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Cloud-based Construction Software: Things to Consider

People don’t usually think of construction as a high-tech industry. The fact is that large and small construction companies rely on software solutions for everyday operations. Some companies use generic solutions, like Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and Access databases. While these tools are effective, dedicated construction software is better suited to the task for a variety of reasons.

More accurate calculating of job profitability

Standard spreadsheet software can keep track of how much a company spends on each job, but using that data to calculate job profitability would take extra work. Some companies could have staff members dedicated to managing the data and crunching the numbers, but others may not.

However, software that is designed specifically for the needs of the construction industry could have that sort of functionality built in. The software can also provide that information on the fly, so as data changes so too does the cost and profitability reporting.

Having dedicated software also makes it easier to estimate the costs for bid, thereby reducing the risk of underbidding or exceeding budgets. Additionally, by automating the process, the project manager can spend less time reviewing data and crunching numbers, and more time on other aspects of the project.

Better project management

Construction software is specifically designed to track construction projects from start to finish, with management details including:

  • Contractor and subcontractor information
  • Purchase orders
  • Change orders
  • Contracts
  • Permits
  • Insurance
  • Suppliers
  • Equipment
  • Drawing revisions
  • Job milestone
  • Anything else needed to complete the project

The software provides an historical reference, which allows the company to review old projects and make more accurate bids on upcoming projects.

Finding the right construction software

Good construction software should have the following:

Real-time data sharing

Construction projects are ever-changing. Architects revise blueprints, government offices delay permits, and the project manager needs to communicate those changes to everyone involved in the project.

Cloud-based software, like the construction drawing management tools developed by Procore Technologies, stores all the data in a central location, and replicates any changes as they are made. So, if the designer changes the drawings showing the placement of light fixtures, the electrician can see the new plans and make changes before calling in the inspector.

When all parties have access to timely information, it ultimately saves the construction company time and money.

All-in-one features

The software should handle all, or most, of the company’s needs. That way the project manager, and other staff, does not have to coordinate several different pieces of software to get them to work together. Good construction software will include a tool for estimating and job costing, accounting and payroll, project management, inventory and equipment maintenance, and scheduling.

An integrated, single-entry system

The data you enter in one area should automatically flow to other areas of the project. For example, if a company is building an addition onto a house, the equipment manager enters the costs for equipment rental, while the personnel manager enters the costs for hiring sub-contractors that week. When it comes time to bill the client and distribute payroll, the financial information will already be in the database. That way different people won’t need to reenter the same information in different parts of the project, leaving less room for error.

Thorough training and technical support

Any piece of software worth its salt has a learning curve, and it’s important that everyone who uses it be up to speed for the company to get the most benefit. At the same time, things can always go wrong, be it an upgrade that conflicts with the current OS, or spyware preventing the software from running properly.

Whatever the case, when things go down, there needs to be a quick solution for getting things up and running again. Good construction software should offer thorough training materials, including on-board help files, and reliable technical support.

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3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Pingback: Cloud-based Construction Software: Things to Co...

  2. Camron Thomas

    August 19, 2020 at 6:32 am

    Modern tools and technology in construction can take things to a very next level and can improve productivity. This is very valuable information

  3. Kerry C

    December 30, 2020 at 9:11 am

    Aside from the above lists, any of unfastened structural eng’g software program without a expiration which you understand of? There are, like axisvm lite, its unfastened shape evaluation software program, with problem of forty nodes,Procon software program additionally offer unfastened cloud evaluation and layout application with out problem, smath studio is mathcad like however unfastened, nanocad five is autocad opportunity and it’s miles unfastened, different man may understand the rest?

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