If you’re reading this, you’re likely searching for the top construction procurement software to streamline your construction business’s purchasing process. Construction projects procurement is unique, as it involves multiple stakeholders and various construction sites located across different locations.

This post will guide you on how to find a digital procurement platform that addresses your construction business’s key challenges.

Identify Current Challenges in Your Purchasing Cycle

Most contractors still rely on manual purchasing cycles. Before deciding on a construction procurement software, identify the current imperfections in your purchasing cycle. Some contractors have identified the following issues:

• Data silos: Management lacks spending visibility
• Expensive mistakes occur
• Lack of accountability: Blame games between sites and offices

Once you’ve identified these issues, determine what you want to improve. Some options include:

• Standardize workflow from budgeting, site material requests, to delivery
• Ensure collaboration between sites and offices to stop the blame game
• Get real-time insights to prevent mistakes from happening

Read the article: Steps to Standardize Your Purchasing Cycle in Your Construction Business

Request Demos from Vendors

When you’ve identified the outcomes you want to achieve with a digital procurement strategy, source for vendors and invite them for demos.

Questions to ask during the demo session:

• Can the system integrate with existing accounting software?
• Is it cloud-based or on-site?
• Is customization required?
• Does it work on mobile?
• Is there a satisfaction guarantee?
• How long does implementation typically take?
• What is the IT infrastructure needed for implementation?
• How many system “outages” have they had? For how long?
• How good is the customer support?

These answers will give you a decent understanding of the strengths of each construction supply chain management software.

Ask Speedbrick for a demo here.

Tips: Accounting software is not a suitable purchasing software for construction.

Choose the Construction Management System that Your Team Loves to Use

Contractors can only get good data from any purchasing software when employees actively use it. User buy-in is essential. Here are tips for selecting a suitable software:

• It’s easy to use
• It connects sites and offices on one platform
• Site supervisors can order materials on their mobile devices
• The system alerts decision-makers of potential spending risks
• It automatically compiles reports
• It gives management better control over construction sites with mobile access
• Allows management to monitor supplier performance
• The ROI is higher than the investment

See the article: How to Shorten Site Material Orders from Days to Minutes with Digital Procurement Software

Tips: Don’t get stuck on price. If a tool can save you hundreds of hours, provide strategic insights, and prevent mistakes from happening, you’ll see a return on investment in no time.

Common Mistakes Contractors Make When Choosing Construction Procurement Software

• Deciding solely based on price: Many contractors base their decision on the software’s price, only to later find out that it isn’t suitable for their business operations, employees refuse to use it, and the software collects dust in a cabinet.
• Obtaining software not designed for construction: Construction is different from other industries. Using software designed for other industries can lead to detrimental effects, as workflows must be altered to fit the system, creating more work.
• Creating double work for employees: A good procurement tool should reduce workload, not increase it. Construction businesses are busy, and your team is scrambling to get things done. Choose software that reduces work, not adds to it.

Tips: If your employees aren’t using the software, no matter how cheap it is, you won’t see any return on your investment.

When looking to use technology to monitor your construction material supply chain, you’re already adding value to your construction business. Speedbrick understands that finding a suitable tool is a long process with many considerations. Contact us for a free consultation and learn how we’ve designed the best construction eProcurement software for your construction business: Yes, I want a free consultation

About Speedbrick Solutions

Speedbrick Solutions builds easy-to-use software for contractors to do more with less. It allows contractors to monitor risks ahead of time on mobile devices. Currently, Speedbrick offers four products: procurement management, revenue management, subcontractors management, and business analytics dashboard.

Find out more at www.speedbrick.com.