Top ERP Systems For Construction: Do You Need One?

In order to effectively manage your construction business, ERP software is a must-have, particularly an ERP solution that is developed with your construction requirements in mind.

An ERP tool will help manage your projects, and more importantly, integrate all aspects of your business into one well-organized system. If you are on the lookout for the best construction-specific ERP systems out there, this blog post will definitely help you out.

In addition to the ERP solutions, we will offer an alternative customized solution that can be even more effective. So stay tuned.

What is an ERP System in Construction?

Construction ERP is specialized software built specifically for construction companies. It keeps track of everything you need to run your projects smoothly, from managing all the different workers involved (general contractors and subcontractors) to finances, and payroll. What’s more, it keeps tabs on how your projects are running at the worksite.

By storing all this information in one place, construction ERP software makes managing your construction business a breeze.

Read More: Best Construction Equipment Management Software: An Essential Guide

Role of ERP in Different Construction Fields

Construction ERP plays an important part in a wide range of construction fields, such as:

• Building Homes: Construction ERP helps manage house projects with many people involved and short deadlines. It keeps things moving smoothly and on budget.
• Big Business Buildings: For offices, factories, and other commercial projects, ERP systems can handle the big size and many moving parts. They make sure that everything from buying supplies to building goes well together.
• Industrial Sites: When building things such as power plants or refineries, ERP software is essential. It helps manage complicated processes, follow strict safety rules, and guarantee that everything is built to the highest standard.
• Public Works: Building roads, bridges, and other big projects for everyone to use often involves a lot of money and public scrutiny. Construction ERP provides the clear communication and responsible management that are required for these projects.

Construction ERP Main Features

A construction-specific ERP has several essential features that will be beneficial to the construction industry. Let’s explore 4 important features of construction ERPs.

Financial Management

Traditionally, keeping track of project costs and profitability has been a time-consuming chore. But construction ERP automates this process by comparing your planned budget with actual expenses.

This lets project managers quickly identify any cost overruns and take corrective action before things spiral out of control.

On top of that, Construction ERP provides powerful tools for managing everything from income forecasts and invoices to keeping a watchful eye on your overall budget.

Given that it uses real-time data specific to your company, you can always be sure that you are working with the most up-to-date information.

Supply Chain and Inventory Management

Construction ERP software takes the hassle out of ordering supplies. It automates everything from creating shopping lists to sending purchase orders to vendors.

This is very important because it cuts down on mistakes, speeds up the whole process, and frees up your team to focus on other things.

Plus, you will always know exactly what you have on hand with real-time inventory tracking. This helps you predict what you will need in the future and avoid costly delays.

Construction ERP software also connects to your financial system so that you can see exactly how much you are spending on materials at every step of the way.

Managing Equipment

Construction ERP software functions as a project manager for materials and equipment. It gives you a complete picture of everything you’ve got on hand, from lumber to bulldozers.

This is very likely to translate to smoother projects, less wasted time and money, and smarter investments in your supplies and machinery.

Managing Workforce

In the construction industry, effective labor management and payroll processes are critical. Businesses must be fully aware of each worker’s skills and qualifications, especially since they rely heavily on third-party contractors and outsourced labor.

Construction ERP will come in very handy in this regard by providing a centralized platform for tracking labor resources. This guarantees that the right people are assigned to appropriate tasks based on availability, training, and credentials.

Moreover, the construction ERP automates payroll calculations, including salaries, deductions, and overtime compensation.

Read More: 6 Top ERPs For the Pharmaceutical Industry [User Reviews]

What to Look For in a Construction-Specific ERP

If you want to choose the perfect construction ERP software, there are a number of important features that you must take into account:

• Integrated Project Management: The construction ERP software must enable comprehensive management of projects from start to completion.
• Financial Management: It must also provide you with a robust monitoring of all financial operations to maintain budget compliance.
• Supply Chain Management: The ERP must guarantee the efficient handling of material orders and delivery schedules.
• Asset Management: It should help you keep track of equipment availability and operational status.
• Mobile Accessibility: The software must give you the chance to access information both on-site and off-site.
• Flexibility: The best construction ERP software needs to be flexible enough to adapt to your company’s unique needs.
  Whether it is keeping track of materials, managing equipment, or streamlining service operations, the software must have features that make your life easier.
• Digital Field Reporting: A good construction ERP system should let your field crew ditch the paper and use their laptops or tablets for digital reporting.
  With digital field reporting built into your construction ERP, your field team can capture information quickly and accurately.
• Instantaneous Communication: Another important feature is that it must support swift decision-making and enhance communication with project participants.
• Error Mitigation: The construction ERP tool should offer mechanisms that lower human error and data discrepancies.
• Collaborative Features: Last but not least, it must provide you with features that strengthen team cooperation across various groups and subcontractors.

