Delivering accurate quantity take-offs and transparent reporting at the tender stage is critical for large retail developments. The Lulu Hypermarket project at Atyaf Mall in Abu Dhabi demonstrates how digital automation using Glodon Cubicost TAS and TRB can significantly improve efficiency, accuracy, and stakeholder confidence, even for a single-storey project with complex requirements.

 

 

About Morals General Contracting and the Lulu Hypermarket Project

 

The Lulu Hypermarket project is a landmark retail development located within the newly launched Atyaf Mall in Yarmouk, Abu Dhabi. Covering a total built-up area of 230,000 ft², the hypermarket is designed to serve the surrounding residential community with groceries, fresh food, electronics, and household essentials.

 

The project is set for completion in 2028 and reflects Lulu Group’s continued expansion aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. During the tender stage, Morals General Contracting adopted Glodon Cubicost TAS and TRB to improve workflow efficiency, strengthen cost accuracy, and deliver comprehensive quantity reporting with greater confidence.

 

 

Key Challenges During the Tender Stage

 

1. Time-Consuming Manual Quantification  

Although the project involved a single-storey building, the presence of numerous amenities made the quantification process highly demanding. Relying on manual methods required significant time and effort, slowing down workflows and increasing the risk of inconsistencies. This challenge highlighted the need for digital automation to accelerate take-offs and improve efficiency. 

 

2. Need for Granular Itemisation of Quantities  

The project owner required a comprehensive breakdown of quantities with all markups, ensuring full transparency and understanding of the measurements. Meeting this expectation meant going beyond standard reporting to deliver clear, structured outputs that could be easily interpreted.  

 

Generating comprehensive reports that are both detailed and easy to interpret for the project owner added an additional layer of challenge during the tender phase. While this added complexity to the process, it also reinforced the importance of precision and stakeholder communication in building trust and confidence. 

 

 

Overcoming Tender Challenges with Glodon Cubicost TAS and TRB

 

Figure 1. Cubicost TAS model of the Lulu Hypermarket project, used for complete architectural and structural quantity take-off during the tender stage.

 

To address these challenges, the project team leveraged several core capabilities within Glodon Cubicost.

 

1. Auto Identification for Time Efficiency 

To address the challenge of time-consuming manual quantification, the team utilised Cubicost’s Auto-Identify method to generate the model. This automation significantly reduced repetitive tasks, enabling faster and more accurate take-offs. By streamlining the process, the client experienced a notable improvement in time efficiency, transforming what was once a labor-intensive workflow into a smooth, digital-first approach. 

 

2. Detailed Quantity Reports with 2D Markups 

Meeting the client’s demand for transparency, the team generated various quantity reports enriched with 2D markups by using Create Legend. These visual references enhanced traceability and clarity, allowing stakeholders to easily understand and verify the breakdown of quantities. This feature not only built confidence in the outputs but also strengthened communication, ensuring that every detail was accounted for and clearly presented. 

 

3. Scheduled Element Generation 

The required comprehensive quantity report means the information need to be rich and useful for the use of project owner and their representatives. Utilised project schedules to automatically generate required elements on Element List, further accelerating the tender process. This has tremendously saved substantial amount of time. 

 

 

Measurable Results and Workflow Improvements

 

The implementation of Glodon Cubicost TAS and TRB delivered tangible benefits across the tender workflow.

 

1. Significant Time Savings

The tender stage was completed far faster compared to traditional manual methods, enabling early submission and improved client satisfaction. This can definitely mitigate the risk concerning the project estimate. 

 

2. Enhanced Accuracy and Transparency

Auto-generated quantities and reports minimised human errors and ensured a reliable, auditable record for the client. This in the future can improve the client’s trustworthiness and confidence. 

 

3. First Major Experience with Cubicost

This project served as the team’s initial large-scale implementation of Cubicost, demonstrating Cubicost’s capabilities in a real-world context. The effectiveness of the platform has been achieved successfully through this project, and it is believed more projects can replicate similar success.  

 

4. Improved Client Understanding

The use of 2D markups and detailed reports allowed clients to clearly visualise quantities and understand the breakdown, supporting informed decision-making. Cubicost improved stakeholder management processes throughout the project phases. 

 

5. Optimised Workflow
The combination of auto-identification, reporting, and scheduled element generation streamlined the tender process, allowing the team to focus on higher-value tasks. Consequently, allowing Morals General Contracting to provide the clients with more value. 

 

 

The Lulu Hypermarket project demonstrates how Glodon Cubicost TAS and TRB can support accurate quantity take-off, transparent reporting, and efficient workflows during the tender stage of large retail developments. Through digital automation and visual clarity, Morals General Contracting successfully delivered reliable cost information while improving speed, accuracy, and stakeholder confidence.

 

If your team is looking to improve quantity accuracy, shorten take-off time, and deliver clearer, more transparent reports to clients, Glodon Cubicost can support you in achieving the same level of digital efficiency. To explore how Cubicost TAS and TRB can enhance your tender and construction workflows, get in touch with our team through our Contact Us page.