For contractors, building operational efficiency and workforce effectiveness is crucial. Management software helps with overseeing project timelines and workforce flows to establish better project management. There are many different types of software available, so it’s important to choose one according to your construction firm’s needs.
What is construction management software?
Construction management software helps construction companies with processing budgets, communication, scheduling, and planning. The ultimate goal of construction management software is to make construction smoother through automation with a user-friendly platform.
Key features of the best construction management software
Construction management software allows you to plan your workforce strategically and forecast your project pipeline. You can use software to manage workforce allocation on current and upcoming projects by designating the right people, taking into consideration their potential.
These platforms also provide transparency through custom permission groups, streamlining project planning with custom phases and subphases. You can leverage historical project data and track your project and any other field related to your business.
Some other key features that software offers include the following.
Document management
Construction planning software allows you to share and manage documents with project members through a secure network. With this feature, you can share documents with the relevant team members and limit access to a particular folder. For instance, if you want to share budget-related documents only with the construction manager, you can hide the document from other members.
Request for Information (RFIs)
Construction RFIs (Request for Information documents) address questions that can arise during a construction project. This essentially functions as a roadmap and clarifies significant details about the designing and engineering of the project. Creating this document is important for successfully meeting project deadlines and budget estimations.
Managing RFIs without construction management software can be challenging to track. Construction management software provides you with a template, and by following instructions, you can create RFIs more easily. Also, this tool allows you to share documents via email and the software’s cloud.
You can also make changes to the document more easily and archive documents using software. In addition to that, a management tool can track sends and responses. This allows contractors to get feedback faster and follow up with notifications.
Job costing and project finances
Every project comes with its own set of risks (such as job costing and project finances), but by creating an estimate, you can reduce it to an acceptable level. If you foresee most risk factors, you can eliminate cost overruns.
Software lets you estimate project costs and feasibility by breaking expenses down by categories, whether it’s by unit cost, production function, or by using the empirical cost inference method. Production function estimating in particular shows both labor costs and total costs.
Manual cost estimates can be time-consuming. Rather than delegating people onto this task, construction resource management software can estimate a construction project’s cost more accurately.
Project tracking
Construction management software also helps you track different elements of the project from start to finish. You can oversee and manage any field that’s relevant to your business, including certifications and contracts.
Software lets you manage workforce flow to meet project needs while tracking field staff, ensuring you are using your budget wisely. It also makes it easier to track reporting by enabling the creation of custom lists and reports.
Project scheduling
Project delays usually occur due to poor construction scheduling. With a solid construction schedule, you’ll meet milestones and determine key deliverables quicker.
Before starting a project, different information from various aspects is gathered, such as requirements and constraints for the budget and project plan. Since all these elements need managing, you’ll need an automated project management tool such as Bridgit to complete the project within the estimated time and budget.
When choosing software, it is important to check if they offer real-time communication with team members, support for analyzing project requirements, and templates for designing construction.
While scheduling, you can also prepare a work breakdown structure (WBS) to break down key project deliverables into manageable sections.
Benefits of construction management software
Construction management software provides a number of benefits for construction companies and project managers. Most importantly, it helps streamline the construction process by controlling deadlines, budget data, and blueprints. Additionally, it can help to improve communication between team members by providing a platform for messaging and file sharing.
Here are some more specific benefits.
Enhanced accountability
Construction planning software reduces the risk of cost overruns and eliminates issues by allowing easy access to project data. Document control features eliminate the risk of mistakes and ensure the project’s success. Software also enhances accountability by distributing responsibilities among the employees, and tracking them to ensure they complete their tasks sufficiently.
Financial transparency
Financial reporting is essential to keep track of the project’s budget at every stage of the construction project. A comprehensive construction software shows financials through user-friendly dashboards, accounting for adjustments throughout the process.
Custom reports that can be shared daily, weekly and annually support financial transparency amongst project team members. This financial reporting capability gives you control over costs, showing real-time cost analytics with information on how the budget is being used.
Better collaboration
Better communication means better collaboration. A contractor scheduling app that provides real-time communication will enhance transparency.
