Blog

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Can you really save hundreds of thousands and work remotely?!

PSS managing director Anton Oud took a long hard look at his business’ existing processes and found room to streamline their workflow and save dollars. He did just that, and then some.

February 8, 2019

Groundplan & AroFlo: The estimating process is complete

Groundplan and AroFlo have teamed up to make your entire job estimating process a breeze. The partnership between these 2 industry-leaders is the bridge that crosses the great estimating divide.

January 9, 2019

Plumbing Tech and Digital Takeoff

Today we sit down for a quick coffee with Delvan Cummings from CBD Plumbing in Christchurch to discuss how he went from printing plans and using a plan roller, to doing everything digitally on-screen.

February 1, 2018

Superuser Series: Significant Groundplan Features released in 2021

In this 2-Part Webinar Series, our Superuser trainer Cazz will show you how and when to use our most significant features and tools released in 2021.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

December 15, 2021

Build Your Skills with our Free Groundplan & Xero Superuser Webinar

We’re holding yet another free webinar to help existing users enhance their the Groundplan & Xero integration experience.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

Get more from your Groundplan & AroFlo integration with our Superuser webinar

As a cloud-based application, Groundplan is able to integrate with a complimentary network of software partners. Those integrations provide tremendous opportunities to further enhance your workflow.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

January 7, 2021

Groundplan & simPRO Superuser webinar

A recording of the webinar is now available. It’s an hour out of your day to add a lifetime of increased efficiency.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

October 22, 2020

Superuser Series Part 5: Project and Take-off Templates

In Part 5, Groundplan's in-house trainer, Cazz Byrne demonstrates how to save hours with our powerful Project and Takeoff Templates.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

September 29, 2020

Superuser Series Part 4: Worksheets and Quantities

In Part 4, Cazz details how to manage and export data using Worksheets and Quantities.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

September 22, 2020

Superuser Series Part 3: Designing Plans and Editing Tools

In Part 3 you'll learn how to create an accurate and attractive plans using the range of editing tools available in Groundplan.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

September 1, 2020

Superuser Series Part 2: Taking Off Plans

In Part 2 we take your existing takeoff process into the digital world of Groundplan.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

August 26, 2020

Superuser Part 1: Setup and Creating Projects

In case you didn't manage to register for our ever-popular Groundplan Superuser Series, we've uploaded the recorded sessions for you to reference any time.

August 18, 2020

Groundplan Software updates (12 March 2020)

We've been working hard to make taking off plans a whole lot easier! While we've kept the basics the same, you'll now have an easier time selecting, moving and editing your measurements.

How to avoid the pitfalls of measuring and pricing for tenders manually

There are several common mistakes made when tendering for construction projects which can harm the chances of the bid being successful.

October 8, 2019

Groundplan & AroFlo: The estimating process is complete

Groundplan and AroFlo have teamed up to make your entire job estimating process a breeze. The partnership between these 2 industry-leaders is the bridge that crosses the great estimating divide.

January 9, 2019

Episode 5: How Groundplan brings remote teams together

Despite the distance, he remains the central point of contact for all things estimating, project management and documentation.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

Episode 4: Getting the Project Manager onboard

In episode 4 of our 5-Part series we asked Brent how he’s incorporating the project manager into the process so that the above walkthroughs from site can be clearly documented back to the office and vice versa.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

Episode 3: Documentation for the builder

In this episode, Brent walks us through the process for tracking changes on site and how it benefits all future trades.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

Episode 2: From Tendering to Walk Through Stage

In episode 2, Brent reveals how he manages project revisions to help project managers understand the project’s history.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

Episode 1: Keeping Your Projects Organised

In this five-part series, Brent Drew from Modern Vision Contractors has been generous enough to show us exactly how he estimates projects 1000 km's from head office.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

When day spills into night, something’s gotta give

Building a serious electrical business and spending time with the family can potentially conflict, until you put the right infrastructure in place.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

How J-Tech Systems Supercharged Estimating and Quoting

Scaling a business in the trades isn’t just about winning more projects—it’s about smart decisions & smart systems. Enter Groundplan & Simpro.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

Profit Visibility: The Key to Keeping Cool

The end of a project should be cause for celebration. Instead, one significant question often remains unanswered even after all those weeks of physical labor: "Did I actually make money on this job?"

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

The Ultimate Toolkit for an Electrical Business to Thrive

No integration is more popular than our connection to Simpro. But how does it actually benefit your workflow?

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

Job Costing for Trade Businesses: Strategies That Protect Your Margins

Priced a job well, got paid, then wondered where the profit went? Job costing closes the gap between your estimate and what the job actually cost.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

November 10, 2026

The Apprentice Dilemma: Hiring Trades Apprentices in 2026

Training your own tradies can seem like the obvious fix for the skills shortage, until you count the costs. Here's what an apprentice really costs in 2026, which incentives can offset it and how to make the first 18 months pay off.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

November 9, 2026

Plumbing Takeoff Best Practice: How to Measure Jobs Accurately

A pipe run measured a metre short can swallow the margin on a whole job. Here's a six-step plumbing takeoff process that treats fixture counts, pipe runs and drainage as separate, deliberate steps.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

November 5, 2026

How to Read Digital Construction Plans: A Beginner's Guide

Reading plans is a habit you build over a few jobs, not a qualification you need first. This guide gives you the shortcuts.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

October 30, 2026

The Admin Tax: 5 Repeat Tasks Any Trade Business Can Automate This Month

Every trade business pays an admin tax. Here are five repeat tasks you can automate this month with tools you already have.

Alicia Smith | Workflow Advisory

October 29, 2026

Finding the right symbol now takes a fraction of the time

We’ve updated Symbols management in Groundplan to make your collection easier to search, organise and manage, with your categories and symbol packs together on one page.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

October 27, 2026

How to Choose Cloud-Based Takeoff Software

Choosing the wrong takeoff software can be costly. A year on a platform that doesn’t work for you burns through subscription fees, onboarding time and the goodwill of whoever uses it.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

October 26, 2026

What Clients Look For in a Construction Quote

Clients tend to choose a construction quote based on clarity, responsiveness and trust signals, not on the lowest number at the bottom of the page.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

October 23, 2026

How Construction Estimating Has Evolved

Today, digital tools are changing how people approach estimates and takeoffs, setting new standards for efficiency and accuracy.

Brad Halcrow | Groundplan

October 16, 2026

Start Your 7−Day Free Trial

Thousands of NZ & Australian trade businesses use Groundplan to manage their takeoff and estimating workflow. Optimise your estimating process by signing up for our 7-day free trial.

Expert onboarding is included — so you'll be set up and estimating from day one.