Given the vast choice of software available to a construction company, selecting the right one that suits its requirements and covers its entire spectrum of activities can be a daunting process, says Andy Bullen, sales and marketing director MEA, Redsky IT.

“Software that is designed for trading or manufacturing companies is unlikely to cope with the working practices peculiar to the construction industry. An efficient suite of financial software written for a trading company will not accommodate the management of plant or subcontract labour and will struggle to handle contract management, procurement and quantity surveying (QS) functions in the construction industry,” he points out.
So, how does one go about choosing the right software? According to Bullen, there are a number of decisions to be made and questions answered.
He elaborates: “The first choice a company has to make is whether to opt for a specialist developer of construction software or a general supplier of financial software.
“Does the software supplier understand and have experience in the building and construction industry? This choice can have a major long-term effect on the total cost of ownership of any system and how it impacts your business. Do you want to be spending your time and money explaining to your supplier how your industry works?
“Once you have decided that a specialist construction software supplier is the way forward, then consider how the system can improve overall efficiencies rather than concentrate on individual features – does the system work as a whole and across your company’s activities?
“When evaluating construction accounting software, companies should look for the best real-time, integrated, job costing capabilities available – a basic requirement of any efficient system but even more vital in a period of material cost inflation that we are now experiencing.
“One crucial aspect of implementing a new software package, which is often overlooked, is how it will be delivered. Software can be very sophisticated but if it is let down by project management, staff training (from IT to operations) and support, then you can store up problems, and costs, for the future.
“The delivery of any system is key to its success. How does your software supplier deliver the system? Does it have a delivery methodology and what training will it provide? What about the long-term support they will provide? How accessible is the supplier and will they consistently be able to handle any inevitable questions which will occur now and in the future?
“Then you have to consider how your company manages the implementation? It is vital that your whole organisation is committed to any new system so the appointment of a system manager to oversee any implementation is crucial. This person should have the full support of management, ideally be experienced in software implementation, he/she needs to be committed to the system and change, have knowledge of your company systems and have the respect of the company’s staff.
“How accessible is the software to the whole organisation? You may find that one department, such as accounts, is fully committed to the system but what about your whole enterprise? Is the system user-friendly for your whole organisation? If the system can be tailored and configured for each user or user group, they will feel comfortable and therefore be more willing to embrace the new system.
“Other questions which might want to be asked of any software provider are: What security does the system provide? Does it have the power and capabilities to provide you with the necessary reports which you need to successfully manage your company and that will help you make profitable business decisions? Is reporting restricted to standard reports or will you have the capability to ask for information relevant to your business? Will you want to accommodate multi-currency, multi-company, VAT capabilities, and dual language?”
One company that takes the lead in delivering successful solutions for contractors and which is in daily use by more than 2,000 construction organisations worldwide is RedSky IT, says Bullen.
“Redsky understands that construction companies are faced with many choices when it comes to the implementation of a software system and that often, it can be a daunting decision to make,” he continues. “Not only does it make the decision-making process easier for companies as its software has been developed over 30 years in conjunction with the industry, but its experience also allows it to understand the implications for a company when employing new software and therefore ensures a smooth implementation.”
“We allow companies to avoid the complexity of owning and managing several software solutions and to focus on performance monitoring rather than information gathering,” Bullen adds.
Dubai-based Redsky IT will promote its software at the Big 5 show next month.