| Any company that is beginning the process of | | | | - IT (Information Technology) - Your IT |
| selecting and implementing new construction | | | | department will play an integral role in installing the |
| software hopefully understands the need to have | | | | new software while allowing the company to not |
| adequate leadership throughout the process. An | | | | miss a beat. Thus, they will need to know what is |
| individual or team must be selected to lead the | | | | required from them for any potential software |
| process of evaluating, selecting, implementing, | | | | solution to identify areas where current hardware |
| customizing, and training end users to use the | | | | may not mesh with the new software. |
| new software. These people need to have a large | | | | - Other interfacing departments |
| amount of knowledge about how the company | | | | - Sub-contractors |
| operates as a whole, including intimate knowledge | | | | - Suppliers |
| of all processes, as well as a good understanding | | | | - Vendors (once selected) |
| of construction management software | | | | - Other members that are deemed necessary, |
| functionality. As such, I have compiled the | | | | which will vary depending on each unique company |
| following lists of individuals that should be included | | | | Factors that All Companies Need to Consider and |
| in this team, or should at the very least be | | | | Evaluate |
| consulted with if they cannot dedicate the proper | | | | While smaller companies will likely not benefit from |
| time to the entire process. Additionally, I have | | | | having a full team dedicated to selecting new |
| listed several factors that should be a part of any | | | | software, there are still things that all companies |
| software evaluation. | | | | much consider when evaluating new construction |
| Input and Software Selection Team Members | | | | software. |
| that are Good to Have | | | | At a minimum, even smaller construction |
| While larger companies will have the advantage of | | | | companies need to give their best effort to |
| being able to assign one individual to oversee the | | | | performing the necessary in-depth research into |
| entire software selection process, all companies | | | | the various facets of construction software, |
| will need to get input from multiple areas of the | | | | including: |
| company. The following segments of the entire | | | | - The number of varieties of each product and |
| organization should be included, to some extent, in | | | | what makes each version unique |
| the new software identification and evaluation | | | | - The number of available vendors |
| team. Some of these members will need to be | | | | - Product history - look for testimonials from |
| permanent members of the team while others | | | | trusted sources or check construction software |
| can be consulted on an "as needed" basis. To | | | | reviews |
| what extent members are "as needed" or | | | | - Vendor history - testimonials |
| permanent will very depending on the company. | | | | - Product functionality |
| - End-users | | | | - Product protocols |
| - Management (all levels in large companies) | | | | - The necessary steps require to integrate the |
| - Accounting (they need to provide input on how | | | | new system with current processes |
| the new software will impact their operations) | | | | - Product interface - this will come down to |
| - Payroll - Regardless of if your company has an | | | | personal preferences more than anything, but is |
| internal payroll department or uses an external | | | | important that you choose software that is the |
| payroll service, they will need to provide valuable | | | | most user friendly for your set of users. Again, |
| input in terms of selecting new construction | | | | this will vary based on your unique company. |
| accounting software. | | | | |