Given the high complexity of building projects, the selection of the right construction software is extremely crucial.

It is no exaggeration to claim that choosing the appropriate digital tools can be a matter of ‘life or death’ for a building project's final outcome.  

Nevertheless, the selection process isn’t always as easy as it may sound. There are a plethora of factors that need to be taken into serious consideration before you make your choice.

Regardless of the type of the project, you should keep in mind that your decision will affect the quality of collaboration and communication throughout the whole building process. In that sense, you want to come up with a solution that will allow you to connect your team and facilitate the connection between the construction site and office.

Of course, before you make your final choice, you need to have a detailed plan in place. Only then, you will be able to search the market with precision and find the software that fits your needs best.

Ideally, a solid digital tool will allow you to share vital updates, photos, and bits of information with your team in a fast and easy manner. More importantly, it will help you adjust to unpredicted situations and avoid costly mistakes and project delays. 

Five tips for a profitable construction software selection

In an effort to make things easier for you, we present smart tips that you should keep in mind before you proceed with your construction software selection process.

1. Define your project needs

When it comes to construction projects, everything starts with a plan.

Before you make any rash decisions, you have to put together a detailed and well-elaborated plan that will help you identify what your project really needs.

Once you have set a specific goal, you can easily detect the challenges that are likely to emerge during the construction process. In that way, you can come up with a list of features that you would like your new construction software to have.

Like that, you avoid getting lost in a huge market and spending your money on digital solutions that don’t really respond to your needs. 

2. Explore the market

Now that you are fully aware of what your project needs, you are ready to get out there and start exploring the market for the best possible solutions.

At this stage, a strong network can be a valuable ally. That being said, do your due diligence and try to come in contact with people that you trust. They might have had some prior experience with certain software solutions.

Once you find these people, ask them as many questions as possible about the digital tools they use and dig deeper into the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

It goes without saying that cost is also an essential parameter that you want to take into consideration if you are under a tight budget.

As we already mentioned, your network can be extremely helpful, but it doesn’t mean that it’s a card up your sleeve. Reliable software review sites, such as G2, can provide you with insightful feedback and help you understand which type of digital tool could work best for you.  

3. Collaboration is key

Collaboration lies in the heart of every construction project. It’s the glue that keeps everything together and allows the members of the team to work in a productive way.

For that reason, you need a digital tool that can ensure that you stay connected with the various project agents and exchange information and ideas in real-time without hassle.

Good collaboration is greatly depended on the good use of project data. In that aspect, it might be a good idea to focus a bit more on digital solutions, which will help you form a data-driven construction process and promote real-time, automated collaboration.

4. Focus on mobile field reporting

Being able to report any issues from the site as soon as they happen is of paramount importance.

That’s why, the mobile field reporting feature should be one of your priorities when looking for construction software. By using it, you will be better connected to the field and sure that your stuff on site can easily inform you about any unpredicted changes or problems.

Simply put, the faster you get updated, the faster you can respond to a crisis situation and solve it.

This can have a very positive impact on the connection between the construction site and back-office. Individuals on both sides can feel better linked and confident that everybody is on the same page in the course of the building process. 

5. Data is your best friend

Last, but certainly not least, you should never overlook the value of data.

It’s no coincidence that The Economist referred recently to data as the oil of the digital era.

Construction is, of course, no exception to this. With the help of a reliable digital tool, you can keep good track of the different project information and plan ahead thanks to the collected feedback.

Predictive analytics, for instance, can help construction managers with decreasing rework during a project and, more importantly, they can use it as an example for future projects.

In the long run, this will lead to substantial time and money savings.

Wrapping it up!

All in all, it is evident that the construction software selection process can be challenging.

There are many different parameters that should be considered before making a final decision.

In any case, what you should always keep in mind is that construction software is a big long-term investment for you and your project, and, that being said, it would be a mistake to get discouraged by the initial implementation cost.