Traditional way of doing project management is now being replaced with a software based system, which automates multitasking capabilities involved in a project. The use of technology introduces robust solutions to managers in observing stricter deadlines, tighter budgets, and discriminating clients.
Optimizing processes involved in a project is the aim of using management softwares. It utilizes technologies in order to consolidate and streamline workflows, communications, budgeting, scheduling and data management in one working platform. This in turn will make efficient and effective execution of tasks and delivery of outputs.
Dilemmas of Construction Firms
The construction industry nowadays is facing challenges brought about by the current global issues, causing some downturns and setbacks in its growth. In the UK, the effect of Brexit had an immediate economic impact, wherein it was forecasted that the uncertainty of its actual consequences for the country will bring the confidence of the investors down. The political nature of the issue influence sits impact on the bigger industries like the construction, which rely on heavy civil and public works to sustain its market and profitability. The UK construction industry also depends on foreign skilled and non skilled workers, and the Brexit might impact the freedom of foreign participation in its labor workforce. A shortage was immediately felt, with 66% of surveyed construction firms revealed that they turned down work because they lack manpower to support the project completions.
One of the biggest and most unexpected economic slumps in history is the spiral downturn of the oil industry. Reports are pointing out on oversupply, and the rise of alternative energy sources. Foreign capital investments are returning slowly, resulting to significant cuts in spending to sustain the market. The oil industry is employing a major account of its operations to heavy civil works such as oil platforms and water submersible pipeline systems, which is a huge industry way back the oil drilling glory days.
Apart from the global economic impact, the construction industry has been branded as an unstable sector based from the fact that it constantly battles uncontrollable situations in its operations like the effects of weather and natural disasters. It also faces workforce shortage, where in fact, in a survey conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America, about 80% of the surveyed construction firms expressed their difficulty in acquiring skilled and qualified labor workers. It actually started when the residential construction industry hit its lowest in 2011, and haven’t recuperated shortly that the workers have either changed careers, or left the country.
But to be quite fair, the construction industry is making innovative ways of surviving the transition and effects of global issues. The adoption of an industry targeted software solution is a wise investment in overcoming the challenges of the construction industry.
CMS Solutions for Construction Industry
Construction management doesn’t just deal with large scale and public works industries, but caters to businesses and residential infrastructures as well. In this sector, the effect of global issues isn’t felt as an enormous impact, so the risks are minimal. However, it got its own share of construction management woes and dilemmas, which goes straight to the construction manager.
Construction management softwares deliver tremendous benefits and unparalleled assistance to pressing needs in the effective delegation and execution of tasks involved in construction projects. It can even cross executive level management, and the field management level as well. It can effectively track punch lists, budget and document changes, and daily operation logs.
Process definition and standardization is also achieved with the adoption of construction management tools. This is one important aspect of the construction industry that is hard to address, as they are dealing with different project types and construction scenarios. Standardizing the processes involved in the construction proper can be difficult and tricky, but with the analysis of historical business data internally and externally, a series of basic process can be formulated and adopted. Through trainings, the members of the workforce can easily make assumptions and accurate decisions based from these defined processes and with the given scenario. Standardization can also be achieved not just in the processes, but with documentation and forms as well. This creates a professional look for the construction firm, and can also make filing and archiving more efficient.
File and document management is also centralized in construction management systems, especially that communications are more effective using web based tools. The platform concentrates correspondence for better relay, control and storage should the need arises in providing a reference. It also makes documents interconnected and updated, unlike with traditional spreadsheets that are static and spread out across different storages. Documentation trails can be also monitored, as file versioning and a centralized database is attained. It also increases the visibility of important files for easy access and retrieval. All changes and modifications are also tracked, and the authors or creators can be easily identified.
