Construction Project Management Software for Builders

Construction Project Management Software for Builders

Construction project management software for builders and contractors or “CPM
software” in short, is the use of project management software specific to construction projects covering commercial, residential, oil and gas, industrial, civil and environmental.

The reasons and demands to use a construction management software within the AEC industry are well documented at this stage with clear ROI benefits for all parties. With free trials, on-boarding help and SaaS pricing models, selecting a construction management software for builders is not an overly complicated process and can have a major impact to the contractors or builder’s business.

The software will easily allow construction project managers to specify plans and objectives, to ensure resource efficiency, in managing tasks, to control budgets and as a shared communication platform for all stakeholders. Construction project management while unique in its own
challenges share many of the similarities found in the management of projects in other industries such as software, health and the pharmaceutical sectors. Take for instance, every construction project
has the requirement to reach certain objectives within the constraints of a schedule, budget and quality targets, much the same as say a project management program in the health industry.

Construction project management software for builders opens up a range of benefits from risk assessments, O and M manual templates to full project autonomy. Add to this the ability to
seamlessly share project documents with 24/7 access from anywhere and through any type of WIFI enabled device allows everyone in the project team to be instantly updated. The major benefit to a construction project manager is document and status access to all involved in the project while removing the hassle of creating documents manually. This makes it so much easier to maintain the correct document versions for the project plus ensuring that document archiving and maintenance,
happens without human intervention.

Construction project management software also helps the builders and contractors to completely manage all aspects of a construction project from start to finish including health and safety, risks, asset register, task assignments and cost control. It is also a great tool for productivity via online collaboration instead of meetings and it gives all project stakeholders an input into the process.

Construction project management software such as RaptorPM is used by a board range of companies from general building contractors, oil and gas, engineering firms, and specialty AEC subcontractors. Acting as a central communication tool, it allows everyone who needs to post updates, keep
abreast of changes or report back on progress on any construction project including project managers, site managers, architects, engineers, surveyors and the various subcontractors.

It is all about giving construction project teams the tools to communicate more effectively, make decisions faster, resolve issues quickly, share updates instantly, resulting in a faster and more efficient project delivery framework.

RaptorPM construction project management software helps building and contracting companies to increase project efficiency and accountability to project sponsors via vastly improved communication and documentation sharing which ultimately saves on expenses and boosts profit margins. The outcome is that construction professionals get to collaborate on projects from any device with
internet access so they can action all project documents, contracts, RFIs, submittals, schedules, drawings, manuals, construction risk assessment and deliver project excellence every time. 

O&M Manual Contents

O&M Manual Contents | Construction Project Management Software - Raptorpm: O&M manual contents for inclusion in final documentation can seem confusing as the term has a broad meaning for all project handover documentation. However one thing is certain that your O and M manual contents is substantially more than a few ring binders of information thrown together. Whether you
are a Property Developer, Main Contractor, Electrical or Plumbing Contractor then you need to be fully versed in the requirements of an O&M manual.

In a nutshell, the O&M manual contents AKA “operation and maintenance manual” (O&M manual), is a file that contains all the information required for the operation, maintenance, decommissioning and demolition of a building or structure.

Today, an O and M manual is usually creating using a cloud-based software solution as part of a construction project software rather using a manual hard copy process. The manual is specific to each area within the project from equipment, electrical, plumbing, gas etc. Each manual is prepared by either the contractor, sub-contractors, services engineers and the other contracted suppliers. The O and M manual contents is a requirement that has been defined as part of the tender
documentation where its contents will be outlined. It can be sub-divided in sections or even standalone manuals covering equipment, mechanical and electrical installation services in the mechanical and electrical specification section.

An electronic soft copy or draft version of the O and M manual contents would normally be provided
for the client as part of the handover procedure prior to any final sign-offs for completions. The final manual will then be created online for reviews, edits and updates so it can be accessed by authorized
personnel 24/7 or printed to a hard copy for distribution. The preliminaries in the tender or contract documentation may require several copies of the O&M manual so electronic versions are
advisable to avoid it being overly labor intensive.  