Crews will be encouraged to share their concerns or directly contact team members, and nothing will be lost in email traffic. After all, throughout the project, it is crucial to keep communication alive between stakeholders. Poor internal communication can cause project delays.
Construction project management software cost
Construction project management software doesn’t have to be very expensive. Some tools allow you to start free, and some offer unlimited users with no additional fees.
Plan costs can vary depending on the customer’s needs, which is why it’s better to contact the vendor for more accurate cost and information. You can inform them about your business and ask them to give you a quote.
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Choosing the best construction management software
Contraction management and scheduling software not only offers support in planning but also boosts team engagement and affects the team and project’s overall performance. Investing in contractor scheduling app software such as Bridgit, whose mission is to help the industry maximize profits, allows you to complete a project within a designated budget and schedule.
Regardless, here’s how to choose the best management software.
Size and type of business
Professional construction software helps people in charge automate activities like scheduling, planning, and managing workforces for both small and large initiatives.
The best software for a small business with a few employees can differ from that for a large corporation with hundreds of employees. Since their needs are different, the expectations and areas that need support can be discussed before committing to software.
A small business may prefer software that is easy to use and does not require a lot of training, while a large corporation may need software that is more complex and can handle a larger volume of data while managing multiple projects and teams simultaneously.
Deployment and ease of access
Deployment and ease of access are two important factors to consider when choosing the best construction management software for your project. Deployment refers to how the software is installed and made available to users.
Some software is deployed via the cloud, accessed through a web browser. Thanks to the cloud, documents can be shared and stored online, and the software can be used to store construction files, such as tutorials, blueprints, and construction diagrams.
The software should also allow you to find the features you need easily with its user-friendly interface and menu.
Software cost
You don’t need to exceed your budget to get a software package. After determining your construction firm’s needs, compare the rates between construction management software, and find the best one with a reasonable price.
Also, keep in mind apps can charge on a per-user basis or according to the feature that will be covered. By comparing prices and looking for special offers, you can be sure you’re getting the best value for your money.
Automation features
Automated features can help improve efficiency and accuracy while reducing the need for manual input. When evaluating construction management software, look for features such as automatic task scheduling, material ordering, and cost tracking.
Automation also can help to improve communication and collaboration between team members, as well as help to track projects and deadlines. It is important to choose a program that offers the features that you need in order to improve your workflow.
Security
The software you use contains sensitive information about your construction projects, including plans, budgets, and schedules. That’s why choosing a program that offers advanced and customizable security features is important. You need to be sure that the software you choose will keep this information safe from unauthorized access.
Look for software that offers role-based permissions, so you can control who has access to which parts of the system. In addition, you can choose software that uses encryption to protect your data in transit or offer two-factor authentication.
Customer support
When choosing the best construction management software, you want to be sure that you’ll be able to get help when you need it.
The customer support team should be available to answer your questions, as well as help you troubleshoot any problems that arise. In addition, the customer support team should have a good understanding of the construction industry.
Top 10 construction management software
A construction program management software helps you allocate resources to build operational efficiency and workforce effectiveness, affecting the project outcome. Some apps not only help with scheduling and planning, but also provide algorithms that show workforce data and analysis.
Here are the ten most accomplished construction management software for construction companies.
Bridgit Bench
Bridgit Bench is a workforce management software solution that lets users manage their workforce and track project progress from a user-friendly dashboard. It allows you to leverage Gantt charts to more deeply analyze your workflow and labor force. It also integrates with various CRM, HRIS, and project management programs to support seamless workflows.
Key features:
- Management of construction project workforces
- Productivity analysis and forecasting
- Ability to restrict and arrange permissions inside the app
- Support for project tracking, planning, and estimations
- Improves collaboration and elevates communication through unlimited users
Advantages:
- User-friendly and compatible with iOS or Android with web and cloud-based storage
- Designed specifically for construction labor management
- Customer-oriented and customizable for each user
- Improves collaboration through unlimited users
Disadvantages:
- Currently available only in North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand
Buildxact
Pricing: The entry package pricing plan is $199 per month for builders and remodelers with free training.
