What is Construction Management Software?

Construction management software is connected technology geared specifically for the building and construction industry. It is designed to help construction companies manage projects from start to finish, including everything from planning to budgeting to execution.  Construction project management software automates and streamlines processes by connecting people and information across the project lifecycle.

Construction project management software aims to ensure everyone involved in a project knows what's happening, how things are progressing, and what's next. The universe includes the client, subcontractors, suppliers, vendors, architects, engineers, contractors, and anyone else working on the project.

In short, construction project management software helps you keep track of every aspect of a project, from scheduling meetings to tracking costs. There are several construction project management software types, each with unique features and benefits. Some focus heavily on collaboration, while others are better suited for task automation. The best construction project management software combines both collaborative and automated functionality.

Construction Management Software

Across the construction industry, awareness is emerging of the urgent need for improved delivery of projects. Every construction project has a complicated process that causes companies to struggle to succeed. The proper management software will help you simplify complex management phases to boost productivity.

Several key benefits come with using construction project management software:

1. Increased Project Efficiency

One of the most significant advantages of construction project management software over paper-based systems is increased efficiency. Paper-based systems can often lead to miscommunication, missed deadlines, and other problems. However, with construction project management software, all team members have access to the same information at any time, so there's no need to ask someone else if they've seen something or double-check an email.

2. Real-time Communication and Collaboration

A good project management tool helps to streamline communications and keep everyone, including contractors, engineers, and architects, up to date on progress. Project management software allows external stakeholders such as subcontractors, suppliers, consultants, and government agencies to connect directly with construction firms and provide them with a means for clarification about internal matters related to the project. Collaboration dashboards can also give project managers visibility into how each team member performs, allowing them to prioritize tasks accordingly.

3. Better Project Planning

Project planning is one of the most important aspects of managing a successful project. Construction project management software makes this easier by providing detailed reporting on the project budgets, schedules, and more. The reports should be customized to meet specific project needs to help drive insights into future planning. 

4. Reduced Construction Costs

The main benefits of project management software are reducing costs and increasing profitability through better resource planning. When managing budgets, accurately estimating costs and clearly defining expectations is vital in completing construction tasks. Using cost management and project management software, managers can quickly create an accurate estimate and communicate those numbers to employees, contractors, and vendors.

Construction managers use management systems to automate material and labor cost estimates, standardize bid proposal formats, and store and integrate past project budgets. Additionally, project managers can more accurately predict their mid-project budgets by tracking win/lose ratios and other important financial metrics. They also use construction management systems to provide greater visibility into potential risks like workloads, change requests, and other variables that could impact estimated budgets.

5. Reducing Risk on Projects

Construction projects are complex, including managing subcontractors, keeping up with paperwork, and getting approval from different stakeholders. By having a solid project-management system in place, you'll be able to reduce the amount of risk associated with each task. Increased visibility leads to better documentation, fewer mistakes, and better support for project managers. Efficiency comes through knowing what tasks are overdue and how long they take to complete. As a result, project teams won't have to worry about missing a deadline.

The best way to choose construction project management software is to do some research first. There are many options, so make sure you compare products. 

Here are some items to consider when choosing your first or next construction project management software solution:

1. Project Management Features

You should look closely at features before purchasing construction project management software. Some of the most important features include:

• Mobile Access: If you want to stay connected while working on-site, you'll need mobile access to your software. This feature allows you to access your files from anywhere, even if you don't have internet access.
• File Sharing: A file-sharing feature lets you upload documents directly to your computer, eliminating the need to send them via email or FTP.
• Time Tracking: It's crucial to keep track of your time on a project. With a time-tracking feature, you can quickly see how much time you've spent on a particular task.

2. User Experience

When looking at user experience, you should focus on ease of use, functionality, and customization. The easier it is to navigate and customize your software, the better. Look for a construction project management solution that offers an intuitive interface and plenty of customizability.

3. Customer Support

When selecting construction project management software, you'll want to ensure you get support whenever needed. Ask potential software providers about their customer service policies and any special training programs they offer. 

Understanding the process and digital and physical channels to update customers regarding software needs, upgrades, and enhancements is essential to ensuring a great partnership. 

4. Application Security

Security is another critical factor when choosing project management software. Ensure the provider has robust security measures, such as encryption technology. Encryption ensures that information sent between users remains private.

5. Product Cost

Finally, cost is one of the most significant factors when choosing a construction project manager. You'll want to compare prices across multiple companies. However, you shouldn't just go by price alone. Instead, look at other factors, such as licensing costs, the number of users, and more.

Deltek ComputerEase is a leading construction project management solution for small to mid-sized businesses. Contractors require solutions to manage every aspect of their business, from estimating and scheduling work orders to invoicing and billing clients. Deltek provides real-time visibility into projects, job sites, tasks, resources, expenses, and more.

Deltek's construction project management software includes estimating, job costing,resource planning, and accounting modules. Each module works independently, but together they create a comprehensive platform for managing a construction company.