The O and M Manual contents can include a wide range of documentation:

• Details descriptions covering the main design or architecture principles.
• Lists of the building's construction guidelines (incl. specs, finishes, cladding, doors and windows, roof construction etc).
• Versions and revisions to drawings and specifications.
• Detailed
  instructions for its operation and maintenance (covering health and
  safety documents, equipment and manufacturers' instructions for
  efficient and proper operation).
• A complete asset register of all plant and equipment installed.
• Documentation on commissioning and various testing results.
• The inclusion of warranties, guarantees and certifications.
• Outlines or instructions related to upkeep, maintenance, operation, demolition, decommissioning and disposal.

The challenge in creating O&M Manual contents is that while most ofthis information will probably already exist, is to simplify the preparation, compiling and assembling of its various components. Also, as updates and revisions are a normal function within the industry, the use of software avoids any delays or out of date versions. Another good idea is to use an O and M Manual template
to reduce manual rework. Because during the life of the building or structure, the manual will evolve to reflect the changes that happen to the building, its equipment or systems, along with records of all
maintenance that has taken place.

In conclusion, the objective of the O and M Manual contents is to optimize the buildings and its equipment operational efficiency with clear documentation on maintenance guidelines,
specifications, warranties, inspections, approvals and sign offs to proactively manage its operation.Manual Template

Construction Risk Assessment Template

Construction Risk Assessment Template 

A construction work site is inherently risky and dangerous, so accident prevention should work alongside risk minimization with the knowledge that neither is possible without a detailed assessment of what the risks are.

hese include all general construction activity,
building tasks, demolition, refurbishing projects, refits, siteworks,
etc. When construction projects are compared with other industries such
as software or financial, construction is less technically complex. The
main the risks on a construction site include:

• Disputes over work practises leading to litigation
• Poor safety and health records
• Compromise on health and safety provision
• The commercial pressure to save money and time

Construction Risk Management

The
purpose of risk assessment and risk management in construction is to
plan, monitor, and control measures needed to minimize or prevent risk
exposure. To achieve this, it is critical to identify any hazards,
assess the extent of possible risks and then provide the measures to
control the risks including managing any remaining risks.

 

The Risk Management Process in Construction

The
below is a sample of a construction risk assessment template procedure.
It outlines the concept of residual risk management (unidentified risks
or those risks remaining despite compliance with risk control
measures):

Construction Risk Logs

Regardless
of the industry type, risk logs are always used. The difference in
construction is that risk logs may also assess the time and cost impact
without any controls and can include actions identified on residual
risks. Generic construction risks are usually identified, then risks
specific to the project, and risks remaining despite controls being used
(residual risks). 

 

Construction Risk Assessments

All
risk assessments are controlled and supported with set processes. There
is normally a legal compliance for risk assessments around health and
safety in most countries. A typical assessment would follow this
process:

1. Identify the hazards. Example – pipelaying in bad ground.
2. Identifying who or what could be harmed. Example – the pipe layers in the trench.
3. Evaluating the risks identified in the hazard. Example - risk of earth collapsing.
4. Determining the control measures required. Example - use trench support box.
5. Evaluating
   the risks from the hazard. Example – the risk of a worker being
   crushed, injury from digger bucket, and risk of cave-ins.
6. Recording the findings of the risk assessment. Example - fill in the construction risk assessment template.
7. Plotting
   contingency plans for the residual risks. Example - prepare safety
   method statement based on the risk assessment, foreman to lead task
   discussion, permits to work required, supervisor or overseer working
   with excavator operator.
8. Reviewing and
   revising. Example - monitor the site operations and modify the
   construction risk assessment template where necessary
9. Follow through by holding further task talk if method statement is changed.

 

Construction Risk Types

The Project Client

Risks
from the project client usually revolve around cost, time, and quality.
Risk management considerations usually involve feasibility, design,
funding and commercial risks.

The Contractor

Probably
the biggest risk for a contractor will be during the tender stage when
price and timescale commitments are submitted. If estimates end up being
inaccurate, profit margins are eroded with a knock-on effect around
risks. The use of subcontractors also opens up project risks.

Project Health and Safety

Risk
assessment and management in project health and safety risk management
are legal requirements. All construction projects have a requirement to
have a health and safety plan in place prior to commencing any work.  

