Using Case Studies to Determine Automatable Activities in Construction Bid Preparation

The purpose of this study is to determine the automation potential of the key activities in the construction bid proposal preparation process. The activities were analyzed for their capability of being fully or partially automated based on a predetermined approach towards developing a bid automation model while aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to industry innovation and infrastructure. Case studies were conducted with two major engineering consulting firms in South Africa to identify and understand the key activities in the bid proposal preparation process. The research reveals that key activities like content review and requirements summary preparation, method statement writing, and bid pricing are capable of being partially automated while activities like project sheet preparation, and standard documents attachment including reference documents can be fully automated. The case study highlights opportunities for automation in producing technical and commercial proposals. This study contributes to existing knowledge by providing an in-depth analysis of the automation potential in construction bid proposal preparation. The research introduces a novel approach to bid automation offering practical insights into reducing manual effort, enhancing process efficiency, and promoting sustainable practices in bid preparation. The findings pave the way for developing advanced automation tools that address both operational challenges and sustainability objectives.