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Construction software helps professionals manage different pieces of the construction process, from planning to execution. Construction software is not yet ubiquitous within the construction industry; many companies still rely on pen and paper. However, adoption of the software has been expanding as construction firms’ IT budgets increase. Users include general contractors, subcontractors, engineers, architects, and building companies in a variety of industries.
Products in this category typically handle one or more of the following processes:
Construction takeoff software (estimation of materials)
Project management and scheduling
Project design
Cost accounting
Bid management
Field service management
Safety and reporting
In the construction industry, estimating is the process of calculating the cost of a project. This includes monitoring and updating price during the job. Many construction companies use estimating software to calculate costs at various phases of the project. This includes:
Pre-estimating - forecasting the cost of the job
Job costing - monitoring expenses during the project
Database comparison - using databases to compare material prices
Takeoff is another important part of the cost estimating process. Construction takeoff software allows contractors and project managers to estimate the cost and quantities of materials need for the project using either hard copy or digital blueprints.
Many products include both estimating and takeoff capabilities, especially construction suite software such as Procore and Viewpoint Spectrum. However, there are a few construction takeoff point solutions such as On-Screen Takeoff and PlanSwift that often have trade-specific takeoff tools.
Many construction software products include project management, job site data collection & reporting, and collaboration features:
Plan distribution & viewing
Document sharing
Jobsite reports
Submittal management
Collaboration & approvals
Photo documentation
Time cards
Project management tools
Job costing
Building information modeling (BIM)
Issue tracking & punchlists
Mobile & cloud functionality
Estimating the cost of a project is also essential part of the construction process, and construction estimating software offers features such as:
Takeoff tools
Job Costing
Cost databases
Estimation calculator
Bid creation
The software enables construction business processes in a variety of areas. Sometimes these overlap with other software categories on TrustRadius that are not industry-specific. But here you can find vendors that cater to the construction industry:
Accounting: Sage, Viewpoint, Quickbooks, CMiC, Jonas Software and Deltek Vision.
Prequalification/Bidding: CMiC, iSqFt, Procore, SmartBidNet, Textura, Viewpoint, eBid Exchange and Pipeline Suite.
Estimating Software: This includes takeoff or materials estimation and features vendors such as On-Screen Takeoff, HeavyBid, Bluebeam Revu, Planswift, B2W Estimate, Trimble Accubid, ProEst, Sage Estimating and WinEst. This is by far the most crowded area of construction software.
Project Management: Viewpoint, Prolog, Procore, PlanGrid, Constructware, and CMiC. Non-industry specific solutions, like Primavera and Microsoft Project are also commonly used.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Computer-aided Design (CAD): Revit (Autodesk), Navisworks (Autodesk), Sketchup(Trimble), Tekla (Trimble), QTO (Autodesk), and Assemble Systems.
Job Site Data Collection & Reporting: Autodesk's BIM360, B2W, HCSS, Procore, PlanGrid, NoteVault, and Viewpoint.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Cosential and FollowUp Power. CRM for construction is still not a focus for software vendors. Horizontal solutions can work in some cases.
Cloud Storage, Collaboration, and Web Conferencing: These areas are a crucial part of the construction software stack. Many companies do not use industry-specific solutions. Construction software solutions include PlanGrid and Bluebeam Revu. Both have cloud storage and collaboration capabilities. They are tailored to construction needs as a go-between for the office and field. Industry-specific options have more robust features than horizontal tools (DropBox, Adobe Acrobat DC, etc.). Additional features allow better handling of drawings, markups and file sharing.
Other Emerging Technologies: Augmented reality, virtual reality, drones and 3D printers hold promise for construction.
Construction software pricing depends on the purpose of the tool and the scale of its deployment and varies widely. For example, tools designed for cloud-based project management are typically priced on a subscription model. Prices start at around $40/mo. Other tools focused on bidding and approval maybe priced with a much larger, one-time license fee. Licenses are usually at least $10,000.
Procore is construction management software, or project management software with features specific to the construction industry. Procore enables construction professionals to collaborate on projects from any Internet-connected device with access to all project documents, contracts, RFIs, submitta...
PlanGrid is construction productivity software used on more than 500,000 projects around the world. The company provides contractors and owners in all construction verticals the tools to collaborate effectively and collect and manage project information throughout the project’s construction and o...
For those who design, engineer, bid and build our world, Bluebeam Revu is how professionals get more done. Since 2002, Bluebeam has made smart and simple desktop, mobile and cloud-based solutions that utilize the construction documents themselves to share metadata, hyperlinks, bookmarks, images, ...
HeavyBid is a construction and estimation software offering from HCSS.
Revit is a Building Information Modeling (BIM) solution from Autodesk.
WorkflowMax is a web-based project management solution, owned by Xero, Inc. It is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive. The platform offers end-to-end functionality standard to project management software, with a comprehensive suite of features including lead management, quotes and estimate...
Vista by Viewpoint is a comprehensive construction accounting software that is designed to help contractors manage all areas of their business.
Viewpoint Spectrum is a cloud-based construction ERP suite with project management, accounting, materials and equipment management, and reporting and analytics capabilities. Some key features include workflow automation and collaboration tools, document imaging and sharing, cost estimating tools,...
NoteVault is a cloud and mobile tool for daily construction site reporting. It allows field staff to record audio updates and take site photos on their mobile devices, which are then turned into daily reports for office staff and other stakeholders. NoteVault uses human transcription services to ...
FollowUp Power CRM for Construction is a customer relationship management system for the construction industry. Features include lead tracking, sales pipeline analysis, closing ratios, quota management, and dashboards.
AutoCAD mobile (formerly AutoCAD 360) is an easy to use drawing and drafting app from Autodesk. It that enables users in design, construction, and engineering industries to view, create, mark-up, edit, and share drawings on mobile devices.
Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management is Oracle's EPPM offering.
BIM360 is a construction software for project managers, site managers, and Building Information Modelling (BIM) managers. It is designed to connect the office and site components of construction, providing cloud-based access to plans and models, which the vendor says can contribute to faster cons...
e-Builder is a construction program management solution that manages capital program cost, schedule, and documents. According to the vendor, e-Builder is a complete solution designed at its core to deliver control and reduce surprises for owners of capital programs.As an owner-centric project inf...
Planswift is takeoff software for construction estimating.
BuildingConnected is an online preconstruction platform supporting communication and collaboration with contractors, subcontractors, and real estate owners. The platform supports bid management with cost tracking and analytics, relationship tracking, notifications and alerting, and unlimited bid ...
InEight offers construction project management software solutions for every stage of the project life cycle. The vendor reports having over 300,000 users in the infrastructure, mining, oil and gas, and utilities markets. InEight software is built on an open, functionally rich and modular technolo...
CMiC Project Management is designed to support the natural workflow of a project. It is targeted for organizations that deliver construction and capital projects.
SmartBidNet is a construction and estimation software offering developed by JBKnowledge and acquired by ConstructConnect in 2018.
Newforma Project Center is web-based construction project information management software. Users can file emails with an easy drag and drop interface, relate emails to RFIs, submittals, and other documents, markup and review designs, track meeting minutes and action items, and search across proje...
Trimble SysQue is a software design software which enables designers and contractors to design in Autodesk Revit with real-world, manufacturing-specific MEP content that is ready for fabrication.
eTakeoff is a construction and estimation software offering from eTakeoff.