Fire Risk

Fire
risk in a construction project and on the site, is an ever-present
risk. Insurance, legal and government standards nearly always require
contractors to take measures to prevent risks of fire injury. To ensure
the provision and maintenance of firefighting equipment plus training a
set of workers to use the equipment. No construction project should ever
proceed to the building process without a fire safety plan developed by
the project manager.

 

Differences between risk assessments and method statements.

A risk assessment is exactly what it says on the tin, a thorough assessment of any risk in a construction project. Using a construction risk assessment template, this will be completed prior to any work commencing that presents a risk of injury or ill health.

A
method statement is a set of instruction for how the tasks and work
will be carried out safely. A method statement will set out the work in
logical steps and explain to all workers on site how the work should be
done, providing additional details. The method statement will usually be
accompanied by the risk assessment template, and will include the risks
identified within the risk assessment and the control measures
required. In fact, these two documents always support each other and
will deliberately contain overlapping information. Also, another
difference is that the method statement is not always required.

The
point to remember is that all work should be covered by the risk
assessment, whereas method statements are usually for the higher-risk,
more complex and unfamiliar tasks. You can access a free risk assessment templates on RaptorPM.

Risk Assessment Template

Risk Assessment Template | Construction Project Management Software - Raptorpm: A risk assessment template can used in construction projects plus in the health and safety of workers in industries such as mining, oil and gas, civil engineer nd electrical. The reality is that risks are an
inevitable part of doing business. The question is not if risks will
happen but one of how will an organization manage and respond to risks
in a proper manner.  This is where the use of a risk assessment template
alongside a tool such as a risk assessment matrix is important. These
tools (as part of the wider project plan) can be used to evaluate and
prioritize risks based on the severity of their impact plus the
likelihood of them occurring.

What is Risk Assessment?

In
project management, construction and the workplace environment, risk
assessment is central to managing the safety, health and welfare of
workers successfully.

This usually entails three steps,

Step 1. Identifying the hazards.

Step 2. Assessing the risks in proportion to the hazards identified.

Step 3. Putting in place the control and reporting functions to eliminate or minimize risks.

So,
a risk assessment template should list most if not all of the most
common hazards identified within the project or working environment plus
their associated risks. The template should also list a range of
control functions that could be deployed to eliminate such hazards or
minimize their risks.

The risk assessment template
can be used directly by project manages, project owners, supervisors and
health and safety officers.

What Is a Risk Assessment Matrix?

A
risk assessment matrix within the risk assessment template for the
project is a tool that charts the severity and probability of risk
occurring. Most project managers now use risk assessment software to
create the matrix, where the risks likelihood and impact are in column
while the risks themselves are listed in rows. The ability to instantly
visualize current and potential risks using software means that all
project stakeholders can assess their impact while identifying which
ones are the highest priority. The result is that a plan can be created
for responding to the risks that require the most attention in
descending order. 

Risk Assessment is an Ongoing Process.

Risk
assessment is not a one-off event, it is an ongoing process. This
entails the continued evaluation of risks, which when reviewed should
lead to the development of plans and policies to minimize adverse
impacts to the project and business.  

Using a risk
assessment template whether offline or online should help cover all
aspects of project risks. It allows project managers and the project
team to effectively carry out risk identification, risk analysis and to
conduct risk response planning including:

• Risk root cause analysis
• Identification Analysis
• Exposure assessment
• Response assessment
• Checklist analysis
• SWOT analysis
• Risk characterization
• Expected monetary value analysis (EMV)
• Cost risk analysis
• Cause and effect data
• System and process mapping
• Probability and impact matrix
• Risk categorization
• Data gathering and representation techniques
• Quantitative risk analysis

How to Use a Risk Assessment Template

A risk assessment template will focus on two criteria:

• The Severity: The impact of any risk and the negative consequences that would follow.
• The Likelihood: A measure as to the probability of the risk(s) occurring. 

Next,
the risk would be placed in the risk assessment matrix, then assigned a
rating to its severity and likelihood. The risk would then be
classified, typical risk classifications used are:

Risk Severity: 

• Insignificant: Risks that bring no real negative consequences, or pose no significant threat to the organization or project.
• Minor: Risks that have a small potential for negative consequences, but will not significantly impact overall success.
• Moderate: Risks that could potentially bring negative consequences, posing a moderate threat to the project or organization.
• Critical: Risks with substantial negative consequences that will seriously impact the success of the organization or project.
• Catastrophic:
  Risks with extreme negative consequences that could cause the entire
  project to fail or severely impact daily operations of the organization.
  These are the highest-priority risks to address.

