Hassle-Free Management Tools for Commercial Contractors

These days, commercial construction has emerged as an increasingly competitive and fragmented industry with a couple of glacial movements taking center stage. To unlock such potential and notch up a howling success, it’s a “must” that get well-informed and be properly equipped with cutting-edge tools.

Should you be in the market for a full-stack construction management software, let’s go through our pick for the top software and decide on your best one!

#1. RedTeam

RedTeam is a cloud-based construction management software with a focus on optimizing and streamlining project management for infrastructure and building operations. Being a full-stack platform that can equip you with essential tools required in business development, preconstruction, project management, cost control, billing, and field management, RedTeam helps to drive dramatic increases in performance for all team stakeholders of any type of construction project.

RedTeam’s platform has been built around contract management just like the way commercial general contractors work every day. This gives the software a key distinction and makes it a robust platform that you could confidently count on to manage every single aspect of your business’s construction projects.

Besides some basic features of project management and real-time integration to QuickBooks Online, RedTeam also has functionalities for CRM, estimating, bid management job cost tracking and control, time capture and expense management. Additionally, this platform proves helpful in reducing risk, breaking down communication barriers, driving consistency, and capturing the entire story through all phases of the construction cycle.

Key Features:

• Bid management
• Quote comparison
• Solicitation analytics tool
• Online planroom
• Optical character recognition tool
• Submittal workflow tracker
• Redteam Gannt schedule
• Change order management
• Invoice tracking
• Budget managing
• Mobile app
• Real-time updates
• Recorder
• Project opportunity tracker
• Event reminders
• Vendor invoices
• Employee time and expenses
• Customer billing
• Field management

Pricing: RedTeam’s pricing plans start at $ 4,200 per year for full functionality (with no free trial).

#2. Procore

Launched in 2003, Procore emerges as a  user-centric construction management system that gives you a centralized hub to connect your people, devices, and applications seamlessly. By offering a unified and centralized platform, you will be able to view your most critical data as well as empower standardized operations. Not only does this enable you to schedule tasks and handle project details but it also makes it easy for you to obtain vital insights for making data-driven decisions and projections.

Procore’s users handle all types of construction projects ranging from retail centers, university facilities, apartment complexes to office buildings, industrial plants, and more. Also, the Procore App comes with an app marketplace, which does offer over 150 partner solutions that integrate seamlessly with the platform. It enables users to,

This software facilitates unlimited collaboration enabling you to communicate across disparate teams, with anyone, from anywhere, in real time. It is a collaborative and mobile all-in-one platform designed to streamline construction project management, making it easier to work together by eliminating silos and establishing a single source of information. In fact, Procore offers almost everything you need to standardize your processes.

It is available on monthly subscriptions and support is extended via phone, email, knowledgebase, and other online measures.

Key Features:

• Drawings & documents management
• Email tracking
• Field & quality control
• Inspections & observations
• Scheduling
• Financial bidding
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Contract, change & cost management
• Sage 300 cre connector
• Technology offerings (procore connect, procore fx)
• Insightful data
• Project directory
• User-centric dashboard

Pricing: Upon request (Procore pricing plan is available on a by-quote basis only, not with a free trial)

#3. Corecon

Corecon is a comprehensive cloud-based construction management software suite designed for growing construction and engineering firms. By employing Corecon, you can effectively complete all project management tasks in one robust software suite, including contract administration, procurement, time tracking, correspondence, drawings, documentation, quality control, scheduling, external team collaboration and much more. Furthermore, such an all-inclusive solution includes executive dashboards that offer visibility into every facet of the project whether it is time-sensitive tasks, documents or financials.

Another major attractiveness is its built-in wizards which automate complex tasks such as transferring estimating information to create cost codes, contracts, budgets, POs, and Subcontracts saving project management and accounting staff valuable time. Thus, Corecon’s technology makes all departments collaborate more efficiently and ignite the project profitability. Each module’s alerts and calendars can also ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.

To integrate with one’s existing accounting system, CoreconLink utilities can transfer all project financials using a simple sync wizard which eliminates duplicate data entry while maintaining consistency across the organization. CoreconLinks is also available for Intuit QuickBooks, Sage 50 Canada, SAP Business One and Xero.

Key Features:

• CRM
• Project lead tracking                                                
• Drawings, specifications, invitation to bid                                                   
• Budget tracking/job costing
• Construction estimating
• RFI & Submittals
• Contracts and changes                                              
• Procurement module                                                 
• Human resource management                                                         
• Accounting integration
• Correspondence                                                          
• Documentation                                             
• Quality control and safety                                                      
• Project lead analytics
• Customizable reporting        
• Calendars and scheduling  

Pricing: Upon request (with a free trial)

#4. Wrike

Should you wish to find a construction management software for a team of more than 20 members, then Wrike may be amongst your perfect options!

Actually, users can reap a whole lot of benefits by implementing Wrike – an all-in-one solution for builders. Whether you need to optimize your routine operations, manage staff better, or allocate materials more efficiently, this platform can provide you with the tools you need. Equipped with plan visualization options, resource allocation tools, and time tracking solutions, Wrike aims to considerably simplify complex construction projects as well as enables its users to get a bird’s eye view of their project management.

Coupled with various management features, the platform also offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that both novice and professional users will surely appreciate. To top it all off, this full-stack solution has open API capabilities that allow it to blend in with a number of software ecosystems so that you can easily extend its functions or modify the platform depending on the unique needs of your business.

