Most Common Construction Software Changes Since COVID
While the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly altered the courses of every industry out there, it’s certainly had a more interesting impact upon the construction industry regarding policy, management, and software utilization. Much of this change isn’t necessarily due to alterations in overall operations but more a cause of constant fluctuation regarding client and employee needs.
For many construction companies responding to the changes the pandemic has brought forth, implementing cutting-edge construction management software has allowed them to reassess their project management protocol, especially since working remotely has increased in the past few years.
Instead of solely utilizing construction software for service management or accounting purposes, new features and tools are allowing businesses to accommodate the demand for more automated processes in the construction world.
To further examine these shifts within the construction industry, let’s break down some of the most common construction management software changes that have, for better or worse, arisen throughout the pandemic.
Transitioning to Cloud-Hosting Services
Prior to the pandemic, you could still argue that the majority of construction businesses still stored all their important files, documents, and other miscellaneous records in one file cabinet after another. Fortunately, one of the more positive changes to emerge from the COVID-era has been the embrace of cloud-hosting services that provide everything from cost-effective flexibility, to innovative data security, and so much more.
Cloud-hosting providers allow construction companies to maintain pristine communication from essentially anywhere in the world, while giving opportunities to seamlessly share vital contracts, receipts, or other operational information. Other common benefits to utilizing cloud-based technologies include:
- More flexibility to adapting and scaling in coordination with company needs
- Superior data backup storage options and cyber security protection
- Automated compliance recognition for tax codes, audit histories, government reporting, etc.
- Reducing IT expenses while improving operational efficiency
- Seamless data mitigation processes
- AP invoice scanning, routing & approval
The emergence of cloud computing has spread like wildfire during the pandemic, with 75% of construction companies currently using cloud-based platforms, while 85% of construction contractors plan to implement cloud-based solutions into their operations in the near future.
Emphasizing Flexibility
Perhaps the biggest change in the ways companies have used construction management software during the pandemic is utilizing tools not just as a means to manage the present, but prepare for the future.
In the early days of the pandemic, 40% of commercial and institutional projects were delayed in April, 2020, a number that ultimately decreased to 26% by July, 2020 and has steadily decreased until now. But nonetheless, project delays are still somewhat of a common occurrence, which obviously has a tremendous impact on financial and contractual agreements.
The need to be flexible and adapt to unforeseen circumstances has been implemented into modern construction management software by providing users a centralized database that’s customized for monitoring and adjusting project management tasks when necessary.
Manage subs, labor costs, proposal edits, estimation changes, job analysis, and more quickly and effectively. The more construction managers can adapt to unexpected changes, the easier life gets.
Listening to the Data
Above all, the pandemic has taught construction managers to minimize risk by any means necessary, much of which can be accomplished through various innovations in construction management software. This is where custom reporting and performance analytics have revolutionized the way businesses approach bidding, estimating, and other essential elements of project management.
Research shows that data-driven construction organizations are three times more likely to report significant improvements in project management decision-making, as opposed to those that do not take performance analytics into account. This specifically relates to all of the following areas and departments:
- Estimates against actual cost
- Purchase order accuracy
- KPI tracking
- Timesheet optimization
- Analyzing job progress
- Demonstrating financially credibility and more
We’ve come a long way in regards to all the insight construction management software can provide for us through detailed custom reporting and data-keeping.
Maximize Efficiency With Sage 100 Contractor Software
For many construction companies, change is a weary concept because it has yet to be experienced. But rest assured, once you take advantage of all the revolutionary resources that innovative construction management software has to offer, it’s hard to go back to the way things once were.
At Software Consultants, we help construction companies maximize efficiency and simplify their construction management process with Sage 100 Contractor software. To learn more about all the ways Sage 100 Contractor can enhance your business operations, contact us today to get in touch with our team of construction software specialists.