Risk Likelihood:

• Unlikely: Extremely rare risks, with almost no probability of occurring.
• Seldom: Risks that are relatively uncommon, but have a small chance of manifesting. 
• Occasional: Risks that are more typical, with about a 50/50 chance of taking place.
• Likely: Risks that are highly likely to occur.
• Definite: Risks that are almost certain to manifest. Address these risks first. 

Your
risk assessment template should be a blueprint for managing and
co-coordinating safety and health during construction. The RaptorPM risk assessment solutions includes a free risk assessment tool
including registers, templates and method statements. It will save you
time and money, help identify measures to protect the business and the
workers while reducing the chances of accidents.

Reducing Risk on Infrastructure Projects

Reducing Risk on Infrastructure Projects 

Reducing risk on infrastructure and construction projects presents
many logistical challenges. Getting it wrong right at the start will
bring years of headaches. But, by taking a proactive approach,
stakeholders can reduce uncertainty during the planning stage. This
gives project managers insight into mitigating risks on future
infrastructure projects using lessons learned to save on future project
costs.

Risks on infrastructure projects are predictable. These can include the insecurity of funds, cost of project
overruns, failing to source materials and workers, and delays. These are
the common challenges stakeholders face during large infrastructure
projects.

It takes hands on project management to juggle all moving parts of a long-term infrastructure to keep it on track.  

 

Risk performance influenced by uncertainty

According to the Institute of Risk Management research, Managing cost, risk & Uncertainty in infrastructure projects,
project managers face many challenges. This most important phase of a
long-term, infrastructure project is during in the early, planning
stages. A lack of transparent risk assessment during this phase can mean
high risk and uncertainty throughout the project. This can cause:

1. completing a risk analysis with different possible outcomes
2. poor decision-making
3. stakeholder optimism – delusion or deception
4. loss of focus and sub-optimal risk mitigation.

Risk analysis challenges

A risk analysis is subjective, especially on infrastructure projects.
Why? There is no clear way of progressing hypothetical risk analysis to
project specific cost analysis within a commercial structure. There is
also a tendency to exaggerate how well mitigation strategies work. So,
project managers identify unnecessary risks or overestimate the effects
of mitigating project risks. This leads to overestimating costs. 

Challenges of poor decision-making

An Institute for Government (IfG) report, What’s wrong with infrastructure decision making? found the following key flaws in stakeholder decision-making for infrastructure projects:

• No
  strategies for investing in infrastructure. Stakeholders      often do
  not have clear strategies for investing in infrastructure      projects.
  Without infrastructure investment strategies, it is difficult to make
  good decisions. Also, there is nothing to measure project outcomes
  against.
• Little attention paid to
  assessing options at the start. Stakeholders spend too little time
  during project development looking at all the options. This can result
  in missing better project options causing project cost blow outs.
• Misunderstanding
  project risks. Decision-makers can misunderstand project risks. This
  can mean there is little forward planning for when things go wrong.
• Winners
  and losers. Infrastructure projects can divide communities and create
  winners and losers. These groups can have a lot of influence on
  decision-makers and cause project delays.
• Lack
  of project measurement. Stakeholders fail to measure infrastructure
  project outcomes against the costs when completed. Having key
  performance measures is an invaluable tool for future use. This helps
  stakeholders to learn from past mistakes when commissioning new
  infrastructure projects.

Challenges of stakeholder optimism – delusion or deception

Reducing risk on large infrastructure projects depend on whether:

• the assumptions stakeholders adopt are strategic misrepresentation or genuine optimism
• financial managers ignore/misunderstand real risk levels while pressuring for cost reductions to meet short-term financial goals
• there has been an overestimation of the risks by project managers to secure a larger contingency fund and, thus, cover all bases
• pricing from contractors is low to remain competitive but they may use other means to maintain a profit
• there is resistance from project managers to processes and procedures that reduce contingencies and risks.

Complex
projects increase these risks. Taking control and ensuring transparency
from the start helps reduce infrastructure project risks. You can
mitigate risks during the contract phase.

