In today’s business world, staying ahead of the competition means keeping up with the latest trends in technology. The commercial real estate construction industry is no stranger to this practice, and many companies are finding that implementing the right software gives them a significant advantage over their competition.

Hardin Construction is one construction firm that is using integrated project management and financial software designed specifically for construction companies. The firm has seen the most impact with project management software in the hands of its field personnel. “I’ve seen a lot of maturity in project management software,” says Danny Bensley, chief information officer at Hardin.

Standardization & Integration

Construction companies have started adopting products as standard and standardizing how they are using them, explains Bensley. “Three years ago, we had literally dozens of different databases with different project information. We’ve centralized [the data] on the project management system, and we’ve also integrated that project management data with our financial systems.”

This integration of project management and financial software produces greater efficiency, says Bensley. “We’ve found a number of areas where we don’t have to duplicate information. When you duplicate information, not only are you inefficient, but you risk errors.”

Further, the process of integrating the company’s software has resulted in the ability to make better decisions faster. Bensley explains that integrated software allows company decision-makers to look at projects in their entirety, instead of looking at pieces of field data next to pieces of financial data. In addition, he says, financial information is updated much more quickly with integrated software products.

Hardin uses (and has helped test) fully integrated financial and project management software by Computer Methods International Corporation (CMiC).

CMiC Enterprise manages the financial and operational side of the business. It integrates all departments and functions, according to CMiC Product Manager Bassem Hamdy. The software includes functions like accounts payable, accounts receivable, job cost, subcontract management, purchasing, billing, equipment control, payroll and human resources.

CMiC Project Management gives users the tools to manage contacts, automate the sales process, track and manage budgets, monitor and control costs, and manage both human capital and assets. The software includes functions like requests for information, meeting minutes and daily journals.

CMiC Collaboration Manager is an application of CMiC Project Management. This software builds on CMiC’s database, providing a collaborative environment for all teams involved in a project. Bensley explains that he can use the software to send a request for information to a team partner, such as the architect. That team partner answers the request on a specified Web site and Bensley is immediately notified by e-mail that the information is available, increasing communication efficiency between external partners of a project team. “It is about creating efficiencies and shortening our development cycle,” says Bensley.

CMiC Integration allows CMiC products to be integrated with financial or project management software products by other companies. For example, Bensley says his suppliers will be able to bill him electronically with the use of CMiC Integration software.

CMiC has worked on software for the construction industry for 28 years. The company’s products “allow data to be more easily accessed,” says Hamdy. “A project manager’s forecast — the lifeblood of a company — is more accurate and billings happen faster.”

The Need for Collaboration

In the future of technological advances in the construction industry, Bensley hopes to see better integration among broader project teams, including architects and owners. “We can do a better job with collaboration and integration with external partners,” he says.

Issues that must be resolved with collaboration among external partners include data ownership, documentation tracking, access to data and digital signatures. “People want their own records and collaboration systems don’t always address that,” says Bensley. “[Collaboration software doesn’t necessarily] solve responsibility and accountability issues.”

Top Technology Products for Contractors In addition to CMiC, other software companies are improving their project management software and offering integrated options. “It is a trend now in [the construction] industry — companies that wrote financial software for construction companies are now writing project management-type systems that integrate,” says Danny Bensley of Hardin Construction. Integrated Project Management and Financial Software for Construction Companies: •Beaverton, Oregon-based Timberline Software Corporation developed Timberline Office, an integrated solution geared toward mid-size construction firms. This software offers accounting, estimating, procurement, project management and reporting tools. (Timberline Software Corporation was acquired by Best Software in 2003.) •Portland, Oregon-based Viewpoint Construction Software, formerly Bidtek, offers Viewpoint, an integrated solution that features construction management, job cost, accounting, project management and operations management functions. Project Management Software for Construction Companies: • Folsom, California-based Meridian Project Systems® developed Prolog®, project management software for architecture, engineering and construction firms; Prolog Application Suite includes Prolog WebSite for collaboration, tools for managing resources and schedules, and handheld computers for entering field data. The company also offers Proliance®, an enterprise solution for capital development programs, and ProjectTalk.com®, featuring online project management and collaboration tools for corporate real estate projects. • Philadelphia-based Primavera Systems Inc. has developed Primavera Expedition project management software for engineering and construction professionals. The software features job cost management, change management and accountability management functions. It provides cross-project reporting and real-time views of all projects. The company has also developed Primavera P3e/c for Construction, which features schedule analysis, cost forecasting and streamlined coordination among designers, contractors and owners. The company’s Primavera PrimeContract software focuses on online collaboration for engineering and construction projects. • Atlanta-based Constructware offers collaboration solutions to construction-related companies. Its Internet-based project management solution facilitates communication between general contractors, owners, architects, engineers, construction managers, project managers and subcontractors. Its client-server based project management solution, designed for trade and specialty contractors, helps companies electronically create, store and track requests for information, transmittals, change orders, purchase orders, pay applications, correspondence and contact information from a centralized corporate database. In another industry trend, software companies are starting to form strategic partnerships, writing bridges between their products to achieve integrated operations and financial products. “For example,” Bensley says, “Prolog® has developed a strategic relationship with accounting vendors and written bridges.” Specifically, Meridian Project Systems® has worked with financial software companies J.D. Edwards, Deltek and ACS to develop products that integrate.

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