Scott began his career as an apprentice electrician in 2003, working his way up from the field to the office. By 2007, he transitioned to an assistant project manager role and later took on the responsibilities of a project manager/estimator. His journey at Palman Electric, a family-owned business started by his father and uncle in 1980, has been marked by growth and diversification.

“Over the years, we’ve grown from a small business to a company with 120 employees,” Scott shared. “We’ve expanded into various industries, including healthcare, secondary education, life sciences, logistics, aviation, wastewater treatment, and retail. This diversity allows us to maintain steady growth, even when certain sectors slow down.” 

As Palman Electric grew, so did the complexity of their projects and the need for efficient management tools. Scott recognized that their previous software, Procore, wasn’t meeting all their needs. “Procore was great for working with general contractors, but it didn’t give us the flexibility we needed for internal collaboration, especially with change orders and daily work reports,” Scott explained. 

His team needed a solution that allowed for better tracking of man-hours, change orders, and daily reports—all in one place. That’s when Scott began researching other solutions and discovered eSUB. 

Scott’s team switched to eSUB earlier this year, and the transition has been smooth. “We started slow, but now we have about 15 people using it regularly,” he said. “What really stood out to me was the ease of use. It’s tailored for subcontractors like us, and the mobile app is fantastic.”

  "What really stood out to me was the ease of use. It's tailored for subcontractors like us, and the mobile app is fantastic."

- Scott Palman, VP of Operations at Palman Electric

He emphasized how the mobile app has changed the way they handle meetings and paperwork. “I don’t even bring my laptop to meetings anymore. I just use my phone to access project information, take meeting notes, and forward them to the team instantly. Everything is paperless, and that’s been a huge time saver.” 

Scaling a business for growth comes with its own set of challenges, especially when it involves getting the entire team to adopt new processes and technology. As Scott shared, their approach to implementing eSUB started gradually, with about 14 to 15 users now actively using the software.  

Initially, Scott began tracking man hours, change orders, and daily reports with one foreman, appreciating the convenience of being able to review reports anytime, even from home. The slow rollout continued as more project managers and foremen were onboarded.  

This steady integration has helped to eliminate the piles of paperwork that used to accumulate on his desk, showing that the move towards digital solutions is making a noticeable impact.

In addition to the change order management, Scott and his team also use eSUB for labor tracking, daily reports, and submittal management. Scott continues, “the productivity and efficiency gains have been noticeable. The tool is so intuitive that our foremen prefer it to other software we’ve used in the past.” 

Maximizing Efficiency and Project Oversight with eSUB's Core Tools

Scott and his team have integrated several of eSUB’s key tools into their daily operations to enhance efficiency and project oversight. One of the primary tools Scott relies on during meetings is the Field Notes tool, which is also frequently used by his safety manager.  

The crew in the field consistently uses the Daily Reports tool to capture site updates. Although RFIs are minimal, the Submittals tool plays a critical role in managing documentation; however, Scott emphasizes that the Change Order tool has been the most impactful for him, as it directly ties to managing project costs and labor.  

Labor unit productivity is another crucial feature he monitors closely to ensure hours are accurately tracked and managed throughout projects. 

Final Thoughts

When asked if he would recommend eSUB to other subcontractors, Scott didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely. It’s perfect for companies like ours—trade-specific, easy to use, and it meets all our needs. It’s been a game-changer for us.” 

"It's been a game-changer for us."

- Scott Palman, VP of Operations at Palman Electric

At eSUB, we’re thrilled to see how Palman Electric has optimized its operations with our platform. We look forward to continuing to support them as they tackle new projects and scale their business.