The Ultimate Guide to Building a Construction Tech Stack

What is a construction tech stack?

In construction, a tech stack is the specific combination of digital tools and technologies utilized by a given business. A typical construction tech stack includes software applications designed for project management, field reporting, accounting, document storage, and other vital business functions.

To maximize benefits, many tech stacks combine integrated solutions. When software is integrated, data can be shared automatically between systems, improving efficiency and productivity. 

Why are tech stacks important in construction? 

Software simplifies repetitive or time-consuming tasks with automation. Instead of manually capturing, organizing, and analyzing data, you can use digital tools that make almost any process from project management to payroll faster and easier than traditional methods like pen and paper.

Some of the areas of your business you can streamline with an optimized tech stack include: 

• Accounting

• Bid management

• Document storage

• Estimating

• Field management

• Project management

• Safety and quality control

Benefits of construction technology

The main benefits of digitizing your construction workflows are:

• Clearer communication - Ensure the data you collect is accurately recorded in a standardized format that can be quickly and easily shared between stakeholders

• Higher productivity - The field saves hours on daily responsibilities like reporting and time tracking, while the office spends less time on administrative tasks 

• Increased profitability - The right technology will lead to significant return on investment through increased visibility and more impactful insights

All-in-one vs. point solutions

There are two main categories of construction software: point solutions and all-in-one platforms.

Point solutions are built to handle a single type of task or workflow. They have limited features, but may be more intuitive to use and can usually be implemented quickly.

All-in-one platforms offer a wider variety of features, allowing you to handle multiple workflows within a single user interface. They can be complex and more complicated to use, especially if there is a lack of focus on user experience. However, investing in an all-in-one solution can simplify your tech stack and ultimately save your teams more time by eliminating the hassle of managing data in more than one system.

A construction tech stack will often combine both types of applications. For example, a company can use a point solution for accounting alongside an all-in-one platform for field management that includes both time tracking and production tracking capabilities.

How to build the best construction tech stack for your business

Building a tech stack can be intimidating, but you can increase your chances for success following four basic steps:

1. Choose which workflows to digitize

2. Set goals and determine your budget

3. Try different solutions

4. Implement your tech stack and gather feedback

1. Choose which workflows to digitize

If you’re looking to build or optimize your tech stack, the first step is to audit your current processes. Where do you and your teams see the most inefficiencies? What tasks are taking up the most time?

Identify which workflows could benefit the most from digitization. Create a list of priorities and use it to help narrow down your search when you start researching options.

2. Set goals and determine your budget

Think about what you want to achieve with your tech stack. Are you simply trying to save time, or do you want to increase productivity and profitability? Are you trying to prevent safety incidents or win more business?

Define your goals based on your business audit and set a reasonable budget. During the evaluation process, you’ll be able to ask the right questions and make sure a product’s capabilities—and its pricing—are in alignment. 

3. Try different solutions

Many construction software companies provide free demos or trials of their products before you commit to a purchase or ongoing contract. Take advantage of these practices and try out as many options as time and resources permit.

Purchasing software for your tech stack is usually a more involved process than buying an app for personal use. Involve key stakeholders in trials and don’t be afraid to ask your sales representative questions. It’s much better to take more time to make a decision than it is to make a quick purchase you later regret. 

4. Implement your tech stack and gather feedback 

After you’ve chosen which software to include in your construction tech stack, set aside several weeks for training and implementation. Your crews and admins will need to learn how to use and adapt to your new systems before you start seeing positive effects. 

During the adoption period and beyond, it’s important to consistently check in with your stakeholders. Are your digital tools actually saving time? Are they intuitive and easy to use? While change may cause some headaches at first, if you continue to receive negative feedback well after the initial transitional period, you may need to explore using a different solution that works better for your business.

How Raken fits in your tech stack

Raken is an all-in-one app for field management featuring integrations with industry-preferred software for accounting, cloud storage, reality capture, and project management.

Get all the following tools in one, easy-to-use app designed for busy contractors:  

• Daily reports with photos, videos, notes, and attachments

• Time tracking using a mobile time clock, shared kiosk, or time cards

• Production tracking for equipment, materials, and labor

• Safety and quality management featuring checklists, observations, incident reports, and toolbox talks

• Document management with easy access from the field or office

Field crews use Raken’s simple but effective mobile app to quickly capture detailed data from the jobsite. The office can set up projects and monitor progress in real-time from the web, with instant access via cloud storage.

Collect better data faster, and share it seamlessly with Sage, QuickBooks, Procore, and more to eliminate duplicate data, save time, and keep projects on track.