Articles & Insights
Stay updated with the latest insights, tips, and industry trends from our team of construction and technology experts.
Orys AI vs PlanSwift: Which Is Better in 2026?
PlanSwift was built in 2007 and hasn't meaningfully changed since. Orys AI was built for 2026 — cloud-based, AI-assisted, and built for commercial electrical contractors. This comparison covers platform access, takeoff, catalog management, team collaboration, learning curve, and pricing.
How Much Does Electrical Estimating Software Cost?
Electrical estimating software ranges from free to $500+ per month — but the real question is what staying on Excel is costing you. This guide breaks down every pricing tier, what you actually get at each level, and why the right software pays for itself many times over.
What Is an AI Cost Catalog? A Guide for Contractors
An AI cost catalog is a centralized, AI-managed pricing database that replaces scattered Excel files with one live source of truth for your entire estimating team. This guide explains how Orys's AI Catalog works, why it matters for margins, and what contractors are missing by staying on spreadsheets.
How to Estimate a Commercial Electrical Job in 2026
A step-by-step guide to estimating a commercial electrical job from scratch - covering document review, panel schedules, takeoffs, production rates, and cost catalog management. Written from firsthand field experience.
Orys AI vs STACK: Which Is Better in 2026?
Commercial electrical contractors comparing Orys AI and STACK need to know one thing: STACK requires manual catalog entry, Orys AI uses AI to do it for you. This article breaks down the real differences in catalog management, takeoff speed, platform performance, and learning curve - with a real contractor example and side-by-side comparison table.
How Slow Estimating Is Destroying Your Profit
Slow estimating is quietly destroying your profit as a commercial electrical contractor. Learn how estimating errors and missed bids cost you money every year - and how AI-assisted estimating can win it back.
Commercial Electrical Estimating Software Guide
Comparing the best commercial electrical estimating software in 2026. Excel, STACK, PlanSwift, and Orys AI — what to look for, what to avoid, and how AI is changing how contractors win jobs.
Why Commercial Electricians Are Replacing Excel with AI
Commercial electrical estimators are ditching Excel for AI-assisted platforms that build cost catalogs automatically, flag expired vendor pricing, and cut estimate time from days to hours.