Reduce risks during the contract phase

It can take years to fully complete infrastructure projects, so they have
long-term project plans and phases. During this time legislation and
regulations can change. This needs careful consideration during the
contract phase, especially if dealing with European contractors.
Consider the following:

• Are
  there higher costs related to dealing with a European contractor? Look
  at the different legislation between the two countries.
• If there are changes to immigration legislation that impacts the contractor’s access to workers, who is responsible for this?
• Who is responsible for paying the taxes between the UK and the EU?

You
should also consider the risks associated with currency variations, as
well as the continuity and cost of a skilled workforce. If sourcing
skilled workers from overseas, can you maintain the workforce for the
duration of the project?

It is important to
mitigate these types of risks at the contract stage. Having these set
out in contracts before starting the work can reduce costly potential
conflicts during long-running infrastructure projects.

Overcome challenges on infrastructure projects using transparency. Good construction risk management software or Infrastructure project management software
can give all stakeholders the transparency required. Planning a
realistic acquisition program allows all stakeholders to fully
investigate all the options. Once these are clear, you can take a
logical approach that accounts for emerging technology and changing
economic times.

Guide to Managing Construction Projects

In this guide to managing construction projects we cover the technical skills along with the deployment of construction project management software to keep projects on track.

This
guide to managing construction projects also includes best practice
tips to help avoid pitfalls on construction projects. It provides
specific advice to help complete a construction project with success.

 

Construction project phases

Construction
projects have clear phases within their lifecycles – concept, planning,
implementation, control and close out. These give guidance on how to
get things done on budget and on time. Skipping any will likely mean
your project is running out of control.

This will include setting up the project phases and defining deliverables for each milestone.

Most projects that follow best practice use the following main phases:

1. Conception.
   Before you plan anything investigate the feasibility of the project.
   Complete a project feasibility report. This should include costs,
   deliverables, timelines, and how and why it will be done.
2. Planning.
   Once the project has the go ahead with scope, budgets and timelines
   set, start planning how to achieve each phase. Complete a work breakdown
   structure for each part of the construction project. Allocate resources
   and setup a schedule in construction project management software. Make
   sure to include every last task with timelines and costs assigned.
3. Implementation.
   Implementation begins when people actually start the physical work.
   This is when the construction of the building occurs. You need to keep
   on top of:
   1. Time management. Keep track of time. Use the schedule to compare estimated times to finish against actual completion times.
   2. Managing
      costs. You should already have estimated costs against each task in the
      schedule. Add in actual costs on completion of each task.
   3. Managing
      quality. Quality management is vital for the quality of the end
      product. Without processes and procedures to ensure the quality of every
      aspect of the build, there is no way to maintain a quality build.
   4. Managing
      change. Good processes for change management make changes simple to
      execute. Construction management software can manage the change process
      for you. This makes it simple for all stakeholders to access with
      transparency.
   5. Managing risks. Risks should
      already be logged into a risk register. Keep a close eye on these so
      you can mitigate them before they occur.
4. Keeping
   control. Keeping control is really part of implementation. It is all
   about staying on top of the costs, risks and meeting timelines to get
   those milestone payments.
5. Project close
   out. Wrapping it up is an important part of the construction project
   process. To close out a project write a report, address any outstanding
   issues, file any administrative paperwork for completion and
   redistribute resources no longer required on the project.

 

Setting up roles and management systems

All
construction projects have clear roles with responsibilities assigned,
along with management systems to make everyone accountable. It is
important for the success of a project that there are clear leaders with
good communications skills to lead the construction team.

Assign
roles and responsibilities to team members with matching skills. Take
advantage of people’s key strengths to get the best outcomes.

 

Managing quality assurance

How
do you manage quality assurance? This takes knowledge of legislation
and regulations. You also need to know how to set up processes to
maintain quality assurance during each project phase. Construction
projects have to meet many standards. Missing anything can mean
expensive repairs after completion. And, a loss of your reputation.

