The success of every construction company relies on the efficiency and accuracy of project planning and organization, which is why so many companies are searching for the best software for general contractors these days.
Right now, construction project management software is a big business in this industry for good reason: it offers unparalleled ease of communication and tasking for every individual in your company, from the president to the site manager. Among the common problems it aims to solve are the seemingly endless items that need to be tracked, from proposals, tenders, and invoices to project deliverables, timelines, and budgets—and it does this in real-time across a variety of departments for comprehensive company oversight.
What Software Are General Contractors Using Currently?
In today’s marketplace, there are some heavy hitters when it comes to the best software for general contractors. For example, some companies are opting for large-scale cloud-based platforms that can be customized by the user or third parties. Examples of this type of software include monday.com, which has recently taken the construction industry by storm for its attractive and easy-to-use user interface and lego-like adaptability to be built into exactly what you want. Other popular options include Asana, a software-as-a-service that aims to improve team collaboration and work management, or SugarCRM, also an adaptable CRM-based platform that can solve workflow problems through custom integrations.
How Do You Find the Best Software for General Contractors?
If you’re looking for the best software for general contractors, you need to begin with the issues that you’d like to fix within your company. Two of the most common reasons general contractors start using project management software can be found below:
1. Repeated Project Delays or Missed Deadlines
Missed deadlines lose clients. Unfortunately, they are a common occurrence in the construction industry and often happen because there is a lack of communication between departments and worksites. For example, someone learns that the delivery of supplies will be delayed, but the email or call about the delay seemingly gets lost in the void and no one notifies the client about the new timeline—leading to some very unhappy people. In cases like this, upper management is always trying to find out where the communication and mistakes happened, but if this information isn’t being tracked properly, they end up finding many people pointing fingers in all directions.
Luckily, by employing project management software, these types of communication problems can be easily fixed. Communication can happen in one place, with saved conversation boards, streams, and project sessions that leave a clear trail of who is accountable, for which tasks, due by which dates. All this communication happens in real-time, and all team members can notify all parties involved when they have project updates or schedule changes. In effect, the software connects all teams and departments together by ensuring everyone knows what everyone else is working on with public schedules and boards, so there is no confusion about timelines, ownership, and deliverables.
2. Inefficient Workback Scheduling and Project Progress Tracking
Another common problem in construction companies is poor scheduling and project progress tracking. Many companies still use Excel sheets to manage their tasks and deliverables. Someone creates the schedule, gives it to their team, but doesn’t really know if they use it daily. Some people add their progress, others don’t, execution of tasks isn’t clearly marked, and visually, seeing the progress of the project as a whole isn’t clear.
With project management software, simple organizational charts and workflow charts assign accountability to each team member who has a task to complete. They’ll get reminders about the deadlines, notifications if they’re late, and they’ll be able to see how the entire project is moving forward or falling behind with color-coded lists, Gantt charts, Kanban boards, and workflow tracking tools. Both monday.com and Asana offer plenty of these options, and the breadth of the choices can make project management charts exciting to create and use. These tools can set much-needed routines for lagging departments and also bond teams to each other through higher visibility and accountability of project and task progress.
There are many software options for general contractors looking to fix their biggest pains these days, but finding the right one requires taking a look at your company’s biggest weaknesses. Once you do, you can begin to see how innovative technology solutions can be applied for the health and longevity of your company and its workforce.
Still not sure how to find the Best Software for General Contractors? We can help.