CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT TOOLS: a Detailed Guide and Best Tools to Use

Construction management tools
image source: Construction Review

Finding the best and most free construction project management tools boils down to prioritizing the features you’ll need most often to keep each job on schedule and within budget. Whether you’re a huge general contractor or a small subcontractor, you can find the perfect construction management app for your business. Some apps, are even tailored to specific industries, like residential or commercial construction. However, most residential building construction management software today is SaaS, meaning that you subscribe to the program and pay a subscription on a recurring basis to access it. In this article, we will be talking about the top 10 construction management software.

What Are Construction Management Tools?

As the name implies, construction project management tools aid in the management of a project from start to finish. Most of the time, these aids take the form of computer programs, such as those that feature Gantt chart capabilities.

Construction projects have many moving parts, so most businesses use a suite of construction management tools.  Here are some of the construction tools.

#1. Procore

Additionally, Procore is highly regarded as one of the best construction project management software options. The Bridgit Bench is only one of many available software packages and add-ons from this company that aid in areas as diverse as quality assurance and budget management. Because of its extensive list of compatible apps, Procore can serve as your sole platform for managing construction projects.

#2. Prontoforms

As a tool for gathering information in the field, ProntoForms has gained widespread use. However, the true power of this application is found in the extensive settings it provides. With ProntoForms, businesses can rapidly develop bespoke data collection applications with no coding.

Thanks to the drag-and-drop, minimal-code nature of the ProntoForms app builder, you can implement new processes in a matter of hours rather than weeks. As a result, it is one of the most adaptable construction industry project management solutions.

#3. Bridgit Bench

Bridgit Bench is one of the most well-received construction resource management apps. Our flagship product’s primary focus is to simplify the construction industry’s approach to allocating its various resources. (midcitiespsychiatry)

It does this by making it easier to incorporate worker data into strategic planning and accountability. Find out why Bridgit Bench has become such an integral element of the construction project management processes of the industry’s leading general contractors.

#4. Oracle Aconex

Oracle Aconex simplifies the sharing of information and coordination of tasks among building project participants. Its capacity to help you keep track of changes and approvals to important documents means it can serve as a single source of truth, which is probably its most impressive function. With this method, locating and sending the right file couldn’t be simpler.

#5. Knowify

Knowify is an excellent construction project management tool that you should look into if you are a residential subcontractor. The company markets itself as the go-to solution for managing time and bids for contractors in the building industry, including those working on renovations, plumbing, solar panel installs, and more. In addition, Knowify may be integrated with QuickBooks to provide easier project accounting.

The Best Construction Management Tools

The best and free construction management tools aid in the organization and management of building projects for contractors, architects, and builders. Independent contractors and major businesses with employees and subcontractors alike use them. The software may reduce costs and boost earnings for any business in the construction industry, including roofing, general, remodeling, and heating contractors.

In addition, these tools facilitate productivity by managing activities including generating reports, automating cost estimates, and archiving files. The program was developed with the specific needs of the construction industry in mind, and it has the potential to help businesses cut costs and meet deadlines. It’s possible for businesses to increase their profits by keeping tabs on these indicators. Here are some of the best construction management tools you might consider.

#1. JobProgress

JobProgress is a comprehensive cloud-based application developed by contractors, for contractors. It’s a platform for getting work done, and it lets freelancers run their operations from any location they choose. The contractor and their team can keep tabs on the status of a project and analyze the data they collect.

In addition, there is a web-based management console and a mobile app. Because of its user-friendliness, high rating amongst satisfied customers, and extensive set of tools, JobProgress was our top pick for construction management software. It finds widespread application in industries as diverse as construction, demolition, excavation, home improvement, general contracting, environmental cleanup, and auto repair. To top it all off, JobProgress costs $50 per month per user, in addition to a one-time setup fee of $500.

