Companies in the middle of selecting new construction software have likely realized that what sounds simple on paper is far from as easy task. Organizations that are the most successful in this undertaking, in terms of both identifying the best possible solution and implementing it as quickly as seamlessly as possible, generally have somebody or group of people in charge of the new software project. If an individual is chosen, this person needs to have an intimate knowledge of both software and of the company's operational procedures. Further, the individual needs to have a deep understanding of how the software and company operations impact each other. This includes knowledge and experience working with software interfaces and the standard data collection/protocols for construction companies. Unfortunately, most companies do not have an individual with these qualifications working for them, so the purpose of thise article is to describe the kind of input that decision makers should seek out from other areas of the company as well as provide a list of areas that all companies must research extensively when evaluation potential construction management software packages.

Input and Software Selection Team Members that are Good to Have

While larger companies will have the advantage of being able to assign one individual to oversee the entire software selection process, all companies will need to get input from multiple areas of the company. The following segments of the entire organization should be included, to some extent, in the new software identifcation and evaluation team. Some of these members will need to be permant members of the team while others can be consulted on an "as needed" basis. To what extent members are "as needed" or permanent will very depending on the company.

1) End users - this group consists of anyone that will be responsible for using the software, particularly those responsible for inputting data

2) Management - Mid and upper level managers will be the ones that use the software primarily for reporting purposes. As such, it is important to know what kinds of data are relevant for the particular company.

3) Accounting - Changes in software will impact how data is recorded and reported for accounting purposes. Thus, the accounting department (or third party accountant) will need to be involved in identifying the best software.

4) Payroll - Regardless of if your company has an internal payroll department or uses an external payroll service, they will need to provide valuable input in terms of selecting new construction accounting software.

5) IT (Information Technology) - Your IT department will play an integral role in installing the new software while allowing the company to not miss a beat. Thus, they will need to know what is required from them for any potential software solution to identify areas where current hardware may not mesh with the new software.

6) Other Departments - this includes any other departments in your company that will be impacted by new software. Which departments these are will depend on your organizational structure and company size.

7) Sub-contractors - These indidivuals need to be aware of how your change in software will impact their business operations with your company.

8) Suppliers - as with sub-contractors, your suppliers will need to know what changes are required on their end to allow you to make the most of your new software.

9) Vendors - When selecting software, be sure to pay as much attention to selecting the right vendor as you do selecting the right software. Check their service history, ongoing relations with clients, and so on to ensure you aren't without the support you need down the road.

10) Other members, as deemed necessary based on the size of your company and your company's unique operational procedures.

Factors that All Companies Need to Consider and Evaluate

While smaller companies will likely not benefit from having a full team dedicated to selecting new software, there are still things that all companies much consider when evaluating new construction software.

At the very least, all companies need to complete a thorough evaluation of the following factors and research points:

1) Product varieties - How many are there? What makes them different?

2) Vendors - How many are there? What makes them different?

3) Product history - look for testimonials from trusted sources or check construction software reviews

4) Vendor history - testimonials

5) Product functionality - while most software does the same "stuff" the manner in which it does it will be different. What is right for one company may not work for another.

6) Product protocols - what reports are standard? Can it create the custom reports you need?

7) Product interface - this will come down to personal preferences more than anything, but is important that you choose software that is the most user friendly for your set of users. Again, this will vary based on your unique company.

8) Product integration - will there be any issues integrating it with your current processes? Do you need to change processes or search for a different piece of software?

9) Other - This will depend on the unique organizational structure, personnel, and processes of your organization.