Construction Project Management or CPM is a very important requirement in the construction field. A qualified project manager and a motivated team of experts are required to drive any construction project to success. In the present scenario, it is equally important to have the aid of competent CPM software which will make sure that the project is well-planned and executed according to the plan. From quote to complete, every action needs to be recorded and accounted for to arrive at the actual cost incurred and to know how profitable and efficient the project has been. CPM fundamentally consists of inquiry, estimate, confirmation, design, plan, approval, execution, quality assurance, review and completion stages. Each of these stages needs to be documented properly so that during approval, the entire terms and conditions discussed are clearly mentioned. This ensures there’s no deviation from the confirmed and approved plan, and hence the execution stage moves ahead smoothly. Upon work completion, the client inspects the project and cross-checks the details against the approved plan and schedule. Finally, the client approves the work and releases the payment as per the contract.
Automation of Construction Project Management
Automation of digitization of CPM is a sure shot way to make the process more streamlined, flawless and cost-efficient. It also makes sure the costs are posted without fail to the integrated accounting and payroll modules which are closely linked to CPM. There are a few rules a project manager should keep in mind while preparing for a project:
- Plan for everything, including the risks. Always have a Plan B in place so that the project will not be delayed when Plan A fails.
- Keep everything documented.
- Planning should be continuous. The Project Manager must keep a close eye on the planned vs actual reports and keep updating the plan to include the current changes. It has to be robust as well as real-time.
- Keep track of the actuals and take corrective action whenever required
- Keep track of the costs incurred in terms of resources as well as materials.
- Keep the communication channels between the subordinates, managers, management as well as the client. It will be a good idea to keep the client in the communication loop, even if separate, to build confidence on the contractor.
- Make sure that all required reports are available in the selected project management tool to augment the project.
How can the tracking software help track a construction project?
Though the initial training and getting used to using the software can be a bottleneck period, once trained and practiced, the software can help you in boundless ways to keep track of the project as well as to keep the cost in check. Some of the vital advantages it gives are:
- Real-time estimation data available which can be used to prepare an estimate for a different client on a similar project. It can also be compared with the actual values to find out where all the deviations have affected. This information can be used while estimating future projects.
- Planning and scheduling can be done through the software which can be assigned to the various supervisors who keep track of the field work and update the progress. Managers can keep track of these updates and check for variations from the schedule. If a significant variation is spotted, the plan can be revised and the cycle is continuous till the project is completed.
- The milestones set and completed through the software can be used to share with the clients which further reinforces their trust upon the contractor. The same work which is done using an excel otherwise can get quite cumbersome and complicated. Even though the project managers will be able to understand such complex excel sheets, the clients may find it too complicated.
- Procurement of construction materials, inventory management and warehousing can be very helpful when it comes to large-scale constructions and organizations handling multiple construction projects simultaneously. An integrated system will provide the Project Managers the advantage of allocating resources to the projects in a timely manner and to automate the procurement process.
- HR management, Payroll and accounting are also key areas to be integrated with CPM. As with material management, talent management and accounting entries can be automated to a great extent. This enables the real-time tracking of the project cost.
- Technology advancements can be used to manage and cost-control construction projects easily and efficiently. Cloud computing and mobile apps make sure that the software is accessible anywhere, anytime. This makes data entry possible on remote construction sites and tracking also possible from far-fledged offices. The data is literally at the fingertips of the Project managers no matter where they are located.
How to choose the right tool for your organization?
There are many options available in the market as far as an ERP for construction is concerned. But choosing the right CPM software for your organization can be quite tricky. Everyone pitches with a lot of fancy options, most of which may not be of any use to you. So how to choose the right CPM software remains an important question! Let us analyze some of the vital requirements you need to check for while choosing the perfect ERP for construction:
- Choose the one that aligns with your organization’s processes
- Check for the reports rather than the entry options
- Mobility is very important and hence choose the one which provides you freedom from wires
- If a SaaS option is available, try that out first and then proceed to long-term subscription or purchase of the software.
Ultimately what matters more than the looks are the functionality and connectivity. With the right CPM software, Project Management will become as easy as the click of a few buttons.