No doubt, if you’ve been to a recent construction industry event, you will have seen or know of Procore. You might even be using Procore in your own firm right now. As one of the biggest software providers in the AEC sector, Procore has in many ways set the standard for construction software. Recently however, more and more software providers have entered into the market, disrupting Procore’s stranglehold and offering an alternative - and with great success.
Procore is targeted at a very specific market - mid to large enterprises. If you’re a business with less than $2.5m in annual revenue, then Procore might not be for your organisation; while firms with less than $10m in annual revenue may not receive favourable pricing when compared to those generating significantly more in revenue.
In 2017, Procore expanded its original suite of four products to thirteen, each with their own price point. And while the solutions are presented as being part of a single platform, you need to consider which products you require to ‘build’ the platform in a way that works for your firm. Procore also favours remote support over face to face, unlike many other providers.
While Procore set a good benchmark for project management software in the construction industry, a number of other providers have now entered the market - and often with more enhanced and tailored software tools. So, what should you look for?
Different companies will have different needs, but it's worth considering some of the following features before you make your final decision.
Pricing. Does the provider charge on a per user, project or fixed price basis? Some providers will charge for their software on a per user or project basis. While this is generally common practice in the software industry as a whole, it means that as you grow, you have to consider how many more licence fees you’ll need.
User experience is critical. If people on your job sites don’t adopt and use the software tool because it's too hard to use, then it becomes redundant. Software providers like Fonn for example, offer a simple and easy to use app that anyone on site can use with minimal effort and training. If you want to make good decisions based on the data you collect, then usability is critical.
Features. These are an extremely important part of the decision-making process. It’s not just about what your firm needs today, but what you might need in the future. And importantly, do they all sit within one product or platform? Some providers offer a range of products, with different features sitting across that ‘suite of products’. If so, then you may need to think about what internal IT capabilities you need to bring them altogether.
Integrations. In line with the features you need, consider how your construction project management software works with your other software applications such as CRM. Ideally, you want data to flow across different applications to help you make better decisions and customer data (through your CRM application) is one of the most important.
Support. In an ideal world, your chosen software tool will be easy to implement and use, meaning you require little to no support. But with limited IT resources, great customer support will be critical if you do need help. Do they offer face to face or remote support? And do they provide 24/7 support, or is it simply business hours?
Built for builders, by builders, Fonn has been rated as one of the easiest and simplest to use across the entire range of construction project management tools. It offers an easy to use field application, and an easy to understand office tool, meaning your job site is more productive and your office more informed. It has a features list every construction firm needs including scope of works, drawing storage, Part L compliance, drawings and document management, RFI, project management and images and much more, all on one platform, with no modules or add-ons. It also features unlimited storage and users, eliminating the need for multiple solutions or ‘work-arounds’.
Pricing options
Fonn has three pricing editions. A free trial is also available:
Up to £10m revenue - Starting at £249.00.
£10m to £20m revenue - Starting at £699.00.
Enterprise - Contact Fonn for pricing.
Core features and considerations
Intuitive, real-life user experience
Quick and easy to implement
Extensive support
One system to connect your whole business
Scope of works functionality
Reviews: Fonn user rating: 4.6
Aconex enables your organisation to manage end-to-end processes, collaborate, connect teams across the entire project lifecycle and capture a complete project record. It features design and construction coordination, project controls and cost management, document management, and field management capabilities. It also assists with bid and tender management, cost control and onsite collaboration and safety.
Pricing options
Unlimited-use pricing: Contact Aconex
User-based pricing: Contact Aconex
Core features and considerations
Connected processes and data
Service and support
Suited to larger corporations prepared to invest
User control and access the same anywhere, any time.
Focus on document management and centralisation
Reviews: Aconex user rating: 4.5
Autodesk Construction Cloud combines three solutions: Autodesk Build, Takeoff and BIM Collaborate. Autodesk Build helps construction firms connect data, workflows, and teams throughout the entire building lifecycle. Autodesk Takeoff enables estimators to create fast, accurate takeoffs in a cloud-based solution that combines 2D and 3D workflows. Autodesk BIM Collaborate helps project teams to align and execute on design intent and constructibility by managing the entire design collaboration and coordination workflow.