 

Tracking and identifying variances

Tracking is vital to any construction project. It allows for the identification and resolution of project variances. Using construction project software
can take care of everything you need. Reports, cost overruns schedule
slippages can all be identified and reported on automatically. You need
ways of measuring the performance of the project that you can apply to
the work breakdown structure and any other parts of the work. Examples
of measurements you can use include:

• Budgeted cost of work. This is the scheduled cost in the budget for the scheduled work.
• Actual cost of work. This is the cost of work completed at any time according to the organization’s accounting system.
• Budgeted cost of work performed. This is the earned value of the completed work at any nominated time.
• Estimated
  cost at completion. This is the expected cost to complete the
  construction project calculated at any given point in a project.

By
using the work breakdown structure as the basis for project tracking it
helps to establish a project baseline. This gives you something to
measure against.

These
best practices are interrelated. By missing any of these, your project
will run into trouble. With the complexity of managing construction
projects, project managers need all the tools available. Construction project management software
makes it easy to track projects with transparency. It also helps when
dealing with the change process and alerting to potential risks all in a
central database. We hope you enjoyed reading this guide to managing
construction projects. 






Guide to Managing Construction Projects | Construction Project Management Software - Raptorpm: managing construction projects

Construction Project Management Document Control

Construction Project Management Document Control  Construction project management document

control.

Construction project management document control is
about managing technical, contracts, manuals, plans and design
documents. It also sets out the document control procedures across the
construction project. So, a construction project management document
control solution should make it easy, to mange, access, and share key
project documents throughout your organization.

 The
days of storing construction project documents in filing cabinets are
long gone. With any construction project management software it should
be easy to digitize your documents to store  in the cloud for access by
anyone from anywhere with a internet enabled device.

Documentation
control is the backbone in construction management. You need to have
this under control to achieve successful construction project delivery.
Improving construction project management document control and workflow
ensures you deliver your projects on time. As the complexity of projects
grow, you need better transparency for tracking a project’s progress
during construction.

Using some flavor of
construction project management software means all users can share
important documents. All relevant stakeholders can access the relevant
information the minute someone updates it. This avoids costly mistakes.

Improving
document control in project management gives everyone easy access to
relevant parts of the project. This eliminates the need to manually
update document systems and communicate changes personally. Needing to
constantly communicate workflows and updating paperwork is stressful and
time consuming. Law of averages says there is likely to be human error
that can lead to mistakes, delays and missed milestones.

Integrating
construction project management software for document control into your
system means it can share the information everyone needs in a timely
manner.

When workflows improve across the whole
project, it will run smoothly to construction project delivery. Consider
the different areas a project relies on updated information to keep the
it on track.

 

Job site and office intercommunication

Communication
between the job site and the office is critical. No more can you rely
on a pad or clipboard and a pen to record information. The old days of
handwritten notes recorded in the system at the end of the week comes
with huge risks. Risks of bottlenecks, delays and mistakes. It may be
too late when updated project drawings arrive at the end of the week
making changes.

The old way disconnects the
construction site with the office. Using handheld devices and a
construction management software package, workflows will improve. An
onsite foreman can document his reports, capture employee information
and take photos in real-time. This gives the office daily progress
updates and notification of any problems. The office can upload change
orders, RFIs, updated plans and new schedules. Work flows better with a
real-time exchange of information keeping everyone information flowing.

 

General and subcontractor communication

Construction
project management document control takes the pain out of waiting for
updated information. Subcontractors often have to wait for approvals and
other paperwork from the general contractor. This can delay their work
on the job. How much do these types of delays cost your business?

Construction
management software all documentation in a central database. This is a
record of all correspondence between everyone involved with the project.
Subcontractors can access the system for the paperwork they need
instead of chasing the general contractor. No more frustration or
delays. It helps to keep your project progressing to project delivery.

 

Project manager and accounting department communication

With
work flowing well in other project areas, take a look at the work
system between the project manager and accounting. Things like needing
to enter employee times into the system for payment is time-consuming
for a manager. Project management software can deal with this. Employees
log on and log off the system from a remote handheld device.

When determining construction project controls
and project costs, can you access the information you need? Without
good work processes and procedures, you will need to request information
from accounting. This is time-consuming both for you and accounting
staff. Integrating construction management software with accounting
gives access to real-time information. No more disturbing other staff
members to get the information you need. You can look it up yourself. It
saves a lot of time and frustration.

Saves time and reduces risks

As
the complexity of construction projects grow, manual systems no longer
cut it. Keeping up with phone calls, emails, paperwork and staff demands
takes up valuable time. It reduces productivity and stress levels rise.
Instead of working on mitigating risks, you are likely to make mistakes
trying to keep up with the document trail.

