There are a lot of different types of technology out there for construction companies and it can be challenging to find the best construction apps for your organization, especially if you haven’t prioritized adopting technology. Construction Project Management software is a technology that you can start using immediately, to get ahead in construction and streamline your processes.
Technology is fast becoming necessary for today’s construction firms to be competitive, and it’s not going to slow down. Experts report if you don’t adopt technology, you will likely get left behind and your business won’t survive because, as technology evolves, you’ll be too far behind to get caught up.
In the future, hyperconnectivity will be an important part of the construction industry, making the Internet of Things (IoT) necessary for all construction firms. Construction Project Management software is a great way to start joining the global technological shift.
What Is Construction Project Management?
Construction project management is done by someone who understands both management and construction. They are responsible for managing each part of a construction project including the people, equipment, and materials within budget and on time.
Construction project management is different from construction management.
Construction managers do more delegating and overseeing with occasional site visits whereas construction project managers are more hands-on.
According to Go Construct, a project manager is responsible for:
Understanding what the client or company wants to achieve
Agreeing timescales, costs and resources needed to deliver a project
Drawing up a detailed plan for how to achieve each stage of a project
Selecting and leading a project team
Negotiating with contractors and suppliers
Directing a multi-disciplinary team
Communicating with staff at every level, in a calm, personable way
Overseeing several projects at the same time
Ensuring that each stage of the project happens on time, on budget and to a high standard
Reporting regularly on progress to the client and stakeholders
Coordinating market and customer research
Resolving any issues or delays
Demonstrating knowledge of all areas of construction
Writing bids for tender
Managing several projects simultaneously with the support of junior project managers
Working in an office or on a construction site.
With all of these responsibilities and complexities, project management software construction becomes a powerful tool for construction project managers.
What Can A Construction Project Management Software Do?
Construction project management software makes it easier for your project managers to manage people, documents, and projects with different tools. It is increasingly used by construction firms to improve profitability, efficiency, and competitiveness.
In fact, a report from Market US found the global Construction Project Management Software market size is “expected to grow from USD 1233.7 million in 2018 to USD 2250.8 million by 2028.”
Construction project management software streamlines workflows and keeps data, documents, and information in one place, making it easier to keep projects on time and within budget.
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Construction Project Management Tools
Every construction project has six stages:
- Conception
- Design
- Pre-construction
- Procurement
- Construction
- Post-construction stage
Each of these stages has specific purposes and procedures, and having the right project management tools streamlines your workflows by connecting each stage. When you need to keep projects on schedule, stay within budget, manage quality, and ensure a safe worksite, project management software helps you do this efficiently and effectively.
Time Tracking Tools
The construction space spends a lot of money on direct and indirect labor costs. There are a lot of benefits to having a time tracking tool and, for project management, knowing where you stand on your labor budget is one of them.
Resource Management Software
When you’re trying to keep track of your teams, it’s nearly impossible to do so accurately and easily with pen and paper. A good software with resource management capabilities will allow you to view, create, rearrange, and share schedules from one place. This also helps with avoiding unexpected overtime.
When you have subcontractors and employees working on the same job, you need to be able to see who’s working when, to more efficiently coordinate the jobs and tasks of the people and the project.
Data Collection Apps
Collecting data is imperative to keep your business running smoothly and make sure everyone is on the same page. Data collection apps help you collect data from the field and, ideally, are stored in a central, cloud-based database, accessible from anywhere.
Communications Tool
Communication is critical in any business, but especially in construction. One survey found almost half of all rework is due to poor communication, costing an estimated $17 billion a year in losses for the construction industry.
The survey further found three main causes of miscommunication:
- Unresponsiveness of team members
- Inability of project stakeholders to collaborate effectively
- Lack of a common platform for all team members to communicate and share project data.
Your construction project management software should make communication transparent, easy, and accessible for all stakeholders.
Project Management Tool
What To Look For In A Project Management Software For Construction
The best project management software for construction would be of little use if it didn’t suit your needs and your company. Which one you decide to go with, depends on the size of your company, your unique needs, and your budget. However, there are some things you should have at minimum, when beginning to use construction project management software.
