Workforce management in construction involves organizing and coordinating the crew on construction sites. It includes everything from scheduling shifts, tracking labor hours, and ensuring the right skills are available when needed. Effective workforce management is crucial for project success, impacting timelines, budgets, and overall productivity.
Traditional Methods of Workforce Management
Chances are that at one point or another, you have used traditional workforce mediums such as paper time sheets, attendance sheets, paper schedules, and more. Often, these manual processes can lead to errors, miscommunication, and inefficiencies. For example, delays in recording attendance accurately can result in payroll inconsistencies, while poor scheduling can cause project delays. Construction managers and site supervisors take a big risk keeping everything organized without the aid of modern technology.
You likely know this already but–It’s time to upgrade to modern software.
And we’d love to tell you that it’s never been so easy before. With digital construction tools on the rise and expert customer service available, construction companies nationwide are looking for software solutions to help them manage employees and projects with fast efficiency.
Learn More About Why Construction Companies Are Ditching Paper
What Features Do Modern Workforce Management Tools Have?
The construction industry is gradually shifting towards digitalization, with tools designed to streamline employee management. Modern workforce software offer many of the following:
- Mobile accessibility: online and off-line
- Real-time data insights
- Automated processes
- Time and attendance tracking
- Scheduling
- Photos and Notes
- Enhanced communication capabilities
- Employee self-service
- Supervisor Tools
- Task and project management
- OSHA Compliant incident reporting
- GPS Breadcrumbing
- State-specific compliance monitoring
- Custom overtime calculations
- Automatic daily reports
These advancements help construction managers make guided and more efficient decisions, improve coordination, and minimize the chance of error.
Benefits of Embracing Technology for Workforce Management
Adopting digital tools in construction offers numerous benefits. First, it enhances efficiency by automating repetitive tasks, such as time tracking and shift scheduling. This reduces the administrative burden on managers and site supervisors. Secondly, digital tools provide real-time visibility into workforce activities, allowing for better resource allocation. Finally, improved accuracy and reduced errors lead to cost savings and increased profitability.
Top 5 Construction Workforce Management Solutions
1. busybusy 
Why It’s Great:
- Time Tracking: Simplifies timekeeping with GPS-enabled time tracking, which ensures accuracy.
- Real-time Reports: Provides real-time data on labor costs, productivity, and project progress.
- Mobile Accessibility: Easy-to-use mobile app, making it convenient for on-site managers and workers.
- Photo Documentation: Allows workers to upload photos to document their tasks and progress, enhancing transparency.
Best For:
Construction managers who need real-time insights and detailed documentation.
Features and Functionalities
busybusy is a leading workforce management app designed for companies with field workers such as contracting and construction. It offers a range of features, including time tracking, GPS-based attendance, and job costing. These functionalities help construction managers track labor hours accurately, monitor employee locations, and allocate costs to specific projects.
Pricing
Basic Free Account $0: Includes GPS Time tracking, job costing, equipment tracking and unlimited users.
Pro Account: $9.99 per user, per month, billed annually + $40 Admin license (first user is included). Includes everything in Basic plus GPS breadcrumbing, supervisor tools, daily sign-offs, photos & notes, and scheduling.
Premium Account: $14.99 per user, per month, billed annually + $40 Admin license (first user is included). Includes everything in Pro plus documents, daily project reports, progress tracking, checklists, team messaging, and Zapier.
2. Procore
Why it stands out:
Procore is an all-in-one construction management software that integrates various aspects of project management, including workforce management.
Key Features:
- Workforce Planning: Helps in scheduling and resource allocation efficiently.
- Collaboration Tools: Facilitates communication between team members, enhancing project coordination.
- Compliance Tracking: Ensures that all workforce activities are compliant with industry standards.
- Integration Capabilities: Easy integration with other software tools, making it highly versatile.
Best For:
Large-scale construction projects requiring detailed planning and coordination.
Pricing
Must request a price quote from the Procore website.
3. Raken
Why it stands out:
Raken is known for its user-friendly interface and powerful reporting capabilities, making it a favorite among construction managers.
Key Features:
- Daily Reports: Streamline daily reporting with customizable templates.
- Time Cards: Simplifies the tracking of hours worked, making payroll processing easier.
- Safety Management: Features like incident reporting and safety checklists ensure a safer work environment.
- Photo and Video: Allows the capture of visual progress reports.
Best For:
Construction sites focused on enhancing daily reporting and safety management.
Pricing
Must request a demo from the Raken website
4. Fieldwire
Why it stands out:
Fieldwire offers a unique blend of task management and workforce coordination features, making it ideal for on-site management.
Key Features:
- Task Management: Manage tasks and schedules seamlessly.
- Document Management: Centralize your documents, plans, and blueprints.
- Checklists: Create and share checklists to ensure that all tasks are completed accurately.
- Offline Mode: Access features even without an internet connection, perfect for remote sites.
Best For:
On-site managers who need an efficient way to manage tasks and documents.
Pricing
Basic Free Account $0: Includes plan viewing, task management, files & photos, checklists.
Pro Account: $30 per month, per user, billed annually. Includes all basic features and reports & exports, sheet compare, custom task statuses.
Business Account: $59 per month, per user, billed annually. Includes all Pro features plus custom forms, file storage sync, and BIM viewer.
Business Plus Account: $79 per month, per user, billed annually. Includes all Business features plus RFIs, submittals, and change orders
5. ClockShark
Why it stands out:
ClockShark is designed to simplify time tracking and job scheduling, with features that cater specifically to the construction industry.
Key Features:
- Time Tracking: GPS-enabled time tracking ensures accuracy in timekeeping.
- Job Scheduling: Easy scheduling and dispatching of jobs to workers.
- QuickBooks Integration: Seamless integration with QuickBooks for streamlined payroll processing.
- Job Costing: Helps track job costs and profitability in real-time.
Best For:
Small to medium-sized construction companies looking for an efficient time-tracking and scheduling solution.
Pricing
Standard Account: $40 per month, per user (includes one free admin). Included features are time and attendance tracking, job and task tracking, built-in Spanish language support, drag and drop scheduling, manager roles and approvals, third-party integrations.
Pro Account: $60 per month, per user (includes one free admin). Includes all of Standard plus PTO, office controls, advanced job costing controls, clock out questions, draft schedules.
Considerations for Adoption
Adopting digital workforce management tools requires careful planning and execution. The first step is to identify the specific needs and challenges of your construction projects. Next, research and select the most suitable tool, such as busybusy or Raken. Once chosen, provide training to your workforce to ensure seamless integration. Finally, monitor the implementation process and gather feedback to make necessary adjustments.
Common Misconceptions and How to Overcome Them
Several misconceptions may hinder the adoption of digital tools in construction. Some managers believe that digitalization is costly and time-consuming. However, many workforce management apps offer affordable pricing plans and quick and comprehensive setup processes. Others may worry about resistance from employees. To overcome this, emphasize the benefits of digital tools, such as reduced administrative work and increased accuracy, and involve employees in the transition process.
Conclusion
Choosing the right workforce management software can dramatically improve your efficiency and project outcomes. Each of these tools offers unique features that cater to different needs. Whether it’s real-time reporting with busybusy or task management with Fieldwire, there’s a solution here that can help streamline your operations. Don’t just take our word for it; explore these options and find the best fit for your team.
Ready to elevate your workforce management? Chat with us today and learn more about seamless construction management software for your crew.
