WHAT IS CONSTRUCTION SOFTWARE?
FEATURED VENDORS
This is the fourth and final article in a series that will help contractors understand what construction software is and what it can do for them; our particular focus here is construction project management software.
Generally speaking, there are five process groups that make up the discipline of project management -- initiating, planning, executing, controlling and monitoring, and closing. Additionally, there are nine main areas of knowledge that characterize project management -- integration, time, quantity, communications, procurement, project scope, project cost, humane resources (HR) and risk.
The exact definition of construction project management, though, varies from one contractor to another. One contractor may solely consider construction scheduling to be project management, for example, whereas other companies may consider project management to be all their organization's activities. This informal definition tends to be based on the construction project management software a company uses for itself and requires its clients to use.
A. What is construction project management software?
The job of a project manager is to oversee the implementation of projects from start to finish.
Throughout a project the project manager has to assign tasks, organize the production process, as well as deal with all administrative tasks. Similarly to the role of a project manager, construction project management software is software composed of a variety of tools that help contractors manage their construction projects.
B. What can construction project management software do?
Contractors can reap the following benefits from using construction project management software:
• Construction scheduling, budgeting, document control, reporting, and change orders are streamlined and standardization.
• Collaboration tools, such as email message organizers, problem logs, timeline schedules and automated workflows, help reduce communication bottlenecks.
• On-demand key performance indicators, or KPIs, enable users to enhance performance management of employees, suppliers and subcontractors; this provides immediate insight into both existing and potential problems.
• Integration with construction estimating software, which includes the ability to directly import data, can give project managers more confidence in cost estimates.
• Save time by easily making duplicates of things such as drawing packages that would take over a day to do by hand and send out en masse
C. How can you find the right construction project management software?
Many contractors opt for Microsoft Project, particularly for the purposes of construction scheduling. Microsoft Project management software appeals to contractors because of its price, its ease of use and its integration with Microsoft Office,
In addition, some construction companies who need construction project management software don't choose a structured software package, but instead build their own system from the construction project management tools that they feel would be most beneficial to their company. Examples of project management tools that contractors include in their systems are those that build timelines or schedules and those that help contractors manage their resources such as subcontractors and materials.
However, in building these solutions firms often need to write custom code to link their project management software to construction estimating or job cost accounting software. On the other hand, leading construction project management software tools from Primavera, Meridian Systems and Sage can provide this integration right out of the box.
D. Additional resources
The following pages on ConstructionSoftwareReview.com should provide some additional insight into the best ways to start learning about construction project management software tools and deciding what software might be right for you.
• Construction project management software buyers guide
• Construction project management software vendor overviews and end user reviews
• Key questions when considering construction management software
