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Construction Software Recommendations: A Deep Dive for Subcontractors

Read time: 6 minutes
Published: December 29, 2021
Last updated: March 18, 2024

Want to find information on the best softwares in the construction industry? You’re in the right place. We put together this comprehensive list of the top construction software being used by contractors across the country so you can find software that works best for your construction business. Over time, we will continue updating this blog with new sections for different types of software, such as pre-qualification and bidding, takeoff and estimating, scheduling and more. To kick us off, we’ll take a look at some of the best project management software on the market today.

Project Management

Project management construction softwares include any software that plays a role in the management of a construction project during the construction phase. This includes workforce tracking, scheduling, and other types of software that help manage the construction of a project. 

Procore

Procore is becoming the industry standard for construction project management. The Procore platform enables communication and collaboration among teams, partners, and clients for the whole construction project lifecycle, from pre-construction to project closeout.

The Procore platform runs in the cloud and offers UI customization, custom workflows, powerful search, analytics, and integration. Procores software provides mobile and desktop solutions, with centralized storage of up to date information.

Best For

  • General contractors
  • Medium to large specialty contractors

Advantages 

  • Support for multiple employees and viewers
  • Accessible from different platforms
  • User interface and project organization capabilities
  • Documentation and file centralization

What Customers Say

“Cost is always a factor, but when you look at the value Procore adds it’s easy to see we made the right decision.”

Paul Walker, VP of Construction Technology, Hoar Construction

LaborChart

LaborChart is a construction workforce management system that allows companies to create spreadsheets, dashboards, and databases all in one place. It helps create an all encompassing system for labor scheduling, forecasting, communications, certification tracking, and labor analysis. 

Best For

  • Large general contractors
  • Medium to Large Specialty Contractors

Advantages

  • Ease of use for multiple users
  • Integrations with existing HR systems
  • Useability of different pre built data displays

What People Say

“LaborChart is a really efficient way for us to help manage our workforce in the field and make sure the right people are in the right place at the right time.”

Sheri Johnson, Senior Vice President Marketing, McCownGordon Construction

Autodesk Construction Cloud

Autodesk Construction Cloud is a combination of the entire suite of Autodesk construction products. It provides solutions that unite office and field teams from design to planning, construction to operations to help make construction more manageable. Built on a unified cloud platform the Autodesk Construction cloud hosts Autodesk Build, Autodesk Takeoff, Autodesk BIM Collaborate, and more programs that empower general contractors, specialty trades, designers and owners to drive better business outcomes.

Best For

  • Medium to large specialty contractors
  • Medium to large general contractors

Advantages 

  • The document and BIM model integration with other aspects of project management
  • Logging of all project related information in one pace
  • The ability to update drawings and have the entire project team get the updates in real time
  • Encompasses all aspects of project management. From takeoff, to planning, to document management, and everything in between

What Customers Say

“Time is one of the most valuable assets in construction. When you have everybody on the same interface, you can seamlessly and efficiently communicate across all platforms. Autodesk Build is going to save time by eliminating redundancies and having one platform that I need to open to convey information across the entire team.”

Amy Kozlowski, Project Manager at Herrero Builders

Knowify

Knowify’s construction management software helps contractors bid, manage, and invoice for every project or service call in one place. The software can save you hours every day with a streamlined project workflow that keeps your entire team on-task, on-budget, and on the same page.

Best For

  • Large general contractors
    Medium to Large Specialty Contractors

Advantages 

  • Robust integration options with Quickbooks, Square, Clockshark, Billd, Fundbox and more
  • Turns complex project plans into easy-to-use construction budgets
  • Give project managers planning and tracking tools to execute every job on time and on budget

What Customers Say

“Knowify is the main reason we’ve grown so much in the last few years. As the owner of the company – it easily saves me 20-40 hours a week vs what I was doing on paper before.”

Nathan Kohatsu, Owner, UK Electric

Oracle Aconex

Oracle Aconex is a construction project management software that supports project visibility, control, reduced risk, and connected teams. From design, to planning, to construction the Oracle Aconex cloud based solution can handle it. 

Oracle Aconex has prided itself on being one of the best solutions for document management. It has strict version control, automated custom workflows, and workflow tracking and reporting based on real time data. 

Best For

  • Large general contractors

Advantages

  • Effective process controls
  • Time tracking features
  • Cost management

Bridgit Bench

Bridgit is a workforce intelligence solution for the construction industry. Their mission is to help the construction industry maximize profits and reduce risk by taking a people first approach. The Bridgit Bench platform allows contractors to create efficient, strategic, forward-looking workforce plans. The user-friendly interface gives the ability for the consolidation of standard workforce management spreadsheets. The platform also allows for unlimited users to have controlled access to accurate and actionable project data via mobile or web based applications.

Best For

  • Medium to large general contractors

Advantages

  • The product is continually improved based on customer feedback
  • System is incredibly user friendly 
  • The employee profile tracker helps easily manage employees across multiple projects 

What People Say

“There is a new dawn of workforce management, combining historical and situational data with experience. Bridgit Bench is your foundation to the future.”

Todd Wynne, CIO at Rogers O’Brien

InEight

InEight software is a project management solution that was built to include features optimized for construction cost estimating and budgeting. It encompasses everything from design to planning to construction. InEight was bought by Kiewit, one of the largest revenue grossing contractors in the United States, and it has influenced the software substantially. It is a great project management tool, but because it is owned by such a large general contractor it is catered to large general contractors. Being owned by such a large general contractor also gives it a leg up because InEight strives for its platform to be as useful as possible, and they truly know the industry they are providing a solution for. 