Construction project management softwares provide a bigger picture about the overall budgeting and costing process. It can effectively monitor the status of budget allocations, costing, changes in material prices, purchase orders and profits. It can also serve as a basic accounting software where the construction manager can input all budget related lists for efficient tracking and moderation. Construction management softwares can also alert the system manager if there are unusual activities in the budget management, or when budget is approaching depletion due to unexpected price hikes in the material and labor cost. Automated audit solutions can also assist the construction manager in implementing immediate solutions as problems arise, as seen in the system’s dashboard.
Accordingly, construction project management tools can provide positive effects to the following aspects of the construction industry:
- As a Solution to Communication
Effective communication is the key to efficient implementation of effective management skills. There should be a clear understanding of the expectations and deadlines upfront, so that subsequent actions can accord to the project mutual goals.
Web based construction management softwares standardize and centralize communications using web based tools, for a more efficient and rapid deployment of instructions and task allocations. It also utilizes the email for correspondence, for a more formal and professional approach in making reminders, as well as in goal setting. Emails can also be archived, and can leave a documentation trail for easy tracking and monitoring.
- As a Solution to Human Resource Management
Human resource management should focus on the productivity and efficiency of each member of the work force, or team. Individual task execution is an important determinant in the overall success of the project. The working environment should be an empowered one, to allow work to be executed timely and of high quality. Allocation of work should be according to one’s qualifications and skills, for a more effective performance.
Addressing individual efforts are best done through online construction management softwares. It is done by gauging the key performance indicators involved in the construction process, through performance evaluations revealed by the status of work and phases completed. All of these can be viewed within the construction management software platform.
- As a Solution to Budgeting
Budget allocating and accurate costing is best achieved with the assistance of construction management softwares. It can act as an accounting and audit tool, that lists down all purchases and cost related figures, and accurately track the changes made as prices fluctuate, or additional purchases are done.
It can also aid the construction managers in making accurate assumptions in making allowances for budgets and cost swings. Construction managers can also manipulate the figures and see its effect on the overall project, in accordance with a simulated market situation.
- As a Solution to Time Management
Multi tasking is the life of construction managers. Remote operation is an added challenge in enabling effective management of resource allocation, human resource management, and direct supervision. Construction management softwares increase the level of productivity among its users by serving as a hub for all interdependent processes to function accordingly. Being web based, it allows greater accessibility for file sharing, document retrieval, design implementation, announcements and reminders. Through multimedia capabilities, video conferencing can be also utilized to facilitate remote operations and meetings. Site photos can support reports over phase completions, and instructions are easily conveyed through the internet.
With construction management softwares, several tasks can be simultaneously done for more efficient use of time. Several tasks are also automated, so that the saved time can be allocated in doing core tasks.
- As a Solution to Crisis Management
Construction management softwares, as a centralized hub for all documents, processes and correspondence, can back up everything and stored until it is ready to be utilized for other projects, or as references. Cloud based construction management softwares are efficient solutions to crisis management, with the successful migration of data to support untoward circumstances arising. The inevitable is most likely to happen, and crisis preparedness is better assisted with construction management softwares.
- As a Solution to Efficient Documentation and File Sharing
Accessibility and documentation efficiency can also be attained through the adoption of construction management softwares. Updates, changes and modifications are rendered real time, with notification capabilities for faster dissemination. File archiving is also facilitated more ably, for easier retrieval just in case there is a need for reference in disputes and other critical situations.
- As a Solution to Collaborative Working
When working with teams, collaboration is an effective way of executing shared, but interdependent tasks, which enables more efficient coordination across managers and employees. Being an industry specific and targeted solution, construction management softwares are effective systems in instilling collaborative working environment by centralizing and streamlining work processes and means of communications. It also increases the level of transparency among the members of the labor work force, for greater accountability in executing their individual tasks on time.
A sounding yes is the appropriate answer to the pressing question, “Does your firm really need a construction management software?” The best construction management softwares are those that contribute to the gradual recovery of the construction industry. Innovative solutions are finding its way for a more robust construction industry in the future.
Get to know up close and in depth, the benefits of tool adoption in business, by checking out these construction management software reviews.
Keith Moore
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