The construction industry is well populated by software that meets about 80 percent of users’ workflow needs. Companies leverage that last 20 percent by using a software vendor staffed by construction experts who develop integrated software that thinks just like a contractor. The workflow of software should square nicely with the workflow of contractors. It’s not rocket science: Software must be intuitive to the user’s day-to-day processes.
The Reality
In reality, there is some software on the market that isn’t created by construction professionals. Developers may have years of software development experience under their belts and a knowledgeable support team on hand, but without on-the-job construction experience, they’ll fail to address some of the nuances that are crucial to contractor performance.
Development
Construction software must focus on a contractor’s specific business needs, not the latest technological buzz. The industry’s best software providers don’t look to the company boardroom for product development experts. They know when software executives drive product development; practical application can take a backseat to the hype. Some of the best software enhancement ideas emerge when the software provider and the customer consider each other colleagues. That only comes with shared experience.
Demonstration
Only a consultation managed by an experienced construction professional determines whether a product will actually meet the user’s needs and if the people behind the product can be counted on as reliable advisers. A sales representative who has never worked for a construction company usually can answer questions as they relate to the software, but will probably need to get back to the customer before addressing more complex, industry-specific concerns.
Implementation
Without a solid implementation plan executed by an experienced team, even good software will probably fail to meet expectations. Only when the implementation team has gone through a similar process within a construction company will the experience be complete. First-hand familiarity with the general workflow requirements of a construction business prepares the team to better guide the customer through a phased implementation process designed to save the company time and money. A system rollout with software that is not set up the way a business operates is risky when the implementation team does not have construction experience.
Questions to Consider
Purchasing software is about buying a business solution and service. No software program guarantees a company will win every contract, but a quality program helps contractors manage day-to-day functions, increase productivity and raise profit margins. Following are a few tips to consider when shopping for a construction software provider.
- Don’t hesitate to ask about the developer’s industry experience, including how many of the vendor’s employees came from a construction company. Be wary of an indirect response that touts the educational credentials of the company’s leaders. Titles are nice, but nothing outweighs the benefit of on-the-job construction experience.
- Does the company representative ask intelligent questions? Being asked realistic questions will give contractors immediate clues about the depth and breadth of a software provider’s construction industry knowledge.
- Does the vendor understand contractor lingo? Whether providing a demonstration, completing training or offering phone support, a software provider should easily speak the language of construction.
In the end, it’s all about dealing with software developers who have stood in a contractor’s boots. Anything else and construction companies are likely to get software that thinks like they do 80 percent of the time. That’s simply not good enough in this economy.
On Center Software
On Center Software, Inc., is a privately held company providing software and training to construction industry professionals for over 25 years. Located in The Woodlands, Texas, the company’s mission is to transform the estimating, takeoff, and labor-tracking experience with comprehensive software solutions that turn winning bids into profitable projects. On Center Software solutions include On-Screen Takeoff®, Quick Bid®, and Digital Production Control™. Customers in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, and 60 other countries around the world leverage On Center Software’s internationally recognized solutions. For more information about On Center Software, call 1.866.627.6246 or visit www.oncenter.com.
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