Blog

The importance of manpower in the construction sector cannot be overstated. Despite the rapid growth of automation and machine learning  several areas in the construction industry continue to be human led and reliant on manpower.

BuildSmart’s plant and equipment management functionality is an important tool in the construction contractor’s arsenal, helping them maximise asset utilisation while boosting efficiencies and ROI.

When coming up with estimates, understanding the difference between profit margin vs markup is essential. Here’s everything you need to know.

A good eRFQ system will help to maximize efficiency and allow you to obtain clear and accurate quotes.

The preconstruction phase is a critical stage in construction planning. If executed correctly it can mitigate delays, optimise resource management, and result in satisfied clients.

There are a number of different types of estimates, to definitive estimates based on detailed design. Here are some key estimate methods used for pricing construction projects.

Lean construction offers significant advantages as the goal is to enhance construction efficiency right from the start through to final hand over.

Estimating is a fundamental business function for Contractors, yet many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the building sector fail to pay sufficient attention to this process. Here’s how.

There are many different moving parts to a construction project, which makes managing the project a challenging task. However, the success of any construction project comes down to project management.

There are two different quantity take-off methods - manual and digital.  Different contractors take different approaches. But no matter which approach you take; it is vital to get the quantity take-off as accurate and efficient as possible.

If you want to win more bids and eliminate costly errors, then it's time to turn towards specialised construction estimating software.

Communication is one of the main predictors of success in projects. Ensure good communication to avoid delays, rework, and costly misunderstandings.

With all its moving parts, unknowns and variables, construction technology can transform all aspects of construction projects to become more efficient and effective. It allows you to work smarter, faster, and more accurately.

Innovative software solutions in the construction industry allow firms to gain a competitive edge by improving efficiency, resulting in better project management, in real-time.

Knowing how to do a construction take-off properly will enable better management of the overall workflow of the project.

Rework is the unnecessary process of redoing tasks that were done incorrectly in the first place. This wastes valuable time and resources and it can have a major impact on the construction bidding process.

Accurate cost estimates in construction projects are critical as inaccuracies can lead to major budget problems and possible losses on any project

The primary purpose of a BoQ is to ensure all tenderers are provided with a standardised document to price and submit a fair and accurate tender. 

The key to a successful construction business is winning tenders.  Winning tender bids is not always that easy though, and it requires a highly efficient process to achieve best results.

Using a cloud-based estimating software like Candy Cloud can help to streamline and maximise the process in a huge way. This will provide a competitive edge to your business, allowing you to bring in more contracts.

Candy is an integrated construction management software that gives contractors all the tools they need for enhanced project results. With this software, construction teams are able to use a single user interface to control their various responsibilities.

Preconstruction planning enables contractors to put the right processes and software in place from the very beginning of a project's life cycle. This optimises the whole construction process before it even starts.

The biggest part of any construction job is managing resources and materials. Any mistakes made during this process could result in major issues to follow. This is why the right construction resource management software is so important.

Bid management is one of the most important processes for gaining new business. Every contractor needs an effective bid management system in order to improve efficiency and organisation. Ultimately, this will lead to greater levels of success.

The transfer of data back and forth or in and out of multiple systems creates a loss of data integrity and begs the question, can you really trust the data? If you are looking for the right software solutions for your construction business, you need to make integration a priority.

From subcontractors and plant items to labour and material; the way you manage your resources is crucial to the profitability of a project.

To manage construction estimating process more effectively, most construction companies establish a database of estimating information that can be reused, repeated and repurposed for each new project.

With more than 14 years’ experience in the field of estimation, Ismail Gultasab has used a variety of estimating software but feels that Candy is the best choice.

The right technology to enable subcontractor management is essential for optimised project delivery.

Activity based Schedules that rely on Precedence networking are intelligent living documents when managed well. They absorb information on site progress and generate a host of reports. But what are their limitations?

70% of organisational change projects are failing due to poor implementation and management. Beat the statistics with a detailed plan on introducing change within your company.

Digital transformation can improve efficiency by 40%. To stay ahead of the competition, construction companies should start digitising their operations today.

Estimators are essential for companies to capitalize on the growth within the construction industry. Here are 10 Qualities of a professional estimator.

