Construction management is a field that has tons of untapped potential because it has long been rife with problems. Of course, each industry has its own set of specific problems. The problems tend to be much more intricate in the construction industry than in most others, the common ones being:
- Resistance to technological solutions
- Highly specialized and complex knowledge base
- Physical danger to workforce
- Remote, unfamiliar locations
Each construction project has a multitude of variables which are constantly on the move: there’s materials, machinery, equipment, locations, and workforce to worry about, not to mention the processes of costing, compliance, reporting, and a myriad of other complexities.
However, a construction project is not very different from a business project in many respects. Most of the commonly-faced challenges in a construction project can be overcome with the aid of proper planning and systems in place. The basic principles that make any project a success apply to a construction project as well. However, just using any project management software is not enough when you’re dealing with .
This is where a construction management software comes in. It takes care of the specialized project management needs of a construction project while cutting operational costs, improving scalability and visibility. Here are a handful of ways that a construction management solution can help you to advance your business while giving you a considerable advantage over your competition.
1. Connectivity
Anybody in the construction trade knows that unforeseen events can arise at any time. The crew and their systems need to be flexible enough to adapt to whatever situations happen to crop up. Web-based and cloud-based construction management software are flexible and connected no matter what. Nothing short of a natural disaster can disrupt construction crews that are connected with the help of construction management software/app. No matter where your crew is deployed, if they have a working internet connection, you can monitor them and stay updated from any part of the world.
2. Cost cutting
It might seem as if investing in a construction management software might add to your costs, but once you become aware of the ways in which it actually reduces them, you might change your mind. Construction management software is equipped with specific construction accounting capabilities, which makes budgeting, ordering, inventory, and other related functions easier to understand and take care of. You not only reduce operational costs for your company, but you ensure that project errors (which ultimately turn to huge loss-making elements) are minimized, thus contributing to the profitability of your business.
3. Tracking and Management
Tracking is one of the most vital aspects of any project management system. It enables project managers and crew/team members to have a visual representation of their timeline on hand. After planning the schedule and budget, the project manager simply has to enter the relevant data and assign team members in the construction management software. After that, it is easy to track time and expenses being incurred on the project. Whether the project is progressing as expected or is overdue and going over budget: every single detail is visible on the software. Keeping a tab on timelines, processes, and expenses becomes easy. This helps you to plan effectively for the future and have a backup plan ready in case anything goes south.
4. Integrations
A highly sought-after feature of most tech solutions is integrations! The more applications that a software can integrate with, the better. Integrate your construction management software with software that you already use. These include your accounting system, communication solutions Workforce/payroll/human resource management solutions and etc. This will enable you to control and monitor important facets of your business from one unified place. It increases ease of access for the project manager, the team members, and any other external teams who might be collaborating with yours.
5. Document Control
Construction companies, no matter what the size, have to process and file a huge number of documents, files, and papers. It could be supplier quotations, crew information, and a million other papers. Gone are the days of bulky filing cabinets. A construction management software gives your organization a secure platform to store every single one of your documents. You save space and money! Moreover, you can configure access to the documents so that they’re available only on a need-to-know basis. Only relevant documents/files will be made available to employees.
6. Reporting and Analysis
Reporting can be a tedious and cumbersome process. But not anymore. As all the information is compiled on a unified platform, reporting becomes incredibly simplified. Most construction management software will have a library of standard reports such as ROI and attrition reports, payslips, and more. All the information and metrics are available at your fingertips, you only have to select how and what it is you want to analyze: you’ll get it in a matter of minutes and without having to pay a single extra penny.
Construction management software is designed specifically keeping in mind the problems faced by construction managers and crews. A good construction management solution will impart efficiency to all your processes, provide connectivity and flexibility to your teams, and help you get the required numbers for your growth. If you want to run a profitable construction business, a construction management software is integral to your business strategy.
Featured Partners: Project Management Software
If you’re interested in learning more about top rated project management software, the editors at Project-Management.com actively recommend the following:
1 Wrike
Tackle complex projects with Wrike’s award-winning project management software. Break projects into simple steps, assign tasks to team members, and visualize progress with Gantt charts, Kanban boards, and calendars. Manage resource allocation and forecasting with software that’s easy to launch. Automation and AI features strip away time-consuming admin tasks so you can do the best work of your life. Streamline your practices, align your team, and ensure you hit deadlines and stay on budget.
2 monday.com
monday.com Work OS is the project management software that helps you and your team plan, execute, and track projects and workflows in one collaborative space. Manage everything from simple to complex projects more efficiently with the help of visual boards, 200+ ready-made templates, clever no-code automations, and easy integrations. In addition, custom dashboards simplify reporting, so you can evaluate your progress and make data-driven decisions.
3 Productive
Start and deliver each billable and non-billable service by centralizing communication. Collaborate with teammates on tasks in real-time, streamline best practices, and let clients in on progress.
Stop spreading work across platforms. Subscribe to tasks to track progress, assign date ranges and deadlines, and check granular steps off with TODOs.
