Choosing the right construction project management software can mean the difference between completing your project with minimal headaches and stumbling to the finish line with major cost overruns. With so many to choose from, it can be difficult. We’ve compiled this guide identifying ten construction project management software every company should have, including:
Table of Contents
- Bridgit Bench
- Procore
- ProntoForms
- e-Builder Enterprise
- Oracle Aconex
- Spectrum by Viewpoint
- Knowify
- Exaktime
- BuildBook
- Revizto
What are construction project management software, anyway?
Construction project management software, as the name would suggest, helps you coordinate work at every stage of your endeavor.
Most commonly, these tools are software programs such as those offering Gantt chart functionality. That’s the definition we’ll be using within this article. For techniques and general tips, check out this article.
Construction projects are multi-faceted, so most companies combine several management tools. As such, several recommendations on this list may be useful for managing your construction projects more efficiently.
10 best construction project management software
Software | Key Benefit | Free trial? | Pricing | Best for? | Capterra score |
Bridgit Bench | Workforce Planning | No | n/a | Midsize and large general contractors, enterprise contractors | 4.5 |
Procore | Project Management | No | n/a | General and specialty contractors | 4.5 |
TrueContext | Mobile Forms | No | n/a | Industry agnostic | 4.6 |
e-Builder Enterprise | Capital program and construction project management | No | n/a | Construction owners | 4.3 |
Oracle Aconex | Project Management | No | n/a | Enterprise companies, industry agnostic | 4.4 |
Spectrum by Viewpoint | Enterprise Resource Planning | No | n/a | Commercial, General, heavy/civil contractors, MEP contractors | 3.9 |
Knowify | Contract and project management | Yes | $149/month | Commercial subcontractors & residential remodelers | 4.5 |
Exaktime | Time clock solution | Yes | n/a | n/a | 4.0 |
BuildBook | Construction management software | No | $79/month | Residential home builders and remodelers | 4.5 |
Revizto | BIM Coordination | Yes | $600/year | AEC | 4.3 |
#1. Bridgit Bench
Few tools have generated as much acclaim as Bridgit Bench regarding construction resource management. Our flagship software is specifically designed to streamline the construction resource allocation process.
It achieves this by helping you utilize workforce data for effective planning and reporting. Learn how top general contractors have used Bridgit Bench as a key part of their construction project management processes.
Looking to be more strategic with your people?
We partnered with Construction Dive to outline the steps any contractor can take to be more strategic with their workforce management.
#2. Procore
Procore is also among the most acclaimed project management tools for construction. The company’s various software programs and extensions (including Bridgit Bench) assist with everything from quality and safety to project financials.
The incredible amount of integrations means Procore can easily be your central construction project management tool.
#3. ProntoForms
ProntoForms is a popular field data collection application. The program’s real magic lies in its tremendous level of customization. Companies can easily create custom data collection applications using minimal code with ProntoForms.
The minimal-code, drag-and-drop nature of the ProntoForms app builder allows you to launch new workflows in mere hours rather than weeks. This makes it one of construction companies’ most flexible project management tools.
#4. e-Builder Enterprise
e-Builder Enterprise is one of the best construction project management tools for capital improvement programs.
It assists at every stage of these projects, eliminating data silos by linking industry-standard programs for accounting, property management, design, and collaboration.
According to e-Builder, more than $300 billion worth of commercial, educational, healthcare, and governmental projects are handled using the software.
#5. Oracle Aconex
Oracle Aconex streamlines communication and document management between various stakeholders on a construction project. Perhaps its most notable feature is the ability to create a single source of truth by helping you track revisions and approvals of key documents. This makes it easy to identify and send the correct file every time.
#6. Spectrum by Viewpoint
Spectrum by Viewpoint is one of the most popular project management tools for the construction industry, thanks to its extensive functionality.
Companies can manage accounting, human resources, field reporting, IT, and more within Spectrum, which comes in both desktop and mobile applications.
Spectrum is very popular with general and specialty contractors (i.e., HVAC and plumbing).
#7. Knowify
If you’re a residential subcontractor, Knowify is a construction project management tool worth considering. The company positions itself as the ideal time tracking and bid management system for contractors handling remodeling, plumbing, solar installations, and more.
Knowify also integrates with QuickBooks to make project accounting simpler.
