Utility of Sharing Economy Principles in the Development of Applications Dedicated to Construction Cost Estimation

Abstract

This research aims to highlight the importance and notoriety that an application based on heuristic algorithms can have in the field of e-commerce in the construction niche, guiding us on participatory economy principles. The expansion of e-commerce has shaped a new directive and increased the complexity of logistics, being a topical and critical issue. Users want the goods to be delivered in a timely manner to the specified address and to benefit from the fastest services. These aspects are challenging to achieve given that most operations fall within the remit of specialized staff within an e-commerce company. In this context, a service-type software application dedicated to the construction field was created to increase productivity, applying the principles of the sharing economy and developing intelligent algorithms. Coestim is a cloud-based SaaS solution for construction work estimations and a marketplace for construction-market-related products. Equipment rental, specialists, tracking the traceability process, generating a quote, and increasing productivity are essential components of the developed application.