The natural scenario in construction business is that the project is at the site – and the decision maker is at the office and all the information is hovering somewhere in between.
And this may sound familiar to the industry leaders. Starting from site engineer, project manager, procurement team or the management – when they require an update they usually turn to phone calls, whatsapp messages, spreadsheets, email and followups. Many times the receiver may be out of reach, sometimes misses to respond. There might also be scenarios where by the time information reaches the right person the situation may have already changed.
Communication is one of the biggest challenges faced by modern construction companies and it explains why construction ERP mobile apps have become a necessity.
Construction is a field-driven business
Your projects happen at remote sites and all your resources including men, material and machinery are on constant move. Yet several critical ERP activities and decision making are dependent on individuals sitting in the head office.
This is where construction companies need an ERP system that can move along with the moving team.
That’s exactly what a construction management mobile app makes possible. With an advanced ERP in place teams can capture and share information on a real time basis rather than collecting information throughout the day and entering it later. This small advancement can make a big difference in your productivity and profit margin.
Let’s consider a common scenario, where there is a material requirement in your site. In conventional approach the site engineer would discover that additional material is required to keep the project running tomorrow. Once encountering this surprise the engineer notes the requirement then calls the office, sends details and waits for the confirmation. Post confirmation the procurement team processes the request and the material is arranged. Here the procurement team has to manually check the inventory which consumes more time, or considering the time factor fresh procurement would be moved, which is a loss to the company. Anyway every step in the conventional method introduces the possibility of delay.
With a mobile ERP the site engineer raises requests directly from the site, which is moved through a defined hierarchy for confirmation. The material availability is instantly alerted for transfer, else the procurement team is provided with a data backed decision to go for fresh purchase.
One mobile workflow. Fewer communication gaps. Faster action.
Thus ERP mobile application for contractors helps their business.
What Can Your Team Actually Do From the Site?
A mobile ERP doesn’t merely let the stakeholder to view information, rather it converts them into insights that help progress work.
With a construction-focused mobile ERP platform, teams can perform critical activities such as:
- Record daily project progress
- Submit material requirements
- Raise manpower requests
- Track attendance
- Capture site information and images
- Access project documents
- Monitor inventory activities
- Record equipment usage
- Review project information
- Access reports and dashboards
- Participate in approval workflows
Ultimately there is less dependency on paperwork, quicker decisions and proactive actions to boost the project progress.
Less dependency on paperwork. Less waiting. More action.
Turn Your Construction Site Into a Source of Real-Time Data
More often management receives project information after a situation has occurred. By then delay or progress may have already occurred which could have resulted in resource wastage or productivity drop. A construction site management app changes the equation by bringing information closer to its source.Â
With advanced systems like Tactive ERP’s mobiles capabilities, the site teams can record daily progress reports and incorporate images into project updates. With such capabilities the management does not need to rely on yesterday’s report or wait for an update till the end of the day. The data is instantly on their hands.
The site becomes a real-time source of project intelligence.
What About Inventory?
Any contractor’s nightmare would be material management which can impact heavily on project costs. Too much stock means your capital gets locked up. Too little stocks means high chances of work stoppage.
Material sitting idle in one project while another project is in emergency requirement. Tative’s mobile enabled ERP workflows help teams stay informed with material requests, consumption, transfers, reuters and all other inventory processes. This gives contractors greater visibility into material availability and usage trends.
Workforce Management
Your labour force doesn’t stay in one place. That’s why you need a system that moves along with your moving workforce. In addition the workforce requirement varies from site to site, the work allotted, productivity, attendance, payment, overtime payment – all need to be captured.
Tactive supports mobile enabled geography based attendance and helps construction companies to connect workforce information with the broader ERP process. Thus the project teams capture information from the field while company management gets a clearer view of workforce deployment.
How Labour Management Systems Help the Construction Industry
How much does equipment cost you when it isn’t being used productively?
Idle equipment, excessive fuel consumption and missed preventive maintenance can significantly add to the project costs. To keep these aspects in track, Tactive’s mobile ERP enables to record vehicle log, usage and outturn. It also helps contractors to track equipment usage, fuel consumption and preventive maintenance schedule. Also corrective maintenance work is properly recorded. With mobile access, all necessary information are available in real time.
Operational Control
All-in-one ERP refers to the one that serves the company on all platforms including desktop computers, tablets compatible with Windows and iOS.
So a mobile app is not going to replace the desktop version but it is an extension that assists the desktop ERP for managing complex remote business processes. The mobile application takes selected workflows and information directly to people working in the site.
To simplify ERP connects the business and mobile ERP connects the site to the business.
This connection becomes more and more important and the companies scale up and start to manage more projects and people in diverse locations simultaneously.
What Should You Look for in a Construction ERP Mobile App?
Before choosing a construction ERP software mobile app, you have to check for various aspects rather than just compromising on a mobile app.
The foremost being, the mobile application including the ERP should be construction industry specific rather than being adopted from a generic system.
This is where Tactive ERP makes the difference
Tactive ERP mobile app is designed to connect construction sites with the main digital ecosystem. Starting from tender and estimation, budgeting, scheduling, project management, procurement, inventory, equipment, HR and payroll and finance and accounts, Tactive brings critical construction workflows closer to the people executing the work.
Whether your team uses an Android construction ERP app or an iOS construction ERP app, the goal remains the same, that is providing people with information that they need to make the right business decisions.
Give your people the information they need to act—without making them wait to get back to the office.
Construction is becoming more digital. More connected. More mobile.
The construction companies that are capable of extending their digital management ecosystem to the site will be in a better position to arrive at quicker decisions, have effective control over resources, deliver projects with greater confidence and ensure profitability.
With Tactive Construction ERP, connect your people, projects, resources, and processes through a unified digital platform.
Book a demo today and see how Tactive can put smarter construction management in the hands of your field teams.Â
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a construction ERP mobile app?
A construction ERP mobile app extends construction ERP capabilities to site engineers, project managers, supervisors and other field teams, allowing them to access information, submit requests, record activities and participate in workflows from the construction site.
Why do construction companies need a mobile ERP app?
Construction companies operate across multiple project sites, making real-time communication and information sharing difficult. A mobile ERP app helps connect site teams with office teams, reducing delays, paperwork and manual communication.
What can site engineers do with a construction ERP mobile app?
Depending on the ERP platform, site engineers can record project progress, submit material requests, capture site images, access project information, raise manpower requests, participate in approvals and review relevant reports.
Can a construction ERP mobile app manage inventory?
Yes. A construction-focused mobile ERP can support material requests, stock visibility, material transfers, consumption and other inventory-related workflows.
Can construction ERP mobile apps track employee attendance?
Yes. Construction ERP mobile applications can support field attendance, including location-based attendance where the system provides that capability.
Is a mobile ERP app a replacement for desktop ERP?
No. A mobile ERP app generally extends the ERP to field teams. The desktop/web ERP continues to support broader management, configuration, reporting and administrative workflows.
What should I consider when choosing a construction ERP mobile app?
Look for construction-specific workflows, real-time data, approval processes, project management, inventory, workforce, equipment, reporting, security, integration capabilities and support for your organization’s operating model.