Buildxact is a software designed for residential builders and trades, helping them manage projects through equipment tracking, profit insights, scheduling and bid management. Constructors can create project schedules automatically and control their projects by tracking the budget.
Key features:
- Set-up assistance for your business
- Customer support through local phone and email
- Access from your PC, Mac, Phone or Tablet
- Organizes workflow
Advantages:
- Cloud-based
- Offers training
- Offers upgrades and maintenance
Disadvantages:
- Inability to adjust purchase orders once created
- Lacks a detailed CRM tool
- Not a smooth transition between plan pages
Knowify
Pricing: The launch package price starts at $99 per month if it is paid annually.
Knowify supports subcontractors in managing their finances, staff, and projects by handling budgeting, bidding, job costing, and invoicing.
Key features:
- Material budget creation for cost estimates
- Bid creation
- Built-in e-signature process
- Captures employee labor costs
Advantages:
- 50 to unlimited active job management
- Simple scheduling and time tracking
- Tracking all aspects of your job costs in real time
Disadvantages:
- No training support if you choose the starter package
- Needs improvement on the search feature
- Difficult navigation through the billing module
Viewpoint Spectrum
Pricing: Provides pricing based on client’s requirements. Must contact the company for tailored pricing.
This software for construction management is a cloud-based construction ERP suite with workflow automation and collaboration tools. It integrates workflows to plan project health, productivity, and profits with construction management features.
Key features:
- Collaboration with a web-based platform
- Integrated payroll for contractors to check seasonal and project hiring demands
- Enables document imaging and sharing
- Gives users data analytics for planning future projects
Advantages:
- Tools for accounting
- One-click access to tasks through the interactive dashboard and info bar
Disadvantages:
- No free trials
- Not user-friendly and streamlined
- No premium consulting
ComputerEase
Pricing: Provides pricing based on client’s requirements. Must contact the company for tailored pricing.
ComputerEase is job cost accounting software to help contractors with construction management.
Key features:
- Custom reports
- Provides storage
Advantages:
- Responsive customer support
- Easy to set up
Disadvantages:
- Requires logging off to install every update
- Issues according to updates and delays
- Cannot be integrated with other software
Projul
Pricing: Any plan is free for seven days. After that, users are charged $166 monthly by the year, billing up to 3 users.
Projul is a construction management platform for tracking leads, creating estimates, scheduling workers, tracking time, and photo sharing.
Key features:
- Sends estimates
- Centralized project information
- Creates invoices automatically
- Syncs documents to QuickBooks
Advantages:
- Available templates
- Automates payroll by time tracking
- Allows you to take and mark up photos from the field
Disadvantages:
- Expensive for small businesses
- Cannot download estimates and docs—only has a print function
Asite
Pricing: The project portfolio management package starts from $375 per month. It is usage-based.
Asite serves as a software tool for construction project data by connecting the design, build, and management phases. It helps project teams work together at various stages of construction.
Key features:
- Real-time dashboards and actionable insights
- Construction budget analysis
- Permit coordination for on-site inspections
- Document access and control
Advantages:
- Supply chain management
- Project portfolio management
- Asset performance management
Disadvantages:
- Lack of admin settings and attributes
- Poor user interface and mobile app
- Conditional access to advanced functionalities via the premium option
ConDoc
Pricing: Basic custom forms and a one-year archive for $80 per month.
ConDoc helps project teams collaborate to configure workflows.
Key features:
- Audit logs and communication with team members
- Synchronizes data across systems
- RFIs can be submitted by employees for approval using Android and iOS mobile applications
- Sharing of construction documentation and bids
Advantages:
- Free basic package with features
- Productivity tracking
- Controlling different aspects of the project
Disadvantages:
- Lack of sufficient customer support
- Problems with assigning tasks to team members individually
- Shows the RFIs that are received, but doesn’t show sent RFIs
123worx
Pricing: Provides pricing based on client’s requirements. Must contact the company for tailored pricing.
