Just Launched: An Updated Submittal Workflow Made Specifically for Subcontractors

I love submittals, said no sub ever! That’s because subcontractors are responsible for the submittal workflow – purchasing, fabrication, and installation of the materials and items on a project. And on a commercial construction project, it’s not unusual for there to be hundreds or even thousands of submittal items. Managing all those items is not the most fun thing to do for subcontractors. It can take days, maybe even weeks when there are thousands of items, to generate packages for review to a General Contractor and Design teams.

With the constant back and forth between the General Contractors and Design Teams, it’s easy for items to slip through the cracks. Which stakeholder suffers the most and is held responsible when submittal items slip through the cracks? The Subcontractor! That is why eSUB has updated its Submittal module with a Submittal Items Log to create, track, and manage submittal items in addition to Submittal packages.

Import Submittal Register Items to Save Countless Hours

Subcontractors can import their submittal registry Excel log directly into eSUB. Using the template provided, eSUB will import the item’s Spec Section No, Subsection, Submittal Item Type, Submittal Item Title, and Submit by Date. The Excel Import saves countless hours in data entry and ensures accuracy of information entering Submittal Items. Upon import, the Project Engineer can review and edit items in the Submittal Item log as needed.  

High Level of Detail that Subcontractors Need

The Submittal Items form the core of a subcontractor’s submittal package, and subcontractors need to track submittals at a greater detail than project stakeholders. eSUB allows for the hyper-focus tracking of submittal items. Project Engineers track and manage each item in the Submittal Item Log as its own entity with its own attachments for backup documentation, due dates, and status.  

When creating Submittal packages for review, the Project Engineer creates the cover sheet and quickly adds the Submittal items with its relevant backup documentation that was previously linked. The Submittal can then sent through eSUB, and all correspondence, including attachments, are date and time stamped to provide a centralized record of communication.

When a General Contractor returns the Submittal Package, the subcontractor can update which items have been approved or need revision. The Project Engineer can also create revisions for Submittal Items and resubmit as needed.

Flexible for How You Work – But Not Made for GCs 

If there’s anything we’ve learned by supporting thousands of subcontractors, it’s that every subcontractor does things their own way. Some contractors create the submittal items first and then create their submittal packages. While some contractors create their submittal packages and then add their items. Regardless of how your company creates submittal packages, eSUB Submittals delivers the flexibility to adjust to either workflow.

eSUB Submittals provides the simplicity that subcontractors need in managing submittals without the complexity of GC-based project management systems. GC-based project management systems excel in tracking the review process and approval path of the package. Ball-in-court designations and routing assignments keep stakeholders accountable in the submittal review process. However, this is more functionality than the subcontractor needs. Subcontractors need a system that allows them to save time when creating submittals and allows them to track individual submittal items to the level of detail that eSUB delivers.

Sign up for a free demonstration of eSUB’s Submittal Workflow

Submittals is an add-on module to eSUB. eSUB Customers without the Submittals module are encouraged to contact their Client Success Manager for a free trial of the module. If you are not an eSUB customer, sign up for a live demo to see how eSUB improves employee productivity by 10-25%.