP trial: Review Forma + ACC integration on a current project workflow
Watch

Procore Concept Projects

Project Management / Owner-Facing Tools
What it does: New Procore product suite aimed at large construction owners, including a tool called Concept Projects for early-stage project planning and conceptualization before full construction management kicks in.
Legacy alternative: Manual feasibility studies, spreadsheets, disconnected preconstruction tools
Key differentiator: Extends Procore upstream into early project concept/planning — owner-side early-stage tooling in the industry-standard PM platform.
Pricing: Part of Procore subscription (owner-focused tier)
Glazing applicability: Low — Owner-facing early-stage tool; relevant mainly if PGC's GC clients push concept planning through Procore
MVP trial: Review if any GC partners adopt Concept Projects on upcoming work
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InEight Control

Project Management / Cost Control
What it does: Cost management tool tracking budgets, committed costs, and real-time forecasts at granularity most construction tools lack. Bidirectional P6 (Primavera) integration feeds schedule changes directly into cost.
Legacy alternative: Manual cost tracking, spreadsheets, disconnected PM + accounting
Key differentiator: Bidirectional Primavera P6 integration — schedule changes auto-update cost forecasts. Purpose-built for granular committed-cost and budget tracking.
Pricing: Enterprise (not public)
Glazing applicability: Low — Cost-control heavy tool aimed at GCs/owners; less relevant to a trade contractor's quoting workflow
MVP trial: Not practical for PGC scale — enterprise GC tool
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JobBOSS² (ECI)

ERP / Small-Manufacturer ERP
What it does: Business management/ERP for small-to-mid custom manufacturers — fusion of E2 Shop and JobBOSS features. Handles quoting, job costing, scheduling, inventory, and shop floor tracking for make-to-order shops.
Legacy alternative: QuickBooks + spreadsheets, outdated homegrown systems
Key differentiator: Purpose-built for small custom manufacturers (job shops) with deep quoting and job-costing. Well-established, industry-specific for make-to-order fabrication.
Pricing: Subscription (per-seat, mid-range ERP pricing)
Glazing applicability: Medium — Quoting, job costing, and inventory for a make-to-order glazing/fabrication shop; broader than glazing-specific tools but proven for job shops
MVP trial: Request demo with PGC's typical quote-to-shop-floor flow
Watch
Tool Category Verdict Glazing
ExayardEstimating / AI Glazing TakeoffTry NowHigh
GlassBookEstimating / Cloud GlazingTry NowHigh
GlazyrEstimating / Glass EstimatingTry NowHigh
OnRampERP / Fabrication ShopTry NowHigh
HxGN SMART BuildPM / Construction PlatformWatchMedium
ManifoldField Measurement / LiDARTry NowHigh
MagicplanField Measurement / LiDARWatchMedium
VisualLiveAR/VR / Construction ARWatchMedium
Autodesk FormaCAD/BIM / Cloud PlatformWatchMedium
Procore Concept ProjectsPM / Owner ToolsSkipLow
InEight ControlPM / Cost ControlSkipLow
JobBOSS²ERP / Small MfrWatchMedium

🏆 Top Picks for PGC This Week

  1. Exayard — AI glazing takeoff that reads window schedules and type marks automatically
  2. GlassBook — Cloud glazing estimating with digital takeoff and bid generation
  3. Manifold — Phone LiDAR field measurement, free to trial, high retrofit applicability
  4. OnRamp — Fabrication-shop ERP built and tested inside a real plant
  5. Glazyr — Quick glass estimating and quote generation