Best For

  • Large general contractors in heavy civil construction, renewable energy, industrial construction, and general building

Advantages

  • Workflow management
  • Project documentation
  • Comprehensive budgeting and cost management

What People Say

Traditionally in construction labor, there’s a minimum of 50% waste throughout the industry. If you can increase production by 1% and productivity by 2%, you’re going to see an enormous impact on your business’ bottom line. This is where I see InEight helping us along with consistency.”

Pat Furlong, Operations Manager, Decmil

Fieldwire

Fieldwire is a jobsite management software. It improves jobsite coordination by allowing teams to coordinate, track performance, and reduce risk. Features include real-time messaging, task lists, punch lists, inspection management, scheduling, and mobile plan viewing with markup capabilities. The software also allows you to create daily forms for reports, timesheets, inspection requests, and RFIs.

Best For

  • General contractors
  • Specialty contractors
  • Owners
  • Architects and engineers

Advantages

  • Project monitoring
  • Image documentation
  • Simplified scheduling 
  • User friendly

What People Say

“I would certainly recommend Fieldwire to other teams because it’s a great solution for viewing documents in the field without creating excessive work.”

Matthew Watley, Webcor Builders

eSUB

eSUB is a cloud based application that can be used on mobile or desktop devices. Unlike most project management softwares eSUB was built specifically for commercial subcontractors. It provides tools that connect field and office workers. eSUB automates labor tracking and communication and helps eliminate manual processes involved with managing projects.

If you’re a subcontractor looking for a project management software, eSUB should be one of the first softwares you consider. 

Best For

  • Small, medium, and large specialty contractors

Advantages

  • User friendly interface
  • Responsive customer service
  • Document and management controls

What People Say

“We can see reports and real time accomplishments from the jobsite to the office. Communication is at an all time high. This software program has helped us become more organized and cost efficient.”

Kimberly D., Office Manager

RedTeam

RedTeam is a project management and construction accounting solution that helps manage the entire project lifecycle, from planning to closeout. RedTeam has tools for bidding, estimating, project management, RFIs, change orders, and scheduling. 

Best For

  • Small, medium, and large general contractors

Advantages

  • Excellent price point
  • Responsive customer service
  • Timekeeping functionality
  • Accounting features

What People Say

“RedTeam offered the best of all worlds – a solution developed from an actual contractor’s perspective, the most value in the market for the price, and the user friendly experience for field and office staff. Ultimately, with the solution RedTeam provides, it was a no brainer for Jack Jennings & Sons, Inc. to invest in RedTeam to support the company’s current size and anticipated growth”

Jeff Jennings, President, Jack Jennings & Sons INC.

BuilderTrend

BuilderTrend was originally built for residential general contractors, but they have expanded the platform’s functionality to include specialty contractors, remodelers, and commercial contractors. It provides a modern project management tool for planning projects, tracking expenses, and building client relationships. BuilderTrend includes tools for estimation, bid request, proposals, lead management, email marketing, and other integrations. Their project management functionality gives users access to a full suite of tools for daily logs, to-dos, scheduling, document storage, messaging, and plan markup. 

Best For

  • Residential general contractors
  • Small to medium specialty contractors
  • Small commercial general contractors

Advantages

  • User friendly interface
  • Mobile accessibility
  • Workflow management
  • Inclusion of basic CRM software and integrations

What People Say

“Without having a program that does this for us, there’s no way we would be able to run a business with 70 pools on the back of a piece of paper. Buildertrend helps us at a company level to be able to manage all these projects. Without that support, we wouldn’t be as successful as we are today.”

Kate Lainson, Co-owner, Cronulla Pools

 

About Billd: At Billd, we provide a payment solution that enables commercial construction contractors to free up cash for material purchases while enjoying the flexibility of 120-day payment terms. You get financing for commercial materials upfront with the freedom to pay it back at your own pace. Learn more about how we can help eliminate your company’s cash-flow problems so you can win more bids and grow your business.

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FAQs

What is Procore and who is best suited to it?

Procore is becoming the industry standard for construction project management. The Procore platform enables communication and collaboration among teams, partners, and clients for the whole construction project lifecycle, from pre-construction to project closeout.

It is best for General contractors and medium to large specialty contractors.

What is Autodesk Construction Cloud and who is it best for?

Autodesk Construction Cloud is a combination of the entire suite of Autodesk construction products. It provides solutions that unite office and field teams from design to planning, construction to operations to help make construction more manageable.

It is best for medium to large specialty contractors and medium to large general contractors.

What is LaborChart and who is it best for?

LaborChart is a construction workforce management system that allows companies to create spreadsheets, dashboards, and databases all in one place. It helps create an all encompassing system for labor scheduling, forecasting, communications, certification tracking, and labor analysis. 

It is best for large general contractors and medium to large specialty contractors.

Hayden AbrevayaProduct Marketer

Hayden has worked in the heavy civil construction industry in estimating, project management, and concrete production. He is an avid learner and lean construction proponent who believes that the construction industry is ready for technological advancements in all aspects of the construction process. At Billd he uses his skills to help contractors grow their companies by providing them the information they need to win more bids, and take on more projects.

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