They are project management software designed specifically for general contractors and construction companies. General contractor software helps construction companies plan, supervise, and track projects through centralized project data, improved collaboration and communication between stakeholders, leading to higher efficiency and productivity. The market size of construction management software is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.33% from 2024 to cross US $15.2 billion by 2029.
Let us take a look at some of the features of general contractor software that make them useful, intuitive, and simple to use:
Being able to track the progress and status of all ongoing projects is an essential feature of general contractor software. The software provides a single source of truth for:
With the entire team having access to the same information, it becomes easier to work toward project goals.
Knowing the status of any project requires real-time updates from the field crew. This includes information such as daily work logs, safety incidents, change orders, etc. These data sets would keep back office teams in the loop over the latest progress.
Further, this would also help teams know if anything is going off track and course correct immediately before it reaches a critical stage.
Instead of constantly searching for project-related documentation, general contractor software provides a centralized, cloud-based document management system. This allows for easy storage and retrieval of documents with access control and role-based differential access.
This system also ensures that documents are categorized properly based on department, project, area, or other relevant criteria. This provides version control with a clear trail of who modified what and when. In some cases, document revisions are not visible until approved.
Using the cloud for document management is particularly useful when dealing with design changes and ensuring proper flow from the architect to the engineer and subsequently to the contractor. This also provides a centralized platform for sharing project updates, RFIs, and submittals, improving communication and collaboration, especially if teams are working remotely or in areas with limited connectivity.
Tracking project costs online creates a clear paper trail that makes reporting easy. Good general contractor software ensures that business intelligence is up-to-date on all operational and financial aspects at the project level and company-wide. This helps companies build business resilience and adapt to challenges.
Accounting management covers tracking of project costs, management of invoices and payments, generation of financial reports, etc.
Buddy punching and falsifying hours worked are common problems in the construction industry. General contractor software provides time tracking that allows everyone involved to track the number of hours spent on each project at every stage.
This reduces conflicts over payment as every field worker has their hours logged in the system. Payroll management and invoicing are smoother than ever, thanks to clear paper trails.
Ability to accurately track time spent on projects allows for better budgeting. Further, with general contractor software, you can simplify the budgeting process by uploading estimates and linking costs to the work breakdown structure, and the system will generate the invoice in mere minutes.
Reports in the construction industry were mostly written by project stakeholders and sent to everyone else through email, making collaboration hard. Today, reporting in the construction industry has evolved to be faster, more interactive, convenient, and efficient. Real-time progress data can be accessed by every professional involved in the project.
Analytics of all the data compiled throughout the project lifecycle provides nuanced insights into market trends, material costs, customer behavior, etc.
Mobile access is almost mandatory today, especially when construction companies have crews in different locations and across multiple projects. It is only logical to allow teams to access the most relevant, up-to-date project information from anywhere and at any time. This will also enable them to key in relevant data sets, update information, review project status, and approve project progress on the go.
Field crews need to be able to update project information periodically through photos and other pertinent data sets. General contractor software with offline capabilities makes this easy, even if teams are working in locations with little to no internet connectivity.
Any general contractor software must be capable of seamless integration with other existing systems. This includes accounting, HR, operations, etc. Information flow should be easy. For instance, hours logged in should be communicated to the accounting system for easy invoicing and payroll.
Now that we have explored a few key features of general contractor software let's examine its benefits in depth.
General contractor software makes it simple for companies to maintain compliance with tax regulations, labor laws, accounting standards, and more. Failure to comply with any of these regulations can lead to enormous damage, not just financially but also in terms of reputation.
Having a clear audit trail over the number of hours worked, breaks taken, and clock-in and clock-out times provides the necessary documentation for companies to satisfy labor law requirements based on the state and regulating authorities. Further, this also helps maintain transparency over accounting and makes it simple when audit season rolls around.
General contractor software plays a critical role in compliance by simplifying processes, lowering risks, and ensuring that businesses meet their regulatory requirements.
Real-time data and insights are essential for informed decisions. These analytics help construction companies, starting from project planning, tracking, budgeting, and optimal resource allocation.
As a single source of truth, general contractor software provides companies with all the information needed to closely compare, analyze, and strategize to optimize project outcomes. By analyzing historical data, market trends, and other pertinent data sets, the system improves project forecasting and scenario planning. This helps companies evaluate possible risks and opportunities in-depth before making critical decisions.
Today, subcontractors play crucial roles in every construction project.
Good general contractor software provides several tools for subcontractor management. This includes
By centralizing all the information and processes, it makes subcontractor management easier, improves communication, and forges better relationships.
Higher productivity is a direct consequence of centralizing information, improved collaboration and communication, and streamlined operations. Automating administrative tasks like report generation, project tracking, etc., allows teams to focus on critical activities, improving overall efficiency.
Further, from the project manager’s perspective, general contractor software helps track and optimize productivity. With interactive dashboards, real-time reporting, and more, project managers can track specific productivity KPIs based on organizational needs and define strategies to improve underperforming teams or specific projects that are lagging behind.
With cloud-based software services, construction teams can access, record, review, and update information from anywhere and at any time. This includes updating project progress, variations, or delays as they happen.
Integrating remote access has made construction management simple. This improves communication and ensures real-time project tracking. Further, all the stakeholders, ranging from architects, engineers, project managers, and field crews, can collaborate easily despite geographical locations. This includes viewing project plans, submitting updates, communicating in real-time, and reducing conflicts and delays.
General contractor software with a centralized environment for all project data, including documents, meetings, design changes, models, drawings, etc., reduces back and forth and improves team-wide communication.
For instance, teams can see the project calendar to understand which tasks are immediate priority and by when they need to be completed. With version control and role-based differential access, teams can work with the latest data. This means that even if there are multiple projects going on with large crews, there is seamless real-time communication across different locations.
With AI no longer a pipe dream, its applications and benefits within the construction industry are enormous. Leveraging AI in construction software is akin to having an intelligent assistant who calls your attention when things go off track.
For instance, with KYRO's AI Copilot, teams can get the required information on any project by asking a question. Automating simple tasks such as time sheet reporting saves vast amounts of time and resources while speeding up invoicing and payroll. AI can also be leveraged for nuanced insights into project costs, budgets, and profitability, enabling transparency and better financial decisions. AI is capable of perusing large volumes of data, uncovering trends, and enabling better performance and productivity.
This also extends to more complex areas like compliance. With practical insights from project reports, maintaining compliance is now simple. AI is here to foster better working conditions, improve productivity, and increase profitability.
It starts with identifying organizational needs, doing research, and comparing different general contractor software providers. Some factors to look out for are customer reviews, implementation support, training resources, and scalability.
Some general contractor software providers offer reliable implementation teams to guide customers through the setup for a smooth transition. This will be of immense help, especially if there is a learning curve involved or there are complex integration requirements. Further, training resources help teams quickly adapt to the new software. Choose providers offering extensive training materials, including video tutorials, user guides, and webinars. This will help minimize disruptions during the implementation phase and help optimize usage.
It is important to consider scalability, keeping in mind your company’s future plans for growth. The software should be capable of handling expanding business needs and larger projects without compromising on performance. This will save you the nuisance of switching to a new system as the business grows. Request demos or free trials to evaluate the software and gauge its UI/UX and compatibility with organizational needs. Choose software with an intuitive UI for a smooth adoption process.
The right software will help you streamline operations and enhance overall efficiency. Kyro is an AI-powered software that provides project tracking, document management, and ensures all teams involved are working with the most relevant and current information. With better project control, improved visibility, and smarter document management, you no longer need to switch between multiple apps. Reach out to us for a free demo to understand how we can help you streamline your project management.
