Key Resources for the Construction Industry

When we work with companies to select the right system that fits their needs, we also spend time researching their industry to determine which systems should be on their list for evaluation. In doing this, we’ve found that the construction industry in particular has a great resource you may not be aware of.

JBKnowlege ConTech Report

JBKnowledge, in partnership with The Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) conducts annual surveys to develop its ConTech (Construction Technology) report. Survey answers include what technology solutions respondents are using for estimating, project management, and more. If you want to read the latest surveys, you can do so for free through JBKnowledge, which has been conducting the survey since 2012. If you want to keep up-to-date on the latest technologies being used in the construction industry, this survey should be on your list to review every year. You can use this report to benchmark your company’s use of technology compared to your peers. You can also use the information to improve almost every aspect of your business. Here are a few recent stats from the 2018 report:

IT budget

  • 46% of construction companies are spending less than 1% of their revenue on IT.
  • 41% of construction companies are not billing their IT expenditures to specific projects.
  • However, the percentage of companies who are billing IT indirectly or directly has increased from 22.2% in 2017 to 24.5% in 2018, so it is increasingly becoming a billable expense.

IT staffing

  • CFOs and CEOs are most likely to be in charge of the IT department.
  • 66% of construction companies have a dedicated IT staff of 1-5 employees.
  • Generally, staff size has mostly to do with the number of employees in the company.

Data security

  • Employee training is the most common method of cloud data security. 66% of companies said they did this.
  • 78% of companies have not experienced a data breach in the last 12 months.

Mobile devices and top mobile apps

  • 85% of companies believe that mobile development is important or very important for their industry.
  • More people surveyed use smartphones (93%) than laptops (80%) daily.
  • Top apps for daily report management included Bluebeam, Procore, PlanGrid, and BIM 360 Field (Autodesk).

Workflow

  • Workflows are less likely to be dependent on spreadsheets in 2018
  • Accounting/ERP workflows are most likely to be using dedicated software (80%), followed by estimating (56%).

Top 3 Software Choices by Category

  • Accounting: Viewpoint, Sage 300, QuickBooks
  • Takeoff: On-Screen Takeoff, Bluebeam, Accubid / Autobid
  • Estimating: Sage Estimating, AccuBid (Trimble), HeavyBid
  • Bid Management: SmartBid, iSqFt, BuildingConnected
  • Project Scheduling: Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, Procore
  • Project Management: Procore, Prolog, HCSS HeavyJob
  • CRM: Cosential, Salesforce, Outlook
  • File Storage / Collaboration: DropBox, OneDrive, SharePoint

Emerging technologies

  • 35.2% of people survey are using voice assistance technology sometimes, with 58% of them using Siri.
  • The majority of respondents (59%) are not using drones on construction sites.
  • 38% of companies believe that prefabrication will give them a “strategic advantage” over competitors.

Chortek’s White Paper

If you are considering replacing your existing systems, our white paper on “How to Select a New Business Management System” is a must-read.

Are you trying to decide what system is right for your business? Contact us to start the conversation today. We can connect you with the resources and the experienced people to continue to grow your business.