Integrations Available
When you’re using apps and software to capture data, it helps when your project management software integrates with them. Programs like CRM, accounting software, and bidding software that integrate with your project management app, speeds up many processes and reduces the risks of human error.
Ease Of Use
Not everyone is tech-savvy and you may have workers who are assets to your company but don’t know the first thing about using a smartphone. Most software for construction project management offers a free trial. Take advantage of the free trial to its fullest so you can learn for yourself the complexity of it, before you buy it for your crews.
Real-Time Reporting
Project Managers often need information quickly, and real-time information helps them make important decisions quickly. Being able to access it remotely helps them whether they’re in the office, in the field, or traveling.
Collaborative
Managing data, documentation, information, customer insights, and communication should be easier with a good project management software. When each customer or job is organized in a way that everyone involved can see what’s happening, it makes construction project management easier and more collaborative.
With these kinds of tools, you can also perform change orders and Requests for Information (RFIs) through your project management software, and provide daily logs through communication tools within the software.
Customer Service
You want to go with a software reputed to have exceptional customer service. It would be a waste of resources to make an investment into a project management software for your construction company and then be left to figure it all out on your own, with little or not help or training.
Read customer reviews to get a clear picture of what it will be like for your company to start using the software you are considering. Do they follow up with you? Are they responsive to requests for help? Are they available when you need them to be? How quickly do they help you find the answers you need?
Best Construction Project Management Software
When it comes to construction project management software, there is no shortage of them to choose from. Here are some of the top picks, according to custer reviews.
1. ClockShark
ClockShark is built for construction companies and, although it began as a time-tracking software, has evolved to become much more robust. In addition to time tracking and scheduling, ClockShark makes communication easier through their platform and keeps records in one place, accessible from anywhere, by any stakeholder who needs to see them. You can also create quotes and invoices with ClockShark, and receive payment online, and ClockShark offers multiple integrations.
From the beginning of a project, through getting paid, ClockShark has a suite of features perfect for any sized construction firm, and they continue to add new features as they receive customer feedback, which they take very seriously.
2. Procore
Procore is another popular choice among larger companies. They offer a robust project management software for construction companies that includes all of the features above, plus punch lists, drawings, and more. You can have meetings with remote devices, track weather conditions, and provide daily logs through the software.
Procore is ideal for larger firms with larger budgets, and may not be suited best for small- or mid-size organizations.
3. Monday.com
Monday.com provides a project management solution that gives you customizable dashboards to manage projects and collaborate with your teams. With Gantt charts, you can review where each project stands, who’s working on what, and have a clearer picture of your organization as a whole.
While Monday.com was not created specifically for construction project management, it can still be used to manage construction projects.
4. Fieldwire
Fieldwire, developed for general contractors, specialty contractors, architects, designers, and owners, gives you the tools to manage construction projects and communicate effectively.
Punch lists, inspections, real-time messaging, scheduling, and more, make Fieldwire a good choice for small- to mid-size construction companies.
5. Contractor Foreman
Contractor Foreman is another award-winning software built for construction management, that provides a suite of over 35 features. Daily logs, scheduling, work orders, inspections, punch lists, and permit management are just a few of the features offered by Contractor Foreman.
Contractor Foreman offers integrations and has four pricing plans, ranging from $49 a month to $148 a month.
6. Houzz Pro
Houzz Pro is a business management software that can be used by contractors and construction professionals for construction site management. This software offers you a view of project timelines to help keep them on schedule and provides unlimited cloud-based storage for data and documents.
Houzz Pro is available on mobile, too, so you can use it to review projects and files wherever you’re located.
7. Redteam
Like some of the others, Redteam was built for construction and offers a mobile app, too, so you can access project information on the go. Document storage and management allows your teams to collaborate on each project in real-time. You can use Redteam for RFIs, change orders, schedules, and submittals.
Conclusion
To remain competitive in today’s global construction industry, it is imperative to begin adopting the right technologies. Construction project management software is a great way to start your digital transformation. There are a lot of different ones to choose from, so take the time to research and get familiar with the products available and the companies that offer them, before you decide on which one to choose.
