Published on:
March 11, 2024
As mentioned in the previous blog, one of the ways to ensure successful implementation of any construction management software is to start small. Starting small means implementing software one module in one project at a time. This also breaks down the process into smaller tasks, which you can then celebrate/recognize once achieved.
Over the past 3 years, we’ve talked to countless construction companies of all types and sizes – from small general contractors handling single detached houses, to mid-sized construction managers that manage office fitouts, to large real estate developers that own gated subdivisions and business parks. From all of those conversations, we asked them one common question: where do you want to start? Interestingly, we learned that while general construction management processes are similar, each company type’s biggest pain point differ. And that’s what we will discuss in this article: which modules in a construction management software should a construction company implement first?
We’re highlighting the word “first” because the first modules isn’t always the one that brings the biggest benefit to a company. While we still firmly believe that materials management is the best module in terms of financial benefits (one of our clients saw a 10% increase in gross profit a year after using Steer), it is a complex process that is not the fastest to implement.
For this blog, we went by the idea of start small, start fast in choosing what we would recommend as the best modules where each company type (General Contractor, Developer-Owner/Construction Manager, and Subcontractor) should start their implementation.
General contractors do a lot of coordination work throughout the construction process. One process that stood out as critical among GCs, owners, and construction managers we’ve talked to is RFA/Submittals.
General contractors review submittals, which basically ask for permission to use a critical material, part, or process for work to be done. A delay in responding to a Request For Approval would mean a delay in the actual work, which costs general contractors a lot. Much worse is if site workers proceed without the approval, which can lead to even more costly rework. An RFA module in a construction management software should enable submitting, reviewing, and tracking of project documents, materials, and equipment for approval that streamlines communication between various project stakeholders, ensuring that all necessary documentation is accurately reviewed and approved in a timely manner.
Because this is a straightforward process, this kind of module can be implemented in as fast as an hour by just setting up the stakeholders in the approval flow. That speed plus the benefit of avoiding delays in the project makes an RFA/Submittals module a prime example of what you should implement first when digitizing construction processes.
Monitoring progress is a critical process in any construction project. This is why furnishing an Accomplishment Report is a very good starting point in any implementation of a construction management software.
An Accomplishment Report documents and highlights project milestones and tracks task completion within a specified timeframe. It logs which Bill of Quantities (BOQ) items have been accomplished and generates the construction s-curve. The construction s-curve is a graph that shows your project’s cumulative progress. Its purpose is to ensure your project is progressing according to plan, so it can finish on time as well as on budget. The s-curve is used to track things like progress vs schedule, budgeted vs actual costs, cost vs progress, and other activities such as concrete delivered, floors completed, and even inspections done or permits received. Through a construction management software that provides a Accomplishment Report module, you are able to easily gather data from the site and generate accurate s-curve graphs – ultimately empowering you and your team to make course-correcting decisions that would ensure timeliness of your project’s delivery. Typically, the Accomplishment Report serves the subcontractors (who submit their updates) and the General Contractor (who will approve the updates and consume the reports). Sometimes, it is also a means to provide updates between General Contractors and Developer-Owners or Construction Managers/Owners’ Representatives.
The Accomplishment Report module (in any construction management software) generally involves two stakeholders: the contractor and the project manager. Step 1: contractor submits the report and Step 2: the project manager approves the submitted report so progress of tasks gets automatically updated. Because of the simplicity of this process, implementation would take very little time. The fast speed of rolling it out combined with the benefits to the project makes the Accomplishment Report a very good module to start your digital journey with.
These two modules are what we strongly recommend construction companies start with, to successfully roll out a construction management software and realize quick wins in as fast as a month or two.
