Top 7 construction management software in the UK

Many construction firms have embraced technology as part of managing their day to day projects and portfolios. But choosing the right construction management software for your company's needs is a different matter. It could be the difference between better planning and delivering projects faster, and more efficiently, or having an expensive piece of software sitting redundant on the shelf.

Get it right though, and the rewards of digitalisation will be extremely fruitful. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, digital innovation and transformation can provide significant improvements in productivity (15%) and reduce costs (6%) for the construction industry. This is a game-changer for businesses in our sector, who, with the right software, can gain a distinct competitive advantage. This includes the ability to maximise project outcomes around profitability, process optimisation and customer satisfaction.

What is construction project management software?

Construction project management software enables you and your team to view, edit and manage any project you’re currently working on. The right software should be easy to use and provide a complete view of the project, including its lifecycle, people, processes and resources. It essentially brings together the different elements of job sites and information in the office into one place to improve completion and delivery of the project. These features and functions include:

• Task management
• Document management
• Resource management
• Risk management
• Team communication
• Scope of works

Depending upon which solution you choose, it will also help you manage the scoping and planning of projects, coordinate budgeting and scheduling, outline goals, milestones and requirements as well as identify the physical and human resources used on job sites. Furthermore, it also provides a link between any job site and your office, meaning information can be captured at all times and used freely between locations. This helps with better and faster decision making.

How to choose the best project management software for construction

There are a variety of factors to consider when choosing the best construction project management software for your business. What works for one company might not be best for yours, which means careful consideration of the factors as they relate to you and your people. We’ve put together the top eight things to consider when evaluating your needs:

1. User experience: People are probably the most important part of the process. If they don’t embrace technology because it’s too hard to use, then any software purchase will be wasted. Consider how your teams work together, what they need to be successful and if the technology and how they will use it is the right fit for them.

2. Cost vs. benefit: Make sure you consider all costs, and ensure the outcomes you expect far outweigh these. Beyond the hard cost of purchasing new software, there are also many hidden costs organisations fail to consider, such as the time taken to implement the software and train people.

3. Mobile app: The chances are a majority of your users will be on a job site at any given time, which means an easy-to-use mobile app is essential if your project management software is to become integrated into the day-to-day lives of your team. Additionally, capturing data from the job site will be hugely important so that your teams in the office can make better decisions.

4. Customisation: While many software packages will run ‘off the shelf’ and be a good fit immediately, your business will likely change over time. That means what you need from a software solution could change too, so it pays to consider the level of customisation the software offers and how easily it can be configured to meet any changing requirements you could have in the future.

5. Collaboration: One of the biggest advantages of project management software is its ability to enable people and teams to work together more easily. Information must be able to flow freely, and importantly, be stored correctly and intuitively for all teams to access quickly and easily.

6. Demo or free trial: Investing in new software is a big decision both in terms of cost and dedicating resources. Many vendors will offer a free trial or demo before you make a full purchase, to ensure you feel comfortable with your decision before you fully commit.

7. Integration: The ability to integrate your project management software with other software applications, such as design programs or accounting systems could become important as your business becomes grows. Not only will it enable information to flow freely, but it creates even more efficiencies and less reliance on manual processes or ‘work-arounds’, which only serve to make things more complicated.

8. Training and support: Change takes time as your people learn new systems and technology. Access to proper support and training while you manage any new software implementation will be critical to its long-term success. It will also ensure your teams remain up to date with the latest changes and best practices.

Best UK construction management software providers

There are many construction management software providers in the market. To help your final decision and to gain a better understanding of who provides what, we’ve pulled together information on seven of the best-known:

1. Fonn

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:

• 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

1. Intuitive, easy-to-use app
2. Quick and simple, in-person implementation
3. Extensive 24/7 support
4. One system to connect site and office teams
5. Scope of Works functionality
6. Seamless integration with scheduling tools

Reviews: Fonn user rating: 4.6

2. Procore

Procore project management software contains an array of features and functions, including quality and safety, design coordination, resources, financials and BIM. The platform enables owners, main contractors and subcontractors to communicate across teams and work together. It also features 24/7 customer support, integrations, a community of peers and on-demand training.

Pricing options: Contact Procore for pricing

Core features and considerations

1. Multiple features
2. Integrations needed across solutions
3. Estimating and tendering functionality
4. Quality and safety features
5. Suited to larger corporations

G2 Score: Procore user rating: 4.6

3. Viewpoint (Trimble)

Trimble Viewpoint construction management software focuses primarily on document management, helping you to manage your projects, processes and people. You can gain a clear understanding of the financial health of your projects and ensure communication is maintained across your different users. You can also view submittals, RFIs and potential issues in progress.

Pricing options: Contact Trimble Viewpoint for pricing

Core features and considerations

1. Focused on document management
2. Connects financials and project management
3. Suited to larger corporations
4. Individual user licences required
5. Extensive training
6. Reviews: Viewpoint user rating: 4.4

4. Asite

Asite project management tool is primarily focused on document management, helping you to manage capital projects and investments, as well as general construction projects. It has three core product suites, namely: Supply chain management, product portfolio management and asset performance management. It enables your people to plan, design, and share information across the supply chain, while ensuring you can store, track and manage all your construction documents and drawings in one place.

Pricing options

• Supplier Relationship Management - £500.00
• Project Portfolio Management - £375.00
• Asset Performance Management - Contact Asite
• Build Your Own - Contact Asite

Core features and considerations

1. Document management focus
2. Suited to larger corporations
3. Training investment required
4. Visibility over your projects and processes
5. Document approval workflow capabilities

Reviews: Asite user rating: 3.8

5. Oracle Aconex

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

1. Connected processes and data
2. Service and support
3. Suited to larger corporations prepared to invest
4. User control and access the same anywhere, any time.
5. Focus on document management and centralisation

Reviews: Aconex user rating: 4.5

6. Dalux

Dalux is a suite of software tools that enables your organisation to manage the lifecycle of your built-environment. At its core, Dalux features a BIM Viewer, which means everyone from the groundworker to the client can see information in the right context and work with the entire team. The suite contains three core components: Information management to help manage projects, onsite management for control and evidence progress, as well as quality and safety. And finally, facility management to keep track of your portfolio.

Pricing options

• Contact Dalux for pricing information.

Core features and considerations

1. Common data environment for information sharing
2. Integrated BIM Viewer
3. Document control and capabilities
4. Commenting and snagging functionalities
5. Unlimited storage and mobile access

Reviews: Dalux user review rating: Not available

7. Fieldwire

Fieldwire is a construction jobsite 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

1. Sells on a per licence basis
2. Focus on issues tracking and task management
3. Manage workflow from the field to the office
4. Limited customisation capabilities
5. Owned by Hilti

Reviews: Fieldwire user rating: 4.5

Which is the easiest-to-use software?

When thinking about how easy the software is to use, the biggest consideration for your company is likely to be how people on job sites will adopt your chosen new software tool. As your central users, they want it to be easy to understand and use, which increases your ability to gather information and data from the field, which can then be used across your organisation. This is critical to how well you’re able to generate better business outcomes such as increased productivity and faster decision making.

With an intuitive and easy to use functionality, Fonn is rated in reviews as the clear leader when it comes to user experience and ease of implementation. Not only that, but Fonn ensures all the features and functionality you need are contained within a single platform, and at an extremely competitive price that is clear and easy to understand.

If you want a great user experience, the latest features and top class customer support, there’s only one provider - choose Fonn.