Category: Trends & Technology

Improving Safety on the Job Site with Construction Software

Post author By Natalia Rychlik
Post date June 8, 2023

It’s a long-standing motto that safety is everyone’s responsibility on a construction project. Projects require inspections, reports, safety gear, training, and protocols to keep everyone safe and heading home to their families at the end of the day. However, accidents do still happen, and while they may be difficult to avoid completely, the industry should do its best to hedge its bets.

And now it can. Rather than leaving the safety of a job site up to just the folks who work on it, what if the industry added another layer of protection by implementing construction software that also takes safety seriously? With management software, each job site can become safer, more efficient, and run smoother by preventing injuries and accidents. The following are just some of the ways that construction software can improve job site safety.

Hazard Tracking

What if everyone, from the subcontractor to the executive board member, had the ability to report and track hazards on a construction site through construction software? Not only would everyone feel like their voice is being heard, but the level of accountability could truly change the safety on a project site, the home shop, and more. Folks would be able to report a hazard and track its progress.

Many of the best software programs allow users to set up custom workflows. This ensures that everyone on the project who needs to be aware of the hazard receives the report, and also allows them to update the status as it moves through the chain of responsible parties. Safety managers and project managers can then work together to rectify the situation before it causes an injury, delay, or code failure.

Compliance Management

One of the best ways to solve an injury-causing accident’s impact is to prevent it in the first place, and the best way to do that is through education. But, most contractors have a hard enough time tracking their own employees’ training, certifications, and licensing that tracking subs can go by the wayside. But, the best construction management software can help through compliance tracking.

Compliance tracking should be utilized to monitor subcontractors’ and suppliers’ credentials, such as licensing, insurance policies, and more. When these entities’ certifications are near expiry, the management software can send an alert to the parties who need to see it, ensuring that they have enough time to alert the subcontractor to the potential issues.

So how can this prevent accidents and injuries? Consider this: A subcontractor’s insurance docs are about to expire. Since the system alerts clerical staff, they’re able to request renewal documents. But the subcontractor isn’t able to obtain renewal documents because they’ve had too many accidents or safety violations. The contractor is then able to avoid a potential accident just because they were tracking compliance docs.

Inspection Management

Inspection management is one of the most important proactive approaches that construction companies can adopt. Ensuring that inspections are performed, tracked, and then utilized to create a safer environment for everyone involved is key. This includes the job site itself, the tools and vehicles used, and simply ensuring that certain standards are being followed and adhered to by all parties on the project.

Not only are the inspections themselves important, performed by trained safety managers and inspectors, but equally as important are the reports and the follow-up activities the inspections should spur. When unsafe conditions or items are located, they’ll be documented, often categorized by priority, and then assigned to someone to fix the issue. Without inspection management software, items can fall by the wayside and lead to injuries or accidents that could’ve been avoided.

Real-Time Communication

Hazards and unsafe conditions need to be handled in a timely manner. Every day that goes by while the condition exists has the potential to injure someone, delay the project, or cost the contractor significant financial losses. Waiting for a report to cross the right desk, a voicemail to be listened to, and for an employee to run into the safety manager to inform them doesn’t ensure a timely response to a serious safety problem.

Rather than waiting, construction management software gives users the ability to send and receive updates, reports, notes, and changes in real time. This allows for better communication and collaboration, helping get to the bottom of these issues before someone gets hurt or the company experiences a serious loss.

It’s also worth noting that many construction software programs use cloud-based storage for documents and drawings. This allows users to gain access to all of the important documents they need from wherever they have internet access, even via phone. So, if the plans changed due to a safety concern or there is a viable solution that everyone needs to see, these documents can be accessed through the cloud, ensuring everyone is able to see the latest updates.

Daily Documentation

On top of the different inspection, reporting, and compliance support that construction software can offer, contractors can also implement daily logs. Employees can fill these logs out on their mobile devices at the end of each day, allowing them to report their progress and what was done, as well as any looming issues or accidents that might’ve occurred.

While these logs are not to replace safety hazard reports or accident reports, they can serve as a helpful tool for determining the cause of an issue or how long a particular condition has existed. They can also ensure that those safety issues are handled correctly, as project managers reviewing daily logs can follow up with employees to make sure they file the correct reports.

