Benefits of Construction Management Software: A Comprehensive Guide

This shift in industry standards is revolutionizing and modernizing how construction companies take charge of their projects. When considering construction management software, it is important to consider its key benefits, features, selection tips, and future trends.

Construction management software might not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering the construction industry. However, it’s quickly becoming more commonplace as companies learn the benefits of such technology.

What is Construction Management Software?

Construction management software is a project management tool that helps construction companies streamline their administrative processes. Using automation, this software makes things like project tracking, document management, and communication easier and more efficient. 

Before the creation of construction management software, everything from accounting to project scheduling to client relationship management had to be done manually. While this method worked, it was costly and time-consuming. 

As demand for this solution has grown, it has become an increasingly sophisticated cloud-based technology that can be customized to fit the needs of any construction firm. Thanks to no-code development platforms like Knack, it is even possible to build construction management software without any coding skills.

Features of Construction Management Software

Three key features of construction management software to consider are:

• Flexibility and customization
• Integration capabilities
• Security and user permissions 

Most companies work on more than one project at a time, and every project has its procedures and parameters that must be followed. The amount of variation between projects is why the flexibility and customizability of construction management software are so important. The software’s ability to adapt to various projects is a crucial factor in success.

Integration capabilities are another feature that makes construction management software so intuitive. Because construction projects are so complex, they tend to require the simultaneous use of multiple different systems. Instead of having to manually transfer data from one system to another, this software automatically integrates the systems, effectively streamlining project phases and communication.

On top of making processes and workflows more efficient, construction management software also plays a vital role in safeguarding sensitive project data through the use of robust user permissions. These permissions allow companies to decide who is allowed access to what information, and for employees to access necessary information at any time. The ability to do this provides peace of mind for both the construction company and the client.

Benefits of Construction Management Software

Before implementing any new system, a company should analyze its benefits to determine whether or not it is worth the time and money necessary to integrate it into its daily operations.

Aside from the key features discussed above, companies also benefit from construction management software through enhanced communication and collaboration, improved schedule and asset management, cost control, and accurate forecasting.

Enhanced Team Collaboration

Due to its integration capabilities, construction management software enhances team collaboration and project communication. Because of its incorporation of virtual meeting tools and email notifications, employees can access any information they need in one place with the click of a button. All of this information is easily accessible to employees at any time because it is internet-based and mobile-friendly, allowing multiple team members to work on a project simultaneously from anywhere in the world.

Real-time Tracking and Management Features

Construction management software also includes real-time tracking and management features that improve schedule adherence and asset utilization. With all project-related information in one place, it’s easy for teams to see who and what is available and when so they can maintain balanced workloads and properly allocate resources. This capability leads to more projects being completed accurately and on time.

Cost Control and Accurate Forecasting

Because construction management software contains real-time data tracking tools, it can be easily used for cost control and accurate forecasting. 

This allows for effective budget management through the integration of other accounting software to automate processes like payroll, accounts receivable, and payable, or through setting rates for company services and monitoring costs and expenses.

Construction management software’s ability to automate project management processes such as creating data reports, resource planning, and team collaboration also positively impacts cost control and forecasting by increasing productivity.

How Construction Management Software Can Solve Project Challenges

With every new project comes new challenges. Before construction management software, there was no accurate way to predict these challenges, and teams were forced to put out fires as they occurred. Once this software is implemented, however, it can prevent challenges from happening before a project even begins.

Centralized document management is a simple way in which this software solves project challenges. Now that all project documents are electronically processed and stored rather than having a physical copy filed away, all team members have access to any information they could possibly need at any time, effectively boosting productivity. 

It also significantly reduces the risks of losing pertinent documents and the dispersion of sensitive data. Centralized document management has the added benefit of increasing the efficiency of RFIs and submittals because the information you need can be easily consolidated and exported.

Construction management software can solve on-site project challenges as well. Through thoroughly and accurately monitoring every aspect of a project, centralizing pertinent information, facilitating communication, and producing in-depth data reports, the software helps project managers mitigate the risk of on-site issues and safety incidents before they occur.

Managers can also use the software to create and assign training modules, send safety alerts and notifications, maintain a feedback and safety reporting mechanism, and create maintenance and inspection logs. Regarding issues and safety management, prevention is always the best solution.

How to Choose the Right Construction Management Software

Choosing the right construction management software can seem daunting, but there are things to consider before even looking at the specific options available to your company. The most important factor when choosing software is assessing the tools already available.

Start by asking yourself the following questions:

• Do they meet your needs? 
• Do they have any downfalls or missing features? 
• Are they cost-effective? 
• Are they user-friendly? 
• Are they easily accessible? 
• Do they increase productivity and efficiency? 

After identifying your company’s existing pain points, consider what features could resolve them. Your goal should be to find software that includes every feature you need to streamline processes and workflow automation to provide an overall better experience for clients and team members.

Be sure to think about the performance and success measurements your stakeholders may want to see. To stay within budget, try to avoid software that includes features you feel are outside of the typical scope of your projects.

In order to successfully implement any new software, it must be intuitive. New software is a major investment for any company in terms of both time and money. If your construction management software is not user-friendly, your team may find using it to be a hassle and continue to rely on old technology and procedures. 

While most of what construction management software can accomplish can be done manually, investing in the right software can only benefit your company, team members, and clients by cutting costs and reducing the amount of time spent on projects through automation.

Advanced Capabilities and Future Trends in Construction Management

It may still need to be common practice to use construction management software in the industry, but demand for these intuitive solution systems is on the rise. While growth seems to be driven by demand in the APAC region, oil and gas construction projects across the world are beginning to implement the software as well. General contractors also make up a high percentage of users.

With this growth in demand, experts have identified future trends in the development of this software. While there are many improvements and additions to come, the top trends are the creation of more mobile versions, more cross-platform capabilities, more cloud-based solutions, and more tools that enable leadership efficiency. 

Although construction management software already has the advantage of advanced capabilities such as predictive analytics, it has the potential to become even more beneficial to the industry as technologies such as AI and IoT continue to be developed. This software’s existing integration capabilities can easily be made compatible with these technologies to increase accuracy, data reporting, communication, security, encryption, and data sharing.

One of the most popular trends with construction management software is the emergence of no-code platforms. These platforms empower users with varied levels of technical expertise to develop and customize applications that fit their needs. Without any prior coding knowledge, users can easily create construction management workflows, dashboards, and databases for maximum efficiency!

Capabilities of Knack for Construction Management

Knack offers extensive no-code options for developing construction management software. Our customizable construction project management tool is very versatile, allowing it to meet diverse construction project requirements while helping deliver them on time and on budget.

We offer customizable dashboards, personalized reporting, and adaptable workflows to track milestones, tasks, hours, costs, and more. A project manager’s job is complex, but Knack can help make things easier.

Knack can also help you streamline construction project management through task and project automation. Automating schedules, resource allocation, and progress tracking increases efficiency and reduces errors so you can spend more time focusing on what matters most. We even give you the ability to define scheduled tasks and get real-time status updates. 

Build Custom Construction Management Software with Knack

As the construction industry develops and grows, so should its processes and procedures. In the world of modern project delivery, the right construction management software can impress clients, cut time and costs, and put you one step ahead of your competitors.

If you’re ready to revolutionize your construction business, start building your custom construction management software for free today! Let Knack give you everything you need, and nothing you don’t.