Construction project management software is designed to improve construction company’s operations.

However, selecting software that is not right for your business can have exactly the opposite effect for construction businesses. Complex construction project management software that requires stakeholders to do data entry will not have a positive effect, and can actively harm employee motivation.

What problems need to be solved?

The most important point to keep in mind is that software should be chosen according to your specific needs. There are a number of solutions that may initially seem to be able to do everything and have long lists of features. These solutions are meant for improving all business processes and intended to be used by all the team members. However, in reality, such tools require extensive implementation methods, and could take up to several years to fully adopt and use smoothly. It’s also common for such software to ultimately fail in its purpose.

Before looking for the right construction project management software, you must therefore work out which problems really need to be solved within your business by meeting with relevant stakeholders and learning about their problems.
For example, does your business currently have good visibility in terms of the financial management of your projects? Is this process particularly time-consuming for your key team members? Was your budget over the last year exceeded due to limited control over your projects? With clearly mapped knowledge, you can start looking for a solution that helps you truly solve your problems.

Usability matters

In the past, software tools were built and sold primarily for improving management control. These tools were sold by consultants and in most cases, there was very limited awareness about how any given tool would work for its users prior to purchasing it. Choosing a complex tool meant that employees needed to be trained in its use to become properly accustomed to how it worked, often outside of the company.

Today, this is no longer the case. In 2019, construction project management tools are built in order to help ease the workload of key business stakeholders. It is important to ensure that team members such as project managers will find the tools easy to use, and to gain their confirmation that the tools will genuinely help them to improve their day to day actions. For example, they may want a tool that means they would no longer need to make reports within multiple databases.

Questions to ask

How long is the implementation process? Can you quickly start testing the tool without prior costs, or do you have to make a large investment and undergo training before starting to use the tool?

  1. Does the tool have API’s and can it be integrated with your current solutions such as accounting, CRM and inventory software?
  2. What type of security is built in? Does it provide automated testing, multiple backups in several geographic locations, data protection policies, etc.? Keeping all of your data in private servers in one room is not considered safe.
  3. Does it provide value to the end user? Too often, construction software is built for management and too little focus is on the actual users.
  4. How is the customer service of the software vendor? Do they have personal support representatives and if so, how helpful are they and how quickly will they respond?
  5. What is the price of the software? Modern software tools have good pricing visibility in pricing, so price lists should be quickly accessible and easy to understand.

Accessible whenever you need it

Cloud-based construction project management software such as Planyard has a number of benefits for small and medium sized construction companies. One of the main reasons for using this kind of software is that it’s accessible whenever and wherever there is internet access via mobile, tablet or computer. You’ll therefore be on top of your project at all times.

The pricing is also much lower than on premise solutions, and you won’t need to spend money hiring IT specialists. Moreover, the monthly subscription helps avoid the need to make any very large, one-time investments. While most construction project management solutions do not allow users check if their purchase is a good solution for them, Planyard is different.

Cost control software – buyer’s guide

We have also put together a guide to construction cost control software. It’s free to download.

Still using spreadsheets for managing costs?

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