Pricing options:
Autodesk Build - starts at $470 per year
Autodesk Takeoff - starts at $1,190 per year
Autodesk BIM Collaborate - starts at $705 per year
Core features and considerations:
One of the largest providers of construction management software globally
Suited to larger enterprises with time to deploy
Document, task and site management
Flexible subscription offerings
Stores all project related documentation in a single location
Reviews: Autodesk Construction Cloud user rating: 4.2
Contractor Foreman is an entry point solution that helps you manage your construction projects across any device. It enables you to create estimates, schedules, daily logs, time cards (w/GPS), online signatures, invoices, submittals, change orders, POs, bid management, client portal, safety topics and more. It also integrates with QuickBooks, Zapier, and more.
Pricing options:
Standard - $49 per month for 3 users
Plus - $87 per month for 8 users
Pro - $123 per month for 15 users
Unlimited - $149 per month for unlimited users
Core features and considerations:
Caters for task and site management
Over 35 features
Unlimited projects
Training and support
Financials, including job costing
Reviews: Contractor Foreman user rating: 4.5
CoConstruct is for home builders, remodelling companies, design-builders, spec-builders, and other residential construction businesses. It helps you to keep on top of your building projects, while also being in control of your business. CoConstruct helps you manage your jobs, run them how you want to, and control your financials.
Pricing options:
Standard - $99 per month
Plus - $399 per month
Core features and considerations:
Contains budgeting, purchase orders and change orders
Can be hard to export data
US-based support
User experience not intuitive
Manage fixed-price and open-book jobs
Reviews: CoConstruct user rating: 4.0
Monday.com enables you to create a customised platform, allowing your teams to draft in the tools they need to run their work. It contains dashboards, automations, and integrations enabling your people to build their ideal workflow in one workspace. The platform is adaptable by design, and fits most business needs, as well as scaling with your organisation as it grows. Although it offers industry-specific products - the software isn't specifically designed with the construction industry in mind.
Pricing options:
Basic - $8 per month for 4 seats
Standard - $10 per month for 3 seats
Pro - $16 per month for 3 seats
Enterprise - Contact Monday.com
Core features and considerations:
Offers tasks, projects, task creation, project monitoring and task management
Not specifically design for the construction industry
Entry level project management software for small firms
Task prioritisation
Enterprise-scale automations and integrations
Reviews: Monday.com user rating: 4.7
Fieldwire is a construction job site software solution, helping to connect your project team, from the subcontractor’s foremen to the general contractor’s project manager and beyond. Fieldwire focuses on the collaboration of field workers around three core use cases: Plan viewing and versioning with collaborative markups, issue tracking and task management and scheduling.
Pricing options
Free trial is available.
Basic: Free
Pro: $29 per user/month when paid annually
Business: $49 per user/month when paid annually
Premier: $89 per user/month when paid annually
Core features and considerations
Sells on a per licence basis
Focus on issues tracking and task management
Manage workflow from the field to the office
Limited customisation capabilities
Owned by Hilti
Reviews: Fieldwire user rating: 4.5
Buildertrend is a cloud-based project management software tool, helping construction professionals manage their projects, reduce delays, eliminate communication errors, and increase customer satisfaction. It offers estimating, scheduling, and change order features helping to streamline the components of the construction process. The system integrates with finance solutions such as QuickBooks and Xero, and there’s also a Buildertrend Learning Community and Buildertrend University.
Pricing options
Not available - contact Buildertrend
Core features and considerations
Document management
Task management
Site management
US-based support
No clear pricing information
Reviews: Buildertrend user rating: 4.2
MeisterTask is a web-based task and project management tool with intuitive functionality and integrations with other tools. It offers customisable, Kanban-style project boards, along with other features designed to help streamline project work. Your workload can be managed with Timeline, a Gantt-style overview of tasks that enables you to identify bottlenecks and keeps your projects moving smoothly.
Pricing options
Basic - Free
Pro - €8.25 per user per month
Business - €20.75 per user per month
Core features and considerations
Create and assign tasks for individual users
Set deadlines and milestones for tasks
Set priority levels on tasks
Project mapping
Track issues at the project or task level
Reviews: MeisterTask user rating: 4.6