Have you ever enlarged your project management goals just because of the fact that you needed to? I have, and it wasn’t fun whatsoever. It’s time for the truth. You must improve your software for project managers knowledge if you want to achieve your goals and get more from life.
Software for project managers in construction and free project management software can be tricky to find. You may have heard about some of these and are already looking for them. But, you may not have heard about others. That is why I decided to put together this list so you can see what is out there. Whether it’s for construction project or just “project,” these tools deserve attention.
GanttPRO
GanttPRO is Gantt chart software for efficient project management. It easily allows splitting your projects into groups of tasks and subtasks, organizing and scheduling tasks, and setting durations and dependencies between them. GanttPRO put your projects on Gantt charts to set accurate estimates and manage your resources wisely. GanttPRO online project planning tool has basic Gantt charts features as well as features of the team management software and the resource management software. GanttPRO lets you work alone or create a workspace for your team. Set roles, assign tasks to team members, track project progress, and add attachments and comments. Gantt…
Overview
Features
•Tasks management.
•Dependencies between tasks.
• Critical path.
• Auto scheduling.
•Team collaboration.
• Resource management.
• Cost management.
•History of a project.
•Project and personal calendars.
Price
•Essential plan for a single user – $15 per month if billed annually.
•Team for 5 members – $7.90 per user per month if billed annually.
•Team for 10 members – $6.90 per user per month if billed annually.
•Team for 15 members – $5.90 per user per month if billed annually.
•50% OFF for non-profits.
What is best?
•Tasks management
•Auto scheduling
•Team collaboration
What are the benefits?
• Notifications.
•Filters.
• Sharing with a public URL.
Bottom Line
GanttPRO is SaaS software for project management based on Gantt charts. It makes your plans visually appealing and easy to understand and helps to keep progress of your project.
BIM 360
BIM 360 is an online project management system designed for construction industry. It is designed to help project, field and BIM managers to speed up the delivery of their projects and manage their project budget and adhering to industry standards, safety rules and project specifications. BIM 360 enables teams to effectively design, implement workable schedules, enhance communications and resolve issues faster. It allows managers to have near absolute control over their projects, resulting faster and more efficiently delivery of their projects. BIM 360 features include; construction tracking, real time data, manage field data, track key performance indicators, dashboards, quality assurance/…
Overview
Features
• Quality assurance/quality control
• Construction tracking
• Identify trends and minimizes
• Dashboards
• Custom reports and analysis
• Track key performance indicators
• Notifications
• Access control
• Document modification
• Publishing
• Navigation
• Real time data
• View field data updates
• Manage field data performance
• Design tool integration
What is best?
• Quality assurance/quality control
• Construction tracking
• Identify trends and minimizes
What are the benefits?
• Access from anywhere anytime
• Increase job site productivity and control
• Report tracking and analysis
Bottom Line
BIM 360 is an online project management system designed for construction industry that includes features like construction tracking, dashboards, custom reports & analysis, notifications and access control. It enables teams to effectively design, implement workable schedules, enhance communications and resolve issues faster.
Procore
Procore is one of the most popular and complete construction project management software products on the market. Their customer reputation is stellar, with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and positive reviews across the web. Procore went public in May of 2021 after operating as a private company based in California since 2002. Along with project management, Procore offers field service, quality and safety management, and financial management software as well.
Pros
- The best user interface of any product we reviewed
- Core construction project management functionality is the best on the market
- Outstanding customer service, training, and ongoing technical support
Cons
- It’s not possible to get a price estimate from Procore without speaking to a sales rep
- Lacks comprehensive accounting capabilities
- Certain workflows lack flexibility and can be challenging to set up
Procore is intended primarily for general contractors, but is also a great fit for construction managers, subcontractors, and owners. The product is totally customizable at purchase, so users can choose the tools they need, making it a good fit for any size user or business. However, it is probably best suited for businesses doing about $5 million or more in annual revenue.
Procore’s platform is offered as an online, cloud-based app for desktop computers. Procore is also available via mobile apps for iOS, Android, and Windows devices. This makes Procore convenient and easy to use when on the go, and ideal for users who need collaboration capabilities. Procore’s online platform and mobile apps have some of the cleanest and most modern interfaces of any construction management tool.
Procore offers much more than a slick interface, having one of the most complete feature sets of any tool we’ve reviewed. These features include tools for bidding, daily logs, drawings, emails, meetings, project photos, punch lists, RFIs, scheduling, project specifications, submittals, time cards, and transmittals.
For the features that Procore doesn’t include, it offers one of the largest selections of third-party product integrations through the Procore Marketplace. Some popular integration partners include Sage 300 CRE, Sage 100 Contractor Connector, Docusign, Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, Vista, Spectrum, Quickbooks, Buildingconnected, Isqft, and ProEst (for estimating).
