TALK TO AN EXPERT

The Construction Blog

Construction

A blog on construction software technology, topics
and trends, by Software Advice.

Are LED Fluorescent Tubes Ready for Prime Time?

by Houston Neal 4/19/2010 |  32 Comments
Share

Light emitting diode (LED) fluorescent tubes are all the rage in the lighting market. The technology promises to be more energy efficient, less environmentally harmful and more economical than traditional fluorescent tube lighting. Regardless, there is a lot of debate over whether they are ready for widespread commercial use. We came across this debate being held in a LinkedIn construction group. More …

The Coming Renaissance of Electrical Contracting

by Houston Neal 2/10/2010 |  10 Comments
Share

In the next ten to twenty years, “electrical contractor” will no longer be a suitable job title for electricians. They will transition into “energy contractors” to support the fast-growing green construction market. We see this as a coming renaissance in electrical contracting. There has been a revival of interest in the electrical trade as homeowners and adopt alternative methods to power homes. More …

The End of Blueprints

by Houston Neal 12/10/2009 |  4 Comments
Share

We’re big advocates of “going paperless.” Our desks are free of folders, pens, printers and sticky notes. There’s not a single TPS report to be found. We’re also big advocates of software. So, when a visitor to our website shared their concern about the paper waste from printing blueprints, we were intrigued. Can estimating and takeoff software end the destruction of forests (or at least save a few thousand More …

Construction Software State of the Industry Report

by Don Fornes 11/12/2009 |  3 Comments
Share

This is the first in a series of “state of the industry” reports in which we will share our observations on construction software industry trends. While reporting the recessive state of the industry is not breaking news, there are some interesting trends that we can share. Not everything is gloomy, and significant technological shifts are underway. Our observations are based on roughly 6,000 conversations with construction software buyers More …

State by State: Is the Stimulus Bill Creating Construction Jobs?

by Chris Thorman 11/2/2009 |  5 Comments
Share

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) had big plans for the construction industry – $131 billion big.

That stimulus money is supposed to help an industry that is still hemorrhaging jobs today. So far, the ARRA has sent money to all corners of the construction industry, from residential More …

Track LEED v3 Credits in Project Management Software

by Houston Neal 7/13/2009 |  4 Comments
Share

Given the recent deadline for registering LEED v2.2 projects, we were reminded of a post we wanted to write: how construction project management software can be used to track LEED credits.

Tracking LEED credits requires software functionality similar to that required for more traditional construction project management. Consequently, a few leading vendors have re-purposed their technology to make this More …

Cost Control is Crucial, but so is Project Management

by Guest Blogger 1/23/2009 |  2 Comments
Share

While too few builders have appropriate measures and processes in place to track and manage the cost side of their business, too many of those who do put the appropriate measures in place, are focusing on just one of the two key operational dimensions of the building business.

All too often tract home builders put a 6-month building period, when planning for their project carrying More …

A CPAs Advice on How to Manage the Software Selection Process

by Guest Blogger 11/24/2008 |  No Comments
Share

So you’ve decided to consider getting the proper financial accounting and reporting package for your construction business. It’s a daunting task on the one hand and exciting on the other. The general idea is to bring into your organization a tool that will better allow you to understand what is making money, what is costing money, and to provide information allowing you and your in-house accounting team to keep up with the paperwork requirements that go along with being in the construction More …

5 Reasons to Replace Construction Accounting Software

by Houston Neal 11/20/2008 |  No Comments
Share

This time of year, we talk with many construction companies considering a new accounting software purchase. Maybe it’s the change in seasons, the closing of the calendar year or the tax season looming on the horizon; what ever the psychological trigger, there are rational reasons to replace generic accounting software with a construction-specific accounting and job costing system. Here are the 5 top reasons we hear from companies thinking about a More …

Feature Checklist – Project Management Software

by Houston Neal 8/6/2008 |  No Comments
Share

Project management software for construction helps contracting firms stay on-budget and on-schedule by tracking key items during the building process. Given the complexity of construction projects, project management software comes with a variety of features and functions to meet the demands of commercial and residential jobs. Advanced construction project management software systems include modules for scheduling, accounting, bid procurement, document management and More …

Tailwinds for Web-Based Construction Management Systems

by Don Fornes 7/28/2008 |  No Comments
Share

Recently, we’ve noticed a big change in construction firms’ views on the web-based, or Software as a Service (SaaS), model of using project management software. Among AEC companies evaluating new construction management systems, we’ve More …

Project Portfolio Management for the Building Owner

by Don Fornes 4/1/2008 |  No Comments
Share

Regardless of how responsibility is shared in a project, building owners bear the ultimate risk. They write the checks for overruns. They feel the pain of delays in the form of lost revenue opportunity. Finally, they pay the additional costs of a facility built for project profitability rather than long-term operating efficiency. Everyone but the lawyers will agree that litigation won’t recover these More …

Bringing the Faded Project Schedule Back to Life

by Austin Merritt 3/21/2008 |  No Comments
Share

Before your job got rolling, you built a detailed schedule you thought would help you manage the project to completion. Now you’re waiting on permits, two of your subs haven’t showed and your available resources are strained. You’ve got a stack of daily reports that are too overwhelming to sort through before your next OAC meeting. That faded project schedule on the wall is looking pretty More …

Bridging the Gap Between Field and Office

by Don Fornes 12/13/2007 |  No Comments
Share

Project managers and accounting staff are often a world apart. They differ in personality, computer skills and the type of work they do. While many contractors are content to let these two worlds remain separate, the best companies are integrating what’s managed in the field with what’s accounted for in the office. Importantly, these industry leaders are finding that opposites do More …

Is it Time to Deploy Construction-Specific Accounting Software?

by Austin Merritt 12/3/2007 |  No Comments
Share

The last thing most construction executives want to worry about is their accounting software. But as your company grows, accounting becomes more complex and more integrated with operations. While a generic accounting package like QuickBooks or Peachtree got your business off the ground, it may be time to deploy accounting software designed specifically for the construction More …