Construction Management Software Creates Safer Job Sites

Construction companies can improve their safety practices by implementing construction management software. These programs can supercharge the amount of time it takes to not only report a problem, but also have it assigned and solved. And, with modern documentation processes, these companies will be able to improve hazard tracking and increase accountability, creating a safer workplace for everyone involved.

Tags Accounting Software, cloud construction software, Construction, Construction Software, job safety, safety, software technology

Accounting Accounting Software Construction Job Costing Trends & Technology

Time is Money: How Premier Construction Software Can Save You Both

Post author By Natalia Rychlik
Post date May 11, 2023

While a project can take months or years to complete, the reality is that construction moves fast. A company that knows time is money and knows how to make the most of both is on the path to success. Premier Construction Software can help with time and money, and in this guide, we’ll discuss how it can save your company both.

How Premier Can Save Time and Money

Would you put trust in a software program that can save your business both time and money? It seems like a no-brainer. That’s what our construction ERP solution was designed to do, and the following features or abilities are just some of the ways that Premier can impact your company.

Automated Processes

All of the data entry, report creation, and updating required to keep a construction business on track requires a lot of time. One of the most significant benefits of using Premier Construction Software is its ability to automate processes.

When a user inputs or changes a value in the system, the software knows to update every related value affected by the change without a person having to track down the specific pay app, change order, or report.

One-click updates might seem the big time and money saver here, but consider this: Updating reports and budgets manually introduces multiple opportunities for human error. The time it takes to realize there is a mistake, track it down, and change it can be tremendous. And, should that mistake affect the project, it may translate to real money wasted.

Customizable Workflows

The amount of time it takes to get a document, budget transfer, or change order in front of all the people that need to see it is often time wasted. With customizable workflows, users can design a free-flowing system that automatically moves important documents from person to person.

Ultimately, these custom-designed workflows ensure that important documents or changes make it through all of the required stops faster. Whether these documents need approvals, modifications, or updates, the company will receive feedback in less time using automated workflows.

Cloud-Based Storage

Upgrading document and drawing storage is a great way to save time and money. While most construction companies have evolved away from running to the shop every day for the latest revisions, their access to these documents is still antiquated and slow.

For example, loading drawings onto a drive and then having to access those drawings with a computer is slow. Or, attempting to send large files through email only to have it take forever. And what if that drawing wasn’t the most updated version? Or just the older version the other party was looking for?

With cloud-based storage, contractors can move past those old, slow document management solutions. Premier Construction Software allows users to access the cloud for documents, drawings, photos, pay applications, and more from any internet-enabled device. It’s one of the fastest ways to share information with a team, and it can save time and money right away.

Report Generation

No one wants to blow that meeting in front of the investors or stakeholders, but time spent compiling data for a custom report may be a waste. Premier has the ability to automatically generate important reports with the very latest updates, as well.

Not only are these reports easy to generate, but they take into account all of the most up-to-date information. Rather than stressing out about that report all week, it’s possible to simply click a button to create a report that’s not only instantaneous but also more accurate than anything you could compile.

Electronic Signatures

The construction world runs on agreements and signatures. Waiting to get those signatures on a paper agreement takes lifetimes (or at least it feels that way). The documents either need to be sent via courier or downloaded, printed, and sent back. Or, the agreement has to wait until a meeting can be scheduled for everyone to review the documents together before anyone can sign anything.

With electronic signatures, this entire process can take a fraction of the time. Documents can be sent electronically, which recipients can open from any internet-enabled device. Once they’ve reviewed the contract, change order, proposal, RFI, pay application, or any of the many compatible docs, they can sign electronically. This instantly updates the status in the system, cutting down on data entry or errors, and saving time and money.

Subcontractor Management

Minimizing the amount of time spent collecting lien waivers, monitoring compliance, calculating payment retainage, and ensuring everyone gets paid costs contractors and project managers lots of valuable time. But with a construction ERP like Premier, which is designed to make subcontractor management easier, users can save time and money.

For instance, Premier can track licensing and insurance compliance documents and alert the users and sub to possible expiration. It can also automatically generate subcontractor agreements and change orders instantly and ensure that those documents make it to the sub for an electronic signature. It’s also easy to set up automatic retainage for each payment, as well as distribute payments automatically (and accurately) by setting up pay-when-paid AP.

