5 Things Contractors Should Consider with Heavy Construction Software
Editor's Note: This post was originally published in September 2014 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.
Construction deals with buildings like houses and offices, whereas heavy construction deals with roads, infrastructure, tunnels, utility sites, etc. With such diverse, frequently city-wide projects, it’s easy to see why the demands for heavy construction management exceed those of lower-key construction projects.
Heavy construction contractors have very intensive labor costing requirements and need software that can offer support on wages for the labor-intensive contractors. They also need the software to provide certified payroll reports, assist with cost estimating and takeoff, handle project management, and perform a variety of accounting tasks.
Here are some specific examples of what heavy construction contractors should look for in their software.
Unique Takeoff Capabilities
Siting and excavation views, all topography related, require measurements for earth moving and cuts/fills. Consequently, a 3D graphic of the site is critical.
Templates for Costing
Estimators rely on built-in data and formats that align with specific pieces of equipment, their operators, and costs-to-operate. A crucial part of costing is fuel costs and being able to make accurate fuel cost estimates.
Unit Billing
Unique to heavy construction is the requirement that systems bill on the common “units completed.” The software needs to track the project progress, including providing percentage-of-completion.
Mobility
Due to the size of most heavy construction projects, equipment and workers move between various work sites. Mobile capabilities are essential to keep communications open.
Scheduling
Scheduling is the backbone of getting a job done on time and within budget. The heavy construction software needs to provide easy crew scheduling as well as placing the right equipment where it needs to be and when.
Want to learn more about getting software for your heavy construction projects? Contact Asyma Solutions today.