Sometimes when people go shopping they’ll say they’re looking for that pair of pants or suit or dress that fits “perfectly.” Maybe it’s slimmer here and the cut lays just-so there. It’s exact in every detail. But if we might not always be shaped exactly the same all the time, how perfect is that “perfect fit”? Sometimes we had a bigger lunch than when we tried on those pants or even lost a little; sometimes we need to move around more or reach for something on a high shelf, and we certainly weren’t doing that in the store. “Perfect” is great for marble statues, but it doesn’t move with life. What we really want is the right fit. The same is true for the software on which your business runs. So what does the “right fit” in construction accounting software look like?
It Gives You Room to Grow
First of all, it’s not perfect! On the one hand, that means that of course no system is going to be custom tailored to each user’s preferences and every nuance of an office’s processes. What it really means, though, is that it won’t force you to stay the same in order for it to still fit! The “right fit” needs to hit all of your current priorities for functionality while still being able to adapt and grow with your needs as things change over time. This will also mean that if the software seems a little “baggy” at first, with an extra here or there that you don’t need, the right configuration of features can give you a good custom experience to better suit your business. Good sales and implementation processes from the vendor will help work this out with you. That also gives you wiggle room so that when you pick up fifty employees in a few years or add a new division, your software keeps working for you in new ways by offering features and modules you didn’t need before.
It’s Not Oversized
At the same time, your construction accounting package shouldn’t weigh you down with more software than you’ll really need. Contractors continue to debate about the advantages and disadvantages between “vertical,” best-of-breed construction software and “horizontal,” all-in-one solutions. Certainly the theoretical benefit of all-in-one integrated software is that it’s “one and done” — a single purchase from a single vendor with a single helpdesk for issues. But these one-size-fits-all packages can entail features that many contractors simply won’t need or contain, for example, an estimating function that’s built for general contractors but not a highway-heavy contractor. In other words, contractors may end up paying for something that’s the wrong fit for them. In contrast, best-of-breed solutions let specialized applications excel in particular aspects of the construction world, making them more robust solutions than all-in-one packages. These best-of-breed applications also let contractors select the different applications that best suit their needs for those areas.
It Goes with “Everything”
The best of these specialized solutions are designed to work alongside an array of possible applications that can complement each other, letting you mix and match and even change out some software and tools over time. If you use estimating software, for example, don’t just investigate whether a certain construction accounting program is compatible with that particular application; also see what other options for cross-application integration it might leave open for you down the road. Similarly, if you don’t use an estimating package yet, make sure that the accounting application you’re looking at will let you incorporate one easily later, using for example convenient import and export features to eliminate the need for duplicate data entry.
It Offers All the Right Support
Lastly, when you need to adjust the fit of your software or run up against a work-slowing issue, you need to be able to get an answer quickly so you can get back on with your business. When it comes to construction accounting software, reliable support doesn’t just mean getting an error window to go away; it can mean maintaining the integrity of the data your business runs on! It’s impossible to overestimate the importance of knowledgeable, accessible support — especially for your construction accounting system. Look for the software with the best client support in the industry. Ask for client references. Also check professional references to see what reputation the company has with CPAs. All else being equal, that excellence in service that continues after the deal is done will help ensure a continued “right fit” for your business.
“Try on” Foundation Construction Accounting Software
With over 30 years of experience behind them, Foundation® and Foundation SaaS are best-of-breed construction accounting solutions that offer the flexibility to shift and grow, along with the freedom for contractors to use their favorite applications from estimating and project management to timekeeping. Foundation’s core modules are fully integrated with job costing for easy, convenient and precise reporting, and with numerous add-on modules available, Foundation also gives users the ability at any time to incorporate scheduling, inventory, document management, service dispatch and more. Finally, because they’re built on a Microsoft® SQL Server® relational database, Foundation gives companies tremendous room to expand without losing speed and without becoming cumbersome.Is Foundation the right fit for your business? The place to begin is with a free online demo.
View an Online Demo of Foundation Construction Accounting Software!