#2. Bluebeam

Bluebeam is a 2002 Pasadena, CA software business. It has nearly 2 million users worldwide, including design firms, architects, and specialist contractors. AECOM, a top design, and engineering organization, employs Bluebeam. The organization aims to finish projects on time and on budget. It offers Revu and Revu for iPad. We chose it because it serves huge enterprises and knows what features to provide. It’s mobile, and teams can use it.

Users appreciate Bluebeam’s ease of use and the fact that it allows them to track and modify PDFs, two features that have garnered the service rave ratings. However, a few users said that it was too complicated to figure out, while others complained that support wasn’t always adequate.

#3. Fieldwire

The founders of Fieldwire, who launched their company in 2013, were committed to improving efficiency and accuracy. It’s a tool for managing construction sites that may be used by crews working on projects of any scale. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and is used on over a million different projects around the world.

Furthermore, everyone from general contractors to specialty builders, building owners to interior decorators, and architects to designers will find something of use here. It sends emails and real-time push notifications to make sure work is getting done on schedule. Since Fieldwire provides a free version of its program in addition to various cheap upgrades that provide features for more users, we deemed it to be the best free alternative.

#4. Clear Estimates

A father and son founded Clear Estimates in 2004. This is a web-based construction software tool. Thousands of people use it to estimate costs and write proposals. It offers templates, free customer assistance, and a 30-day free trial. Its estimates can be made in minutes by house remodelers, contractors, and handymen. We chose it as the finest construction management software for estimates. It has RemodelMax estimate and proposal templates. Local material and labor costs are included.

In addition, it’s not robust enough for a huge construction company to employ alone, but it’s fantastic for small renovation firms.

How Do You Manage Construction Tools?

Contractors often face substantial financial outlays while purchasing construction machinery. Therefore, efficient management is essential for maximizing the ROI. Damaged machinery could mean lost business and unhappy clients.

Therefore, it is crucial to use efficient ways to maximize the productivity and longevity of your construction equipment. Additionally, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software can be used to boost productivity in the workplace. Here are some strategies for managing your construction equipment.

  1. Inspections should be done right away after use.
  2. It’s Important to Know Your Construction Equipment’s Capacity
  3. Give your operators the appropriate training
  4. Execute regular maintenance

Free Construction Management Tools

Companies can manage construction projects and personnel both on- and off-site with the aid of construction management apps, like the HOVER design app, and other related tools. Numerous open-source and free construction management tools are accessible.

Free construction management tools and project management software are available without a license or contract but have little functionality and little to no customer support. Although free and open-source construction management tools sometimes have little or no license fees and are flexible, they have a moderate-to-high total cost of ownership and little to no customer service. These are some of the best free construction management and estimating tools.

#1. Clickup

All across the world, the most efficient teams use ClickUp, which is why it has been named the best productivity and construction project management tool in the world. ClickUp is a free service that provides unlimited users, limitless tasks, and many other useful features. To top it all off, ClickUp’s project management capabilities are unrestricted.

Furthermore, ClickUp contains everything that a construction project manager needs to run a smooth operation.

#2. Asana

Construction teams can benefit greatly from Asana, a free project management tool that provides visibility into the entire project and makes it easier to break down work into manageable chunks. But we’re not sure how “large” a picture your team will get without a built-in mind map tool.

#3. Clockify

clockify is a widely used free time tracking tool that can be useful to construction crews in monitoring the time spent on various projects. It’s easy to navigate and packed with useful features, although it lacks a built-in chat function.

#4. OpenDocMan

OpenDocMan is a free and open-source software that allows building teams to keep all of their documentation in one place. Sadly, this app lacks sophisticated project management features beyond simple document storage.

#5. Wrike

Wrike is an innovative piece of construction management software with a useful component called “work intelligence,” which may be used to spot potential problems before they become catastrophic. But here’s a clear danger that it missed: Wrike does not have a built-in chat function at this time. This is what could happen if your team aims for efficient communication while handling projects in the field.

What Are Considered Project Management Tools?

  • Communications management plan.
  • Group Bonding Exercises
  • Requirements for a Benchmarking Project
  • Work Breakdown Structure

Residential Construction Management Software.