Key Features:

• Real-time Gantt chart
• Workload view
• Collaboration tools
• Job tracking
• Resource management
• Cost-to-completion tracking
• Time & expense tracking
• Milestone tracking
• Agile & traditional methodologies
• App integrations
• File sharing
• Client portal
• Activity stream
• Intuitive dashboard
• Work order management

Pricing: Wrike offers 5 subscription plans that are priced depending on the needs of your business.

• Wrike Free Plan: Free (up to 5 users)
• Wrike Professional Plan: $9.80/user/month
• Wrike Business Plan: $24.80/user/month
• Wrike for Marketers: $34.60/user/month
• Wrike Enterprise: Upon request

A free trial is also offered!

#5. PlanGrid

Trusted by major construction firms on more than 500,000 projects around the world, PlanGrid is an advanced construction productivity software focused on providing construction tools of its clients and satisfying every online construction management need. In particular, this tool has been developed as an intuitive, sheet-based construction app that has empowered commercial contractors to build from the current set, and in such way controlled the problems of overruns in cost and schedule.

PlanGrid prides itself on being the first RFI (request for information) solution that takes care of the whole lifecycle of an RFI. In fact, almost single every process from beginning to end that involves your blueprint project is tied together with the help of this software. PlanGrid’s users can manage thousands of licenses with its admin console while project data is securely saved to the cloud so that you’ll never lose track of your progress even if a device goes missing. Also, at project completion, a full, hyperlinked as-built can be generated and shared with owners.

Amazingly, thanks to its built-in cloud technology, it is now possible for users to maintain just one master set. And more importantly, the master set you have with PlanGrid will offer automatic version control, allowing you to keep your team well-informed with anything regarding the project, including any new renders or notes on the blueprints created.

Currently storing over 30 million pages of digital blueprints, PlanGrid is gaining increasing power in the cloud to be distinguished as one of the world’s leading and most downloaded construction management apps.

Key Features:

• End-to-end RFI solution
• Single master set
• Sharing
• Security
• Work from anywhere
• Simple issue tracking
• Progress photos
• Auto hyperlinking

Pricing: PlanGrid offers some available payment plans as follows

• Nailgun (550 sheets) – $39/month, billed annually
• Dozer (5000 sheets) – $59/month, billed annually
• Crane (Unlimited sheets) – $119/month, billed annually

Besides, it provides users with a free trial of 21 days.

#6. CoConstruct

CoConstruct is a web-based custom builder and remodeler software designed to optimize the routine operations of builders, modelers, design-build firms and general commercial contractors. With three well-formulated functionality modules – Coordinate, Communicate & Control, CoConstruct works to help eliminate the chaos in your day while creating rewarding building experiences for you and your clients.

Compared to other solutions in the same niche, what makes CoConstruct really distinctive is its unique design that allows management of perpetually changing concepts with unrestrained customization – instead of limiting constructors’ possibilities to defined types of activities, designs, or materials.

Plus, CoConstruct is the only single-entry estimating system that does allow each user to enter a piece of information once, and have that data flow directly from the estimate, specifications, selections, bids, change orders, budgets, and to and from QuickBooks/Zero – with no double entry. In addition to the comprehensively integrated financial module, this platform helps to streamline scheduling, communication, client and subcontractor portals, files, photos, to-dos, time clock, job log, warranty, and more.

Being completely cloud-hosted, CoConstruct eliminates all hassle arising from complex installations and expensive maintenance as well as offers an intuitive interface. Additionally, it helps to generate client-facing proposals effortlessly, feature a client portal for transparency and communication, feature award-winning communication that tracks all emails and texts in one central place, empowering you to track and convert prospects into clients.

Key Features:

• Budget & forecast project costs
• Single-entry estimating (removing double-entry between systems & spreadsheets)
• Track change orders & expenses
• Streamline bidding
• Effortless proposals
• Simplify timesheet management & scheduling
• Track job site activity & progress
• Improve client communication
• Integration with accounting system
• Manage and track leads
• Finish strong with punch list & warranty
• Customize for branding & marketing

Pricing: Upon request (No free trial is allowed)

#7. PlanHub

Also being a cloud-based solution, PlanHub is better known as a free construction plan room and bid management software that smoothly connects general commercial contractors and subcontractors. In particular, it allows them to post projects, send bid invites, share information, facilitating communication and engagement between general contractors and subcontractors during the pre-construction stage of projects.

PlanHub enables general contractors to grow their construction business by connecting them to subcontractors beyond their own network and outside their normal construction area. Since the bid coverage is expanded, general contractors will be granted golden opportunities to win more projects, and at the same time, reduce construction costs. 

In the meantime, this construction management software makes it easy for subcontractors to look for projects in their locality they can bid for. With just some simple clicks on PlanHub platform, they can easily place their bids on projects, submit requests for information to general contractors, and access all the files and information they need. 

Key Features:

• Construction networking
• Bid management
• Project & bid organization/filtering
• Project file sharing
• Invite tracking
• Email messaging
• Instant chat
• Localized bidding
• Online plan room

Pricing: Designed with the needs of small and medium-sized construction businesses in mind, PlanHub offers some affordable pricing plans that’re well worth your consideration:

• PlanHub Basic: Free
• PlanHub Premier: Starts at $59/month
• PlanHub Nationwide: $399/month

The Bottom Lines

Over recent years, the emergence of tech-powered construction management software has taken the commercial construction world by storm, making contractors’ jobs easier and preventing several headaches. Unless you wish to get snowed under tons of daily grinds, let’s harness the power of these well-grounded software and enjoy hassle-free workdays.

Managing a construction company is already overwhelmed with several planning and operational activities but keeping your service image visible online is also crucial to ignite the profitability of your business. Should you need any help with a dedicated team to get your business exposed to the digital world, don’t hesitate to get an online presence manager.