With so many construction project management software options on the market, it can be difficult to know where to start. This article reveals the 4 best project management software solutions for construction in 2024…
Here are some of the key features to look for in a construction project management tool:
Note: Sablono was built to fulfil the six factors above and so much more. You can read about it in detail below or schedule a demo if you want to see exactly how it could help your projects.
To help you to find the right software for your projects, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the top-ranked project management software available in the market today.
In this blog post, we'll dive into the features that make them ‘the best’, as well as things to watch out for if you do decide to purchase. By the end of this article, you should feel confident in knowing which construction project management software solution is best for your business.
Sablono is one of the best platforms in the international market for large-scale construction projects. It is the only platform which provides you with an integrated solution for managing cost, quality, and time on projects. If you are working on a highly complex project, Sablono can simplify time-consuming activities while letting you experience real-time project controls.
Sablono enhances project collaboration by connecting trades in real time, allowing project managers and subcontractors to easily coordinate. The user-friendly Sablono mobile app helps you to seamlessly bring the right information to the right user at the right time, as a fully cloud-based solution, it’s also fully capable of running offline and automatically syncs when back at the office.
One thing that particularly sets Sablono apart is that ownership is no longer left down to the planner - everyone is a project owner responsible for taking accountability for their work. You can assign workflows, roles, and responsibilities while communicating the plan to all partners. Subcontractors can then report progress, flag issues and submit QA assessments based on the tasks assigned to them.
They can clearly see what they should be working on and once they’re finished they can easily use the app to offer up finished works for inspection so the next trade can get started without delay. The main contractor will then be notified about works completed per trade. This allows you to save a huge amount of time on field coordination.
Progress information plays a crucial part in providing greater clarity and speeding up on-site decision-making. Most progress project management tracking tools rely on snapshot visual data that lacks both the sharing of information in real-time and the ability to foster true accountability and collaboration on-site. Sablono is different.
Sablono provides reliable real-time project information at the most granular level of detail. Semi-automated workflows based on a fully connected digital process actively inform and connect everyone on-site to provide instant access to information. No data processing time needed. No more guessing "percentage complete" values. Sablono provides structured information that makes everything clear.
Sablono construction daily reporting software helps you to understand the chain of events that go into completing a project - not just a series of ‘snapshots’. It provides insights into invaluable data such as:
Sablono clearly displays your project and provides visualisations linked to KPIs that allow you to easily assess which areas are performing well and which areas need improvement. If you are facing delays, you can create a Look Ahead plan to keep you and your teams on track and create site dashboards to keep on top of your progress.
On top of this, Sablono’s easy-to-use process builder lets you plan sequences for all sorts of activities based on what has worked best in the past. Define the flow of trades, responsible companies, durations and quality checks and sign-off procedures. They can be as complex as the apartment fit-out process or as simple as a 6-step façade- sequence.
Gain practical information on all aspects of project planning using Sablono Report. Advanced technology allows you to import your original work schedules from Excel, MS Project, P6 or Asta. You can present baseline dates seamlessly and reuse WBS and all deliverables.
Create automated performance dashboards and construction activity reports. Custom dashboards and reports allow you to dive deep into your project data. It also lets you standardise business reporting to save time.
Gain access to top-notch quality analysis features via Sablono. You can attach QA checklists to all your activities as part of your daily processes. You can also attach any updates on construction issues related to specific activities or an entire project and can make this information available for all members of your team to see in moments.
Before trades can mark work as completed, they have to fill out a questionnaire to make sure that it meets the spec. They also have to submit relevant images of work as evidence to support this. Once a QA checklist has been submitted, you can confirm or reject activities to ensure that all aspects of your project are up to standard.
While traditional ways of working see the use of multiple different trackers used across the project, Sablono’s Activity Tracker replaces this with a single tracker that provides one version of the truth on projects. Track 500,000+ activities from one platform and watch silos break down.
You can develop schematic overviews and customised visuals of your project by uploading your drawings which will be converted into automated visual trackers that help you to map progress and quality via real-time updates.
You can create cost packages which include the activities of your custom business processes. Allot a budget to all your work packages and use Sablono’s collaborative progress database to track the financial state of your project.
