8 Key Factors To Look At When Buying A Construction Management Solution
With the growing technology, construction companies looking to improve and streamline their processes opt to get a software solution. Typically, a software program has become an integral part of handling construction firm operations, including manufacturing, job costing, and management, just to mention a few.
Because software has become important for businesses, it is vital to thoroughly ensure you research before getting it. The preeminent thing for many construction firms is to get a solution, which reduces overheads and expenses. As most software programs have already increased in the marketplace, providing different features to cover every function, choosing one is becoming challenging.
However, with key factors, like the ones discussed below, you can easily choose and buy the best construction management software:
1. Customer Service.
Software providers should answer all your questions regarding their solutions. Each time you want to start dealing with a new solution, there could be a chance that you have questions. It may be important to know that you may reach out to customer care to help you without being on hold for a long time.
This way, you can also get a feel of what a great firm’s customer service is before even purchasing their software solutions. Be sure to also check out their site to see if there are contact details displayed. If you have more time, you can as well try to submit questions before ordering a product from them.
2. Response.
All software solutions have bugs. As far as buying a solution is concerned, you have to be wary of the software provider’s procedures and responses for handling those bugs whenever they arise. Make sure you know how the provider will address these problems.
A perfect way to investigate the general customer satisfaction and company’s service is to read reviews on sites, such as Capterra and G2. These reviews can give you insights into common software problems, a high-level picture of weaknesses or strengths, and how a particular firm responds to issues.
3. Implementation Barriers.
If you get this far, the next big step is to determine every hurdle or implementation barrier, which you will come across so as to signal this to a success. Implementation barriers might be anything from costly training sessions, data migration, and buying budget to critical integration and your team. Getting your team and other individuals involved is one thing, and buy-in is basically another.
For you to have their buy-in, you have to root your visions regarding the software solution in their working world. Lack of buy-in may create resistance to seniors, managers, and team members, while a limited budget may force you into purchasing a cheaper software program. The bottom line is to identify all that may cause this exercise to fall apart and work under a reasonable implementation plan, which accounts for all barriers in your list.
4. Silos.
Always be wary of new silos when it comes to project information. You can be tempted to use a new shiny toy available in the marketplace, though try as much as possible to build many silos of information on your construction projects. Typically, the value of a new management software solution does not end with the digitization of improved communication and an age-old paper-based process.
The true value is implementing the details produced during the procedure and using that information to make informed and proactive decisions. The software program you choose should not be a point solution. Instead, it has to be a tool, which can handle every key project management detail in one suite.
5. Ease of Deployment.
The construction management solution needs to be deployed properly to make sure you and your workers manage portfolios and projects fast. You have probably heard of stories of a good software solution, but after some years, there was nothing to show for it.
The best software should allow you to quickly identify benefits and iteratively improve, instead of throwing in all the features on the first day. Important features that determine deployment include:
- SaaS or Cloud offering
- Advanced deployment options
- Complex deployment
- Platform deficiencies
- User interface
- Training availability
6. Needs.
Buying a new software solution can be a great chance to evaluate your company’s workflow and identify major pain points for your team members. Spending a day or two with your key members, including field worker, project manager, and account, might allow you to take a closer look into frustrations they face, tasks that take longer, and efficiencies, which may be gained with a new construction management solution.
Immediately you identify all the pain points, it would be best to create long and short-term goals for your construction firm. This might help you get a solution with the desired features. Short-term goals should be must-haves for addressing current issues, while long-term goals need to be nice-to-have features that you can implement later.
7. Security.
Data security is important because you may want to ensure you protect the information of your employees, customers, and company. Consequences for these violations may go beyond $600,000 and completely cripple your firm.
Whichever level of security construction firms need, you may want to have a management software program, which might institute the important security features into your IT plan.
8. Licensing Terms.
The truth is that paid solutions, which you might buy outright, is almost unheard of when it comes to the construction software industry, depending on the market analysis. Most software firms prefer the licensing models since it offers a continuous revenue stream and prevents piracy. However, this does not imply that you will be stuck with annual or month-to-month licensing deals. This is where live demos and consultation might work to your advantage.
As far as software sales are concerned, you can negotiate on anything. Be sure to schedule a consultation and use this chance to express your concerns about going with a licensing software plan. Any worthy solution provider, like Jonas Premier, can bend over backward to offer you a plan you will be comfortable with.
The Takeaway.
Many literature and articles talk about how standardizing and automating appropriate practices can improve the odds of repeatable success. If your construction company delivers projects, it doesn’t need to reiterate how important it is to have properly defined management procedures for every delivery stage, whether it is a scheduling approach, planning, or task management.
Therefore, when buying a management solution, always consider some of these key factors to make the right choice.