Toronto, Ontario, November 5, 2024 – CMiC, a leading Next Generation Construction ERP provider, recently announced a new partnership with R.C. Mathews Contractor (R.C. Mathews), a cornerstone of middle Tennessee’s commercial construction industry with over eight decades of history. As a family-owned firm, R.C. Mathews has been integral in shaping Nashville’s landscape — from iconic landmarks to innovative academic centers.
Faced with the growing demands of the construction industry, in recent years, leaders at R.C. Mathews recognized the need for a scalable solution to enhance efficiency and data management. After a comprehensive evaluation, CMiC emerged as the ideal partner to support their long-term growth and operational excellence.
R.C. Mathews Contractor: Building Nashville’s Legacy with Precision, Integrity, and Innovation
Founded in 1941 by R.C. Mathews Sr., R.C. Mathews has become a cornerstone of middle Tennessee’s commercial construction industry. With a legacy that spans over eight decades, this family-owned firm has been instrumental in shaping Nashville’s growth, partnering with major corporations and institutions to bring their visions to life. From the historic Ryman Auditorium to cutting-edge academic centers at Belmont University, the company’s portfolio reflects a deep commitment to quality and craftsmanship.
R.C. Mathews specializes in general contracting, construction management, and design-build services, offering comprehensive solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each project. Their approach emphasizes early involvement in the design and development phases, enabling them to deliver projects on time and within budget, all while maintaining the highest standards of excellence.
The firm’s dedication to sustainable construction practices is evident in their extensive experience with LEED-certified projects. To date, R.C. Mathews has completed over 1.5 million square feet of LEED-certified buildings, with an additional 1 million square feet currently under construction. Their ability to achieve exceptional sustainability goals, such as the LEED Platinum Certified Janet Ayers Academic Center, demonstrates their leadership in creating environmentally conscious and energy-efficient structures.
In addition to their focus on sustainability, R.C. Mathews continuously invests in advanced construction technologies. Their Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) group, combined with the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM), allows them to proactively address potential challenges, ensuring precise execution and streamlined project delivery. This commitment to innovation empowers their team to provide clients with accurate construction budgets and schedules, ultimately enhancing project outcomes.
Business Challenges Faced: Outdated Software and Inefficient Data Management
Over the years, R.C. Mathews faced substantial operational challenges that required a strategic change in their technology approach. After more than twenty years of reliance on an existing set of software solutions, executives at the firm evaluated their technology stack, realizing that the use of these outdated tools created bottlenecks that hindered their growth and efficiency over time. Key challenges that they identified were:
Scalability and Growth Limitations: As R.C. Mathews expanded, their existing software struggled to keep pace with the increasing demands of a growing business. The legacy platform, while reliable in the past, lacked the flexibility and scalability required to support the company's evolving needs. The system's inability to scale effectively became a barrier to their long-term growth ambitions.
Inadequate Data Management and Reporting: The outdated platform failed to provide accurate, real-time data, which led to reliance on offline processes and spreadsheets. This fragmented approach to data management resulted in challenges in tracking business metrics and making informed decisions. The lack of robust data integration and reporting tools left the company with a disjointed view of their operations, complicating their ability to respond to financial and project-related demands efficiently.
User Interface and Adoption Issues: The legacy system’s user interface had not been updated in years, creating significant adoption challenges, particularly for younger project managers. The outdated platform’s complexity and lack of intuitiveness made it difficult for new team members to fully leverage its capabilities, ultimately impacting productivity and overall project management.
Recognizing these challenges, R.C. Mathews embarked on a thorough evaluation process, aiming to identify a more collaborative, cloud-based, and intuitive solution that could not only address their current operational needs but also support their future growth.
The Software Evaluation Journey: Finding a Scalable and Collaborative ERP Solution
R.C. Mathews embarked on a comprehensive software evaluation process to find an ERP solution that could meet the growing demands of their business. After engaging with a third-party consultant to navigate the selection process, they shortlisted several potential platforms. [FA1] [WM2] In the end, it was CMiC that stood out as the clear choice.
This decision was driven by two key factors:
The service provided by CMiC was highly valued, offering a level of support and expertise that R.C. Mathews found vital in ensuring a smooth transition.
CMiC's single-source database and robust information management capabilities promised to significantly enhance their operational efficiency. The ability to access comprehensive, real-time data across all facets of the business was a compelling advantage.
Key CMiC Applications on R.C. Mathews' Product Roadmap
As R.C. Mathews embarks on the next phase of their digital transformation, they have strategically selected key CMiC applications that align with their operational goals. The following modules [WJ4] are central to their product roadmap:
Financials:
R.C. Mathews will leverage CMiC Financials to enhance their accounting processes, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and efficiency. These modules will provide them with real-time financial data and insights, enabling better decision-making and more effective management of resources across projects.
Asset and Inventory Management:
R.C. Mathews aims to optimize the tracking and management of their physical assets and inventory. This application will provide them with accurate, real-time data on asset utilization and inventory levels, reducing costs and improving operational efficiency.
Payroll:
This solution will automate payroll processing, reduce administrative overhead, and help them demonstrate compliance.
Pursuit Tracking (Phase 2)
Anticipated Business Outcomes: Driving Excellence through Data and Collaboration
R.C. Mathews is set to unlock significant business value through their strategic partnership with CMiC. By implementing CMiC’s advanced solutions, the company anticipates a transformative impact on their operations, particularly in enhancing data-driven decision-making and streamlining processes. The primary focus is on consolidating various systems, which will enable the company to reduce redundancies and drive more informed business outcomes.
This partnership is poised to provide R.C. Mathews with the tools necessary to better serve both their team and their clients. "We’re excited about getting valuable information out of our data to better serve our clients and our team," stated Walker Mathews Jr., President of R.C. Mathews. He emphasized the importance of removing duplicative processes and data gathering, noting that these improvements will allow them to "really drive business outcomes that serve our team and serve our clients."
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About R.C. Mathews Contractor:
R.C. Mathews Contractor, a leading commercial construction firm in Middle Tennessee, has been synonymous with quality and integrity since its founding in 1941 by R.C. Mathews Sr. The company has earned its reputation by partnering with Nashville’s largest corporations and institutions, delivering landmark projects that have shaped the region's landscape.
Specializing in general contracting, construction management, and design-build services, R.C. Mathews Contractor is committed to sustainable construction, with over 1.5 million square feet of LEED-certified projects to its name. The firm utilizes advanced technologies like Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to ensure precise execution and on-budget delivery.
Headquartered in Nashville, R.C. Mathews Contractor continues to build on its legacy, fostering long-term relationships and contributing to the growth and development of the community it serves.
About CMiC:
As an industry pioneer, CMiC delivers complete and unified Financials and Project Management software solutions for construction and capital projects firms. CMiC’s powerful software transforms how firms optimize productivity, minimize risk and drive growth by planning and managing all financials, projects, resources, and content assets—from a Single Database Platform™. With customers throughout North America and overseas, CMiC serves one-quarter of ENR’s Top 400 Contractors and hundreds of small and mid-sized construction firms, from general and specialty contractors to heavy/highway and project owners. Over $100 billion in construction revenue is handled by CMiC annually.