How to Navigate Software Options for Managing Data in Construction

With more than 200 solutions available, construction software is one of the most complex and fragmented markets. Owners of capital projects and contractors can be involved in all phases of a building project, from preconstruction to repairs after completion, or focused on roads and highway infrastructure, civil construction or specialty industries.

In any of these instances, a system is required to support them through the entire contracting process while simultaneously helping to manage their business.

A comprehensive suite of software that helps manage all areas of operations is only good for construction businesses if it’s flexible, easy to use and can be accessed from anywhere.

Consider a foreman in the field who needs to access current data on a certain project using his Android phone. He would be overwhelmed by a complete list of data on that device.

Contractors and software developers should appreciate that the data delivered to the foreman in the field using a tablet should be different from the data delivered to the project manager using a desktop.

Find Balance with Best Practices

Construction business leaders want to empower employees to be proactive, especially when it can improve productivity, but with hundreds of technology solutions, apps and methods available, where is the line drawn between empowering employees and maintaining control and standards? Perhaps the pendulum has swung too far.

Not many years ago, it was popular opinion that the construction industry was lagging far behind technology adoption, relying on traditional, even antiquated methods for managing projects. Now, the construction sector is much more tech-savvy, often utilizing innovative practices to streamline processes, improve collaboration and visibility, and manage more efficiently and effectively.

The pendulum has swung from the extreme of technology neophytes to the far end of do-it-yourself tech-proficient experts. All may be better served, however, if that pendulum lands somewhere closer to the middle.

When technology implemented is not in line with business strategy, or is disconnected from the central business management systems, it becomes a true problem. A disconnect could start innocently enough, with an employee finding an app that worked to solve one problem in the workplace but creates residual negative effects. One step forward, two steps back, per se.

The same follows when it comes to the topic of access to data. If you find an application that fits both employee need and your business model, great! But, there is a real balance to be sought between allowing access and having control. This balance can be found by employees taking initiative and maintaining standards in how technology is acquired and implemented.

“In contemporary construction, whether general or specialized, many different functions cross paths. In a broad sense, operations are tied closely with accounting.

More specifically, purchasing is reliant on inventory control, equipment management, accounts payable and so on, to make informed and efficient buying decisions. I have been in corporations where these functions are dealt with using separate programs that are maintained by separate departments.

Generally, the information within these programs can only be retrieved by the individuals maintaining them, leaving other departments in the dark. In the effort of due diligence, one would be at the mercy of time constraints and accuracy of the department’s representative holding the information you need. This process can be painfully slow and marginally accurate, at best,” said Dan Ramsbottom, purchasing manager with Forbes Bros. Powerline Construction Ltd.

“Alternatively, I have had the pleasure of working with two different comprehensive, integrated enterprise software programs over the past five years. It is a night and day experience. Pulling required information from different areas is security access based and, easy to retrieve, collate and present if necessary. Integrated systems eliminated the problems I was experiencing before, while also allowing for reduced staff input in decision making. When it comes to an on-demand industry, integrated data availability provides a platform with which a company and its divisions can operate with a high level of efficiency and a much lower degree of error,” said Ramsbottom.

Consolidating for Control

Because construction businesses have much to consider when it comes to addressing the access-data-anywhere-anytime issue, it is essential that contractors partner with a vendor who understands the importance of consolidating a technology system. This consolidation can help make sense of it all, driving the implementation of a solution that satisfies a construction business’ specific needs.

The technology partner should be able to deliver on the best of both worlds—a platform as the backbone of the business and flexibility and ease of use in how information is delivered and data accessed.

Efficiency is best allowed by a solution that connects employees, allows management to know what others are doing, and simplifies support.Through that, contractors will achieve a consolidated approach that focuses on a business model bolstered by tools that work together.

This also helps empower employees to work with speed and flexibility—spending time doing what you want them to do, and not spending unbillable or unquantified time trying to move information from an app into the system, or dealing with updates and technical support issues.

So, when confronted with a wide variety of options that feel overwhelming, or when you realize that project managers may be using their own disconnected applications or devices to collect information, it’s worth reevaluating your business strategy and how technology is addressed.

What will prove valuable is establishing an enterprise resource planning, or ERP, system, then the ecosystem (solutions for content management, mobility, etc.), and finally the relevant applications to make the most of the system or to expand it further.

By having all things connected to each other, and to the overall business strategy, you not only eliminate the problems of disparate programs, but also have a long-term approach to how technology is implemented and supported, providing a valuable investment for long-term success.

Let’s explore some options that are in line with best practices and allow for optimal access to construction management software that blends ease-of-use with speed, performance and mobility.

Web-based Software

Contractors require their enterprise software to go beyond traditional project management applications to accomplish a strong collaborative environment with seamless integration to the back office anytime, anywhere, on any device.

As software vendors begin to provide solutions that deliver a Web-based unified user interface and product experience, contractors will have the choice to access their Web-based project management applications via a browser (Safari, Firefox, Chrome, or Internet Explorer) or a device (smartphones and tablets, including iOS, Android and Windows).

Furthermore, the truly integrated solutions also allow a single point of entry for all applications.

A central location will make administering updates and monitoring performance and uptime much easier for administrators and technology partners while still giving users the ability to control their data either locally or hosted in the cloud.

That allows for easier to use software as well as ability to manage all aspects of operations.

In the Cloud

Contractors are turning to the cloud for a worry-free information technology experience. Leading software providers now offer Web-based access to construction software solutions (and other business applications) from anywhere, anytime, without downloads or plug-ins (no more Citrix).

Users gain access to their data through a virtual desktop—Desktop as a Service (DaaS) experience. Ultimately, with a cloud offering, contractors provide users (whether in their office or in remote locations) with simpler and more reliable access to software. “With the Cloud, our guys have the exact same environment to work in, whether it’s through an iPad, a home computer, or a laptop. All their stuff is there and available in a familiar interface,” shared Kendyl Peebles, director of IT, Journey Group Companies.

Mobile

With the use of mobile devices growing in popularity and diversity in construction, contractors are looking for more simple and easy ways to collect data from the field on mobile devices, while also updating their back office system.

Additionally, with workflow capabilities that leverage mobile devices, remote users can easily view and take action on their project documents no matter where they are.

Information accessibility is critical to project performance. Construction business owners continue to demand better ways to gain access to the data they require, wherever they may be working.

With this in mind, construction technology leaders will continue to develop dynamic solutions to meet current needs while also anticipating future necessities.

The breadth of offerings can seem overwhelming, but this can be controlled by selecting technology that aligns with business strategy, then communicating the importance of that across the company.

A strategic technology partner can assist with this initiative. It is critical that these choices enable contractors to confidently operate and grow, while keeping pace with the rapidly moving technology landscape.