CC Sep-Oct 2023

TECHNOLOGYfocus
any concerns they have about the
project. It is also important to be
proactive in your communication, and
not wait for your subcontractors to
contact you. Regular communication is
essential for building strong
relationships with your subcontractors,
and it can help to prevent delays and
cost overruns.
It is best to have a single line of
communication, such as email or
project management software, so that
everyone is on the same page.
However, it is also important to be
flexible and use other methods of
communication, such as phone calls or
in-person meetings, when needed.
Quick responses to messages from
your subcontractors will also help to
build trust and rapport.
By communicating effectively with your
subcontractors, you can create a positive
and productive working environment. This
will help to ensure that your projects are
completed on time and within
budget.
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
SOFTWARE
Coordinating subcontractor teams is a
critical part of a construction project
manager's job. It is important to regularly
evaluate the coordination process to
prevent projects from being derailed. Poor
subcontractor coordination is a major
contributing factor to project delays.
With narrow profit margins in construction
and poor subcontractor coordination being
a major source of loss, it is worth investing
in construction management software to
help project managers plan and track
subcontractor activity.
Many construction management
software solutions also allow
subcontractors themselves to access
and update the software. This gives
project managers visibility into potential
schedule conflicts, delays, and even the
availability of equipment.
TRACKING PROGRESS
One of the best ways to track project
progress is using construction
management software. This software can
track progress in real time, which helps
contractors stay on top of the work and
identify any potential problems early on
by coordinating multiple data points.
By using construction management
software, project
managers can improve their
communication with subcontractors,
identify areas where the project is falling
behind, and make necessary
adjustments to keep the project on track.
This can help to improve relationships
with subcontractors and ensure that
projects are completed on time and
within budget. It also helps construction
teams to spot and correct snags quickly,
and identify the best subcontractors to
work with in the future.
PAY SUBCONTRACTORS ON TIME
Slow payments are a major problem in
the construction industry, and can lead to
larger issues from bad debt to
insolvency. While slow payments are at
times unavoidable, contractors with
healthy cash flow should make it a
priority to pay their subcontractors on
time and in full. This is the best way to
maintain a trusting and respectful
relationship with subcontractors.
Payments should only be withheld for
poor quality work. Withholding pay for
minor issues can damage the
relationship with the subcontractor,
and ultimately cost more than the
mistakes made.
Using financial management software,
particularly that which has constructionspecific
functionality such as CVR
reporting, can help track both cash flow
and payments on a construction
scheme. Paying on time for good work
shows a level of respect that will be
reciprocated the next time the
subcontractor is needed.
Access Construction offers a suite of
technology developed specifically for
construction to help you manage your
subcontractor relationships.
Access ConQuest estimating software
includes a bid management module
which streamlines your processes and
makes it easier for subcontractors to bid.
Access COINS ERP is a wide-reaching
piece of ERP software which helps
construction project managers
coordinate subcontractors and track
project budgets.
Search Access Construction to find
out more.
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September/October 2023