In this article, we will try to ascertain the best construction project management software based on different criteria such as the medium of usage, size of project or organization, etc.
Have you ever wondered how much time has been saved in your life by simple software such as a calculator on your desktop or smartphone? And how many times the same application has helped you avoid making costly mistakes of erroneous calculations.
Now, imagine the amount of time and money that has been saved globally by software’s which help streamline, track, control, and enhance the various construction activities.
Construction Project Management Softwares have arguably been pivotal in ensuring faster delivery of projects with cost savings, quality improvements, and enhanced safety at the site. With the increasing complexity of projects and shorter delivery timelines, these software’s have aided the project managers in making key decisions for projects successfully over the years.
What is Project Management Software?
A project management software is used for project planning, scheduling, resource allocation, cost management, contract administration, risk management, and change management. When we specifically talk of construction project management software, it is a tool or a set of tools used by professionals which helps in streamlining and simplifying the construction management process. Construction project management software helps bridge the gap between various activities of a construction project. Therefore, for a project manager having the right tools to perform his/ her duties becomes essential.
Why use project management software?
Coming to think of what are the benefits of project management software, it is clear that they help save time by automating repetitive tasks and in the process reduce errors in reporting.
Project management software should be used to serve the following purposes:
- Maintain a database of the project in a single repository
- Schedule and plan project milestones
- Track resource distribution and utilisation
- Allocate project budget and perform cost control activities
- Document change management and manage project risk
- Create clear communication channels
Key benefits of construction project management software:
- Time-saving with document search and queries
- Streamlining of the project process
- Ensuring proper monitoring of project costs
- Improving collaboration among stakeholders
- Ensuring project efficiency enhancement
What does project management software do?
Project management software should have the following key functionalities:
- Accounting and Financials
- Team management
- Project management
- Document management
- Material management
- Health and safety management
What to look for in project management software?
An ideal project management software should be able to produce analytical reports, visual charts and assist in the decision-making process to the project managers.
The most common type of reports expected of project management software are:
- Gantt charts
- Kanban charts
- Project and personnel calendars
- Balance statements
- Bidding and contract management
- Reporting and dashboard customisation
In the next section, we will look at the best project management software available for enterprise and small businesses.
What is the best project management software for Enterprise?
Commercial construction project management software can be classified into two broad categories, Cloud-based construction project management software and on-premise construction project management software. The list we share here is a mix of both types of software with their ideal usage purpose.
GanttPRO
As the name suggests GanttPRO creates Gantt Charts for project management and that is the applications key strength. It allows for the collaboration of the project through breaking down of a project into tasks and subtasks with all dependencies being defined during the planning stage. A simple intuitive application with easy to set up for individual or team environment requirements.
Key features of the software include:
- Critical path and auto-scheduling option
- Establishing dependencies among the various tasks of the project
- Resource and cost management
- Project and personnel calendars – easier visual interface
- Team collaboration through the task management
Ideal for small business aiming to streamline its project management activities. Visual cues in the form of charts and graphs also help the project managers make quick and meaningful decisions based on the project progress and requirements.
BIM360
Arguably the most popular among all the other tools (more as a document repository system than as a project management application) BIM360 is a product from the house of Autodesk. It is an online project management system specifically designed to cater to the needs of the construction industry. With its robust integration with BIM applications such as Revit and document control system, it has fast grown in popularity and acceptance across the construction industry.
Key features of the software include:
- Design tool (revit, acad, sketch) integration
- Document publishing and version controlling
- Key performance indicators defining and tracking
- Quality control and construction tracking
- Customisable reports and dashboards
- Viewing and managing field data
Ideal for an enterprise-level solution. The cloud-based application with its strong construction tracking, BIM integration and customisable dashboards & reports makes it the most ideal application for large scale complex projects construction management.
CoConstruct
CoConstruct is a cloud-based mobile construction management service. Thanks to its deep customisation option it caters to the needs of clients, contractors as well as design-build firms. It comes with the features to be able to manage projects right from the pre-bid stage until the project closure. With a host of integrations made possible, you can even integrate branding and marketing to suit your needs. The software comes with added features for design-build agencies and real estate developers.
Key features of the software include:
- Tracking and managing leads
- Bidding and proposals management
- Accounting software integration
- Budgeting, forecasting and estimating
- Customisable mobile application with own branding option
- To-do list interface for easier tracking
- Jobsite activity tracking and timesheet management
- Personalised branding and marketing
CoConstruct is the most conducive for operating needs of clients, contractors and design-build firms. With its customisation and personalisation of branding, it is an ideal choice for all client-facing interfaces of the business.
Knowify
Knowify is a cloud-based construction project management software. It boasts of features such as full integration of bidding, purchasing, time tracking, job costing, budgeting and real-time labour monitoring.
Key features of the software include:
- Bid management with e-signature
- Job scheduling for all tasks and job costing
- Time tracking and invoicing
- Syncing with other invoicing applications such as Quickbooks
- Budgeting and PO tracking
- Change management and mobile app for on-field tracking
- Email notifications and dashboard reporting.
Overall Knowify is a preferable tool for organisations which want to remain asset-light and agile in nature. Its robust integration across disciplines and mobile application for on-field tracking make it a great choice for a complete project management solution.
PlanGrid
PlanGrid delivers real-time project information. It has the capability to annotate and markup the plans with notes, photos from the site directly with its mobile app support.
Key features of the software include:
- Document Management
- Progress tracking
- Site reporting
Ideal for both small businesses as well as enterprises. Provides the flexibility to scale to large projects. Will work best for small firms aiming to grow to larger project management without disrupting the workflow and software knowledge.
To know more about the Construction Project Management industry and educational options to get certified as a Construction Project Management Professional do read our article: Construction Project Management Overview
To know more about the books you can read to improve on the project management aspects during education and for your practice, you can check out this article: Best Construction Project Management Books List
Did you find this list useful? Do you have any other software of your recommendation? Which one do you think is best for small businesses? Let us know in the comments section what you think of this list.