Bluebeam has partnered with the Chartered Institute of Building to write a step-by-step guide to help SMEs understand how to adopt construction software
According to the UK government’s Insolvency Service, over 4,200 construction companies have gone bankrupt in the past year, making it the worst-performing sector. As labour, materials, and energy costs fluctuate, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the most vulnerable.
As SMEs are more exposed to consumer demand and often wait a long time for payment from those higher up the supply chain, it is easy to see why the volume of their business failures is at its highest level in over a decade.
How construction software can help
According to James Chambers, director of global industry development for the Build and Construct Division at Nemetschek, SMEs must look for ways to work more effectively to survive in this climate.
He says construction software can help: “The use of construction-focused software has increased in the last few years. While the pandemic was undoubtedly a trigger point for many, investment has not slowed.
“Many more solutions are on the market than a few years ago, suitable for all business sizes. Years ago, people used to think digitalisation was out of reach because of the cost of purchasing solutions and the perceived implementation challenges.”
“Now, solutions are more accessible, and many companies realise they can improve their margins and deliver better project outcomes without breaking the bank.”
Transforming construction businesses with software
Chambers adds that these tools can be transformative no matter how companies implement them. That said, he cautions that businesses develop a detailed use case first: “Before making an investment in software, leaders should look at what the business
needs at both the project level and operational level.
“Understanding the way that people work, the tools available on the market, and the key improvements that you want to achieve, the likelihood of choosing the right software and implementing it properly is much higher.
“Whether starting with a small step, using software that tackles one problem at a time,
or overhauling the business from top to bottom, I think businesses will be able to find something that helps.”
He explains that companies often look to improve financial management, de-risk projects, and boost collaboration when starting out with construction software.
While all are useful, he argues that anything that helps with finance should come first.
“Tools can monitor cashflow easily and flag any danger areas, such as late payments or increases in costs,” he says.
“Cash is king, so removing analogue processes and improving data capture and analysis here will make a big difference to business owners and senior teams.”
Remove risk by bringing people together
After finance, Chambers suggests that tools that drive effective communication should be
next: “One way to reduce mistakes and avoid costly rework or delays is through effective communication between the project team and the client.
“Software can help here, too. Take capturing customer requirements. A consistent
workflow ensures the client’s desired outcomes and expectations are fully understood and easy to share among the full project team. That reduces the chances of any surprises during the project.
“Combining this with cloud-based tools allows real-time collaboration on documents,
whether on-site or in an office. With activities like design changes and updates logged in real-time, you are never more than a click away from the latest project information.”
Bluebeam and CIOB team up on guide
To help SMEs understand how to adopt construction software, Bluebeam has partnered with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) to write a technical guide, Digital Transformation for SMEs: Unlocking the Benefits.
It outlines a step-by-step process for adopting technology, including where software can improve or replace processes, finding the best solution, and successfully rolling out new software tools.
It also includes case studies from SME contractors who have adopted new software tools and seen huge improvements in their business.
Chambers concludes: “If you are just starting out, I recommend that companies choose quick and easy tools to adopt, bringing people together and delivering recognisable gains as quickly as possible.
“The important thing is to ensure that a high return on investment can be
achieved and that those wins can be shared internally. This tends to help adoption, lays the groundwork for future additions, and ensures that the full benefits of the software can be realised.
“By helping people to be more efficient and bringing up-to-date and accurate information to the forefront, businesses can improve their performance significantly and make themselves more robust and futureproof.”
Digital Transformation for SMEs: Unlocking the Benefits can be downloaded for free using code ‘bluebeamtis’.
Bluebeam
Tel: +44 (0) 203 868 9061
*Please note: This is a commercial profile.