Only 30% of organisational change initiatives are successful. Having a proper plan in place can mean the difference between successful digital transformation and failure.

Oman’s economy is on the cusp of change as the GCC country charts its recovery plans for the post-pandemic future.

Despite the scale of Africa’s construction industry and the demonstrated benefits of technology adoption in other industries, the sector has been slow to invest in modern hardware and especially software.

From project management tools to enterprise accounting systems, when it comes to selecting a software solution for your construction business: the benefits cannot be overstated.

BK Gulf is an MEP building services company behind some of the most prestigious developments in the Middle East, a region that in recent years has become known for its cutting-edge architectural projects.

Managing subcontractor costs is a perennial challenge in the construction sector and one that companies need to address, as these expenses can be the single biggest contributor to project expenditure.

Delivering on time and within budget. For construction project managers, these two components not only determine the overall success of a build but also guide the creation of one of the most important documents in the built environment

Roadmac Surfacing rehabilitates key-arterial roads across South Africa to bring people together safely utilising world-class infrastructure.

One of the most frustrating aspects of any construction project is trying to maintain accurate, up-to-date, and relevant information about each aspect’s status.

The construction industry is highly competitive, operating with low margins and tight deadlines requiring accurate information in real-time to make informed decisions.

Regardless of the job, the best-laid plans are only as good as the measurements used to make them. This is where creating an accurate Quantity Take-off (QTO) comes into play.

The success of a construction project is dependent on your ability to effectively monitor and control the complex and overlapping tasks that are associated with the job.

Whether you're an emerging contractor or an established construction company, one of the best strategies for continued growth is to seek new ways to innovate and streamline your business.

The quality and efficiency of infrastructure is an integral part of all construction initiatives and project scheduling could prove to be the key that opens the doors of certainty, accountability and success.

The impact of the latest site operating procedures on productivity, program, procurement and preliminaries, and what Candy can do to help you analyse and mitigate the effects.

As COVID-19 lockdowns begin to lift around the world, there are several key challenges the construction industry will face upon returning to site. Namely managing your supply chain, cash flow, workforce, subcontractors, project planning and cost control.

With so many variables to consider, here are several ways a company can guarantee both the productivity and happiness of its employees by implementing readily available solutions designed for individuals working from home.

While your workplace is being prepared for the return of your employees, you should simultaneously prepare to hit the ground running. Here are a few points to take into consideration.

While COVID-19 continues to shutter the economy, many companies are having to decide how best to face the oncoming downturn. As a business owner, investigating every possible solution available should be your primary concern.

Though its origins are unclear, the investment phrase ‘Cash is King’ refers to how important readily available funds are to a company trying to stay afloat in an unstable market.

Project management is like a game of chess, where every job requires you to update your strategy in real-time to meet the challenges of an ever-changing playing field. Introducing new tools to meet these challenges.

Some might have misgivings regarding the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) and how its analytical power will replace traditional methods across the mining sector. However, its purpose is not to replace human beings. Rather, AI’s role is to supplement and support the human factor.

A focus on business continuity after an estimator decides to part ways with your organisation. Achieved through implementing the right tools, database and collaboration – everything that Candy enables. Here’s our 4-step strategy.

By embracing First Principles Estimating, construction companies can accurately forecast the cost of a project; anticipate and troubleshoot problems before they occur. This is the power behind Candy.

It’s important to understand what ‘the cloud’ is, how it functions and why its benefits are superior when compared with traditional estimating solutions.

By consuming resources to produce materials and burning fossil fuels for transportation; our industry severely impacts the environment. To mitigate these negative effects, a green building philosophy must be implemented. But what are green buildings and how do you successfully tender for them?

Go with what you know. There’s something comforting about using tools you’re accustomed to, however, as your circumstances change, so should your equipment.

Subcontractor management is fraught with challenges. Read our 5 Key areas to successful subcontractor management.

Accelerating digitisation is one of the main trends for the construction industry in 2020. This means construction companies need to find software solutions that serve them best. 

