General contractors need to keep tabs on numerous components of their business – equipment, important documents such as contracts and licensing information, subcontractors, and project materials can quickly become disorganized without help from a construction management software solution.
General contractor software solutions, like Bridgit Bench, help contractors streamline daily administrative tasks and focus on what matters: making money.
Here are some features they should look out for:
1. Integrations
General contractors must keep many pieces in their business organized to run effectively. From managing client contact details and equipment inventory to contracts and insurance policies; scheduling projects; project management tasks such as estimation/costing; bidding/tendering processes, and accounting can quickly become cumbersome without proper tools in place.
Find a program that integrates all these functions to help manage your business effectively.
These programs simplify sending estimates, organizing project details, scheduling technicians and specialty contractors, delivering professional customer experiences from either office or field settings, and some even integrating seamlessly with QuickBooks Online for managing customer, invoice, and payment data in one central place.
Plus, you can track time and create detailed change orders at an affordable cost!
2. Customization
General contractor software should be tailored specifically to each construction project’s specific workflows, streamlining administrative duties so you can focus on making money-making work.
Some general contracting software features are tailored specifically toward labor management, like tracking time spent on projects and rehiring subcontractors according to performance. Others take a broader view by overseeing construction projects from planning through completion.
3. Security
General contractors must manage many moving parts during every construction project. From equipment and schedules to licensing and insurance documentation and scheduling details, numerous variables can impact the pricing and viability of construction jobs.
Small contractor businesses may get by with simple off-the-shelf accounting software, including job costing features, to improve estimating and billing/invoice accuracy. Still, mid-sized and larger contracting firms require more robust systems that manage project management, estimating, scheduling, bidding, and accounting activities.
4. Scalability
General contractors oversee large projects that require great coordination and organization. Construction project management software solutions offer managers the tools they need to deliver accurate estimates, monitor subcontractors and materials usage, handle RFI/RFP requests on schedule, as well as keep clients up-to-date on project statuses.
Scalability refers to a system’s ability to accommodate an increasing volume of work. For instance, manufacturing companies equipped with scalable machinery can increase output simply by adding more machines without hiring additional workers or opening additional factories.
General contractor software solutions with scalable features like estimating, job costing, change orders document management and customizable reports provide invaluable support throughout the contracting process and beyond, so companies can grow efficiently.
5. Reporting
General contractors need to keep tabs on an enormous amount of information. Without the appropriate general contractor software, keeping up with field reports, project information and imagery, schedules, subcontractor contracts, job costs and equipment inventory can become nearly impossible.
Large construction firms require an integrated suite of contractor business management tools that cover project scheduling, accounting, estimating/job costing/bidding/proposal management – often called enterprise resource planning (ERP) software – for optimal operation.