Are you still stuck in the age of pen and paper or spreadsheets when it comes to task management? It's time to upgrade to construction task management software. This software is designed to increase your team's productivity, improve communication, and enhance efficiency. And the best part? It will save you money in the long run.
Task Management Software will help you maximize team productivity, enhance communication, improve efficiency, and save costs
If you want to streamline your projects and improve your bottom line, this article will teach you how task management software can help you transform the way you keep your projects… well, on task.
Before we define Task Management, let’s start by discussing the reason for the process to begin with — Tasks.
In simple terms, tasks are all of the "to-do's" that need to be completed for progress to be made on a project.
For example, let's say you're working on a kitchen remodel, and one of your tasks is Install Flooring.
Now, to accomplish that task, there are things that are going to need to happen during that task; these are the subtasks. Along with that, some things need to happen before the task can even begin; these are the dependent tasks or dependencies.
The subtasks are all the items required to complete the task, such as sweeping the base floor, applying padding, etc.
But, before any of that can happen, the flooring needs to be chosen, old flooring needs to be removed, the flooring surface needs to be prepped, and the list can go on. These are all dependent tasks that need to be completed before the installation task can begin.
Coordinating all of this is where Task Management comes in, which, as the name implies, is the process of managing tasks.
Without a process in place, managing all of the moving parts during a project can quickly become overwhelming, which can result in delays or costly mistakes.
With task management software, however, everything is centralized and easily accessible, so everyone is on the same page. It's like having a personal assistant that never takes the day off, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and according to plan. The best task management software helps you prioritize tasks, establish realistic timelines, maintain clear communication, and review progress while adjusting as needed.
One of the best things about task management software is knowing that it can create better communication between you and everyone on your team. Critical details can get lost in translation when you’re communicating with your team through text or email. Dedicated task management software helps by keeping all important conversations and messages in one place everyone can access.
Maximizing team productivity, enhancing communication, improving efficiency, and saving costs are crucial goals for any construction business, and the best task management software can help achieve these objectives. For home builders and remodelers, construction task management software offers numerous advantages over traditional pen and paper or spreadsheet methods. Here are just some of the many benefits it can deliver:
Creating, scheduling, assigning, and tracking tasks can be time-consuming, especially if it involves using multiple tools to accomplish it all. Task management software brings everything into one place, eliminating the need to move between tools and drastically reducing the time it takes to get all of your tasks in place. Once the project is underway, you can monitor progress from a dashboard so you know what your team is doing and when they’re doing it.
With tasks, deadlines, budgets, and file sharing managed from a single platform, it’s easier to keep all team members and subs informed and up-to-date. With less time spent on coordination and more on actual project work, projects can move forward quickly and with fewer roadblocks.
Communicating with your team and subs in multiple places is not only confusing, but it leaves a lot of wiggle room for miscommunication. With task management software, you can hold discussions, share updates, upload documents, and provide comments or feedback right on the platform.
With the ability to manage budgets, schedules, and resources in real-time, task management software enables more visibility and easier decision-making. By tracking the amount of time spent on tasks, you can quickly identify bottlenecks and optimize for greater cost and time savings.
Margins can sometimes be tight in construction. Task management software can help boost profit margins by improving efficiency, reducing communication errors, and bettering resource allocation, all of which minimize unexpected expenses. As a result, the reduction of unnecessary costs and the increase in productivity leads to a smoother and more streamlined process, ultimately improving profit margins.
{{trial-component="/project-management-tools"}}
Managing residential construction projects can be overwhelming. The paperwork, scheduling, coordinating with subcontractors, dealing with change orders, communicating with clients, the list goes on and on. With so many moving parts, it can be easy to let tasks slip through the cracks. Task management software eliminates the chaos with some key features that help you keep tasks organized and on track.
Here are some of the bigger features available from the most popular task management platforms:
Task templates: Create an entire project of tasks in an instant by reusing tasks from similar projects. Or, easily create new tasks and subtasks in one window without toggling between schedules or other tools.
Punch lists: Generate simple-to-follow checklists that your team can work from and update as progress is made.
Task scheduling: Set due dates, associate tasks to project phases, and make adjustments to your entire project schedule based on any task without needing to toggle between calendars or multiple windows.
Task dependencies: There are often tasks within a project dependent on another task being completed before it can begin. With task management software, you can create these dependencies to ensure that everything is being done in the right order.
Team assignment: Each task that’s created can have one person, or many people assigned to them. Once assigned, your team can filter down to focus on their own tasks, subtasks, due dates, dependencies, updates, and more.
Task tagging: Project tasks can pile up quickly and become hard to locate. Assign keyword tags to each task so it never gets lost in the system. This way, you can easily search for any task or group them if needed. Categorize, organize, and maintain all tasks in one place.
Status tracking: Task delays can wreak havoc on a project schedule. With status tracking, you’ll always know how your tasks are progressing or when they need some extra attention.
Export and print lists: Get accurate views of your lists and export them with the click of a button. Print out task lists to post at the job or to keep for your records.
Task messaging: It’s easy for miscommunication to occur when conversations are happening everywhere. Task management software consolidates communication to keep discussions within the project and task being discussed.
Automatic notifications: Stay in the loop with instant notifications sent to your phone and email so you and your team never miss key updates or timely messages from each other.
Client visibility: Keep your clients informed and connected to the project throughout the process by choosing what they can see within their client portal.
Now that you know the features and benefits of task management software, you might be curious about how much it will cost.
The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The cost of task management software can vary greatly based on a number of factors, including the features you need, the size of your team, and the specific software you choose. Some options offer monthly plans, while others may charge by the year.
It's important to research and compare the options to find a solution that meets both your needs and budget. The right task management software will ultimately improve your bottom line by helping you save time, increase efficiency, and streamline your construction projects.
With the right software, you can streamline your project management processes, keep track of deadlines, assign tasks to your team, and communicate more effectively with everyone involved.
But with so many task management software options out there, it can be challenging to decide which one is right for you. Here are a few of the best task management software options for residential construction companies.
BuildBook’s construction task management software allows you to create, manage, and collaborate on tasks with simple tools that anyone can use without a lick of training. You can create, schedule, and assign tasks in one window, set dependencies, track progress, and so much more.
Buildertrend offers a variety of residential and commercial construction features with both online and in-person software user training.
CoConstruct, which is now owned by Buildertrend, is known for its financial and field management features.
Houzz Pro is a marketing-focused platform offering a range of project management tools for scheduling, tasks, budgeting, and more.
While not built specifically for construction companies, Asana helps you manage project insights and has cross-team portfolio management features.
Fieldwire’s construction task management software helps you and your team utilize photos and videos to plan tasks and keep your projects productive.
Choosing the right task management software can be a game-changer for your business, allowing you to reduce errors, save time, and improve your communication with your team and clients.
With every choice having its own unique features, it’s important to consider what features are most important to you and your team. Be sure to take advantage of free trials to test each option before deciding.
BuildBook’s task management software was designed for modern residential builders that want a fast and simple way to create, schedule, manage, and collaborate on project tasks — with less stress.
Unlike other construction software options, BuildBook has focused on delivering powerful construction task management features that are so simple that anyone can use them immediately without a lick of training.
Finally, BuildBook also offers the unique ability to keep all your communication between your team and clients with the task or item being discussed.
Ready to get started? Sign up for a free trial and knock improving project profitability off your task list today.
Like what you are seeing? Sign up to receive our blog content and product announcements right to your inbox.