Articles

Why construction companies need to use Cloud ERP

Learn more about how Cloud ERP systems help fulfill the unique needs and challenges of the construction industry.

How to choose the right Cloud ERP solution for your business

Adapting to the Needs of the Construction Industry

The construction industry is one of five industries driving the U.S. economy. As the population expands, construction projects are on the rise, keeping general contractors, subcontractors, home builders, and land developers busy managing costs, contracts, budgets, commitments, compliance, inventory, resources, and more, all while putting client expectations at the forefront.

Even with growth in the construction industry, the uncertainty between projects and industry pain points persist. Keeping to a projected budget and timeline in the face of supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, rising material prices, and other pandemic-related challenges is no easy feat.

How can construction companies flex with these ever-changing circumstances? A cloud ERP construction solution can help them achieve optimum adaptability.

Cloud Construction Management Finding the Right ERP Software

Read Blog Post

Managing Resources and Timelines with Cloud ERP Systems

Though the construction industry has a reputation for lagging behind in technology adoption, JLL’s report, The State of Construction Tech: 2020, says the pandemic has pushed construction companies to adopt technology faster than ever. Many have implemented industry-specific, cloud-based ERP systems to efficiently manage their resources and timelines.

A cloud ERP solution connects separate business management systems and organizes data in one place. This centralized database with integrated business applications—including CRM, financials, project accounting, inventory management, and more—is accessible by every employee (with appropriate role-based permissions) from anywhere, at any time, on any web-enabled device. As a single source of truth, it helps streamline workflows, communication, and collaboration.

With industry-specific cloud ERP construction software, construction companies can easily gain insight into job costs and manage financials, materials, documentation (e.g., RFIs, daily reports, and change orders), and project information (e.g., tasks, employee time, profitability, etc.). Making grounded forecasts based on real-time data has also never been simpler.

"Acumatica had the best roadmap, the best understanding of the construction industry, and the best user experience."

Shel Waggener, President

American Asphalt Repair & Resurfacing

Cloud ERP in Action

Construction companies using cloud ERP construction software are experiencing real, tangible benefits. For example, they have gained:

Real-time access to data for making informed forecasts and business decisions.
Mobile access for field teams, which increases productivity.
A clear view of their financial status.
Seamless integration with third-party applications (e.g., Procore, ProEst, Prophix, and Assignar).
Automatic document management, which saves time and boosts efficiency.

Roberts Glass & Service can verify these benefits. The company, which designs, manufactures, and installs glass curtain walls, storefronts, and entrance systems (plus interior glazing), depended on aging financial software before new owners said enough was enough.

Co-owner Jeff Hamilton explains: “Data was very siloed. We also had paper spreadsheets scattered throughout the office. We knew operating on Excel and siloes wasn’t going to allow us to grow or be more profitable or be more efficient and get information out to the field.”

So, Roberts Glass & Service evaluated its cloud ERP options and ultimately chose the Acumatica Construction Edition.

“We’ve torn down the silos we had with the client-server solution, so now we have access in one view of the data. We’re now able to see where we are cost-wise with our existing construction projects; we’re able to look at the profitability of each project, look at the customer base and understand where we are most successful,” Jeff said.

Choosing a Cloud ERP System for Your Organization

Any construction company that invests in cloud ERP construction software will enjoy the preceding advantages. However, the company must do its due diligence.

Choosing the right construction software for your business involves ERP research, ERP evaluation, and ERP selection, and Acumatica’s complimentary Construction Management ERP Evaluation Checklist is a great place to start. It’s a comparative tool that highlights five key evaluation categories.

Productivity
Functionality
Technology
Value
Risk

Construction companies should also confirm that the construction ERP software in which they are interested can be customized to fit their specific needs. As the evaluation checklist notes,

“The financial management system you select today will affect the way your construction business runs for the next 5 to 10 years. You need a system that helps your staff be more productive and maintain outstanding customer service.”

How Acumatica Can Help

The Acumatica Construction Edition, designed specifically for construction companies, was born in the cloud. Front office, back office, and job site personnel have access to a single solution that seamlessly integrates Acumatica’s core applications (e.g., Sales, Payroll, Financials, Marketing, CRM, Inventory, and Project Accounting) with specialized, third-party applications. Data syncs in real-time across programs and devices, giving every team member a single source of truth. Job costing, change management, budgets, commitments, compliance, and billing information are stored in one central location and are available 24/7 from any web-enabled device.

With the construction industry predicting continued growth, Acumatica’s agile, user friendly, and mobile cloud ERP construction solution is exactly what construction companies need to stay ahead of the competition.

Contact our team today with any questions about Acumatica’s cloud ERP software and/or to set up a demonstration.

Featured resources

General Checklist

Construction Accounting Software Checklist

Comparison Chart

Construction ERP: Feature Comparison

eBook

Discover the Complete ERP for the Construction Industry

View all resources

See what’s possible when you have a future-proof ERP platform that truly puts customers first.

Request a demo