This tool provides functionality by helping with managing business operations on a day-to-day basis, as well as construction projects through collaboration between employees, trade partners, and clients.
Key features:
- A secure system with auto back-ups
- Supports integration to off-the-shelf cloud applications
- Enables the importing of data
- Screen customization
Advantages:
- Mobile app for time tracking
- Templates for a quote, schedule, document library, and punch lists
- 24/7 data availability
Disadvantages:
- Only offers cloud hosting and storage in Canada and the USA
- Not integrated into QuickBooks
AccuBuild
Pricing: Price starts from $125 per month.
Since 1987, AccuBuild has helped construction business owners reduce risk.
Key features:
- Web-based data reporting tool
- Construction payroll
- Accounting receivables management
- Protects financial activity and tracks data with an audit trail
Advantages:
- Integrated business management system for contractors
- Daily field reports, weather reports, and job site photos
- Recording and reporting employee time through time cards for crews
Disadvantages:
- No editing option for invoices
- Inability to leave multiple menus open at once
- Lack of access to previous financial reports after closeout
Choose Bridgit Bench for construction management software
The market for construction project management software has many options, evolving every day according to the needs of projects and customers. The best construction project management software will address your needs, provide robust engagement within your team, and improve your project quality by helping you maintain budget and time estimation.
Hopefully, this guide will have provided an overview of some of the most popular construction software options, as well as the key features and benefits of using an innovative software solution. With this information, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about which software is right for your construction company.
If you are looking for a construction software solution to manage your workflow and workforce, request a demo from Bridgit today.
FAQ
What is construction management software used for?
Construction management software is designed to help construction managers plan, organize, and track construction projects. It can be used for various tasks, such as creating project schedules, managing material inventories, and tracking project expenses. Construction management software can also be used to create and manage contracts, purchase orders, and other documents.
In addition, many construction management software programs offer features that allow project managers to communicate with other team members, such as architects and engineers. By using it, managers can improve the efficiency and productivity of their projects.
Is BIM used by construction managers?
Yes, BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a technology increasingly used with software for construction management by construction managers to plan and oversee building projects. BIM allows managers to create a digital model of a building that can be used to track and manage every aspect of the construction process. This includes everything from material resources to labor costs.
BIM also makes it possible to simulate different construction scenarios, which can help managers identify potential problems and find the most efficient construction methods. It’s a powerful tool that can help save time and money on building projects.
BIM also makes it possible to simulate different construction scenarios, which can help managers identify potential problems and find the most efficient construction methods. In short, it is a powerful tool that can help construction managers save time and money on building projects.
For residential construction, what is the best construction management software?
Several different construction management software programs are available on the market today. However, only some of them are well-suited for residential construction projects. When choosing a software program for your business, it is important to consider your specific needs and objectives.
For example, Bridgit offers a comprehensive suite of tools for custom estimating, job costing, client collaboration, and document management, especially accompanying residential constructions with additional features.
What are the benefits of using construction management software?
Perhaps the most obvious benefit is that it can help streamline the project management process, saving time and money. It can also help improve communication between team members and enhance customer relationship management (CRM).
Managing software gives you access to metrics and key performance indicators. It also keeps you organized through an advanced documentation system.
What type of construction management software exists?
Construction management solutions can offer extensive solutions for various issues. Here are some of the software types available:
- Construction data analytics software
- Construction drawing management software
- Construction ERP software
- Construction estimating software
- Construction project management software
- Construction risk & safety software
- Job site management software
Are there construction management software platforms for mobile devices?
There are many construction management software platforms available for mobile devices. These platforms allow users to manage their projects from anywhere and at any time. They provide a variety of features that can be used to track project progress, create and view construction documents, and manage construction schedules.
In addition, they allow users to communicate with other members of the project team and share files and information.
Michel Richer
Michel Richer is the Content Marketing Manager at Bridgit. He got his start in the construction industry at an early age with a local restoration company. Michel is driven to propel the construction industry forward by helping to eliminate outdated, ineffective processes.
