A construction site is must be appropriately managed to ensure quality results. The slightest lag in design, planning, contracting, or other processes can be catastrophic for the entire project.
That is why essential projects and processes are best managed using specialized building software that can track the minutest tasks with ease. Their functions include scheduling, budgeting, creating performance requirements, scope delineation, project participation selection, resource efficiency maximization through procurement of equipment and materials, labor management, etc.
Let’s figure out what construction software is and how you can use it to keep up with the trends:
Construction Software
Like any other industry and its workers, builders need guidance to carry out construction projects effectively since this process requires details to be worked out in advance. Whether it is planning or execution, various construction software exists that help creates a seamless process.
As helpful as the right software is for the construction industry, many still use pen and paper to plan and design everything. However, as companies expand their IT budgets, the probability of them adopting software also increases.
Users shifting towards construction software use include engineers, subcontractors, general contractors, building companies, and architects.
Capabilities And Features
Different construction software has varying capabilities and features:
- Document sharing
- Submittal management
- Plan viewing and distribution
- Timecards
- Jobsite reports
- Job costing
- Project management
- Approvals and collaboration
- Photo documentation
- Punchlists and issue tracking
- Building information modeling (BIM)
- Cloud and mobile functionality
Type Of Construction Management Software
There are different types of construction management software to cater to the various needs of construction companies:
- Construction Drawing Management
These specific tools are used in the construction where they provide a model for building information and let users edit, upload, and markup drawing plans for a construction project. Collaboration between builders, contractors, and site owners throughout the building process becomes seamless with this building software.
- Construction Project Management
Construction companies have to determine the construction projects’ lifecycle and construction project management manages all the documents, project workflows, task assignments, and product lists.
- Construction Data Analytics
These give a live view of the construction project and provide data-driven reports that allow managers to remain up to date with data on active projects and save time.
- Construction Safety And Risk
Construction sites come with risks, and it is essential to minimize them as much as possible. Construction safety and risk software manage these risks, including templates that make data collection easier during site visits, create data reports, and notify project managers about possible risks.
In fact, in 2019, more than 50% of surveyed construction industry leader said their firms used software in construction to maintain a healthy work environment.
- Construction ERP
One of the best ways to bring together different aspects of a construction project is through the central source that construction ERP provides. In addition, it includes job site-focused and back-office functions.
- On-Premises
If you want more control over the construction projects, then on-premises software lets you upload all the information on the company’s computers. Your construction firm’s internal IT team manages this information.
These tools have a huge one-time fee, but the subsequent maintenance costs are quite affordable. As a result, big construction firms can significantly benefit from the on-premise software by reducing the risk of essential data storage on third-party locations.
- Cloud-Based
Cloud services are widely used across various industries to provide a seamless workflow. Similarly, for software in construction processes, cloud-based or online construction management software provides easy access to on-field information even outside working hours, as long as there is an internet connection and a web browser.
This software provides data access at all times and facilitates contractors and construction managers. Even small construction companies with smaller budgets can adapt this software as well.
Trends In Construction Management Software
There’s no denying that construction management software improves convenience, efficiency, and integration of existing solutions.
Mobile Access
With the construction industry increasingly becoming digital, the use of mobile devices is going further as well. While workers are already using their phones for note-taking and pictures, the construction management software is also expanding on markup writing, photo-taking, and fulfilling the needs of contractors for contract attachment.
Usually, these software captures live information with their on-site tackling features, and once the device connects to the internet, they sync the data to update the construction plans.
Drones and Automation
In this technological world, the optimization of manual processes is easily possible with robots, automated technology, and drones. This includes photography for 3D imaging and land surveying.
Such technology in the construction industry reduces risk, addresses safety concerns on job sites, and streamlines communication and coordination between customers and project owners.
Market Consolidation
Smaller and more agile companies are quickly becoming the target of the big players in the engineering, construction, and architecture industries. As a result, builders are changing their approach to their construction projects and their resources when the projects begin. Such consolidated projects produce cloud suites offering modular variations and smooth integration of solutions with applications.
Conclusion
Every other industry is undergoing rapid technological advances and relying on apps to streamline its processes, and the construction industry is no different. Builders benefit from the various types of construction management software as their planning till execution processes are all managed by it.
The use of such software significantly improves the productivity of the construction firms and reduces the inherent risks for them as well.
If you’re looking for a software to increase your productivity with, get in touch with Wunderbuild today, learn about their construction management software solutions and see what the future of construction projects will be like.
It is currently offering a free trial, visit here to try WunderBuild for free.