Premier is All About Strengthening Your Business

Premier Construction Software’s goal is to strengthen your business using simplicity and automation. This means less time spent doing the remedial tasks that are always prone to error. When you’re not paying them to handle these tasks, you’re saving money and freeing them up to be creative and focus on projects that create more revenue for your business—and that’s a recipe for success.

Tags accounting, Accounting Software, automation, change orders, Cloud, Cloud Computing Software, cloud construction software, Cloud software, construction change orders, Construction Software, ERP, managing orders, project management

Ultimate Guide Industry Insight Tips & Advice Trends & Technology

The Power of UX Design in Software Products

Post author By Luiz Oliveira
Post date March 13, 2023

Software is supposed to solve a problem. Whether it’s simplifying tasks that humans struggle with or just streamlining the workflow process, companies spend money on software in order to make their day-to-day operations run smoother. But for this to occur, the development company has to focus on the end users’ needs and wants. And that’s where good UX design comes into play.

Why is good UX design important? The reasons are endless. However, we’ll discuss 9 of the most important reasons here. Keep reading to find out what they are.

What is UX Design?

Before we dive too deeply into UX design, it’s important to understand what it is. It’s become something of a buzzword in the industry over the last few years, but a quick breakdown could be helpful.

UX stands for “user experience.” UX design is the process of developing a product, whether it be a website, software program, or device with the end users’ experiences in mind. With that description, good UX design sounds like a no-brainer, but it takes an experienced team of developers and designers to make it happen.

There are decision trees and formulas that developers use to ensure they’re implementing good UX design, but that’s far beyond the scope of this article. At the core, the development team considers who the user is, what their challenges are, and how the software can solve those challenges in the easiest and most efficient ways possible.

UX designers use market research, product development, strategy, design, and lots of testing to ensure they’re creating a product that is attractive, effective, efficient, and easy to use. That’s good user experience design in a nutshell.

This isn’t wildly different from the construction design process. Engineers, designers, and architects constantly consider how the buildings and infrastructure they create will impact the people using them during the design process.

9 Reasons Why Good UX Design is Important in Software

It might be easy to understand that good UX design is important, but all of the ways it can impact the end user might not be so obvious. The following are 9 reasons why good UX design is important when choosing a software program.

It Leaves a Lasting Impression: Good and Bad

UI (user interface) gives the user their first impression, but UX creates a lasting impression. How smoothly a software program runs, offers intuitive workflows, and allows the user to find the solutions, data, or reports they’re looking for will create an opinion of that program for the user. If the UX is subpar, even if only at the start, users will feel frustrated over just the thought of the software.

However, if that software is fast, intuitive, and provides answers without digging through multiple tabs in error, the user will remember it. They’ll have a much more favorable opinion of the program and rather than feeling dread when they log in, they’ll feel positive that they’re going to achieve their goals.

It Provides Value

Good UX design is not a mistake. It’s the result of a development team focusing its efforts on developing exactly the type of software that the user needs. This means the team won’t be spending time or energy developing aspects of the program the user really can’t use.

In the end, this streamlined and targeted development approach means less wasted resources, and this means a more affordable product for the end user. They’ll be able to get more value from the program because it was designed to solve their specific challenges and nothing else.

It Makes Learning Easier

Regardless of the software program, there is always a learning curve or implementation period where users have to get used to the new processes. Whether it’s the layout, workflow, or integration with other software programs, users need to learn how the new system works and deal with the bumps in the road.

Good UX design can pave those bumps and make learning the new system much easier. With a well-planned layout, intuitive workflows, and the ability to make adjustments that scale across multiple reports automatically, using the program can become like second nature.

It Ensures the Program Will Fit the Users’ Needs

Good UX design involves developing “personas,” or creating a fictionalized version of the ideal real-world user, and developing the software for that persona. Developers will take into account all of the user’s daily activities and responsibilities and the challenges that those activities and responsibilities create, and come up with a tailored solution.

In terms of construction, this ensures that the software meets the needs of the people in the building industry. An effective UX design will account for the project types, contract types, personnel, reports, and accounting that the construction industry uses. There are no useless functions or fluff to deal with.

It Encourages Widespread Adoption of the Software

It’s one thing to decide to implement new software and another thing to actually get everyone on board. While there are always a few folks that will resist change, a good UX design can help pry those old spreadsheets from their desperate clutches.

