How productivity gains help survey firm outbid the competition

One such firm is the Derbyshire, UK-based precision surveying specialist SolidPoint, which has integrated a complete GPS-surveying solution from marXact into its daily operations. marXact’s UNI-Collect technology, which is designed to facilitate intuitive centimetre accurate measurements, can be quickly integrated into existing processes.

By modernizing its approach to data capture, SolidPoint has not only improved on site productivity by 30%, but also unlocked the ability to bid much more competitively for the architectural and construction projects (such as building accurate digital models, floor plans or underground utility maps) that are core to its business.

The financial impact of efficiency

The most compelling evidence of this shift is found in the projects won. In a recent operational review, SolidPoint revealed that projects previously quoted at £4,500 are now being delivered profitably for £2,500. This 40% reduction in client cost is not the result of cutting corners; rather, it is the direct outcome of a streamlined workflow that completes in a single day what used to take up to three.

“We can bid more competitively now,” explains Fabian Wrzodak, a lead surveyor at SolidPoint. “A job that was £4,500 previously, we can probably do for £2,500 or £2,800 now because we’re getting it done faster. It’s making us more competitive while keeping our margins healthy.”

This shift is critical for improving surveying productivity across the board. In an industry where labour and travel are the highest overheads, reducing site-time is the fastest route to reducing survey costs for the client.

Breaking the software bottleneck

While hardware speed on site is a factor, the most dramatic gains are happening in the office. Traditional surveying often suffers from a data lag, where field measurements must be processed through complex, proprietary software before they are usable in design programs like AutoCAD.
SolidPoint has bypassed this bottleneck by using marXact’s UNI-Cloud platform, which allows for the direct export of CAD-ready files.

“The export process is just so much easier”’ Fabian notes. “You just click a button, it goes straight into the software, and the team can work their magic immediately. We’ve seen a 50% reduction in office processing time because we’ve removed those frustrating middle steps.”

This capability is central to the modern surveying workflow. For firms looking for a high ROI, the value lies not just in the tool itself, but in how quickly the tool turns field data into a deliverable that can be invoiced.

Accuracy without the frustration

A common concern among veteran surveyors is whether easier-to-use tech can maintain professional standards in difficult environments. SolidPoint’s experience suggests that modern plug-and-play systems are outperforming older hardware especially in tricky urban spots.

Fabian describes previous systems as ‘frustrating’ particularly when trying to maintain a signal near tall buildings or under dense tree cover. “With the marXact UNI-GR2 GNSS receiver, it’s just fast, reliable, and intuitive,” he says. “It gets a fix where others couldn't, which means we aren't standing around waiting for a signal—we're moving to the next point.”

This reliability is what enables the fast-turnaround surveys that clients demand. When a team knows they won't be delayed by hardware glitches, they can commit to tighter schedules and more aggressive pricing.

The future of competitive bidding

As the industry develops, the gap between legacy and digital firms is widening. By embracing the efficiency the digital tech brings, SolidPoint has even been able to scale its operations internationally, taking on complex 3D scanning and BIM projects in Ireland, Greece, and Spain.

A lesson for the wider industry is quite clear - the winner of the next tender won't necessarily be the firm with the oldest brand name, but the one with the most efficient workflow. For SolidPoint and marXact, the partnership has proven that making surveying universal isn't just about ease of use - it's also about the bottom line.