5 Ways Construction Management Software Can Streamline the Bidding Process

Take Back Your Most Valuable Resource – Your Time

If you’re in the middle of the bidding process, you know that it may be a while before you can actually break ground on your project. Lining up subcontractors is extremely time-consuming.

First, you need to send out requests for bids, and it takes time and effort to make sure you’re reaching out to reputable, affordable subcontractors that meet your project specifications and risk criteria. Then, it’s hurry up and wait as the subcontractors process your requests and send in their proposals. Finally, you need to budget time to sift through all of the proposals and make choices that that will meet your quality standards and keep you profitable.

One way to streamline the bidding process is with construction management software (CMS). Here are five ways CMS software can streamline the bidding process:

1. Ensure bid coverage

Say goodbye to the days of sifting through your phone and email to narrow down a list of subcontractors you want to reach out to and those you don’t. CMS ensures bid coverage by letting you select which contacts to invite, creating invitations to bid, and sharing plans and specifications with all invited subcontractors online. Trades can be automatically included in project specs and mapped to the cost codes you specify. You can even select bidders based on responsiveness so that you can ensure you receive the right number of bids for the lowest possible pricing.

The software completes the task in minutes; simply scroll through your list, click on the subcontractors you want to request bids from, and you’re done. A great construction management application can support all of your subcontractor contact information. Your implementation team will make sure that it’s organized in a way that works for you.

2. Prequalify subcontractors

Customized forms and industry-standard ConsensusDocs preconstruction forms in the bid management tool enable you to prequalify trade contractors. Before evaluating final bids, you can eliminate subcontractors that do not qualify based on specific factors including financials, bonding capacities, current workload, past work experience, and safety records.

3. Improve communications

Not only are requests for bids expedited with construction management software, but you’re able to share updates and information with all bidders and keep track of all information accessed. This empowers subs to submit proposals and helps you communicate with them much more efficiently and productively. Because the software can be accessed on any internet-enabled device, you can have conversations in the field and the office.

Waiting for bids to come back can be a real source of frustration. You’re busy and you know your subcontractors are too, but delaying the build process while waiting on bids is an easy problem to avoid. With BuildTools, you can set due dates for all your bids along with due date reminders, so you can easily keep track of upcoming deadlines.

Due date reminders end the time-consuming process of hounding subcontractors to get their bids to you. Instead, set a reminder to be sent out a week or a few days before bids are due, and get on with the rest of your day knowing that the reminder has been automated. You’ll increase your efficiency and percentage of on-time bids, allowing you to make the right decision for your client at a price that works for you.

4. Centralize bids in one easy platform

Once you get bids back from your potential subcontractors, it’s time to sift through them and find the best option. One hurdle―a lack of standardization across bids―can make them hard to compare.

Using a construction management software application allows you to standardize the submission process in order to make apples-to-apples comparisons between offers. Whether you want bids submitted in a web-based form or a simple email, a construction management platform gives you complete control over the process, not your subcontractors.

5. Stay organized

Having one centralized repository for all project information and documentation makes organizing the otherwise complex bid process a breeze. CMS allows you to keep notes for each sub, track conversations, and generate call logs so that you have records of all communications, regardless of the channel. The information is updated in real-time, sortable by field, and accessible to anyone on your team who needs it, without having to send bulky emails.

Take back the bidding process

Having your bids in order gives you the ability to make the best choice for your project while keeping it moving along at the right pace. BuildTools streamlines the bidding process to keep your build on schedule and gives you more time back in your day so you can focus on the more important tasks.

Ready to see how BuildTools can help your business? Schedule a demo with one of our software experts today.

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