According
to the KPMG 2016 Global Construction Survey 67 percent of all
participants said construction project risks were rising. This figure
rose to 78 percent when related to construction and engineering
organisations. This shows the construction industry needs to find a
better way to handle the complexity of projects to mitigate the risks of
failure and delays.

Technology is the key. But the
construction industry is slow to adopt new technology. Maybe because
decision-makers have trouble seeing the value construction project
management software brings.

Manual systems reduce
your productivity. Instead of being out on the job site, it confines you
to the office. Spend time investigating the best construction project management software.
With more time on your hands you can spend it on site, working on
higher-level tasks to mitigate the risks. Get your documents and work
flows organized with construction project management document control.

7 Signs you need Construction Management Software

7 Signs you need Construction Management Software 

Are you using construction management software? These 7 signs can show you how it can transform the way you deliver construction projects. The nature of the construction industry is changing as technology and materials drive different challenges. In today's environment profit margins are down, compliance increases and the need to streamline every task is a constant battle.Technology has changedthe way we do things. Automate time consuming processes and procedures that make your life as a project manager easier. You may think how isthat going to help you on a construction project. But, there are manyways you can digitize work processes and procedures to speed up the workand cut costs.

If you relate to any of the following, maybe it is a sign you need to invest in construction management software.

Common construction project challenges

When work is frustrating, fraught with never-ending challenges, you need to
rethink the way you do things. You need construction management
software. Here are some common challenges construction projects face
every day:

• Difficulties tracking the schedule. Are you still using spreadsheets to setup work schedules?
• Lack of consistency for verifying finished work.
• There
  is no way of tracking potential issues. This can result in major
  project hold ups because you find out too late to avoid the
  consequences.
• Team members rely on
  outdated information and documents. There is no central system for team
  members to access the latest information as they work.
• No record of who did what on the project.
• There is only an Excel spreadsheet to show a client how the project is tracking.
• Key project milestones come and go without completion.
• Using different software for different parts of the project without them being linked together.
• Costs keep going up or there are penalties for missed milestones.

If you relate to any or all these, then it is time to install construction
software to help you stay ahead to deliver on time and on budget.
Construction management software is a good long-term investment for the
business.

More data to track

Modern technology, designs and processes in construction delivery means there
is more data to track. With the advancement of building technology, it
is more important than ever to keep up with changes. This is far easier
to achieve by deploying industry specific software that helps manage all
aspects of your construction project. It should also act as a central
storage system for all project documents, meaning everyone has easy
online access 24/7. This then links in to the overall project schedule,
where anyone can run an analyze to see the impact of changes.

Lack of transparency

Using old project management techniques can mean your project progress has a
lack of transparency. It takes good analysis from before you start
building to after completion to achieve success. Good construction
management software gives you real-time tracking of tasks and
activities. This makes it easy to see how each project is progressing so
you can keep it moving trouble free.

 Scheduling work and tasks

Having trouble keeping track of who is doing what? Construction project management software
takes care of work schedules. At a click of the mouse you can assign
tasks, budgets, and timelines to your team. Construction software can
alert and solve any issues with things like the unavailability of
equipment, shortage of warehouse space, missing equipment, staff
shortages and miscommunication. Using construction management software
is a faster way to manage construction projects. It can make life
stress-free.

Drowning in disorganization

Are you drowning in disorganization doing things the old way? You keep
missing milestones and have no idea how the project is tracking. Is this
costing the company in penalties for not completing milestones on time?

It
is time to get organized. Use construction management software to put
your life and project back on track. It will give your project a
structure with a detailed schedule of tasks, a budget and completion
dates. When a process finishes or changes, everyone involved gets
notified with automatic updates. There are so many people involved in a
construction project – architects, subcontractors, designer, suppliers
and stakeholders. Project software gives everyone the information they need to complete tasks on time and on budget.

Poor cost estimates

When you find your cost estimates fall short there must be a better way.
Using technology takes the guesswork out of costing. It helps to manage
the budget, cost changes, extra costs and any cost cutting.

Construction management software can do all this and more. It can resolve, generate
and submit invoices when setup to do this automatically.

