Creating a resource
Resources are important properties in the construction planning process. Detailed descriptions and definitions of resources in a cost database allow maximum optimization of the construction process and proper utilization of available assets. The decision whether to include resources in a cost database or to simply specify basic Cost items just from a unit price from a market, depends on a user preference, however, BEXEL Manager allows both options.
Resources could be created in two general ways in the same manner as previously described Cost Items, directly in BEXEL Manager interface, or within an Excel spreadsheet, and then imported back to BEXEL Manager.
Resource creation in BEXEL Manager
Creating a new Resource item within Cost Editor, Resources tab:
Activate the Cost Editor tab → Activate the Resource tab within the Cost Editor tab → Right-click on any existing Resource item, or click Add → In the first case, select Add, in the second new (blank) resource item will be created at the bottom of resources list → Define New Resource Code and Description of resource, Type of Resource (which could be Material, Labor or Equipment) as well as basic resource parameters like Quantity type, Quantity unit, Unit cost and Color (which only defines the color of resource representation within software analytics tools for easier understanding).
Parameters related to Resources use (Daily Quantity) are defined within the Cost item definition editor, Resources tab for every Cost item.
After all resources are defined, they can be linked to Cost Items.
Activate the Cost Editor tab → Activate the Classification Editor tab within the Cost Editor tab → Select the Cost Item to add resources → Click Edit from the second toolbar line → The Cost Item Editor window will open → Activate Resource tab → Click on the Add command → The Resource Picker window will open → Choose a resource from the list → Select the proper resource and add information about Quantity and Waste Factor at the bottom of the Resource Picker → Click OK → Add additional resources if needed using the same workflow → In General tab fulfil the Daily Output field if needed (the same amount specified for materials quantity within Resources tab) → Finish the procedure by clicking OK.
Resource Items can be deleted, edited or copied by simple Right-click → Delete/Edit/Copy command.
Resource creation in Excel spreadsheet
As in all previously explained workflows related to Cost Editor, resources can also be created and modified within a properly formatted Excel spreadsheet and imported back to BEXEL Manager. This feature is important for integrating existing cost databases into BEXEL Manager with no need for complete recreation of an existing database but only re-formatting and importing. For resources creation in an Excel spreadsheet, follow this procedure:
To create a new Resource Item in an Excel spreadsheet, just insert a new column below any Resource item (within the resources sheet) and define parameters according to the rules defined in the Help sheet.
After all resources are defined, they can be linked to Cost Items.
This process is simple and straightforward. Activate the Classification sheet → Insert a new row just under the row with the Cost Item for which the resources should be added. In that newly created raw within the column Resource Name, type the name of the resource or pick from the drop-down list to assign resources → The spreadsheet will automatically link it to Resource Items created in Resources sheet and fill in parameters Resource Quantity Type and Resource Quantity Unit → Define the parameter Resource Quantity and define Resource Waste Factor → To complete the process define the parameter Daily Output in a row of the Cost Item → Save Excel file and import it back to BEXEL Manager according to the procedure explained in the section Creating a new cost classification.
The workflow described above applies only to the Excel spreadsheet cost database based on the previously exported file.
After the import is completed, the Cost Item has a Unit Cost parameter defined based on created assigned resources.
Note that your resource database needs to have unique resource codes and names. If during Excel Cost Classification import process, the software identifies that the incoming file has resources with the same code, name and parameters as the existing resources created within the software, the pop-up screen will inform you about noted issues and the system will automatically change codes for all incoming resources. This could lead to issues in resource assignment for Cost Items within imported Excel spreadsheet and due to a changed resource codes (to prevent project inconsistencies), it will be needed to reassign imported resource to respective Cost Items within BEXEL Manager.
