Demystifying construction software: A guide for subcontractors new to digital tools
Rose Morrison • 
Construction managers must empower their subcontractors to get the most out of industry software. Your mission is to help stakeholders during digital transformation, asserting the importance and reliability of these tools. How do you do that, especially if you have never used construction software before? This guide will unpack their functions and how you can navigate them for everyone’s benefit.
Understanding the role of construction software
Programs come in numerous packages. Some companies prefer different software for every task, while others seek comprehensive solutions. Most use it to streamline workflows, manage budgets and track employees. In your work as a subcontractor, you could encounter any of the following tools:
- Budgeting and accounting
- Project oversight
- Scheduling
- Surveying
- Procurement tracking
- Customer service communications
- Contract negotiation and bidding
- Compliance management
These resources must be user-friendly, mobile-friendly and easily integrated into contractors’ workflows to be sustainable.
You’ll find out what will work best for you by assessing your needs first. Involve the team to ensure everyone has buy-in — this will establish a tech-driven culture before a project begins since everyone knows software expectations. When a digital tool could manage so much of a construction business’s operations, subcontractors must clarify what pain points it would mend to make an impact.
If you advocate for implementing software, everyone must receive adequate training beforehand. This is an ideal time to collect feedback on the usefulness and usability of the chosen program.
Benefiting from construction software use
You may feel many tasks lie outside of your job’s scope. However, learning more about what construction software can do has numerous benefits for every contract you sign. This includes making workplaces safe and more productive.
Subcontractors can automate many of the tedious tasks that commonly delay projects, such as time-tracking, progress reporting and communications related to bid management. The time savings allow workers to focus on high-value tasks.
Construction software can also help individuals working with heavy earthmoving equipment by storing manuals and providing maintenance information on company machines. Then, you never have to second-guess yourself about the load capacity or delegated uses.
Data-driven decision-making is another versatile feature of construction programs. These generate reports on everything from fleet efficiency to the status of outstanding negotiations. It can show where procurement materials are and historical budget overruns for specific project types.
Common types of construction software for subcontractors
If you are familiar with the common functionalities of these industry programs, then you can guess what is possible with their features. Dive into them deeper so you can take on any interface for any job.
You may want to inform a project lead about a program. Choosing software can be straightforward thanks to free trials and tutorials that familiarize subcontractors and stakeholders with what’s available.
Fleet management
Advanced construction companies record routes and track cargo with fleet management software. Some platforms reduce vehicle maintenance expenses by 48% because drivers have a better understanding of the machine’s health.
Project software
Numerous hands touch every blueprint. Engineers, architects, city planners and subcontractors all handle various aspects of the job’s completion. Project management software fosters a collaborative environment, so everyone attached to the site has visibility over timelines and progress. It is one of the most essential construction management tools of the modern age.
It makes it easier to collaborate and promotes long-lasting relationships within the industry by preventing misunderstandings and prioritizing transparency. An estimated 85% of contractors use a cloud-based tool for managing construction processes because of how much they help.
Bidding and estimation software
Subcontractors are always juggling multiple bids and potential clients. Fighting for the dream gig and submitting accurate bids is easier with estimation software. It makes cost management simpler to visualize, ensuring you do not miss a single aspect of a proposal or contract.
Many programs offer artificial intelligence (AI) features, which could provide insights into how similar bids have performed. The additional market research gives you an advantage on what will be worth your time investment.
Scheduling
Time management should be one of the simplest metrics to track, yet it is often one of the first to veer off-course. With the right jobsite management solution each user can save at least an hour each day, which can have a major impact on resource and time savings on budgets and project timelines.
Budgeting and accounting
You have to consider the price of materials, fluctuations in labor costs based on timeliness, investments in new equipment and environmental considerations for the jobsite. These are only a few monetary categories subcontractors consider when developing cost estimations. Software stops you from forgetting details and automates receipt tracking, wage distribution and tax administration.
Challenges in adopting digital tools for subcontractors
These are the best change management tips for subcontractors using construction software for the first time so you obtain as many benefits as possible.
Limited mobility
Subcontractors are always on the go, so you need a digital solution with mobile compatibility. If the software does not work on a phone or tablet, consider shopping elsewhere. It needs to be convenient to update and check tasks in the field. While you may want a high-power, comprehensive suite, you should prioritize accessibility by immediately dismissing options without mobile functionality.
Resistance to change
Many subcontractors rely on conventional operational methods. You may struggle to find those interested in futuristic approaches. This happens because many have knowledge gaps on what software can do. Work with the contractor to establish new values that prioritize demystifying the tools’ complexity to combat resistance.
Cost concerns
Initial investments can be tough to manage, especially for subcontractors or smaller outfits. However, evidence proves how certain the return on investment is for every department, especially when paired with building information modeling, the Internet of Things and sustainability initiatives.
Integration problems
An estimated 70% of business transformations fail because well-intentioned leaders set inaccurate expectations or incorporate technology without reason. Your team should have lengthy discussions about software use cases and how to measure performance before committing to a vendor to prevent as many growing pains as possible.
How to choose construction software for subcontractors
Subcontractors have significant power on every jobsite, and digital tools make them more invaluable. It has improved the confidence and competitiveness of countless freelancers, and you can leverage these advantages to land high-paying, safe and meaningful construction work. Start researching construction software and solutions that would work best for you whether you are a general contractor, specialty contractor, owner or fall into the architect or designer realm, technology can help you achieve your goals within your specialties and outpace the rest.