Construction projects work on tight budgets, so you cannot afford to make financial
mistakes. These can be disastrous for a project resulting in costing the
bottom line money. Construction software tracks accounts payable and
receivable, and maintains your financial data securely.

 Moving to the cloud

No longer do you have the security or management issues of databases.
Construction project management software moves everything to the cloud.
This means that when you update something it updates across all views.
Everyone with permission can view information permanently stored in the
cloud. All they need is a smartphone or suitable device.

So, now is the time to change from the old way of doing things if you do not already use construction management software.Tags:

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Construction Task and Project Tracking | Construction Project Management Software - Raptorpm

Construction Task and Project Tracking | Construction Project Management Software - Raptorpm: onstruction task and project tracking is challenging at the best of times. There are so many moving parts in a construction project that even one missed task can impact the whole project plan. This can be challenging and made more so without the right use of tools.

Construction task and project tracking is about putting the project manager firmly in control. So, how do construction project managers organize all the moving pieces of a project into one unified plan?

Well, it's a combination of experience, skill, knowledge  and using project management tools.

How often to do you find your construction project running over time or budget? Without the right tools, it is impossible to keep track of all you need to do. At every stage of a construction project, milestones and budgets need close monitoring to ensure you stay on track. Schedules need regular updating and compared to the baseline schedule over and over again during a project.

This is where the use of construction project management software could prove invaluable. It should make construction task and project tracking easy., plus using the right tools takes the stress out of keeping construction projects on track.

Here are some of the things construction task and project tracking tools can do for you.

 

Manage project changes

Regardless of the construction project, there are always changes. Change orders if not executed correctly and on time, can be costly. And, when they get lost in the system it can cause serious hold ups to a project. Time is money – remember. Using software that tracks change orders from start to the billing cycle removes this risk from your project.

Subcontractors usually need input into change orders, so storing them in central database for them to access makes it easy. All they have to do is log in to make their changes to the price or submit invoices or updated plans and drawings. These are tracked online with easy access for all involved in the change process. One less thing for a project manager to worry about unless the system alerts to a problem.

The same goes for the general contractor. Construction task and project tracking software can simplify the interactions between them and the stakeholders. The system submits change orders for approval and reduces the time it takes to get things signed.

 

Better time management

Without an ability for transparent construction project tracking you run the risk of running out of time. You can lose so much time can if you are not on top of everything. Staff waiting for materials, change orders, plans, tools, equipment and instructions are a huge cost to a project if not kept under control.

Use construction project tracking so employees out on the site can enter time-card information while on the job. This gives you the tool to track work productivity daily against the schedule. You can assign the work to the relevant cost code to alert to a billing status.

This provides you with a clear picture of how the project is tracking. It also gives you the information required to make decisions, assign work tasks and quote on future projects.

Construction project tracking means you can see the productivity of your workers. With this information, you make the right decisions.

 

 

Identify potential problems

Construction task and project tracking will help you to identify potential problems as part of a risk matrix. There can be things like having the right materials on site at the right time, meeting deadlines for inspections and sign offs or even trouble getting the right equipment to the site. All these have the potential to block a construction project’s progress.

Your software can track these by implementing the right tool so the relevant people go through a submittal process so you can avoid the problems. It need to be set up correctly so it functions for your projects. But, you may need field such as the ‘required on site date’ so everyone is aware of turnaround times.

Because an approval process goes through several people there can be places where it gets held up. Your project tracking software can show you where in the process it is held up.

 

Make punch lists visible

The dreaded construction punch lists. Track a project’s punch list right from the start. The project cannot finish until you complete everything on it. These can be cause for much loss of sleep and stress. When a punch list is not clear it can cause misunderstandings and delays to completing the project.

Use the punch list tools to make a specific list of the what needs completing and how to do it. This type of feature in your toolbox should be mobile compatible and easy to use from a handheld device. Make it interactive so those responsible for completing punch list tasks can make notes against each one. They can even record whether there is an impact to the budget or timeline. Once the system has timelines against tasks, the system sends reminders at appropriate intervals.

This is just a small snapshot of what construction task and project tracking can do for you. When are you going to give your project managers the tools they need for success?

Talk to the experts. Find out how construction project management software can boost your profits with no more missed deadlines.project management