Automatic takeoff and estimation from photos: calculate in 2 minutes instead of 2 hours

Take a photo of the plan, let the tool calculate surface areas, subtract openings, and estimate material quantities.

• The problem it solves
• The solution: Onaya, ProGBat, or Carvao
• Real-world example: Painting contractor
• How to implement this solution
• Alternatives and comparison
• Available funding to finance this investment
• Conclusion

The problem it solves

Every day, SMBs and contractors lose time and money on tasks that technology can automate. 2–4 hours of manual takeoff per job site — that's exactly what this solution eliminates. Time spent on these tasks is time that isn't invested in business development, client relationships, or innovation.

The solution: Onaya, ProGBat, or Carvao

Onaya is one of the most accessible tools in this category. It can be set up in a few hours, requires no advanced technical skills, and the return on investment is visible from the very first month.

How it works

The tool integrates with your existing systems (email, calendar, CRM, accounting software) and automates repetitive tasks. The AI learns from your habits and improves over time. You stay in control of the important decisions — the AI handles the rest.

Key benefits

• 24/7 availability: the tool keeps working even when you're on-site or off for the weekend
• Zero data entry errors: the system never gets numbers or dates wrong
• Scalability: your volume can triple with no significant added cost
• Full traceability: everything is logged and instantly retrievable

Real-world example: Painting contractor

A painting contractor used to spend 2 hours per job site measuring every room with a laser measure, recording dimensions, and calculating surface areas by subtracting doors and windows. With the automatic takeoff tool, he simply photographs the floor plan or scans the architect's drawings. The tool automatically calculates wall and ceiling surface areas, subtracts openings, and estimates the number of paint cans needed per product reference. Time: 2 minutes. Accuracy: 95%.

How to implement this solution

Step 1: Assessment (1 day)

Step 2: Free trial (1–2 weeks)

Step 3: Rollout (1–2 weeks)

Step 4: Measure ROI (months 1–3)

Alternatives and comparison

Several solutions exist in this category: Onaya, ProGBat, and Carvao. The right choice depends on your company size, budget, and existing tech stack. For SMBs with fewer than 20 employees, the simplest solution is usually the best one — team adoption matters more than advanced features.

Available funding to finance this investment

As a French SMB, you may be eligible for several support programs:

• France Num: digital vouchers ranging from €500 to €6,500 for VSE/SMB digitalization
• Crédit Impôt Innovation (CII): recover 20% of your innovation expenses
• OPCO: funding for training related to the tool
• BPI France: innovation loans and digital transformation grants

Want to go further? Check out our guide AI and SMBs in Nantes: ecosystem, funding, and support, which covers the full picture.

Conclusion

At €50–150/month in costs and €300–800/month in savings (for 5+ job sites/month), the math is straightforward. This solution is one of those "quick wins" that every SMB or contractor should prioritize. The risk is minimal thanks to free trials, and the gains are immediate and measurable.