Why Choosing an ERP Matters to a Construction Company?

There are many reasons as to why construction companies need to invest in ERP software. Below we will take a look at 5 important reasons that demonstrate the benefits of such software.

Connecting Everything

The sales team is working in one system, project managers in another, and the finance team is struggling to see the big picture. That is the reality for many contractors who rely on a patchwork of disconnected software.

Construction ERP changes the game. Acting as a central hub, it helps you connect everything from sales and costs to documents, projects, payroll, and even legal compliance.

This not only gives everyone a unified view of what’s happening, but it also reduces the time wasted jumping between programs.

Remote Connectivity

With a construction-specific ERP, your team will be able to access everything they need from anywhere, anytime. For example, when field workers update tasks on their phones, those changes are instantly synced with the main system.

This keeps everyone on the same page, and more importantly, eliminates the risk of outdated information causing delays.

Furthermore, a construction ERP can automatically send alerts about any problems, so you can deal with them before they snowball. Everyone has also access to the same real-time data, which fosters smoother collaboration across your entire team.

Reporting and Forecasting

Construction is all about winning contracts based on precise estimates. The problem is that with traditional methods, keeping track of everything – materials, labor, equipment, timelines – can be a nightmare.

This is where construction ERP software will be beneficial. It gives you a clear view of everything you need to create rock-solid bids. Plus, construction ERP integrates all your data into one place, so you can easily generate reports and see real-time dashboards.

This lets you spot potential problems and opportunities early on, keeping your projects on track and your profits healthy.

Read more: Best Food and Beverage ERP Solutions in 2024

Project Management

There is a lot to keep track of on a construction project. It includes many tasks such as ordering materials, scheduling workers, and making sure that you have the right equipment at the right time.

One mistake can lead to delays, cost overruns, and major headaches. By taking advantage of construction ERP, you will be able to track everything in one place, from materials to workers to equipment. This means that you will plan smarter, manage resources more efficiently, and keep your projects on track.

Cash Flow Management

Cash flow problems are quite problematic for even the biggest construction companies. Delays in getting paid can mean delays in paying your workers and bills and put the whole project at risk.

So what is the use of Construction ERP here? It combines all your financial info – bank accounts, invoices, and bills – into one easy-to-understand picture. This helps you see exactly where your money is going, so you can make smart decisions about contracts, payroll, and everything in between.

The ERP system can show you your current financial health. Also, you can track every detail of your projects including what is done, who is working on it, and how much it costs.

All this will provide you with the information that you need to identify areas where you might be spending too much and make adjustments to keep your projects profitable.

The 10 Best ERP Software For Construction

Now, let’s take a look at 5 of the best ERP solutions in the market that you can rely on for your construction business. These are:

1. Procore
2. Acumatica
3. Sage Intacct
4. SAP Business One Professional
5. IFS

Procore

Available worldwide, Procore is construction management software created to revolutionize how companies function. It goes beyond basic task management by offering powerful tools that can adapt to even the most challenging projects.

Procore tackles complex schedules with ever-changing priorities and unexpected roadblocks. Also, its strong accounting and document management features help you stay on budget amidst all the adjustments.

Main Features

Procore has a number of useful features:

• Procore provides users with unlimited cloud storage.
• It also offers comprehensive onboarding and training.
• With Procore, you can create a wide range of custom reports.
• Task management is quite easy and functional with Procore.

Pricing

Procore has three pricing options:

• Project Management: Starting at $4,500 per year, this plan focuses on core project management functionalities.
• Project Management + Financial Management: For $6,588 annually, this plan combines project management with financial management tools.
• Custom Quote: If your needs are not met by the plans above, Procore also offers custom quotes.

Note that they offer a free trial if you are interested.

Rating

Getting a rating of 4.6 (from 2770 reviews at the time of writing this blog post), Procore is one of the most positively reviewed software tools on G2.

Acumatica

Combining advanced business insights with practical tools, Acumatica can be a great choice for construction companies. This user-friendly ERP system is ideal for small and medium-sized general contractors.

A major benefit of Acumatica ERP is that it simplifies main tasks such as generating accurate estimates, managing job costs, handling payroll, and tracking overhead expenses.

With Acumatica, you can add new users without additional costs and scale features up or down as your business needs evolve.

