Efficiency rules in construction project management

Rival firms may have their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to building quality, client service and the equipment they use, but when it comes down to making true head-to-head comparison, operational efficiency is king in the world of construction.

In the digital age, client expectations are sky-high, pressuring contractors to stick to the schedules they lay out and ensure the completion of project checkpoints by the time deadlines arrive. It is pressures such as these that make construction project management software such a vital asset in today's fast-paced business environment.

Construction is slow on the draw
Out of comfort, familiarity and a general lack of information, many construction firms have yet to embrace cloud solutions despite widespread adoption of the technology across a range of other industries. According to a blog post by Steve Cosgrove, chief technology officer at adept4 Software, for Construction Digital, the sector has lagged behind others in terms of cloud usage for years, showing few signs of getting up to speed. The source pointed to Gartner research predicting that only 30 percent of construction firms will migrate to a cloud based enterprise resource management system by 2018, and that by 2017, hybrid solutions will fail to deliver differentiating potential as the cloud outpaces legacy technology entirely.

The fact that an industry known for its focus on service is especially behind the times technologically is striking, especially considering the emphasis that clients place on the efficiency of the building process in this day and age. However, this slow adoption rate means that the cards are stacked in favor of those ahead of the curve. The benefits of implementing a a cloud based construction project management software suite are made that much more powerful for firms that choose to migrate their systems, potentially putting them miles ahead of the competition. Cosgrove explained that the cost-effectiveness of the strategy, coupled with its real-time approach to construction financial management can mean huge savings and efficiency boosts for companies that take the leap.

Enterprise resource planning revamped
ERP systems have long been the solution of choice for construction firms, coming into the picture in the 1990s along with a slew of corporate IT innovations, Cosgrove pointed out. However, the traditional on-premise IT solutions that defined this early era of ERP have long been outdated and outperformed by the quickly deployed and highly scalable cloud based construction management software packages offered today. Pay-as-you-go price models allow managers to allocate funds based solely on their monthly use of resources rather than making a bulk computing purchase that may or may not be appropriate for their business needs. Also, cloud solutions are easily modified by providers without adding pressure to in-house IT staff members, curbing costs even further.

But while cloud capital project management efficiency gains are plentiful behind the scenes, the real show-stopping features of the software come into play on the work site. An Equiprent.com blog post recently explored the tangible data transfer speed advantages that cloud solutions afford construction companies when critical orders need to be issued on the fly. Not only are managers given an unprecedented level of control over project operations from processing materials orders to issuing commands to individual staff members, but employees and clients also benefit from greater visibility of a contract's progress and a better idea of how strategies will be executed. 

Between a cost-effective payment model, heightened awareness of construction project controls, a better grasp on financial planning and improved correspondence with workers and clients alike, contractors have nothing to lose by opting for a cloud based software solution.