| In the competitive world of construction, profit | | | | * Dispatching allows for greater technician |
| margins are tight. Jobs, service calls, employee | | | | efficiency |
| productivity, and even your business tools must | | | | * Streamlined billing for fast payment turn-around |
| contribute to company profitability. This article | | | | * Advanced technology such as GPS tracking of |
| highlights several critical capabilities that will help | | | | service trucks or mobile communication with |
| you determine whether your current construction | | | | technicians that allows for real-time data |
| software is a profit center or just another | | | | exchange |
| overhead expense. | | | | Reporting |
| Job Cost | | | | How well does your software deliver the |
| The core of a profitable contracting business is | | | | information you need to make critical and timely |
| job costing. The more accurate your cost | | | | business decisions? Catching problems such as |
| information is, the better you will be at managing | | | | cost over-runs early is imperative to maintain |
| your jobs for profitability. | | | | profit margins. Reporting should provide easy |
| Capabilities checklist: | | | | access to real-time information and offer the |
| * Job cost projections are easy to produce on a | | | | flexibility to customize delivery to meet your |
| regular basis | | | | unique business objectives. |
| * Provides early warning system for jobs that | | | | Capabilities checklist: |
| are off track | | | | * Comprehensive standard reports and inquiries |
| * Real-time access to actual costs is readily | | | | * Custom reporting options to meet specific |
| available | | | | needs |
| Project Management | | | | * Owner/management overviews available for |
| Project management is all about detail tracking. | | | | at-a-glance job assessment, with drill down to |
| Let a few RFIs or change requests slip through | | | | detail |
| the cracks and you might find your crew working | | | | Integration |
| for free. Software that automates project | | | | Solid communication between your accounting, |
| management will ensure that changes to the | | | | operations, and service staff is the glue that binds |
| original contract are documented, approved, and | | | | construction to profitability. Integrating your core |
| invoiced for profit. | | | | technologies makes this communication possible. |
| Capabilities checklist: | | | | Capabilities checklist: |
| * Tracks job details in a single, easy-to-access | | | | * Single database equals single data entry, flexible |
| database | | | | reporting |
| * Change orders are tracked from initial RFI or | | | | * Allows for enterprise-wide collaboration between |
| directive to invoicing | | | | accounting, service and operations by putting |
| * Forms provide turn-key production of | | | | everyone on the same financial page |
| submittals, RFIs, change requests, and more | | | | * Lowers administrative overhead |
| Service Management | | | | Profit or Expense: You Decide |
| For contractors that perform service work, | | | | Take time to evaluate how well your software |
| technology is readily available to support technician | | | | streamlines workflow, automates processes, and |
| performance, enhance customer service, and | | | | provides real-time job information for informed |
| automate billings. Taking advantage of this | | | | decision-making. If your program doesn't provide |
| technology can produce a significant ROI while | | | | you with many of the capabilities listed here, it |
| enhancing your company's reputation as a cutting | | | | may be time to consider whether your |
| edge service provider. | | | | construction software is a profit center or |
| Capabilities checklist: | | | | overhead expense. |