Technology continues to play a key role in the construction industry and the adaptation of new innovative technologies continues to accelerate. Today’s ERP (enterprise-resource planning) solutions must step up to the plate to reduce costs, increase productivity, support smarter business decisions, automate manual labor-intensive processes, reduce risks, and facilitate communication among project stakeholders.
The Value of a Dynamic ERP: Data
An ERP continues to be the foundation of commercial constructors’ technology stack. A cloud-based, web-based ERP solution delivers an integrated approach where all stakeholders can access invaluable business information anywhere, anytime, and on demand to view status, predict future outcomes, and evaluate past performance. With a dynamic ERP, users access this integrated, accurate, and secure data on the go, in the office, in the field, and they can serve up realtime business intelligence in forms of data views, launchpads, dashboards, and live reports. This information and the indicators within help all stakeholders collaborate, make fact-based decisions, and mitigate risks. Working in Microsoft Excel must remain the thing of the past, as information in spreadsheets is constantly outdated and inaccurate. The modern ERP database is the only single source of truth.
The Value of a Dynamic ERP: Workflow
Regardless of the size and type of construction, successful commercial contractors continue to find ways to eliminate manual processes and labor-intensive processes with automated workflows. The less manual processes a company has the less mistakes the company makes. It not only eliminates errors, but it also reduces duplicated errors, increases productivity, and it allows for visibility into ongoing improvements—i.e.: smarter ways of running the business operations.
The Value of a Dynamic ERP: Flexibility
A modern ERP allows for customization and flexibility. Each organization is different, and this is the case in construction. A flexible and customizable ERP provides the ability to adjust the software to meet business process and strategy needs instead of having to adjust the business to function the way the software allows it. Companies should not alter the way they want to run their businesses due to the limitations of the software. In addition, specialized third-party software solutions are often required to meet the needs of a contractor and a modern, dynamic ERP solution offers the ability to integrate with such specialized software solutions.
Future Trends
ERP will continue to be the foundation for commercial contractors’ businesses. Additionally, AI (artificial intelligence) will start playing a more prominent role with ERP solutions in the construction industry. We will see AI couple with business intelligence to bring advantages with risk mitigation such as insurance, safety measures, subcontractor selection and performance measures, staffing/onboarding, construction projects evaluations, and more. ERP will be the central repository to store, access, and share AI algorithms, which can analyze customer data, preferences, and behavior to deliver personalized recommendations, offers, and experiences. Personalization helps foster customer loyalty, increase engagement, and drive revenue growth. In addition, it will save tremendous expenses in areas such as insurance, safety, contracts, labor agreements, and more.
Robotics will also enter the technology arena in the manufacturing section of the construction industry such as assembly, prefabrication, painting, drilling, welding, and other jobs, and tasks where labor is scarce or where large production volume is required. ERP software will provide companies with the tools they need to manage their production processes, including the ability to track and control the use of robots.