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Labor tracking is a very important part of construction resource management. In this article, we’ll look at 11 construction job tracking software programs that stand out among the rest.
What is construction job tracking software?
Construction job tracking software differs from programs meant for higher-level project management. While those applications facilitate coordination, construction labor tracking software handles minutiae. Features typically include:
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employee scheduling
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timesheet tracking
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GPS monitoring
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workforce reporting and forecasting
Top 11 labor tracking software for construction companies
Bridgit Bench
Pricing: Request a demo for more information
Bridgit Bench specializes in construction resource management, including worker scheduling. Its features are geared specifically towards the construction industry and include:
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remote planning
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forecasting
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reporting
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human resources database building
Bridgit Bench displays labor scheduling in an incredibly intuitive Gantt chart format, helping managers visualize dependencies between workers and get an overall picture of how decisions will affect project outcomes.
It’s a fantastic tool for receiving a high-level overview of your construction workforce management protocols, and completely customizable to meet the needs of your organization.
TimeCamp
Pricing: From $5.25 per user (monthly)
TimeCamp is a very intuitive piece of labor tracking software designed for workers in a variety of industries, including:
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construction
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architecture
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information technology
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accounting
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education
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healthcare
While this broad appeal arguably comes at the expense of more targeted functionality for construction companies, TimeCamp is more than adequate for contractors looking to establish and track their laborers.
Features include:
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direct invoicing using billable hours tracked in the app
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GPS tracking
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automatic time tracking via a desktop app
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integrations with accounting tools like Quickbooks
Harvest
Pricing: From $12 per user (monthly)
Harvest is designed to help companies track productivity, time, and expenses. One of its most powerful features is the ability to convert data from timesheets and other sources into graphs.
Harvest also includes invoicing and integrates with tools like Asana, Trello, Stripe, Xero, and Quickbooks.
Again, this isn’t a construction-specific application. However, contractors in need of general time tracking won’t have any major qualms using Harvest.
Freshbooks
Pricing: From $4.50 (monthly)
For companies in need of project labor tracking software specifically geared towards monitoring financials, it’s hard to beat Freshbooks. The app’s features include:
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invoicing
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time tracking
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expense tracking
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accounting
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payment processing
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reporting
While Freshbooks also includes project estimating functionality, this isn’t as full-fledged as what you’d find with dedicated construction estimating software. Nonetheless, Freshbooks is a very solid choice for tracking how contractors and employees spend their time.
Teamwork
Pricing: From $0 (monthly, maximum of five users with free version)
Teamwork goes beyond basic time tracking functionality to include task lists, project roles, and other very detailed aspects of labor tracking. As with other labor tracking software programs, Teamwork integrates with apps like Quickbooks and Slack.
ExakTime
Pricing: From $6 per user (monthly)
Time theft is a major concern for companies of all types. Research from the American Payroll Association indicates that employees steal an average of 4.5 hours per week, costing many thousands of dollars.
Construction companies are especially prone to losing money via time theft thanks to practices such as “buddy punching,” wherein crew members punch in (and subsequently cover) for workers taking extended breaks or skipping work altogether.
ExacTime is one of the few construction job tracking software programs that address this issue head-on. It does this through the use of advanced features such as geofencing and GPS breadcrumbing which greatly enhance the accuracy of your time tracking data.
These features are included in ExakTime’s base subscription of just $6 per month, which is a great deal for contractors worried about inaccuracies in their labor tracking.
Accelo Projects
Pricing: From $39 (monthly)
One downside of many construction labor productivity tracking software programs is that they lack comprehensive real-time feedback. Users often have to manually generate reports, for example.
Accelo Projects takes a different approach. The cloud-based program pulls data from mobile devices into a real-time dashboard from which management can monitor worker progress. Other features include:
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expense tracking
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task management
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payment processing
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invoicing
Procore
Pricing: From $499 (monthly)
Procore is undoubtedly one of the most expensive construction labor tracking software programs on this list. You get tons of value for that monthly fee, however, including access to the company’s acclaimed project management suite.
Additionally, for larger construction companies, Procore may end up being cheaper given that the monthly rate allows for unlimited users and documents.
Procore’s time tracking functionality allows workers to fill in time cards from the job site. Managers can easily pull this information into their reporting.
Another very noteworthy highlight of Procore is its ability to integrate with a whole host of other construction project management apps, including Bridgit Bench.
ClockInEasy
Pricing: From $0 (single user)
At first glance, ClockInEasy is a lightweight labor tracking software program that lets workers input hours via smartphones and tablets on the job site. ClockInEasy also addresses time theft concerns via the optional inclusion of GPS and facial recognition features that ensure employees are where they claim to be.
ClockInEasy also includes DCAA-compliant audit logging, which provides multiple data points for each input. This allows the management staff to review the accuracy of these inputs as needed.
Web2project
Pricing: Free
If you want truly free labor tracking software with no strings attached, it’s hard to beat web2project. It’s a highly-customizable program ideal for companies with in-house developers capable of adjusting the framework as needed. If you need mobile time-tracking functionality, you’ll need to build it yourself.
The software’s notable features out-of-the-box include:
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iCalendar support
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management for an unlimited number of projects and users
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risk assessment functionality
ClickTime
Pricing: From $9 per user (monthly)
Last but not least on our list of construction labor productivity tracking software, we have ClickTime. Its functionality is aimed at helping companies become more productive through careful budgeting and employee tracking.
ClickTime’s mobile app is one of the better-looking options out there, combining functionality (such as the ability to attach photos to entries) with a slick interface.
Additionally, ClickTime offers a great deal of customization regarding permissions, meaning employees will only see what you want them to see.
Important features to look for in construction labor tracking software
Now that you know our picks for the top construction labor tracking software programs, let’s look at a few essential features all applications need to have.
Integration with your other resource management applications
Time tracking is just one part of construction resource management. As such, you’ll want to ensure your time tracking program integrates well with other resource management applications.
Procore undoubtedly gets the upper hand when it comes to integrations. It meshes seamlessly with Bridgit Bench, for example, allowing users to receive accurate workforce planning data.
Tracking
Unfortunately, as statistics indicate, workers often stretch the truth regarding their productivity. The best project labor tracking software accounts for this by including features such as GPS monitoring and geofencing.
These features are also very important from the standpoint of safety since tracking helps management keep tabs on employees.
Reporting
Comprehensive reporting is an incredibly important feature any good construction labor tracking software should have. Reporting should take the extensive data you’ll acquire via employee time tracking and help you identify overarching trends.
Check out this article for some more information regarding how Bridgit Bench simplifies the construction reporting process.
Forecasting
Accurately forecasting your project demands helps to optimize your capacity planning, make informed decisions around recruitment strategies, and better understand the impact future projects/bids will have on your resource strategy.
We hope this article has helped you identify construction job tracking software that meets your needs. For more construction software recommendations, check out this post.
Lauren Lake is the COO and co-founder at Bridgit. She holds a degree in Civil Structural Engineering and is well-versed in construction workforce management and resource planning processes. Lauren has been named to the Forbes Manufacturing & Industry 30 Under 30 and Best Of Canada Forbes Under 30 Innovators lists. Lauren has presented at industry events and conferences, including BuiltWorlds, Canadian Construction Association, Procore Groundbreak, and more. Follow Lauren on LinkedIn and Instagram.