Main Features

Below are some of the key features of Acumatica:

• Acumatica gives you the option to seamlessly integrate with popular platforms like Amazon or Shopify.
• With Acumatica, you will have a comprehensive set of tools at your disposal to automate your financial and accounting processes.
• Acumatica’s accessibility allows you to work from any device.
• Acumatica grows and scales with your business.

Pricing

Acumatica does not disclose fixed prices upfront. Instead, they offer customized quotes based on your specific needs which include factors such as your industry, company size, required features, and preferred support level.

To get a quote, you’ll need to provide details through their website. According to their website, there are three main factors that determine your overall cost:

• Features You Choose: You only pay for the specific applications or modules that you need.
• Scalable Resources: You can adjust storage and processing power as your business grows, so you only pay for what you use.
• Deployment Options: Acumatica offers various deployment options (cloud-based or on-premise) to fit your business model.

Rating

Acumatica has a rating of 4.5 (from 1212 reviews) on the G2 website.

Sage Intacct

Designed specifically for the construction field, Sage Intacct offers a powerful all-in-one solution. From project management to financials, it enables you to stay on top of everything.

With Sage Intacct, you will be able to manage project costs, track schedules, and allocate resources efficiently. Moreover, it seamlessly handles invoices, payments, and budgeting alongside inventory levels, supply chain movements, and material sourcing.

Main Features

Sage Intacct provides you with several important features:

• Sage offers several advanced accounting software modules.
• Sage also offers extensive customization options for various coding needs.
• It provides real-time financial data within its ERP system.

Pricing

Their pricing depends on your specific needs such as the number of users and features required, as well as the complexity of your organization. The good news is that Sage Intacct is designed to scale with your business.

Exact pricing is not available online, meaning that to get an accurate quote, you need to contact Sage Intacct directly.

Rating

Sage Intacct is currently rated 4.3 (from 3228 reviews) on the G2 platform.

SAP Business One Professional

Designed with construction managers in mind, SAP Business One Professional is an all-in-one solution that allows you to collaborate effectively, minimize risks, and optimize operations.

SAP offers a comprehensive suite of features to manage finances, operations, and customer relationships. This centralized approach breaks down data silos and brings everything that you need under one roof.

Main Features

When it comes to features, SAP offers quite a few useful functionalities:

• You can automate your purchasing process with SAP’s automation features, such as the wizard that consolidates multiple sales orders into one purchase order.
• SAP gives you the option to get real-time visibility into your warehouse stock levels and goods receipts.
• SAP offers fast and easy integration.
• SAP provides construction companies with a reliable and secure environment to operate.

Pricing

SAP Business One Professional does not offer pre-set pricing plans. Their sales team will work with you to understand your specific needs and then provide a personalized quote.

Rating

SAP Business One Professional is rated 4.3 (from 512 reviews) by users on the G2 platform.

IFS

IFS offers a powerful solution built specifically for the needs of modern homebuilders. It combines project management, manufacturing, analytics, and financial tools to use cutting-edge Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) strategies.

These techniques, including prefabrication and modular construction, can significantly improve your business.

Main Features

These are the main features of IFS:

• With its seamless integrations, you can connect your existing software systems with ease for a unified workflow.
• IFS provides powerful document and project management tools.
• IFS also offers manufacturing management tools.
• IFS has Building Information Modeling (BIM) integration which allows you to design and visualize your builds with cutting-edge BIM technology.

Pricing

IFS does not have publicly available pricing options. You need to contact their sales team to discuss your specific requirements and get a customized quote.

Rating

IFS has received a rating of 4 (from 249 reviews) on the G2 website.

Read More: What is ERP in Procurement? Role and Benefits

ERP Tailored For Your Construction Business

While all the above software solutions provide you with many benefits, they may not be specifically developed to address your specific needs. That’s why, partnering with a team that offers you a custom-made solution will prove advantageous.

With that being said, if you are considering custom-built ERP construction software, you can trust BSUPERIOR, a leading provider of tailor-made software solutions for a variety of industries, including construction.

We at BSUPERIOR specialize in crafting custom-made ERP solutions that perfectly match your construction company’s goals and workflows. No more struggling with generic software because we create an ERP that truly works for you.

Our solutions are not just effective, they are easy to set up. We ensure a smooth installation and effortless configuration process, allowing you to quickly reap the benefits of your new ERP system.

To learn more about our services, contact BSUPERIOR today. Let’s discuss your specific needs and explore how a customized construction ERP can help your business. We will be happy to answer any questions regarding our capabilities and pricing options.