Software integration in business is perhaps one of the decade’s hot topics, but for good reason. It strives to help employees and company owners everywhere to streamline their daily operations in practically every area imaginable.
The construction industry is no different, and the value of software integration on and off-site should not be overlooked by any means.
If you happen to be running your very own construction business and you would like to save money, optimize processes, automate menial tasks and generally let your working day run as smoothly as possible, it may be worth considering a few options.
From renovations to structural engineering, whatever your construction business happens to be, there is likely an addition that you will find useful in some regard.
Floor Planning Software
Perhaps a necessity for anyone wishing to bring their designs to life in a way that can closely represent the finished product, floor planning software has many uses and has come a long way in recent years.
Not only can the best options allow you to view your plan in 3D, but they can allow the clients to actively engage and interact with their potential new building or project. The customer experience is an important part of the modern business and the more opportunities for interaction and visualization you can supply them with, the higher the likelihood that you can nurture this aspect of your company.
Moreover, floor planning software can allow you to render your 2D plans into 3D form while allowing you the chance to instantly edit any measurements and make custom designs from scratch.
If you ever need a strong visual element to accompany any pitches or presentations, letting your design shine with the help of some great floor planning software can be a wonderful addition to your toolkit.
Construction Project Management Software
Construction projects can take a great deal of time and a dedicated workforce to complete, with the help of employees both on-site and in the office, but if you have ever had to manage a larger scale project, you will likely already be well aware of this.
Projects often require a large amount of collaboration between the different departments, and since there are so many facets and stages of the construction process to consider, wasting time on poor communication is likely the last point on your agenda.
Utilizing project management software is a superb way of negating this potential time wastage, as it can allow your entire team to seamlessly collaborate in real-time, help you to prioritize the most important tasks, and integrate any other software options you might be using into one central location. This can essentially create a hub in which you can address all of your progress without having to constantly check other platforms. Above all, there must be sustainability in every project from beginning to end, and using the Kanban board Excel template aids you to attain that.
If you ever find yourself losing sight of goals or running out of time, materials, or finances, project management software may be the best way to make sure you stay ahead of the game.
Construction Estimation Tools
Price estimation can be an intricate and highly important part of running a construction company, especially when it directly affects your brand image in many cases. Finding the right figure is not easy, and the market research required to reach an enticing number can be an immensely time-consuming endeavor.
If you would rather that you spent your time on the site, or you wanted to save money on a full-time member of staff who evaluated costs for you, it may be worth taking a look a construction estimation tool.
They can search pricing in your local area and provide you with proposal templates to save you a huge amount of time in the long term. This can be ideal for anyone looking to add some automation to the working day without having to sacrifice quality.
Construction Bidding Websites
Finding and bidding on projects is often a necessity when it comes to running a successful construction business. It can, however, be a frustrating and inefficient task. Thankfully, there are some great websites to help you out should you need somewhere to turn.
ConstructionWire, ConstructConnect, and iSqFt are all great options, but it is worth bearing in mind that there are so many options out there offering a wide range of different functions. In this regard, it might be worth utilizing a combination of sites or taking some time to check out which option suits your company’s individual needs best.
Augmented Reality
No longer confined to the realms of science fiction, augmented reality is now a very real and highly useful tool that many different industries utilize on a daily basis.
Due to the nature of the construction industry, health and safety in the workplace are extremely important. Employees often need to work in situations that would be life-threatening without the right training, knowledge, and applied methodology. Augmented reality can help you to carry out the sufficient training long before a worker even approaches the site in the first instance.
It can not only properly prepare workers for their next job, but it can be used to help visualizes finished projects for customers, observe changes on site before you implement them, and supply you with a milestone to work towards.
Augmented reality should not be underestimated, and its many uses are still being developed and explored in contemporary society, perhaps making it an important piece of technology to keep your eye on.
BIM Software
BIM (building information modelling) is a great introduction for those of you concerned with the architectural design of any kind. It can allow you to construct digital models of entire buildings, complete with their infrastructure. They can be used to design a vast multitude of practically any building you can imagine.
It is not just the design itself, however, as in many cases, the software can inform you on a range of elements using automatic calculations, such as how the design can be made more energy-efficient, or how to streamline building performance.
Since there are so many fantastic choices out there, finding the right one can be tricky, to say the least. You might want to start by giving yourself a software budget and begin thinking about whether or not the potential return on investment is worth it in the long term, and if you ever find yourself snowed under by menial tasks, it almost certainly is.
