10 resolutions for construction contractors.
The beginning of the year is always a good time to take a look at what we’ve done well, but also what we want to do better. Of course, our industry is not immune to labour shortages or inflation, in addition to a recession that is knocking at our doors. We will therefore have to be even more agile and inventive to stand out from the competition and hope to generate as much profit as possible in 2023.
All of these elements will feed into the decisions you make over the next few months, so here we offer our thoughts on some resolutions that will help a construction contractor do even better.
Here are 10 good resolutions for a construction contractor in 2023:
- Invest in new digital technologies.
Everyone is talking about the digital shift of the construction industry needs to do, because its the last in line in this matter. Be sure to educate yourself on the technologies available, whether it’s construction software or other applications. You can easily shift a minimal budget for your jobsite tools to invest in your digitalization. Investing in your digital shift will help you complete your projects faster and more efficiently by speeding up some manual tasks.
- Better track your project management.
How many times have we heard contractors say, “I don’t even know if I’m making money on this project or not?”. Equip yourself with tools that allow you to link your project planning and execution at all times. Several tools exist to get in real time the evolution of the hours worked versus your forecasts. The same goes to track whether your construction estimates were accurate and whether they are being met.
- See technology as an asset.
Technology is becoming increasingly important in the construction industry. Be open-minded and don’t be afraid to adopt new technology and use it to your advantage. Despite some resistance to change, new technologies usually have far more advantages than disadvantages in relieving your workload.
- Explore the potential of prefabrication.
Prefabrication is becoming increasingly popular. Explore the potential of prefabricated materials for your projects and consider the cost savings of using them. It can also speed up time-consuming but labor-intensive parts of a construction project.
- Develop your job tracking system.
Develop an effective job tracking system to keep your project on track and on budget. This includes tracking labor, materials and other related costs. Many software programs have a tracking component that allows you to assess the progress of the project and communicate any change notices to all of your project partners with a single click.
- Invest in your continuing education.
A great way to stay competitive and ahead of the parade is to invest in continuing education to keep up with the latest developments in the industry. It never hurts and it can help you stay ahead of the competition and provide the best service to your clients. More and more organizations are offering this type of training, and even governments often subsidize these types of initiatives, which turn out to be inexpensive in the end.
- Improve your estimating system.
In our opinion, estimating is the key element for any construction project. No estimate, no construction. Give yourself a system to accurately estimate project costs, labor costs and material costs to stay within your budget. This may sound simple at first, but there are many dangers in using a spreadsheet like Excel that lacks the more advanced features of a full estimating system. It will save you a lot of time while allowing you to link your databases for all your projects and avoid serious calculation errors.
- Focus on customer service.
Make sure your customers are satisfied with the work you do. Your reputation is your best seller. This means being available and present to respond quickly to our clients’ needs. To ensure the job is done right the first time, remember to have communication and tracking tools for your projects that will allow you to be quick and flexible to inform all stakeholders of change notices.
- Develop project management skills.
Project management often has a great attention in the construction industry. Everyone wants all-in-one project management software. But the reality is that project management encompasses many specialties. Just as a carpenter uses his hammer, drill or square for different tasks, so do digital project management tools. Make sure you understand your project management to identify your strengths and weaknesses and use the right tool for the right task.
- Partner with leaders in the construction industry.
Network with other industry professionals like yourself with whom you can share your reality, but also to learn from their successes and failures. We are often not the only ones, or the first ones, to experience certain difficulties and it’s always nice to know how others have succeeded. In addition, leaders are not leaders for nothing, and sticking with them will give you a head start in understanding the market and becoming a construction leader yourself.
With over 20 years of expertise in helping construction contractors make their digital shift, we can help you achieve some of your goals related to these resolutions. Contact one of our advisor by scheduling an appointment so they can demonstrate the benefits of a neutral platform like ConstructBuy and how a modular suite of digital tools can fit into your reality this year.
Get an appointment here to learn more about ConstrucBuy’s digital tools and how they can help you:
About ConstructBuy
ConstructBuy is the most accessible grouping of digital, modular, integrated and collaborative tools in the construction industry. Our platform was created to enable construction industry stakeholders (contractors, architects, general contractors and specialists) to facilitate their operations in the four stages of a project: planning, estimation, supply and execution. ConstructBuy customers can get several benefits by using it: simpler processes, easier relationships, more efficient days and more profitable projects. They even confirmed that they made fewer mistakes, made their employees happier and had more time to make the most of their tools.
Whether it’s for your calls and invitations to tender with the BID tool, your statements of quantities and your estimate with the TAKEOFF and ESTIMATION tools, or managing your employees’ time sheets with the TIME tool, rest assured that we will continue to be there to support you in the digitization of our industry.
