Every construction project has reams of documentation and information which must be maintained in ways that keep the content secure while also making it easy for stakeholders to find relevant files on demand. For both regulatory compliance reasons and to simply keep the project on track and efficient, contractors need to upgrade their construction resource management.
Resource Management Built for Construction
Going beyond generic resource management and choosing an enterprise resource planning system purpose-built to suit construction firms’ needs can represent a big step toward organizing content in strategically sound ways. This kind of upgrade is especially needed when a contractor does not have any dedicated ERP tool in place, and is instead relying on a collection of disconnected offline applications to stay organized.
Spreadsheets are a common way to store and track information among contractors – but they shouldn’t be. Organizing data in documents that are not connected to other systems across departments means stakeholders must perform a large amount of manual data entry. This not only creates a potential disconnect between teams in different locations – such as field personnel and office staff – it also introduces more opportunities for simple human error to harm content integrity.
Spreadsheets are a common way to store and track information among contractors – but they shouldn’t be.
ERP platforms designed for construction embrace the unique requirements of the industry, such as the need to organize content by project, as well as the unavoidable presence of files (such as blueprints) that are stored in unique formats. Rather than relying on workarounds, stakeholders can simply use construction resource management software as intended, integrating it with their existing suites of software tools or replacing them outright, creating a new and cohesive digital environment.
Positive Effects of Improved Resource Management
There are numerous advantages that can come with improved resource management for a contractor. These include both new capabilities and lessened liabilities. Due to the multi-tiered nature of a construction project, organizational tasks are not straightforward. Having the right ERP platform for the job cuts through the complexity, making it easier to get each job from the planning stages to completion. Here are a few ways in which this occurs:
Company-wide communication boosts efficiency:
When personnel on the job site have the ability to input accurate, real-time information from the field, and to access the latest documents uploaded by office stakeholders or partner organizations, keeping a project on track is simpler. The lack of communication delays can speed up a job’s timeline.
Regulatory compliance is a snap:
Construction is governed by a variety of rules and regulations at local, state and federal levels. An ERP platform that not only makes data easily accessible on request but helps teams such as HR and finance stay compliant can lessen the risk of contractors facing fines and other penalties.
Departments inform one another:
A transaction such as buying a new piece of equipment has multiple effects – accounting, inventory and more need to update their data. Using a purpose-built resource management system that links every department together prevents the wasted time and potential human error of duplicate data entry.
Having the right ERP platform cuts through the complexity, making it easier to get each job from the planning stages to closeout.
Contractors who upgrade to resource planning systems that suit their needs in a user-friendly and specialized way may quickly realize project management has become a far more straightforward process than if they were still using disconnected legacy technology.
The Power of Scalability
One of the most pressing reasons to select a Cloud construction resource management solution is that these web-based tools can scale up effectively. Contractors with multiple active projects at a time – especially when they are operating across regions, adding regulatory complexity – will welcome a way to organize each of those jobs, as well as view the company status as a whole.