Statistics show that we are trending towards more and more construction projects in the years to come. However, there’s an ongoing decrease in skilled workers in the profession. This means that mechanical construction software is going to be more important than ever in terms of bridging the efficiency gap. There are a few reasons why some mechanical contractors are holding onto their legacy software, from reluctance to learn something new to the attachment to their old systems. However, the growing pains of onboarding are far outweighed by the benefits of making use of mechanical construction software in 2020. Here are some key reasons why.
View and Update Plans and Models
Plans and models can constantly shift for a construction project, whether it’s due to client specifications or outside forces. Mechanical construction software is essential to make this process as smoothly as possible. Without it, you’re forced to relay changes through email and paper exchanges. In time, as buildings get more complex, this won’t just be inefficient, but outright impossible. The ideal alternative is using mechanical contractor software for viewing and updating the plans or BIM (building information modeling). By storing plans and BIM models in the cloud, these are easily shared among contractors, subcontractors, foremen, and field workers. When there are questions or updates that need to be rolled out, they can be quickly made and sent out to all necessary parties, saving you time and resources.
Track and Update Labor
Let’s say that you’re prepping for a project, and are making sure that you have enough staff available to handle the job. This generally starts with looking at organizational charts, past and present. Legacy systems would do this all with paper, but it’s easy to see how that could go wrong. A single missing or damaged record could hurt your ability to properly put together a labor plan for your next job. Mechanical construction software eliminates this issue, making it quicker and easier to assign labor, or determine if you need additional support.
Track and Update Materials
The same thing applies to materials. However, when we talk about materials and equipment, there’s the added wrinkle of making sure everything is exactly where it should be. Loss and theft are common issues on construction sites and can cost your company thousands of dollars. Mechanical construction software comes with tools that make it easier for you to determine exactly where your equipment/materials are, and who’s using them. As an added benefit, you also have electronic storage and reminders to help you put together. equipment maintenance schedules. Never miss a planned repair or upkeep check.
Budget and Financial Tracking
One of the most important parts of contract work is the budget. While you can initially prepare one based on your proposal and the parameters of the job, there’s no guarantee that things will go to plan. In addition, you have the difficulty of trying to create bids for jobs that are competitive in the market, but still, let you make a profit overall. This can be best managed by mechanical construction software that helps you keep track of that. Manage your change orders, purchase orders, equipment rentals, as well as timesheets all through one source. Accessing historical and current information makes it easier for you to make smart decisions.
Improved Customer Communication
The benefits of mechanical construction software for internal communications are easy to understand. What many may not realize is that this helps communication for customers as well. You can easily import client info and correspondence from your legacy software to have a record of your history. This makes it easier to navigate that history to track issues and concerns. The better customer service you supply, the more loyalty you’ll be able to garner from them.
Cloud-Based Software Offers Security and Cost Savings
For many companies, upgrading software is a concern due to the weight on their existing systems. However, cloud-based software is more affordable and reliable. When the software is cloud-based, it ensures everything is stored in a secure cloud and can be accessed anywhere. As a result, you have less of a processing load on your computers and equipment, while making it easier for everyone to access the necessary documents. This measure also makes certain that your documents are safe. If it’s in the cloud, then it’s encrypted, secured, and isn’t stored on a single device. You also do not have to pay for servers and IT maintenance.
Productivity Management
Mechanical contractor software helps you with real-time tracking of employees, equipment, materials, and more. You’ll have access to daily field notes and reports that help update the status of a project. Cloud storage and access ensures that you’re able to quickly reference things by the day and make sure equipment and man-hours are being used efficiently across different projects. This allows companies to build a data-based method for increasing profit and productivity. Big data is transforming the construction world, so you want to get on board now.
Mechanical Contractor Project Management Software is Tailored to You
Why use mechanical contractor software in 2020? You ultimately get something catered to your needs, versus other GC-designed software. There are a variety of options out there on the market. But with these choices on hand for you to use, what exactly is the best fit for your mechanical contractor software needs? Ideally, you want something that allows you to reap all these benefits, and lets you purchase in a modular manner. This way, you can only focus on the elements that your company needs, rather than needing to buy a bloated suite just to take advantage of one feature.
If you find yourself in this situation, utilizing project management software like eSUB is the perfect fit for your needs. We have a variety of different functions that can benefit a mechanical contractor in 2002 and beyond. These range from financial tools to manage your assets/improve your bids to features to help you better track your equipment and workers. Buy a modular package that will help your mechanical contracting business compete right away.
How eSUB Can Help
eSUB is a cloud-based project management platform built especially for mechanical contractors. eSUB organizes all of your project information in one place, allows for smooth collaboration, and streamlines communication through its intuitive interface. It also works on your mobile, so you can track projects on the go—no matter where or when—and stay up-to-date.
