• Login
  • Home
  • Why BuildCentrix?
    • Features
    • REVIT, CAD & CAM Integration
    • Ducting & HVAC
    • Piping
    • Production Management
    • Accounting Integration
    • Reporting & Analytics
    • Integrated Timecards
    • Tool & Asset Tracking
  • Free Trial
    • Book an online demo
  • Pricing
  • Customer Support
    • Support Video Library
    • Contact Us
    • Pay an Invoice
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • News & Updates
    • News
    • Testimonials
    • E-News Subscription

Call us today! 855-932-3828

support@buildcentrix.com
LOG IN
BuildCentrix - The full-service SaaS platform for integrated mechanical contracting companies.BuildCentrix - The full-service SaaS platform for integrated mechanical contracting companies.
BuildCentrix - The full-service SaaS platform for integrated mechanical contracting companies.BuildCentrix - The full-service SaaS platform for integrated mechanical contracting companies.
  • Login
  • Home
  • Why BuildCentrix?
    • Features
    • REVIT, CAD & CAM Integration
    • Ducting & HVAC
    • Piping
    • Production Management
    • Accounting Integration
    • Reporting & Analytics
    • Integrated Timecards
    • Tool & Asset Tracking
  • Free Trial
    • Book an online demo
  • Pricing
  • Customer Support
    • Support Video Library
    • Contact Us
    • Pay an Invoice
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
  • News & Updates
    • News
    • Testimonials
    • E-News Subscription

Integrated Platforms: The Future of Construction Tech

Home NewsIntegrated Platforms: The Future of Construction Tech

Integrated Platforms: The Future of Construction Tech

November 30, 2022 News

Integrated software platforms that better serve customer needs create significant opportunities for contractors in a changing world.

© Can Stock Photo / SergeyNivens

By / Jessica Kirby

It wasn’t until the early to mid-2010s that construction firms began to dive into SaaS and App technology in a noticeable way. For decades prior, tools, equipment, and mediums for completing in-shop tasks like estimating and billing used traditional, age-old methods that got the job done in reliable, predictable ways. But then everything changed. Slowly but surely, logistics and fast-tracking forced a second look at technology, mainly to address basic needs like communication, time-keeping, digitizing paper-based activities, and plugging the feature and functionality gaps that older installed software systems are unable to fill. 

Although the construction tech investment train was gaining momentum prior to covid, two years of contractors completing essential service work in a deadline-driven and unpredictably delayed environment drove the need for technology to new heights. 

Today, especially on the heels of a pandemic and looking ahead at uncertain economic times, the construction industry has almost unanimously dived into tech with its clothes on. However, still on the inquisitive end of proficiency, most company leaders prefer integrated, full-suite programs that lessen the burden and time commitment of trying to manually integrate several pieces of software so the entire operation hums along without interruption. Hence, the platform era has begun.

Most contractors don’t have the internal resources or required time to manage multiple solutions properly. They can implement, but lack on the continuing execution and updating. In a platform, they are dealing with a single vendor, and this simplifies the onerous process of staying on top of the tech stack.

BuildCentrix (BCX) launched in 2012 with an eye on the future as the only platform that does not rely on any old, installed software packages. The leadership team committed to building an application that contains its own content. That means fabrication standards, weights, labor times, calculated fitting values, cost, and price are all managed in the application. BCX started with field ordering for sheet metal at Webduct and ran for four years before rebranding as a full-service, integrated platform for mechanical contractors. Because of this breadth of experience, BCX customers know what they want and why. They are savvy, forward-thinking, and like to save a buck without compromising quality, productivity, or their highly skilled workforce.

Midwest Fabrication & Supply is a sheet metal and pipe fabrication shop in Minnesota that has been using BCX since 2019. Before adopting the software, the team was managing its operations using spreadsheets. Today, 50 to 80 tradespeople use BCX timecards and roughly 100 field users submit work packages for pipe, plumbing, HVAC, specialty, and muti-trade systems.

Mike Nelsen, Plant Manager at Midwest Fabrication & Supply, says that in 2018, the team set out to find a system for managing its work in the manufacturing environment. They chose BCX for many reasons, including its suitability for multiple trades.

“We chose it for its digital time entry, ability to send digital work orders from the field and shop, and detailing capabilities, all working from one common database,” Nelsen says. “Jobs and cost codes are managed programmatically, allowing our timecard users to focus on the work, not paperwork.”

The company also favored BCX because of its functionality to measure real-time productivity by job, phase, cost, or work package, and its ability to manage work packages through all facets of the manufacturing process.

