Outdated Software? Why Construction Companies Should Consider Upgrading

It’s hard to believe that in 2004 one of the top-selling cell phones on the market was the Motorola Razr V3. Since then our cell phones have developed quite a bit. So has construction software. Imagine you were to see someone walking down the street talking on a Motorola Razr.

You would probably be thinking to yourself, “Wow that person needs a major phone upgrade.”

The sad and truthful aspect is that many construction companies still use outdated software applications which may have been built around the same time as the Razr. Vendors have made minimal efforts to innovate their product, create new features and improve their overall user interface and user experience.

Companies are often afraid of taking the risk to find a new software provider even if the perfect solution is right nearby.Construction companies are lagging way behind other industries when it comes to technology adoption. A Microsoft study revealed that only 40 percent of construction workers feel that their company uses “cutting-edge” technology, compared to 74 percent in other industries .

One of the main reasons for this late tech adoption is because construction projects are unique and processes change from project-to-project. Having said that, there are still many core processes like time tracking, material management, and workforce coordination that remain relatively unchanged from project-to-project .

This blog post will focus on time tracking as an example to explain why some construction companies should considering upgrading their software application even if it seems to be working just fine.Time Tracking then vs nowTen years ago most construction workers used paper timesheets or Excel spreadsheets to track their hours worked on individual projects. They would fill out these timesheets at the end of every day or week and either turn them into their supervisor or send them via email.

These days there are so many mobile apps and web-based solutions that make it easier for workers to track their hours in real-time as they work . Not only is this more accurate but it also provides visibility into how crews are spending their time on job sites which can help identify issues early on before they become bigger problems. Another huge advantage of using one of these electronic time tracking solutions is that it makes it easy for payroll departments to export data into their payroll systems saving a ton of time and money.

If your company is still using an outdated software application built around the same time as the Motorola Razr V3, you might want to consider upgrading. Vendors have made minimal efforts to innovate their product, create new features and improve their overall user interface and user experience. Companies are often afraid of taking the risk to find a new software provider even if the perfect solution is right nearby however, construction companies need to catch up with other industries when it comes to technology adoption rates .

If you’re not sure where to start, take a look at your current process for time tracking as an example . There are many mobile apps and web-based solutions available that make it easier for workers to track their hours in real-time , provide visibility into how crews are spending their time , and easily integrate with payroll systems – saving your company time and money in the long run.