Introduction
The construction industry is extremely competitive, as potential clients are looking for firms who are willing to bid on their projects cheaper and cheaper. With rising costs of various factors, such as labour and even material parts, it can be difficult to keep up with the pace. This is why we are seeing more and more construction firms implementing the use of an all in one construction management software platform in order to streamline and increase profit potential.
But what does construction management software do, and how can it help construction companies stay afloat and thrive in this increasingly competitive environment? In this article, we’ll be going through how construction management software improves work processes and allows firms to run their projects more effectively.
What construction management software even is
Construction management software refers to a set of project management tools that aim to service the needs of construction companies. These software tools aim to help construction companies with the processes of planning, coordination of resources and labour, as well as control of the entire implementation of the project. Construction management software is used by many professionals in the industry in order to improve their workflows, from building owners and remodelers, to builders and contractors. The versatility of the software allows anyone in the industry to manage their scope of operations regardless of the size of the project, meaning that it is easily adaptable to any situation and scenario.
There are many different options of construction management software that are currently available for use by construction professionals, and there are more expected to be introduced over time. This heightened competition among construction software providers only benefits construction industry professionals, as they will see software developers create more tailored and intuitive solutions for prospects.
Construction management software comes in three different flavours, depending on where it is hosted. There are options that are based on PC, mobile and the cloud itself. There has been a moving trend toward mobile-accessible software in recent years, thanks to its ease of access and relative popularity and integration with cloud solutions. The industry has poured large amounts of money into the further development of mobile construction management software, as many predict it to be the future of managing projects.
The benefits construction management software provides
There is definitely a reason why construction management software is being widely adopted by the industry and comes with a slew of benefits that aid in the management of construction projects.
Immediate communication and collaboration
One of the biggest time wasters in any construction project is waiting for feedback and communications between partners, contractors, clients and workers. Currently, all these stakeholders and workers only can interact and communicate two ways by email or by reports, meaning that the process of passing information is oftentimes slow and inaccurate. Construction management software allows everyone instantaneous access and communication to a centralised database that can then be viewed by others immediately and inputted in by the person most affected. This ensures that the conveyance of information and data comes straight from the source, shielded from errors of reporting through a chain-of-command system.
Additionally, construction management software allows for real-time collaboration between the various parties involved in the project. What this means is that new ideas can be conveyed and developed quicker, and different stakeholders can request their needs quicker and more simply. It positively encourages positive collaboration between all stakeholders, all with the goal of completing the project on budget and on time. Construction management software facilitates this through the use of shared team dashboards and calendars, as well as their ability to prioritise tasks so that everyone knows what is most important and prevent holdups to the project.
Budget and Resource Management
Construction management software is also able to keep track of expenditures on various aspects of the project. You will be able to track the individual work processes that are occurring simultaneously and keep tabs on spending, and even set custom alarms to ensure that you won’t miss instances of overspending. You can also use these software tools to track worker hours and leave, and even set it so that everyone is able to input their work hours so that they are directly responsible for ensuring that they log the right hours. All of this means that the person handling the accounts and the managers will be able to have full knowledge and control over the spending on the project, look out for irregularities and manage the overall cost of the project. It can also help managers predict if estimated costs are being exceeded or not, and shift or request additional funds where needed.
With construction management software, you’ll be able to keep track of the usage of resources as well. Not only does it help you track the cost of the various resources being implemented, but it also can help you anticipate shortages of materials in advance, allowing you to order more resources before they’re needed so as to prevent any interruptions in the project’s time scope.
Expansion
With all the many ways that construction project management software can streamline work processes and eliminate bloat, it allows companies to run their projects leaner and provide the right amount of resources for each project. This means that companies will have more time and resources and capital to take on new projects, thereby allowing companies to fully maximise their production potential to bring in greater profit for the company.
Conclusion
Construction management software allows construction companies to offload much of the manual labour of tracking and observing projects. By granting managers a full, comprehensive overview of the entire process, managers can then better shape workflows to become more productive and conducive to the completion of the project. Additionally, it saves construction companies money by allowing them to take on more projects and allocate resources accordingly, giving them a boost in their overall profit as well as developing their reputation in the construction industry. Though there are some issues with using construction management software currently, developers are continually working to ensure a smoother, more comprehensive and efficient suite of tools to best assist professionals in this industry.
