How to Enhance Your Current Construction Management Software
The daunting Excel spreadsheet. We’ve all gazed into that numerical abyss, attempting to log essential labor costs and project estimates after a long day of on-site construction management. While there’s no denying how essential construction accounting software is to the job, it doesn’t make the grueling process all the easier, and always seems to beg the question:
What if there was another way?
If that’s a question you’re constantly asking yourself, it’s fair to say it’s time for a potential construction management software upgrade. But how do you know what else is out there if all you know is the same accounting software you’ve been using for decades?
Here are a few pointers as to why your current construction management software just isn’t cutting it, as well as a point in the right direction to the all-in-one general contractor software that can completely transform how you do business!
You’re Digging Too Deep for Essential Information
Tired of clicking through a seemingly infinite amount of files and documents to access the latest labor costs or timesheets? A functional construction management software should provide you with instant access to all essential forms of data and information the second you open it.
Your contractor software should come equipped with a customizable user dashboard, providing you an immediate view of real-time accounting, estimating, and efficiency data to help you make more informed, enlightened business decisions.
Anything less than that should warrant a prompt software upgrade.
Let the Software Do Your Bidding for You
What’s the point of having construction management software if you still have to do all the work when it comes to bidding and estimating?
Enhancing your current construction management software starts with implementing automated features that can generate accurate bids, project estimates, and proposals in a matter of seconds.
From staying on top of RFPs and submittals to receiving custom reports that equip you with real-time operations and financial information to make more informed project management decisions, truly innovative construction software does all this dirty work for you with just a few clicks of your mouse.
Collaboration Is Incapacitated
Generating and sending project invoices, contracts, or estimates should be a simple, rewarding experience – not an infuriating process that can take up an entire morning to accomplish.
A proficient construction management software should make sharing essential documents or information with colleagues and clients a procedure that’s as easy as clicking a few buttons.
If your project management software doesn’t allow for optimal accessing or sharing via mobile or cloud-hosting services, that’s when you know it’s time to officially part ways with your construction management software.
Oversee All Facets of Inventory & Equipment
Every construction project you take on has thousands (or more) of dollars in materials and equipment at stake. If you’re using your construction management software to manually track all aspects of your inventory and equipment, then you can rest assured that you need to upgrade your software.
Inventory management needs to be an essential feature in your construction management software, making life easier by keeping track of vehicle fleets, expected order dates, updating scheduling systems, etc.
When your software can keep tabs of your inventory and equipment needs for you, you’ll free up plenty of time to dedicate your precious time elsewhere.
Integration Is Incomplete
Perhaps the most important quality a construction management software should inhabit is a simplified user experience. If you’re practically pulling your hair out when trying to upload or copy certain files or data into your software system, then it’s time for a change.
Adequate construction management software should allow for seamless integration of all your spreadsheets, payrolls, employee information, contracts, and every single facet of your business operations.
It should also provide significant storage and security features, so you can safely keep all your important files, documents, and data intact, and instantly accessed or shared when needed.
Timing Is Everything
Every construction manager knows how precious every second is when it comes to ensuring optimal completion of any given project. The bottom line when it comes to construction management software is having a one-stop, digital resource that’s designed to sufficiently improve efficiency and productivity while reducing time spent on executing mundane tasks.
Timing is also an imperative part of reevaluating your current construction management software, especially during the winter season when things tend to slow down and projects decrease.
The busy seasons of spring and summer are hectic times to even approach the subject of implementing a new software into your current operations, so be sure to use your off-season as an opportunity to reassess your project management needs and determine whether your current construction management software is truly performing up-to-par.
The Sage 100 Software Solution
At the end of the day, operating your construction management software shouldn’t have to be another full-time job within itself. That’s where Sage 100 Contractor comes in handy, allowing users to utilize hundreds of intricate project management and accounting features.
With Sage 100 and conversion and training assistance from Software Consultants, you can streamline your accounting, payroll, invoicing, contractual information, and more on one contractor software platform.
To learn more about how Sage 100 Contractor is the construction management software answer to all your operational problems, contact Software Consultants today to request a free demo!