Running a construction company can be chaotic. Between timelines, worksites, materials, and contractors—not to mention procuring new business—there’s a lot to juggle.
Let’s face it. You can only grow your company so much with spreadsheets and pricing catalogs. At some point, you need to invest in modern construction management tools to automate the manual processes that are core to your business.
Several types of construction management software increase efficiency and timeliness, reduce project errors, and boost profit margins. In fact, according to Deloitte’s 2021 Engineering and Construction Industry Outlook, 76% of E&C decision-makers are investing in technology to solve issues regarding profit margins.
If you’re ready to run a more efficient and profitable business, here are a few construction management tools you’ll want to implement.
- Estimating Software: Quickly compile accurate estimates, track costs, and manage project budgets.
- Bid Management Software: Automate the process of creating and submitting proposals to bid on new projects.
- Construction Accounting Software: Streamline key accounting functions like job cost projections and change order tracking.
- Building Information Modeling (BIM): Design digital renderings of facilities and infrastructure.
- Project Management Platform: Manage the end-to-end process of each project, including planning, timelines, roles, and more.
- Resource Scheduling Software: Get complete workforce visibility, including the ability to accurately forecast and optimize workload.
We analyzed the top solutions in each of these categories to develop a shortlist of recommendations. Hopefully, this helps you reduce research cycles when looking for the best construction management software for your company.
Best Construction Estimating Software
Estimating software makes it easy to compile estimates for potential construction projects. These solutions typically include pre-built and customizable templates for bids, proposals, and cost reports, plus cost databases so you can generate accurate quotes.
Our recommendations for the best construction estimating software are ProEst and CostCertified. Other construction estimating tools worth mentioning are RSMeans Data Online and Projul.
ProEst
ProEst is a cloud-based estimating and pre-construction management software. Its conceptual estimating capabilities let you accurately predict project costs, easily modify bids, and recalculate costs as projects change. ProEst leverages predictive analytics to analyze the feasibility of projects and help you avoid taking on projects that will tax your resources.
CostCertified
CostCertified is a residential construction estimating software. Homebuilders use it to create interactive quotes within minutes. Then, homebuyers can customize quotes by selecting finishes, adding or removing options, and upgrading or downgrading amenities. Pricing adjustments are reflected in real-time. What makes CostCertified even more powerful is that it’s built on top of a CRM so you can easily manage your pipeline of project leads.
Best Construction Bid Management Software
Construction companies use bid management software to create requests for proposals (RFPs). They can also track details associated with proposals, like communications with suppliers and subcontractors.
If you’re looking for straightforward bid management software, we recommend BuildingConnected Pro. There are several other bid management platforms worth mentioning, like Quick Bid, SmartBid, and Builterra. Most of the leading project management software, like BuilderTrend and Procore (discussed below), also include bid management capabilities.
BuildingConnected Pro
BuildingConnected Pro delivers an all-in-one bid management solution for construction professionals. Besides providing a quick and accurate way to submit bids, it also connects you with a network of over a million subcontractors so you can find the right subcontractors for your projects and collaboratively manage the bidding process.
Best Construction Accounting Software
Construction companies require some unique accounting functionality that’s not available in most accounting software. Larger construction companies have significantly more complex financial needs so no solution’s right for every company. However, some capabilities that almost every construction company needs include tracking job costs to specific codes, time and materials markups, inventory control, and change order tracking.
For independent contractors or smaller construction companies, we recommend Sage 100 Contractor. For larger or quickly growing businesses, Quickbooks Contractor Edition is the ideal solution. Other construction accounting software worth checking out includes Jonas and Accubuild.
Sage 100 Contractor
Sage 100 Contractor manages all phases of construction and service management in one easy-to-use, integrated solution. It’s ideal for small to midsize construction companies. It provides all basic accounting functionality, like invoicing, purchase orders, and payroll management. The software includes several industry-specific features that help you keep projects on schedule and within budget.
QuickBooks Contractor Edition
QuickBooks Contractor Edition is our pick for rapidly growing construction businesses, and the Enterprise Edition includes some upgraded features ideal for larger companies. On top of QuickBooks’ traditional accounting functionality, the Contractor Edition lets you track actual against budgeted costs, create work orders, convert orders to invoices, manage change orders, and more.
Best Building Information Modeling (BIM) Software
Building information modelling (BIM) software is basically a set of design tools that construction firms use to create 2D and 3D digital renderings of buildings and spaces. BIM designs let teams collaborate on and document design intent, visualize important details in building infrastructures, and optimize building performance.
Autodesk Revit is our choice for the best BIM software for construction companies. Other options that are worth mentioning are Sketchup and Autodesk Navisworks.
Autodesk Revit
Autodesk Revit is perfect for construction firms, contractors, and builders. You can use its data-rich models to make pre-construction decisions earlier, fine-tune structural details, document product specifications, and more. Construction companies gain several benefits from using this software, including stronger alignment around plans, reduced time to fabrication, improved efficiency from planning to build, and enhanced quality assurance.
Best Construction Project Management Software
Construction project management software is an essential tool to better manage a construction site. It helps streamline projects by coordinating all the tasks, people, materials, and equipment involved. There are hundreds of project management software, and dozens that are specific to the construction industry.
Procore and Buildertrend are two must-have construction project management tools. Plangrid and Field Wire are close runners-up.
Procore
Procore construction software manages projects from planning to completion. It centralizes documents, specifications, drawings, correspondence, daily logs, timecards, and more in one place. Task management features give teams a clear understanding of the day’s work so they can keep projects on schedule.
On top of its robust project management capabilities, Procore includes bidding and estimating tools, invoicing, accounting integrations, and even BIM functionality. Depending on what capabilities your construction company needs, Procore may be a good all-in-one solution in place of some of our previous recommendations.
Buildertrend
Buildertrend is a cloud-based project management software that includes a CRM. This brings a new take on end-to-end. In addition to managing construction projects, you can manage your entire pre-sales process and even execute marketing campaigns. Buildertrend also includes bidding, estimating, and invoicing features.
Best Resource Scheduling Software
Construction projects require lots of planning, scheduling, tracking, and reviewing. If you have multiple big jobs in flight plus new bids coming in, chances are that you’re struggling to understand the overall workload and lack visibility into who is working on what and when, making it difficult to schedule future projects and strategically hire.
Resource scheduling software helps you track and optimize workload, capacity, demand, and priorities across all workers, contractors, and projects so you can maximize productivity and profitability.
Mosaic is the best resource scheduling software for the construction industry.
Mosaic
Mosaic provides AI-powered resource planning and workforce intelligence so you can build a more efficient and profitable construction company. Mosaic integrates with project management software (like Procore) as well as financial tools (like Sage and Quickbooks) to provide complete visibility into who is working on what, and when. Its powerful AI enables managers to efficiently schedule workers by suggesting project teams and work plans. Construction companies have always dreamed of, but struggled to attain, the ability to forecast workload. And Mosaic’s AI delivers. Strategically plan your workload for the next quarter and beyond, so you always know well in advance when to hire or when to chase proposals. Lastly, profit and loss reporting identifies which projects to pursue and which ones to pass on.
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