In just a few decades, we’ve gone from computers that filled entire rooms to devices that fit in the palm of your hand. With greater computing power and the addition of portability, mobile technology has increased connectivity.

This is great news for construction management because project managers and team leaders need to spend a lot of time on-site. Being able to keep operations running smoothly while away from the office is crucial. But, this requires a strong digital workflow and the right mobile tools. ERP software that works across devices is a game-changer. It saves time while improving efficiency and transparency on the job-site.

Let’s break down three benefits of unified software for construction management:

Integrated Database

You can have all the data in the world, but if you don’t have an easy way to sort through it, that data becomes useless. The amount of data produced by individual construction projects has increased over the past decade, and project managers are expected to keep track of all this operational information.

Being away from office shouldn’t prevent PMs from accessing project documents and data. Whether on or off-site, PMs should be able to:

  • Easily search and locate important documents to share with project stakeholders
  • Access a single source of truth — instead of wasting time sorting through conflicting or outdated data
  • Get at-a-glance metrics for individual projects (for a bird’s eye view of how projects are progressing)

Unified ERP software makes this possible. You may be tempted to buy individual applications and software for each operational task. While this is cheaper in the short-term, it’s only a stop-gap solution and could cause headaches when trying to integrate within your larger system.

Standard Reports

Not all unified solutions are created equal. It’s important to find software that’s tailored to construction management, with templates that are specific to the industry. Standard report templates save PMs from wasting time compiling and formatting reports, making it possible to create and send reports from a mobile device. If a PM can easily populate reports based on standardized data from the job-site, they can maintain fast and efficient communication with clients and project leaders.

Mobile Collaboration

PMs can’t be in two places at once, but sometimes they have to be. Overseeing multiple job-sites and working with stakeholders in different locations requires a tool designed for strong collaboration. Advanced ERP solutions stream data in real time, keeping PMs in the loop about project delays, change orders and high-level project metrics. With easy access to all this data, PMs can communicate with decision-makers and keep them up-to-date.

 

When choosing a unified software solution, it’s important to think of the office and the field. Executives may not know what tools are needed on the job-site, but PMs do. PMs, speak up about the tools that will make your job-site life easier. And Executives, listen to your team. Review the individual tools a platform offers and choose a solution that will make everyone happy.

CMiC has long list of satisfied customers using their ERP software for construction firms. Learn how unified ERP made all the difference for Moss & Associates.