You can also access commercial dashboards to understand how much payment each subcontractor will receive based on their contribution. Insights into your planned vs actual progress will help you to see if you’re on track to staying on budget.
You can also create integrations with any other tool. For instance, you can automatically map Sablono’s activities when you upload new documents. You can also connect to progress measuring systems in your supply chain to prevent double reporting.
“We would definitely implement Sablono on a next project, regardless of the scope. It's an easier and more accurate way to manage.”
"It saves those huge piles of paper back in the site office and means you can hand over from trade to trade instantly. The tool has helped improve relations between the trades.”
"Sablono is a truly collaborative working platform which enables multi-user live updates providing real-time progress reports. The biggest benefit of Sablono is when used with a repetitive work stream.”
"I have been impressed with the overall look and feel of the software, it is relatively easy to circumnavigate the numerous features that the software possesses in the web version."
Note: If you’d like to learn how Sablono can help you on your projects, you can book a demo here.
Procore is one of the most widely available project management software on the market. Better Business Bureau has rated them A+ for their positive customer reputation and reviews. In addition to construction project management tools, Procore also provides financial management software, field service, and quality and safety management.
Procore offers several features that are useful for any type of construction project. Features include project scheduling, bidding, drawings, meetings, emails, daily logs, and punch lists. They also offer submittals, RFIs, project specifications, and time tracking.
Procore Marketplace offers several integrations with third-party products. Examples of some of these integration partners are Docusign, Vista, Spectrum, Quickbooks, Sage 300 CRE, Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, etc. They also have highly rated customer service, technical support, and training reviews.
Procore is preferable for businesses generating $5 million or more in revenue annually. Their exact pricing is unavailable online although their project management software is priced at approximately $667 per month. The price of a combination of its financial management and project management tools is around $811 each month. However, since the software is customizable, the exact price may fluctuate based on how many products or modules you opt to include in your package.
Procore is a good option if you want a well-established project management vendor, however, it’s worth noting that at present, its accounting capabilities are not fully developed and there is reduced flexibility in some workflows. Some have also reported challenges in getting set up with the software.
Autodesk’s Construction Cloud, which comprises their former products Plangrid and BIM 360, is among the most widely used project management tools. Autodesk Build includes financial management, document management, markups, design reviews, change orders, and safety inspections. Other features include construction reporting, submittals, RFIs, and dashboards.
Autodesk additionally offers integration options through their open API which enables developers to make their own integrations. There is also an integration marketplace in which developers could present their integrations or download integrations made by other developers.
Autodesk offers customisable products tailored to adapt to different phases of the life cycle of your construction project. You get more flexibility in terms of selecting the features that you need for your project. Also, there are a variety of cloud-based options available to you and the ability to select various modules.
Pricing for this construction management software is low initially but may soon spiral upwards based on how many modules you decide to add. Also, the offering, positioning, and organisation of products can be slightly confusing to understand.
Autodesk Construction Cloud is mainly a good option if you are working on large projects that include a high level of coordination across multiple teams but may not work as well if you want to have the option to scale over time.
VisiLean is a cloud-based construction project management software geared towards helping businesses connect and manage data, teams, and projects in real-time.
You can use VisiLean on your desktop, Android, and iPhone/iPad and can access a range of customer support options like live chat, phone support, FAQs, email/helpdesk support, etc.
With VisiLean you can also benefit from real-time tracking and collaboration. VisiLean facilitates remote collaboration between your teams by giving real-time updates. They also provide flexible ways to manage your project schedule - whether this is through Gantt, planner board or exporting to P6.
The downsides are that It is difficult for you to use VisiLean in areas without an internet connection so this is something to keep in mind if you’re working in remote areas. On top of this, the project scheduling functionality, while showing delays in activity, does not offer predictions around the impact on project completion should there be any delays.
The best construction project management software platforms achieve the following outcomes:
While all the project management software discussed above can provide one or more of these outcomes to some extent, not all are created equal.
Sablono was created to unlock maximum value on projects by providing unprecedented levels of detail and one version of the truth that seamlessly connects everyone and everything on a project in real-time. To learn how Sablono can help you in your projects, schedule a demo.