For some, it may be a brilliant bunch of red roses. Others, a smile from a secret crush. But for those who work in the construction industry, there’s nothing quite like a beautifully designed building to get the heart racing. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, let’s take a look at 5 beautiful buildings influenced and impacted by love.

When migrating to a new software, change can be particularily tough even if the product promises to help the team be infinitely more productive. So how do you make the change and achieve buy-in from your team? Here are 5 tips to get the best from your move.

It goes without saying that effective cash flow management is a vital part of any construction project.  So, what measures can a construction company take to manage the cash flow conundrum?

We’ve taken the hard work out of choosing and recommend the following 3 podcasts that we think are worthwhile for any SME, no matter the industry.

CCS CEO, Andrew Skudder, examines the role digitisation will play in the future of the construction industry.

Construction contracts have always been a major part of the industry, and many of those contracts are now so common that they are included in almost any project. Even if you have been in the business for years, it’s worth taking a fresh look at these vital documents to stay up-to-date for your next project.

South African construction companies have endured a difficult few years. Not only have they struggled as a result of a slowdown in government infrastructure spending, but they have also faced difficulties because of late or slow payment by their clients.

One of the most frustrating aspects of any construction project is trying to maintain accurate, up-to-date, and relevant information about each aspect’s current status. This is particularly difficult with multiple stakeholders who may have different reporting requirements or varying needs, depending on the project’s timeline. 

With standout attractions such as Ferrari World, Yas Marina Circuit and du Arena already open, there was a real desire not only to create a world-leading waterpark, but to complete the project on time and on budget whilst enhancing the existing attractions at Yas Island.

Implementation of the VAT elements of HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative has put non-compliant construction companies and contractors under pressure to rapidly re-evaluate their business systems and put the necessary solutions in place.

In this day and age, we are able to access masses of ever sensitive and delicate information quickly and easily via mobile devises and any other form of web enabled platforms. 

Unless you are an IT wizard or programmer, the actual workings inside cloud applications (the engines themselves) are going to be of little interest to you.

The pace of change and development of data and information technology today, is astonishing. The sheer amount of data available can be mesmerizing and, if not managed, thoroughly confusing or even counterproductive.

In simple terms, when we talk about “Cloud Computing”, we are talking about the use of a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to run software, store, manage, and process data.

The world we live in is rapidly moving towards digital for all aspects of business, one of the most aggressive moves is that of the construction world. For many years, construction companies have used legacy systems, which have served their purpose.

On Wednesday the 20th of February, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni tabled the national budget before Parliament.

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s maiden budget speech, next week, will be delivered against the backdrop of slower and weaker economic growth coupled with deteriorating public finances.

A year on and VAT is still relatively new but getting more embedded into everyday life in the UAE.

VAT was introduced to the UAE and Saudi Arabia in January 2018, although VAT had been tabled for introduction many years earlier.  

If you are reading this article in a location where VAT has been in place for many, many years, you may be thinking this redundant.  If you have never dealt with VAT before, however, this may scare the pants off of you.

Any business operating in the UAE today will have to determine what VAT they will need to pay to the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) at the designated times dictated under their tax registration.  

Towards the end of 2017 and the realisation that the proposed introduction of VAT to the UAE was going to happen, you might remember a discernable uplift in cash flow as companies invoiced and billed to beat the 5% levy about to be incurred.  

There are only two things that are certain in this life, death and taxes.  

When we consider the term, ‘Reports’, it is likely to encompass a myriad of different things to different people depending on what they are accustomed to compiling or receiving.

ERP systems are now widely used across most industries and deliver outstanding efficiencies in process and synchronisation.

Overspend and material wastage are common terms in the construction industry and are a particular bug bear of even the most successful MEP companies.

Unlike other industries, the construction industry operates on Earned Value budgeting. 

What is the vision for the future of construction software? As Bill Gates’ famously cited, “Access to Anything, Anytime, Anywhere.” 

There are three levers of the construction industry: Man, Machine and Money. Understanding how these three interrelate and impact one another is like constantly asking yourself which came first, the chicken or the egg.

Construction is unique. Standardised accounting practices cannot be applied to this industry. 

There are few industries as challenging as the construction industry.

For a business to be successful, it needs to be able to balance and control expenditure to make sure it operates in the black.