#8. ExakTime
If you need a robust construction time tracking system, ExakTime is a great solution. The software is remarkably simple and scales nicely for companies of all sizes.
It also comes with a very useful photo ID verification feature that eliminates buddy-punching (a type of time theft involving workers punching in for someone who isn’t present).
ExakTime’s scheduling is not as robust as that of a tool like Bridgit Bench, but for time tracking, it’s unbeatable.
#9. BuildBook
BuildBook is another project management tool for construction companies specializing in residential construction projects. The user interface is remarkably simple, resembling social networking sites more closely than enterprise-level software.
Many small family-based companies will undoubtedly find this simplicity refreshing, making the software easier to implement immediately.
#10. Revizto
Revizto is designed to facilitate collaboration between architects and other construction design professionals. It centralizes this work by recording revisions, markups, and issues in one place.
Revizto facilitates this simple design collaboration throughout the entire project lifecycle. It also plays very well with other pieces of software thanks to the use of open formats.
What to look for in construction project management software and techniques
Now that you know the best project management tools for the construction industry, let’s discuss what to consider and look for when choosing.
- Integration with your existing stack
- Real-time reporting capabilities
- Accessibility
- Good support
- Security
- It makes your company run more efficiently
Integration with your existing stack
It’s unlikely that a single piece of software will fulfill all of your project management needs. Companies usually combine a few applications to create a custom solution.
This is why we recommend choosing project management tools that integrate nicely with the parts of your setup that don’t need changing.
Real-time reporting capabilities
Effective construction project management requires up-to-date information. Without this, you won’t be able to make important decisions unless you rely on guesswork, which isn’t a good way to do things.
The best project management tools for the construction industry offer instant reporting.
Accessibility
Your data must be as accessible as possible, especially in a post-COVID world where people aren’t always working from the office. The best construction project management tools are cloud/web-based, which makes them accessible from virtually anywhere in the world.
Good support
You’ll inevitably encounter hiccups when incorporating even the best construction project management tools. That’s why you should look for programs from companies with reliable customer support.
Security
Your data is very valuable and sensitive. Construction project management tools and techniques should reflect this. Before you incorporate any software into your workflow, research the company behind it, their terms of use, and what security measures they implement to keep your company’s data private.
It makes your company run more efficiently
There’s little point in incorporating a new construction project management tool if it doesn’t make your company run more efficiently. Choose tools carefully to this end, saving time and money.
Construction project management tool checklist
Here are questions to ask yourself once you’ve narrowed your options using the above criteria.
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Does the software come with enough licenses for my company?
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Can I use the tool on multiple devices?
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Does the software have several positive reviews?
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Will the company demo its software for my company?
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Can my current data be easily transferred to this new software?
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Do partner companies use the same software or a program that integrates well with this one?
The right construction project management tools can substantially elevate your company and its productivity. We hope this article has helped identify the best picks and what you must consider when evaluating them.
Construction management software FAQ
Can construction management software improve project timelines?
Yes, construction management software can improve project times significantly. The key with the software is using features like planning, collaboration, and workforce management to optimize your project. Project managers in construction use this software to track progress in real-time and identify delays well before they become critical issues. One of the big promises of contract management software is to complete projects faster with fewer setbacks.
What requirements should you have when choosing construction project management software?
As with any software, you should evaluate and consider your project’s requirements to make an informed choice. For construction project management software consider features like:
- Integration with your existing software
- Real-time reporting capabilities
- Ease of use and user experience
- Customer support quality
- Security and privacy
- Pricing and setup costs
By considering these features, you can choose project management software that will help you improve your overall efficiency and effectiveness.
Why do you need to consider integrations when evaluating construction project management software?
Modern tools like project management tools often need to communicate and integrate with other tools in your software toolkit. When evaluating project management software, consider the other systems that you may want to integrate with. Is it important to integrate with your CRM or ERP? Is your time tracking and construction estimation software another consideration? Integrations with other tools can greatly improve the value of your project management software, but it can also increase the complexity of deploying that software to your team.
How to keep track of construction projects?
Keeping track of construction projects requires a progress tracking system process. An example of this process includes:
- Make a clearly defined project schedule
- Establishing methods to track project progress
- Regular check-ins on project progress
- Methods to identify potential delays or issues
- Plans to take corrective actions as they arise
- Reviewing progress and conducting post-mortems