Some time ago, I was doing a brief review of the main tasks and the role of the project manager in the construction area. Regardless of the type of construction project, whether we are talking about civil, commercial or industrial projects, the “reins” of the project are in the hands of the project manager. He is the one who organizes, plans and coordinates the activities and resources on site, verifies and controls the construction works, ensures that he has at his disposal all the material, financial and human resources necessary for each stage of the project, ensures the training of subordinate staff. and ensure that technologies for the execution and operation and maintenance of equipment are complied with.
Project planning
Even before the actual start of the work, the project manager must plan the activity of his entire team. The structure contains information on how and when the work will be carried out in stages, sub-stages and activities, including preparatory work to be completed before construction begins. This stage is also essential for estimating costs, because they determine the price offered to the beneficiary for the work.
Also at this stage, the project manager must establish the delivery dates for each stage or sub-stage, which his team must respect in order to complete the work on time and within the established budget.
Supply management
And in construction it's like in the kitchen: when you have a recipe to follow, you have to make sure you have all the necessary ingredients at hand. One of the essential tasks for the timely completion of the project is the supply. The project manager must prepare the necessary materials, ensure that he has absolutely all the “ingredients” needed to complete the project, and implement an inventory tracking method. It is important that the supply, but also the storage of materials and equipment is done conscientiously, so as not to attract additional costs.
Carrying out and supervising the works
On the site, the project manager is the boss, which means that he is responsible not only for the planning activity, but also for everything that means carrying out the works and supervising the execution teams. This means coordinating and directing the efforts of construction workers, but also the optimal use of all resources (construction materials, equipment and machinery).
Timing monitoring and management
Because the timely delivery of the project depends on the timely completion of the works and in the budget provided as planned, the site manager must ensure the actual presence of workers. The situation of construction time sheets is known to be difficult and complicated, time and energy consuming. Because mobile applications are increasingly in demand in the field of construction, last year we launched SocrateTimesheet, the mobile application that allows the introduction of timesheets in real time, directly from the site and from any device. The use of the SocrateTimesheet mobile application also streamlines all other time-consuming processes, such as human resources management or payroll.
Tracking time and money goals
The role of the construction project manager is not to lay mortar or prepare cement (although the ideal is to be able to give directions or lend a helping hand where needed), but it is his duty to ensure that all work is done. are made according to the rules, on time and within the projected costs.
And in construction, time means money. The timely delivery of the work is one of the key objectives, as any delay entails penalties from the beneficiary and added costs. To ensure that he can deliver on time, the project manager must monitor the work on a daily basis and ensure that his team advances in a timely manner. In the event of a slowdown in work (either due to the weather or any task that takes longer than expected), the site manager must review the plan and make the necessary changes to ensure that the delays are as small as possible.
Prior to the start of work, cost estimates, including salaries, equipment, machinery and materials, are made and a budget is established. The projected costs determine the profitability of the project. After the start of the work, the site manager must ensure that the budget is not exceeded, through a daily report of estimated versus realized costs.
The ability to track profitability on projects, phases and subphases helps management understand where there is room for optimization, what needs to be corrected and how profit and yield can be maximized.
"In SocrateBI, together with the BITSoftware team, we defined the most important reports for a construction company, including P&L, planned versus realized, unpaid balances, unallocated expenses or ongoing production," said Catalin Ceposu, CEO of Rampad.
By implementing complete construction solutions, Division Managers have become much more autonomous.
“Due to the implementation of SocrateBI, the meetings with the Division Managers are much more efficient and last less. We talk about the same numbers and we can discuss them by phone; even 15 minutes are enough to clarify certain aspects ", Ceposu also declared.
If we reread all the tasks described above, it turns out that the life of a construction project manager is not at all simple. But it can be much easier with the complete construction solution, which helps to efficiently manage all processes in the company: procurement, contract management, costs, consumption, employees, equipment and machinery, maximizing profit through efficient execution of each project and by the possibility to manage more projects with less resources, by integrating and automating key processes.
Customers such as Rampad, CCC Kronstadt, SUT Carpathians or Ascorp have already discovered the advantages of our solutions.
BITSoftware solutions provide complete functionality for construction companies
BITSoftware provides software solutions for construction, which ensures a methodical, efficient and responsible management of construction projects and which ensures compliance with deadlines, quality and budgets, in order to maximize customer satisfaction and profitability.
SocrateERP ensures the efficient management of all processes in the company: procurement, contract management, costs, consumption, employees, equipment and machinery, maximizing profit through efficient execution of each project and the ability to manage multiple projects with fewer resources, by integrating and automation of key processes.
Together with SocrateBI, the state-of-the-art Business Intelligence solution, and SocrateERP for construction, you have a powerful control and analysis tool through reports specially created for construction companies, which provide an overview of all important indicators. In addition, talking about a flexible ERP solution, each manager is free to create their own specialized reports, which they can send to other decision makers within the company who may be interested.
The SocrateTimesheet mobile application allows you to track and manage your workforce on your mobile phone. Get accurate information on site, detailed at the level of projects, phases and subphases and reduce labor costs! By processing the hours worked on the project, the costs and profitability are calculated in real time. All data in the SocrateTimesheet mobile application is securely stored in the cloud for immediate and anywhere access.
The construction software solutions from BITSoftware can also be purchased with the help of non-reimbursable funds provided by the European Union. Find more details about the budget and eligibility conditions here.