Building a house is a complicated process that is rife with opportunities for error, delays, and last-minute adjustments. The construction of houses was mostly based on educated conjecture until quite recently. As a result of technological advancements, residential purchasers can use a wide variety of residential construction management software tools to create the house of their dreams on their own terms, in accordance with their own budget and preferred design scheme.

Furthermore, the data-driven residential construction management software makes the entire process of finding, selecting, and building a home simply for the buyer. Data from multiple sources, including purchasing, accounting, finance, budgeting, planning, designing, reviewing, etc., may be conveniently consolidated with home builder software. The list below includes residential construction management software.

#1. Stack

When it comes to quick takeoff and thorough estimation, stacking is your only option. Stack is a cloud-based platform that facilitates digital plan measurement, team collaboration, cost estimate completion, and bid-ready proposal generation. Here are some of the Stack residential construction management software features.

  • Budget management
  • Purchase orders
  • Scheduling

#2. Contractor Foreman

Contractor Foreman is the most reasonably priced all-in-one residential construction management software for contractors, and it has earned the trust of contractors in more than seventy-five nations throughout the world. Everything you require at one convenient location. It will save you both time and money.

#3. CoConstruct

CoConstruct is a web-based bespoke builder and remodeler program that was developed with the goal of improving the day-to-day operations of design-build businesses, modelers, and builders. Furthermore, it helps builders and remodelers address common issues associated with their projects, such as budgeting, client communication, scheduling, or activity planning. These challenges can be overcome with the help of three well-formulated feature modules provided by CoConstruct.

#4. LetsBuild

Building projects almost never go according to plan. When delays and adjustments occur, it creates chaos on the job site, because teams work according to separate programs. GenieBelt establishes a real-time connection between the program and the project teams, making it possible for all parties involved to successfully communicate and work while also coming together in support of the plan.

What Are Project Implementation Tools?

Charts and graphs that are designed to track progress, repetition-based ways of testing and altering everyday procedures, and other actions that assist businesses to manage and enhance significant projects are included in the project planning tools.

Top 10 Construction Management Software

The productiveness of the contractors who built the polished storey apartment as well as the top construction management software that coordinated the process were the keys to the success of the apartment’s overall design. Top construction management software is the go-to solution that will cater to the industry-specific needs of your small to large construction organization. This software can handle projects of any size, from residential to commercial. The following is a list of the top 10 construction management software programs that will assist in making the overall company process more efficient.

  1. Procore
  2. Dynamics SL
  3. Contractor Foreman
  4. ConstructionOnline
  5. ProjectPro
  6. Tacktive Software System
  7. CMiC
  8. Sablono
  9. Fluix
  10. Oracle Aconex

Construction Management App

Mobile app for management construction projects have come a very long way in recent years. Although there is a place for apps like a flashlight for examining foundations and a calculator for carpentry on an iPhone, software manufacturers have begun pushing full desktop construction management suites into the mobile arena. Some have even skipped the process of launching on desktop computers and have gone straight to mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

However, businesses selling mobile app construction management software have a responsibility to have an adequate understanding of the market. If you just adopt desktop software to work on a mobile device, it is not the same thing as building an app with mobile in mind. A purpose-built integrated suite performs significantly better than a collection of standalone point solutions when compared to its competition. The construction management app are as follows

#1. Builderstorm

BuilderStorm’s responsive design is its bread and butter, whether the app is being used on a mobile device or a desktop computer (it doesn’t have an app per se, but its mobile design is absolutely exceptional).

However, the company only provides one version of its program, which automatically adjusts to the user’s screen resolution and browser type regardless of the user’s operating system or device (thanks to the responsive design). That way, you know that every feature can be accessed from any computer, including mobile ones.

#2. Builder trend

BuilderTREND’s responsive UI makes it easy to manage projects on the go from any mobile device. While those using a desktop computer will get more detailed information, those using an Android, iPad, or iPhone will view condensed versions of the same data.