Procore advertises that its project management software by itself starts at $667 per month, while a combination of Procore’s project management and financial management tools starts at $811 per month. However, Procore’s pricing cannot be simplified to a one-size-fits-all model: pricing can scale up according to the types of projects and volume of business you run through Procore, and additional modules or other products you include in your package will cost extra as well.
While you may not be able to get a firm price until you speak with the sales team, the majority of users find significant value in Procore’s platform. According to surveys of Procore customers, users save an average of 11 days on projects using Procore, and 83% of users agree that Procore helps identify areas for improvement on projects. These efficiencies can save your business money and help make investment in Procore well worthwhile.
Finally, Procore also distinguishes itself with outstanding service. With a subscription to the product, Procore includes product training and ongoing support with an outstanding staff of representatives. Product reviews show high satisfaction with Procore’s customer service team.
Because of Procore’s extensive feature set, convenient integrations, and great reputation, it is our top recommendation, and we rate it the Best Overall Construction Project Management Software.
Buildertrend
Buildertrend is a fairly new software company, founded in 2007. However, it’s already become one of the most widely used construction project management tools. The company offers exceptional customer service and scores an A+ with the Better Business Bureau.
Pros
- Excellent features tailored specifically to home builders, remodelers, and their clients, including communication features and a client portal
- Straightforward pricing model that is less expensive than competitors
Cons
- Some customers complain of a steep learning curve
- Lacks some functionality that is important to commercial clients
Buildertrend is designed primarily for home building, remodeling, and specialty contracting, but can also be used for commercial projects. And beyond just construction project management, Buildertrend includes features that span presales, financial management, and customer relationship management. This review speaks only to its project management capabilities, but to learn more about what else Buildertrend can do, you can also check out our review of Buildertrend’s estimating software.
Buildertrend’s cloud-based platform can be accessed via any device with a web browser and also through its iOS and Android apps. The same easy-to-navigate and clean interface is used on each of the Buildertrend products. Since the platform is online and app-based, the developers at Buildertrend constantly release updates and improvements, which all users receive instantly.
Buildertrend has a powerful suite of features addressing project management and much more. Their construction project management tools include daily logs to keep teams accountable, work in progress reports, to-do lists for creating and tracking action items, scheduling functionality, in-platform messaging, and other collaboration features that help with efficiency and meeting deadlines. Other features include document and photos storage, punchlists, and plan markup.
Buildertrend’s product covers a lot of needs, but it also offers a large suite of integrations for users who work with other technologies. Some popular software that Buildertrend connects with include:
- ProEst and Clear Estimates for estimating
- Stack, eTakeoff, PrebuiltML, and PlanSwift for takeoff
- Quickbooks and Xero for accounting
- Several file-sharing and design tools
Buildertrend has two price tiers, Core and Pro, both of which support unlimited projects and users. Core starts at a base cost of $99 per month and includes key project management features like scheduling, daily logs, to-dos, communications tools, a client portal, and select integrations. Pro starts at $299 per month and includes the functionality of the Core level along with features for warranties, surveys, bids, change orders, and much more.
Buildertrend includes a 30-day money-back guarantee with the purchase of a license, meaning that there is no commitment if the software doesn’t work for your business. The same money-back guarantee also applies to buyers that decide to pay annually.
Buildertrend is an incredible product that was specifically designed with home builders and remodelers in mind. Because of this, we rate it the Best Construction Project Management Software for Remodelers.
Smartsheet
Most people in construction would agree that construction is the ultimate “get it done” industry. There is always something that needs to be done, and quickly. If you’re looking for software that will help you maximize your projects’ efficiency, Smartsheet is the one for you.
Smartsheet is a project management software relied upon by many of the world’s largest construction companies. It helps them to stay productive and communicate effectively with a spreadsheet-like interface.
Smartsheet’s project scheduling solution allows you clear visibility over the entire project. You can match tasks to suitable employees, as well as set start times, buffer, and lead times, ensuring ultimate transparency on project deadlines.
Some other things Smartsheet will assist you with are:
- Capture issues in real-time
- Increase collaboration among project teams, vendors, and clients
- Reduce testing and inspection errors with collaborative solutions
- Improve job satisfaction by maintaining transparency between client and crews
Smartsheet is an excellent option for small companies or growing organizations. Their standard pricing plans start from just $21 per month for an individual or $37 per user per month for a business. They also have plans to suit larger organizations underneath their enterprise pricing.
You can try Smartsheet for free today.
Conclusion:
There are some wonderful project management software available for construction professionals to use. These range from project management software free to enterprise solutions. The benefit of using project management software (or PMS) is that it’s much easier to assign tasks, track progress and know exactly who’s working on what. Such software allows you to see the forest for the trees, which can be invaluable in a fast-paced industry that thrives on deadlines and tight schedules.