It is likely, by now, you have been looking into the options available in the realm of building software and may have come across some of the more popular names, the highlighted features and even reviewed some case studies from end users. 

Mining exploration and the establishment of new mining operations all over the world is a thriving industry and involves mining companies of vastly different scope and size.

The selection of an ERP system is a major undertaking, even more so in the construction and building industry.

Throughout recorded history, construction has been a formidable industry &  Construction that stands the test of time is generally at the forefront of technological development.

MEP Contractors are an integral part of the Construction Industry and impacted by many if not all the same challenges.  

For many years, the UAE was synonymous with the expression ‘Tax Free’, and in many ways still is.

Many construction companies are still in the process of selecting a Construction ERP provider and others not yet progressed as far as that.  

For the majority of the world, VAT has been a factor of doing business for as long as can be remembered and the processes and procedures long since ingrained into day to day life and work.

The construction industry has long been a driving force in the development of modern society, both in terms of infrastructure and investment.

COST.  Whichever way you may choose to spin it, any amount that a company spends, is committed to spend or to which they have a liability (even without a formal contract or Purchase order) is a cost.
 

Variations play a major role in the construction industry and in many instances not having proper control of these variations lead to cost and budget over-runs.

Construction Accounting is unique in both its preparation and ongoing management.

When people think of Dubai airport, images of state of the art structures and technology come to mind.
 

Construction Software Providers are (or at least should be) embedding updates and changes to keep pace with the changing legislation and conditions of the markets in which their customers operate.

Burj Al Arab is renowned worldwide as the epitome of luxury in the hospitality industry.
 

When asking the question of how VAT will impact the construction industry in the Middle East, we should consider that all businesses whether simple small retail stalls right up to multi-national corporations need to adapt and adjust to the new legislation.

The best Construction Project Management Software for you is the one that most aligns itself with how you operate (or wish to be operating).

At the cutting edge of technology, Integrated Construction Project Management software provides contractors with an incredibly diverse and effective tool box that they could only think of as pipe dreams in the past.

The modern software market is extremely competitive with multiple providers providing what can appear to be very similar solutions.

The cost of construction software is going to depend on what you are able and willing to invest.
 

The top construction businesses around the globe have embraced the technology of Construction Software to maximise their profitability and efficiency.

The modern construction industry typically deals with large numbers in terms of dollar amounts in converse proportion to the relatively small numbers concerned with available margins.

If you are looking into implementing construction software, you will, no doubt, have spent considerable time researching the options online and viewed countless demonstrations and had many discussions with prospective providers.

A critical element to consider when selecting which Construction Software to use in your business is how much is it going to cost.

A peculiarity of the GCC can be seen in the impact small and medium enterprises (SME’s) have in driving the growth, development, innovation and diversification of the region.

Construction projects are extremely complicated and have multiple elements that need to be effectively managed and delivered both in tandem and in sequence.

In order for construction companies to remain effective in the modern environment, reliance upon real time integrated business intelligence (BI) is becoming more and more critical.

When taking the leap to get on board with Construction Software, you need to ensure you are choosing the right package, from the right provider, and that you are going to see a return on your investment.

Traditionally, departments in a business will operate using specialized software to fit their roles and responsibilities.

Although Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is still relatively new in the market, most major companies have taken the step to embrace technology and implement an (ERP) solution in preference to stand alone software packages for each of their departments.

The best Construction Project Management Software for you is the one that most aligns itself with how you operate (or wish to be operating).

Having researched the massive benefits to be gained from employing an end to end, fully integrated Construction Software solution and having selected your provider, there are 5 key steps to ensuring you begin to reap the benefits as smoothly and quickly as possible.

Why has the technology that has transformed other industries had a rough start in the area of construction?

As an experienced construction estimator, the decision to move away from the ‘old school’ use of spreadsheets to bespoke software is one you have probably asked yourself many times over.

ERP systems have been widely used across all business sectors but none have recognized the need for investing in technological investment for sustainable growth more than the construction industry.

Progress and development in our modern world is swift and the pace of change is felt in all sectors of industry.

The best Construction ERP Software for you is the one that most aligns itself with how you wish to be operating.