When a program is designed well and works as it should, the team will notice. Folks will start to show each other how certain functions are saving them time and frustration over the old program. And while a program champion must still learn the software and introduce it to the team, a good user experience can make implementation effortless.

It Reduces Reliance on Customer Support

How often do we get frustrated with a program, app, report, or input point and have to call customer support, only to realize the solution was simple? It was just a toggle buried in five layers of user settings. If we’re all being honest, the answer is “too often.”

While great customer support and service are critical to any software program, good UX design minimizes the users’ need to lean on it. By using simple, easy-to-adjust settings and input points, well-designed programs allow users to understand what they’re doing, make adjustments, and see an impact instantly. If something doesn’t seem right in a report, they should be able to access that report immediately and fix the issue without digging through tab after tab to get there.

It Helps Users Serve Their Customers Better

When a company decides to implement new software, the goal should be to simplify processes in order to run smoother and more efficiently. It can change the way the company handles almost all of its most important office work. And you better believe this transfers to the customer.

When a customer, partner, or lender calls a well-run construction company and requests an update, the latest report, a change order, or just clarification, good UX design really shines. A company rep should be able to log in, access the account, and pull that report or make that change in seconds. And if they’re using a program that simplifies data entry and provides automatic updates, they know all of those changes will be reflected across the program.

Not only does this mean serving the customer faster, but it also means providing them with accurate data. Good UX design lessens the chances of mistakes and oversights, and this makes it one of the most important aspects to look for in a software program.

It Promotes Communication

No one understands the importance of communication better than a well-oiled development team, and this often trickles down to the software. Good UX design involves creating channels and avenues that teams can use to talk to each other, work on the same project, and simplify communication.

In many cases, this means using cloud technology to ensure everyone has access to the same data at once. Any changes they make can be sent automatically to the folks who need to know about them, as well. This type of communication promotes collaboration and responsibility—all because the software was designed to do it.

It Directly Impacts Profitability

At the end of the day, any new tools or software that a company implements should improve its profitability. Good UX design, with its focus on efficiency and automation, can do just that.

With less time spent on data entry, updating reports, fixing mistakes, and tracking down signatures, office staff can focus their creative efforts on other projects. Those projects can then help the company move forward, improve its efficiency, and make better decisions. Only a software program created with great user experience design can offer the type of freedom a team needs to work like that.

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Author Biography:

Tom Scalisi has over 15 years of experience working in the trades. Since moving to full-time freelance writing, he has developed a passion for helping construction companies grow. He enjoys teaching contractors how technology can streamline their businesses and educating them about their rights during payment disputes.

Tips & Advice Industry Insight Trends & Technology Ultimate Guide

Why is Software Support Critical to the Success of Your Business?

Post author By Luiz Oliveira
Post date April 24, 2022

We know that changing financial and project management software can be stressful. The transition is often bumpy and can take several weeks or months to implement. With Premier Software you get the help and support you need throughout the software implementation and use process.

We help ensure that you are getting the most out of your investment and that your team is working at its peak efficiency. Here’s how Premier Construction Software provides you with the support you need to improve your business success.

Industry Insight Tips & Advice Trends & Technology Ultimate Guide

Demand VS Supply in the Construction Industry

Post author By Luiz Oliveira
Post date February 21, 2022

The current state of the construction industry is one of challenge. Contractors are in incredibly high demand for renovations, new home builds, and other projects. They’re poised for serious growth, except for one thing: There aren’t any affordable materials.

Demand VS Supply: What happened?

The pandemic caused a wild amount of demand for contractors and a shortage of materials. In the past, whenever either condition existed, it has pushed the price of building up. In today’s construction industry, it’s pricing both contractors and prospective project owners past their affordability breaking point.

Contractors are in High Demand

Contractors are in such demand because people want change. With so many folks leaving large cities for greener spaces, or so many working from home and needing a new environment to look at, contractors can’t answer the phone fast enough. These customers want to build new homes, renovate fixer-uppers they purchased in the country, or simply spruce things up a bit. And most of them want to hire a contractor to do it for them (keep “most” in mind).

Building Materials are in Short Supply

But, with materials manufacturing taking a massive hit during the pandemic, there just aren’t enough affordable materials around. With government imparted shutdowns, social distancing requirements, and a general lack of staffing across all industries, the amount of lumber hitting the shelves isn’t what it used to be. And, for the contractors that are able to find materials, they’re extremely expensive.

