| To be competitive today, architects, contractors, | | | | constantly expand and reformat |
| developers and owner need to do a lot more with a | | | | contract-administration spreadsheets, a time-consuming |
| lot less. For that reason, many construction | | | | and error-prone process. Because members of the |
| professionals are considering online construction | | | | construction team can directly input and submit |
| management software. Such Web-based software | | | | information, no one has to re-input and reformat |
| can help contractors and architects make decisions | | | | material. Real-time, online logs eliminate the need to |
| faster, automate documentation and reduce costs. | | | | reconcile logs in meetings. |
| Here are some of the major benefits of online | | | | Increased Accessibility: Online systems overcome |
| construction project management software. | | | | some of the limitations of e-mail and faxes, which must |
| Current Information: Up-to-date information can be | | | | be sent to everyone who needs access to the |
| made available on the web without the need for direct | | | | information. With an online system, it's a lot faster for |
| contact with key individuals. Users get a real-time view | | | | people to browse the Web and download the |
| of the latest information, reducing delays. The systems | | | | information. The traditional means of communication |
| maintain a date-stamped log of each online document | | | | "push" information out to the people; while the online |
| such as Requests for Information (RFIs), submittals of | | | | system "pulls" people to the information. It is the |
| material samples and installation drawings, Construction | | | | difference between sending the information many |
| Change Directives (CCDs), Architect's Supplemental | | | | times to be read once (e-mail or fax) or sending the |
| Information (ASIs) and similar construction documents, | | | | information once, to be read by many people (e.g., |
| eliminating confusion about whether (or when) users | | | | online web access). |
| received the information. | | | | Online Paper Trail: The entire cycle is documented. |
| Increased Accuracy: Information can be entered at the | | | | Questions and answers are written and automatically |
| source and does not need to be retyped. For example, | | | | date-stamped. This helps ensure the question is clear, |
| a field superintendent can enter an RFI question using | | | | and that the answer is less likely to be misinterpreted. |
| a simple online form. The RFI is relayed to the engineer | | | | With its immediate access to information and |
| or architect, who can answer the question online. That | | | | electronic search capabilities, online construction |
| information becomes immediately available to anyone | | | | management software can significantly reduce the |
| else who needs it. All users see identical information, | | | | time needed to research previous communication and |
| making it possible to resolve issues quickly. | | | | documents. |
| Reduced Workload: Members of the construction | | | | In short, such software can dramatically help |
| team can get needed information (such as answers to | | | | construction teams improve efficiency, save time and |
| RFIs) faster, helping them to complete projects in a | | | | reduce costs. |
| timely fashion. The construction staff does not need to | | | | |