The U.S. spent 2.2 trillion dollars on construction in 2024. That includes money spent on materials, tools, and the people behind the scenes charged with managing functions like finance, procurement, and supply chain management. Many companies use ERP tools to handle these functions, with one of the most popular being Dynamics 365 for Construction. The platform offers everything organizations in the construction industry need to manage costs across different projects, including the ability to automate common business and financial workflows.
In addition to Dynamics 365, this article explores other popular ERP systems in construction. That way, you’ll better understand what’s available on the market. The key to picking the right ERP platform is matching the available features to how well they suit your company's needs.
Features to Look for in Construction ERP Systems
The following features are crucial when selecting an ERP system for your construction company. Even though a platform might promote a lot of bells and whistles, you should always center your choice on the needs of daily users who work in the following areas.
Project Management
Your workers need a tool that helps them plan and monitor construction projects. That means being able to assign tasks for tracking, keeping up with milestones, and making sure the budget doesn’t get out of control. Project managers will also need features that help them manage time and track resource allocation.
For example, managers will need to assign tasks to team members and update timelines based on their progress. The platform should provide views that allow for the assignment of resources using criteria like skillsets and current workload.
Financial Management
How construction businesses manage cash flows can make or break a project. For that reason, you need an ERP that lets organizations centralize the following:
- Budget Management
- Cash Flow Tracking
- Accounting
- Asset Management
- Compliance Reporting
Those working in accounts payable and receivables need the ability to perform functions like processing invoices and managing customer and vendor payments. Your finance teams must also update journal entries and general ledgers, along with reconciling accounts with the most current information.
Other essential financial tasks users rely on ERP platforms for include:
- Monitoring incoming and outgoing cash
- Handling expense reports from employees
- Applying tax rules and generating audit trails to support governance
Procurement and Purchasing
The procurement cycle covers the steps businesses take to locate and obtain the goods and services needed to support company goals. For construction organizations, that includes finding workers, suppliers, and contractors who can help with their project. Your ERP should perform functions like:
- Generating purchase requests
- Managing vendors
- Processing orders and monitoring supply delivery
- Matching documents like purchase orders and receipts for accurate payment
- Tracking inventory levels
Human Resources (HR)
Human resources (HR) is responsible for all employee-related matters, including recruitment and payroll. Essential functions they would need from an ERP include:
- Tracking when employees and contractors clock in and out
- Managing leave requests and vacation balances
- Keeping up with current job postings and handling details collected from candidate interviews
- Managing the onboarding process for new workers
- Tracking performance reviews by managers
Supply Chain Management
Construction supply chains are very complex. Businesses must manage rising material costs while remaining efficient in budget management. Inventory management is a core component, with manufacturers tasked with cost-effectively finding raw materials or finished goods without lowering standards.
ERPs are used for supply chain management tasks like:
- Providing real-time information on stock levels across multiple warehouses
- Tracking items scanned and shipped, along with delivery tracking details
- Coordinating communications between vendors to track shipments
- Forecasting to better anticipate inventory needs
Top ERP Construction Systems
Below is an overview of the top three ERP systems in construction. As you review each one, think about whether they meet the needs of the projects you typically handle and how well they facilitate company workflows.
1. Dynamics 365
One of the things that makes Dynamics 365 construction so powerful is that you can tap into functions from other modules like Project Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain Management. Organizations can configure Dynamics 365 to support their needs, including subcontractor management and compliance reporting.
For example, the Project Management module centralizes project budgets, milestones, and billing. You can also track timesheets and project costs. Dynamics 365 lets you assign subcontractors to specific tasks and monitor how well you’re allotting their time. Other key features you can tap into with Dynamics 365 include:
- Financial controls like cash flow forecasts and handling accounts payable/receivable
- Track material procurement and details of vendor contracts
- Manage inventory delivery to job sites and punch lists
- Provide reporting that tracks how well the company is doing when it comes to meeting regulatory requirements
2. CMiC
One way that CMiC differs from platforms like Dynamics 365 is that it is solely focused on the needs of the construction industry. It offers tools for budgeting, change order management, and document control. The system is designed to integrate all financial and field systems to avoid data solos.
There are applications for handling financial workflows, including billing. The platform allows you to sync all financial transactions with the general ledger and job cost systems. One drawback is that the platform doesn’t have the robust AI and automation features provided by Dynamics 365 to streamline these functions.
Other functionality provided by CMiC includes:
- Planning and Scheduling
- Asset Management
- Customer Resource Management
- Quality Control
3. SAP S/4HANA
Like Dynamics 365, you tap into platform features as needed for your construction business. This gives you more flexibility in designing your ERP system for construction. This real-time ERP comes with an in-memory database for faster transaction processing. SAP S/4HANA comes with AI and machine learning (ML) intelligence to improve forecasting and risk management.
Other features provided by the platform include:
- Real-time job cost projections
- Analysis of profitability by region, project, or customer
- Support for multiple currencies and tax jurisdictions
Choose the Right ERP Platform with IES
While there are many great options on the market, Dynamics 365 offers a lot of flexibility to construction organizations looking for an all-purpose ERP platform. Internet eBusiness Solutions offers guidance in configuring your setup to fit your company's needs. Contact one of our representatives to learn more about our services.