#3. e-Builder Enterprise

e-Builder Enterprise is cloud-based management construction app, so you can access it from your phone. Accessing e-Builder Enterprise on the go is like having the desktop dashboard everywhere.  E-Builder sells software to enterprises and smaller businesses.

e-Builder Enterprise app supports construction management throughout the project life cycle. It enables real-time business intelligence reporting and can automatically build reports. Dashboards are customizable.

#4. Fieldwire

Fieldwire’s website proclaims its intention to furnish users with “a fully featured blueprint management solution” that will allow them to “edit and distribute designs in the field.” The latest data related to a construction project can be accessed from anywhere thanks to the mobile app. It works with iOS and Android devices.

Furthermore, users can access a project on their mobile device, whether they are connected to the internet or not. Even though the plans are very detailed, fieldwire management construction app load rapidly on mobile devices because of server optimizations performed by Fieldwire.

How Do You Keep Track of Construction Projects?

You can use these tools to keep better tabs on your construction project and streamline your everyday management of it.

  • Follow the plan you’ve made.
  • Make sure to keep detailed notes on everything you do.
  • Track lost hours
  • Maintain open lines of communication.
  • Real-time resource reorganization

What Crucial Attributes Should Software for Managing Building Projects Have?

You should look for features like affordability, a mobile app, tracking for your projects, including things like estimates, proposals, and bids; task, project, and invoice management tools; storage space for files and photos; messaging tools; and a free trial or free plan when choosing construction project management software.

What Do Project Managers Do? Who Are They?

Every project needs an owner who is accountable for its completion and success if it is to have the highest chance of success. To address this need, maintain team focus, and guarantee the project satisfies the demands of all stakeholders, project managers are necessary. This label may refer to a specific set of duties or a formal job title.

A skilled project manager is needed across a wide range of sectors. Construction, publishing, finance, professional services, utilities, and many more businesses all use project managers. The actions and abilities to keep a team organized smoothly translate across the business world, despite the fact that the projects’ final results seem extremely different across these industries.

What Tool Do Project Managers Use?

One of the best project management tools is the Gantt chart. A Gantt chart shows the dependencies between your numerous work items and the timetable for your project. Gantt charts are useful for monitoring project progress, spotting changes from the original plan, and pinpointing delays.

What Is Construction Management Software Best For?

Businesses use construction management software to enhance job allocation and get a complete picture of the project lifecycle. Tools for construction management facilitate this by allocating tasks and projects to workers, alerting managers to any warning signs, monitoring project costs, and minimizing construction delays.

Is Construction Project Management Software Secure?

The top construction project management software solutions offer a variety of security settings, like other software kinds. You should look for security features like two-factor authentication or multifactor authentication (MFA), documentation that demonstrates regular security updates and patches, intrusion detection, the ability to track user activity, data encryption, and privacy protection when selecting this kind of software.

How Do You Manage a Construction Project?

Project managers must monitor costs, time, quality, changes, risks, and project progress when managing a construction project. They typically deal with subcontractors, billing, invoicing, and closeout; they could also participate in proposals and bidding. Superintendants typically handle those in the field, but there is also typically some people management (in the office).

Conclusion

Investing in the appropriate tools for managing construction projects can significantly boost both the efficiency of your business and the output it generates. We have high hopes that this post has been of assistance to you in determining the finest choices and what you need to take into consideration when analyzing them.

Construction Management Tools FAQs

Why is it important to manage a construction site?

Managing construction is crucial for any project, but it is more important for larger projects because of the greater likelihood of complications that might drastically increase costs and delay completion.

What is effective site management?

Site administration must be centralized like your overall project. The construction site management team must collaborate with the project team to communicate project progress, bottlenecks, and delays, creating a hierarchy of complementing systems.

What is the most important thing in construction?

Planning. Successful building project management requires detailed planning. Complex projects demand greater planning. A well-planned project maximizes efficiency and gives a step-by-step roadmap for finishing on time and on budget.

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