Workforce Shortages

For materials that aren’t necessarily in short supply, such as stone in the domestic mountain used for building products, or materials waiting at sea to be unloaded, the issue is a workforce shortage. With so many people choosing to remain out of work, material production can’t ramp up. And, there’s a lack of qualified truck drivers to move the materials that are produced.

DIYers Played a Part

Consider this interesting point: DIYers caused some of these headaches as well. With so many people staying home instead of taking expensive vacations, many decided to tackle renovations and fixer-upper projects on their own. They headed down to the local home center or lumber yard and strapped studs and joists to the roof of the family sedan. This one group may have been responsible for the apparent disappearance of pressure-treated lumber in 2020, as new deck builds are a favorite of DIYers.

Governmental Impacts

Let’s not discount the effect that the government has had on the situation. The Biden administration imparted an 18% tax increase on softwood lumber coming into the US from Canada. Also, tariffs on concrete shipments from Japan are making a challenging scenario even worse.

Issues for the Construction Industry

This chain of uncanny events is doing one thing: Making construction of any sort more and more expensive. Materials that were once affordable and readily available are typically neither anymore.

When it comes to wood, the cost of 1,000 board feet of lumber nearly quadrupled over the course of the pandemic. It’s since dropped, but it’s far above pre-pandemic pricing.
The availability of concrete hasn’t changed much, but the demand and suppliers’ ability to move it to the job site has: There are fewer qualified drivers yet more places to deliver it to, causing a rise in price.
The cost of steel has been steadily increasing, forcing the price of fabrication and commercial construction to increase accordingly. Some estimates have the increase of steel mill prices as high as 141%.

How To Overcome (or Avoid) These Issues Moving Forward

For many contractors, the time or ability to avoid the supply chain issues caused by the pandemic has passed. However, there are some ways they can avoid the impact these issues can have on their bottom line.

Job Forecasting

One way to plan for current expenses is to use effective job forecasting methods. By utilizing data compiled from past projects, contractors are able to predict how much a project will cost. While spikes in materials costs do minimize this methods’ effectiveness, the longer the heightened costs occur, the more accurate forecasting will be.

This method requires more than just reviewing old invoices. Utilizing software designed specifically for contractors allows for in-depth analysis of spending, materials costs, labor, and other costs associated with certain projects. The more data collected, the more accurate the report.

Establishing Credit with Multiple Materials Suppliers

A more effective way to mitigate the impact of skyrocketing materials pricing in establishing lines of credit with several suppliers. Many contractors prefer to work with a select few suppliers, but this limits their ability to shop prices and material availability. What the supplier has is what the contractor gets.

While it’s true that many suppliers work off the same supply chain, everyone has a trick or two up their sleeve. Consider a contractor who ordered materials but the job fell through. Potentially, those materials are sitting in one particular yard, which means only one supplier will have access. If a contractor who needs those materials doesn’t regularly deal with that supplier, they may never locate those materials.

That’s a specific instance, but one that isn’t uncommon. Access to materials often depends on who a contractor knows, which can make establishing accounts with several companies critical. For contractors that worry too many accounts will make accounts payable a nightmare, a solid construction software solution can automate and streamline payments.

Contract Clauses

While no contractor wants to adjust the terms of their contract or back out on a deal, it’s sometimes necessary. Including clauses in a contract that put the onus on the customer might be the best way to protect their bottom line.

For instance, such a clause might state that once a material increases over a certain percentage (which must be established in the contract), the customer will be expected to pay the additional costs. The customer then has the opportunity to sign or pass on the contract. If they sign, the contractor has some reassurance that price increases won’t derail their project or their company’s profit margin.

Hard Times Call for Smarter Measures

Things are tough right now. Though contractors might not be able to take full advantage of the demand for their services, with a few smart moves, they can still grow. The cost of materials may never reach pre-pandemic prices again, but contractors that analyze their established data, diversify their supply chain, and create safer contracts have a better chance of making it through the worst of it. When materials do begin to drop again, they’ll be in the position to fake full advantage and grow.

Check out Premier Construction Software to see if it fits your company’s strategies and goals. Our construction management and accounting software provide teams with the tools they need to take advantage of these technologies. Schedule a demo by contacting us today.

We’re more than just construction financial software. We’re built to help your business.