“We needed order visibility between shop and field in real time, automated order confirmation, and competitive pricing,” Nelsen adds. 

Since using BCX, the team has seen productivity and efficiency benefits, especially in the hours reporting module, which is a huge benefit to the entire team and simple to use. “We wanted—and received—something that is easy to use and that provides stakeholders with valuable information with minimal effort.”

Looking ahead, key trends toward efficiency and productivity will continue to drive development for technology platforms like BCX.

“The industry is always begging for more information with minimal effort to increase efficiency,” Nelsen says. “The focus will be placed on moving more field hours to the shop. We’ve made some large gains in the last few years, but I don’t believe we’ve even scratched the surface yet.” ■

BCX comprises the following modules. While there is no requirement to use them all, they are available for contractors to grow into.

  • Field ordering of sheet metal and piping and plumbing
  • Machine integration
  • CAM integration (Trimble, PractiCAM, CAMduct)
  • Watts Orbital Welder
  • Field timecards
  • Shop timecards
  • Labor reporting
  • Payroll integration (all applicable payroll packages for contractors)
  • ERP/accounting integration for jobs and labour codes
  • Revit integration
  • CAD integration
  • Content generation (not dependent on old windows databases)
  • Labor and material costing and pricing
Tags: Building Automation & ControlCloudcloud-nativeHVACPipefittingPiping Plumbing 3DPlumbingReal-Time DataRealTimeSmart TechnologiesTimecard
Share

You also might be interested in

Enhanced Communication

Enhanced Communication

Oct 5, 2023

If the production or shipping date is updated on an[...]

AI Intersecting with IOT and Cloud Computing Becoming Ubiquitous?

Apr 30, 2019

Across various sectors, artificial intelligence and cloud computing complement each[...]

Happy Holidays from BuildCentrix!

Dec 18, 2019

Wishing you Happy Holidays & A Wonderful New Year! From[...]

Contact Us

  • BuildCentrix - PERMANENT SOFTWARE GROUP CANADA LTD.
  • PO Box 57751, STN A, Toronto, Ontario M5W 5M5
  • 855-932-3828
  • support@buildcentrix.com

Posts by Tag

3D 3D Modeling API Autodesk BIM BuildCentrix Building Automation & Control Building Information Modeling CAD CAM integration Cloud cloud-native Compatibility Construction Construction Industry Construction Innovation Construction Technology Data Data collection Digital Digital Construction Economic Growth Economy ERP System Fabrication Field Operations HVAC Labour Lean Construction Manufacturing News Newsletter Piping Plumbing Production & Delivery Production Management Productivity Real-Time Data RealTime SaaS Smart Technologies Technology Technology Innovation Timecard Workflow

Find us on

Latest Posts

  • Blueprint Feature Update
  • Cordance Acquires BuildCentrix
  • Construction in the Cloud Vol 4 No 5 is now online
  • BuildCentrix releases the next generation #mobile user #interface for its integrated shop & field #timecard.
  • 5 years ago
  • BuildCentrix is in San Francisco at the  @AutodeskForge  #Accelerator to leverage its #APIs to buildout next generati…  http://t.co/zQIMJQfFyn 
  • 5 years ago
  • PSF Mechanical: A Model of Efficiency -  @PSFMechanical , Inc expands the use of  @BuildCentrix  #cloudsoftware…  http://t.co/mgdcvnAtzu 
  • 5 years ago
  • North Central Fabricators enhances costumer service by implementing the  @BuildCentrix  #onlineordering system. Custo…  http://t.co/AmvHFejjaz 
  • 5 years ago

Follow @buildcentrix

Contact Us

Got a question? Fill out this form and we'll get back to you asap.

Send Message
Let's get started Book My Free Trial Now!

Integrate - Fabricate - Automate

Get started today.

Contact Info

  • BuildCentrix - PERMANENT SOFTWARE GROUP CANADA LTD.
  • PO Box 57751, STN A, Toronto, Ontario M5W 5M5
  • 855-932-3828
  • support@buildcentrix.com
  • www.buildcentrix.com

Fresh from blog

  • Blueprint Feature Update
  • Cordance Acquires BuildCentrix
  • Construction in the Cloud Vol 4 No 5 is now online
  • Recession-proof Your Contracting Business
  • Three Construction Budget Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
  • Blueprint Upload/Trace Over Released

© [2007 - 2023] — BuildCentrix - PERMANENT SOFTWARE GROUP CANADA LTD.

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
Prev Next