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The construction industry is one of the most challenging industries in the country. The industry is affected by numerous challenges, such as labor shortages and construction delays. According to a study, the industry requires more than 400,000 laborers to operate at peak capacity.
Another challenge affecting this industry is using unrealistic construction schedules. Contractors should avoid unrealistic construction schedules because they can contain erroneous construction costs that can cause delays.
Similarly, if the plan is unrealistic, the project can be affected by inefficiencies and budget overruns.
The larger a construction project, the more complicated it is. This is because the general contractor must simultaneously manage and track millions of dollars and hundreds of workers, materials, and equipment. Therefore, they must use construction software to help them track these resources.
An example of construction software is ALICE for general contractors. The platform uses optioneering to find the best construction approach to maximize margins. Constructors using the platform can make data-driven decisions and reduce construction risk.
What is construction software?
Construction companies use construction software to help them implement large construction projects. Good construction software will help you create realistic construction schedules, reduce construction time and increase construction profits.
Is construction software important?
Yes, construction software is essential, especially when working on a large construction project. The software will streamline the business by identifying risks during the preconstruction phase. These risks can include legal, environmental, logistics, and supply risks.
Construction software is also essential because it gives contractors a 360-degree view of a construction project. The platform will use analytics to warn the contractor if they spend more resources (material and equipment) than had been budgeted.
Lastly, modern platforms use optioneering technology to create hundreds of simulations to identify the best construction approach. This increases profits and reduces construction costs.
Strategies for choosing a good construction software
There are certain features that a general contractor should look out for when choosing construction software. The first is that the software should be a cloud-based platform with a centralized data structure. Cloud-based platforms have several benefits, such as the capacity to be accessed from anywhere in the world.
Cloud-based platforms are hosted in the cloud, and users can access them using a mobile or web browser. Another advantage of this is that different people can collaborate without the need to meet. This speeds up the construction time as various team members know what is required.
Cloud-based software also makes it easy for data to be securely stored and retrieved. In addition, a good platform should have different security access levels. This way, confidential data is only accessed by authorized personnel. Other ways to identify good construction software are
Consider mobile compatibility
If you think about it, how many workers have access to a computer while at the construction site? Most probably, no one except the project manager. Therefore, a good platform should be mobile-compatible to make it easy for workers to use it with their mobile phones.
Apart from mobile compatibility, the contractor must also consider the user interface. It must be straightforward to use. If the user interface is complicated, your team might reject the application.
Consider third-party integrations
It is unrealistic to have a “do it all” software solution. Therefore, look for a platform that can support multiple third-party integrations. If your software cannot share or download data in practical formats, it has little use to the organization.
A good platform should be able to connect with third-party platforms to manage things such as site logistics, project data, and sending emails.
Inspect the technology
Another vital factor to consider is the technology used to build the system. Good software should mimic human behavior and use predictive analytics to create an accurate work schedule.
Good construction platforms should also use modern technology such as machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Connected cloud environments are the best
Most contractors don’t know the difference between cloud software and a connected cloud environment. Cloud software is a program that is hosted on a remote server. On the other hand, a connected cloud environment stores data in a single environment to make it easier to retrieve and analyze.
Construction data should not be stored in silos using disconnected point solutions because you cannot retrieve the data immediately. A connected cloud environment makes creating a presentation in real-time easy. In addition, analyzing and deleting data can be done in seconds.
Ready-made templates
General contractors have a lot of responsibilities. You must create a project timeline if you join the project during the preconstruction phase. Similarly, the general contractor must create a budget, work schedule, and safety protocols. These are a lot of documents that will take a lot of time to prepare.
Therefore, choose software that has inbuilt templates. Some of the templates that should be stored in the platform are budget, timelines, safety, and schedule templates. In addition, the templates should be customizable to suit your organization’s needs.
Real-time reporting
Real-time reporting makes it easier for contractors and subcontractors to identify errors before they stall a project. A good example is when subcontractors use the platform to track the progress completion rate. They can also use it to identify the number of materials utilized to know if they are within budget.
A project owner can also use the platform to know precisely how much has been spent. The owner can also break down the data based on monthly and daily spending.
In conclusion, using modern construction software is the key to successfully implementing a construction project. Modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning should power the software. Similarly, the platform should be easy to use and accessible worldwide.
