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Contractors have a lot to juggle to make anything from renovations to new projects come to life. With tight deadlines and lots of details to manage, contractors have to use whatever tools are available to stay on top of things. 

Fortunately, emerging tech innovations are making this aspect of the job a lot easier and more efficient. 

Read on to find seven critical ways that tech developments are streamlining workflows and giving construction professionals an edge in a competitive industry.

1. Accelerate the Bidding Process

When a contractor visits a potential customer to review a project, they’ll collect information to put together a bid. But getting that estimate out quickly is imperative since that potential customer likely is seeking other bids. With so many calculations involved in the process, however, speeding up the bidding process isn’t so easy – until now. 

Today, real-time estimating tools are making it easier for contractors to input information and arrive at a detailed estimate. Digital platforms let contractors enter anything from the square footage of a room to equipment costs to determine an accurate and itemized bid that potential customers can review. 

Plus, thanks to real-time updates, these estimates will include the most current materials costs, limiting the potential for underbidding. Some of the most sophisticated apps enable contractors to customize details, too, to arrive at more accurate bids that can improve business prospects. 

2. Simplify Invoicing

In the construction industry, contractors used to complete a job and then return to the office to generate an invoice. Today’s version of invoicing looks quite different. Contractors can use mobile apps to tally up numbers and details for a given job, and the app will generate a professional-looking invoice to email to a customer. 

Contractors can use existing invoice templates or turn to that meet their unique needs. They can solicit digital signatures and send automated reminders, all of which offer convenience to the customer. As a result, contractors can receive their payments more quickly, keeping their cash flow in check and minimizing the possibility of late payments. 

3. Create Better Payment Options

Customers want flexibility when it comes to payment options for construction projects. While some may prefer using direct debits or writing checks, many customers have gravitated toward platforms like Stripe or Square as the preferred way to make payments. 

In response, contractors need to offer several payment options to attract customers. 

Catering to customer needs can create better customer experiences while reducing the contractor’s need to handle cash, especially when digital platforms are encouraged. 

Turning to digital platforms also offers the benefit of transaction documentation. Many platforms generate automated receipts and track transactions. 

As a result, won’t be such a burden.

4. Stay on Top of Projects

Project management requires coordinating lots of moving parts for contractors. And with inevitable hiccups along the way, it’s that much more important to be in constant communication with all stakeholders in a project. Project management tools can assist with this process. 

The best platforms let contractors upload documents, like invoices or blueprints, as well as progress photos they can share with customers. They can use platforms to share updates on progress toward key milestones. And they can review budgets and assign tasks to team members.

When all critical information and communication is housed in one place, contractors won’t have to waste time checking multiple sources. They’ll also limit confusion and help customers feel looped into a project’s progress. 

5. Improve Scheduling

The old approach to scheduling involved paper spreadsheets, bulletin boards, or whiteboards that were prone to errors. Writing down the wrong day or misreading someone’s handwriting could result in a missed meeting or, worse yet, a missed opportunity. Tech innovations have done away with this pesky problem. 

Thanks to digital tools, contractors can work within existing calendar templates that can be shared across teams. It’s easier to enter information in a shared calendar, and there’s less risk of details getting lost in translation. 

Moreover, calendars can send alerts and auto updates across devices. They can be integrated with Google calendars, and AI can even read the information and historical patterns to offer suggestions on meeting times or forecast project timelines. 

When contractors are busy managing subcontractors and other vendors, digital tools are a significant help in the effort to avoid delays.

6. Improve Customer Relationships

Customers expect ongoing and when they’ve signed a contract to complete a project. If a contractor fails to deliver in this area, they may receive poor reviews and struggle to secure future contracts. Tech can simplify the logistics involved in communication, and help contractors maintain stronger relationships with customers. 

Customers want to see photos and progress reports. They also want to see itemized details related to expenses, especially if a project exceeds an initial quote. With the right platforms, contractors can share this information, sending updates and keeping records of all communications. 

Customers can log in and see pictures, send messages, and feel connected to the construction process. 

7. Store and Share Documents

Contractors used to rely on file cabinets and flat files to store documents like blueprints or contracts. And, over time, this can lead to lots of dusty, yellowing file folders that start to chew up space in an office setting. 

Today, cloud storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox let contractors store and access these documents with greater ease.

Contractors can look at job plans or review previous documents if they’re working with a repeat customer. They can update documents in real-time and find old projects as a point of reference for new ones without digging through paper folders. Additionally, cloud storage offers automatic backups, so there’s never a concern that they’ll lose important items. 

Final Thoughts

Tech is transforming the way contractors do business in a very good way. Contractors don’t have to fumble through paper files or worry that a scribbled memo on a whiteboard could be misinterpreted. Instead, they can use digital platforms to organize bids, invoices, and other documents that can also be stored on the cloud. 

As a result, contractors won’t waste time looking through messy spreadsheets or tabulating totals themselves. Instead, they can focus on delivering polished, professional services to their customers.