How Can Custom Software Benefit Your Construction Company?

Construction has seen massive changes over the years thanks to new technology and techniques that make building safer and faster. For instance, it is now possible to 3D-print an entire house. The point is that many modern solutions in construction rely on computers to run.

Here is a look at how investing in Chicago custom software development helps your company:

• The value and role of software in construction
• Comparing custom and packaged software
• Five big benefits for construction companies

There is much to discuss, so get ready to take notes.

Let’s go!

Watch this video to learn how Digital Authority Partners designs software that works for your business!

Why Construction Companies Need Software

It is not hard to imagine why software (custom software in particular) is beneficial to construction projects and the industry as a whole. Each machine used in construction plays a designated role and requires programming to perform its job. Without the software, people do most of the work.

Every piece of software (in any setting) has a clear objective to fulfill, whether that be to inspect materials for flaws (quality assurance), track inventory (logistics), or many others. Machines ease the responsibilities involved in all aspects of construction projects, allowing for efficiency in project completion.

For instance, most project and report generation computations are easier to do with a computer than by hand. Assessing a client's risk profile and creating a building model are also seamless if done with software. As technology advances, more types of software emerge with applications in construction. 

Comparing Custom and Off-the-Shelf Software

Although software is crucial to running a construction company, not all of it brings similar quality and value to your business. There are both advantages and disadvantages to custom and packaged software (commercial off-the-shelf, or COTS). 

Custom software is better at meeting a company’s needs (even niche ones) and performing tasks to specific standards. The downside is that it costs more than COTS software and takes time to obtain, even when you hire a Chicago custom software development agency. 

COTS software works in most cases. It offers few, if any, customizable features but has enough power to get the job done. It has better compatibility than custom software, but that comes at the cost of reducing its overall capabilities to fit more general needs.

Five Benefits of Custom Software for Construction Companies

Given the above points, it is obvious that custom software provides critical benefits that COTS products do not. For instance, although custom software has limited compatibility, it is tailored to your company’s unique proprietary processes and equipment. That gives you an edge.

Custom software also improves the accuracy and efficiency of many business processes outside of construction projects or activities. Here are five benefits you get by hiring a Chicago custom software development agency to create personalized programs for your company:

     1. Increased Workplace Safety

Regardless of where in the construction industry your company sits, safety hazards are always present. For instance, oversight or misplacement of railings at a high-rise construction site in Hyde Park puts lives at risk, and that puts your company at risk of fines as well.

Custom software equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) provides critical support by analyzing and detecting hazards on a worksite. It works in real time, too, which means you can quickly identify dangers and apply precautions immediately. Your workers also feel safer at work.

     2. Better Cost and Risk Management

One of the strengths of Chicago custom software development is that you can set your company apart with unique methods and processes. Think of it as similar to KFC’s secret blend of herbs and spices. For construction, it could be efficient costing and better materials.

Custom AI software also works well in risk analysis. It helps identify potential flaws that can endanger or negatively affect a project's success. That way, you can direct attention to areas that require the most resources. AI can be costly, but it saves you trouble in the long run.

     3. Automation of Dangerous Construction Jobs

Another major application of custom software is programmable machinery. Remotely controlled machines are a great substitute for human workers in situations with a high risk of injury. Such machines also perform work that requires extreme precision when handled by a skilled operator. Ultimately, your team accomplishes its work safely. 

Such machines work well in a production line setting that makes prefabricated building pieces because they reduce or completely remove human involvement. Quality assurance tasks are also easier with AI-powered machines, giving your company the option of fully automated work.

     4. Effective and Efficient Processes

Workflow and logistics are other areas of business operations that custom software addresses well. Creating custom internal communication or management software ensures that it fits your company's exact needs. It also means you can personalize the user experience (UX).

A Chicago custom software development agency has the necessary skill and expertise to develop programs that carry all your company's required features. For instance, the software can track and manage materials moving from your West Town warehouse to the designated construction site.

     5. Strict Quality Control Standards

The modern shift to tiny living has generated a need for prefabricated materials and components to create custom houses for clients. With it comes the need for stricter quality control in factories to test the safety and integrity of products. Custom software makes this process easy.

Companies that use these types of machines order them to strict specifications, which also means they run on custom software. This highlights the value of custom software for construction companies in the best way possible. Without custom software, essential processes might grind to a halt.

Summing Up

Custom software development brings many tangible benefits to construction companies. For instance, it unlocks new methods of performing critical jobs, such as remotely controlled machines. With AI you can also monitor on-site safety from afar.

In addition to worksite safety, custom software improves your company’s security by making systems and data harder to breach and steal. Your company can innovate without fear, confident that your systems are a safe place to keep the trade secrets that make your business unique and competitive.

Need help developing custom software for your Chicago construction company? Contact Digital Authority Partners to learn how we can help.