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accurate cost report. This mitigates the need for site costs to
be captured on a separate system, preventing over-delivery,
and drastically improving the accuracy of costs on a project.
The Complete Cost & Double-tier Cost Coding Structure. Fixed costs such as material GUEST ARTICLE

Lals are relatively easy to control. However, productive costs such as
Software labour, plant and subcontractors are more difficult to manage.
Services Enterprise Management Construction management software with the ability to capture
costs at a level of the two “Ws”—namely ‘With’ and ‘What’—will
Trusted partner for Project
Solution activity level.
Management & Cost Control have a major impact in identifying cost overruns down to an

Earned Value Management (EVM). This feature enables the user
to run To-Date, To-Completion and At-Completion earned value
analysis enabling them to identify the project Cost Performance
Index (CPI) and Schedule Performance Index (SPI). From here,
they can control the cost and time performance of a project.
EVM is also used to predict the final project cost and duration.

Software Technology. While cloud-based software is becoming
a standard feature, it can prove impractical for remote
construction sites with unstable internet connectivity. Choosing
a solution with both offline and online functionality is key to
successful system implementation in the built environment.

How much should you be paying?
Price. One of the key principles of construction is to use the
right tool for the job. The same is true when choosing a software
the Bill of Quantities (BOQ) should be tallied to the exact amount solution. High cost doesn’t necessarily mean quality so only
of materials, waste, plant, and labour required including choose software with features that cater to your specific needs.
supervision. To achieve this with the minimum margin of error,
it is essential to use software featuring First Principles Estimating. Scalability. Investing in a software solution that shifts with you
as your company changes will serve you in good stead. The
Critical Path Planning. The project plan is an essential aspect construction industry typically experiences 7-year lean and
to deliver a project successfully. An effective construction mean cycles. Investing in scalable licence options allows you
management platform should have a planning system to save during the lean years.
embedded with precedence network logic linking built-in. Logic
linking is the basis of identifying the critical path. The system Specialisation over Customisation. Having a customisable
should also be able to dynamically link the program with the solution can seem attractive, allowing you to alter your system
bill to generate forecast budgets and cashflows. as needed. However, the opposite is true in construction. By
selecting a purpose-built software solution, you receive exactly
Forecasting. A Project Forecast budget is used to determine what your business requires while avoiding the costs incurred for
resources required, their quantities, and when they’ll be additional software development later.
needed. A system that links the BOQ to the Program will produce
valuable resource histograms to assist with resource planning Despite the multitude of factors dictating your choice of
and cashflow requirements. construction management software, one factor should be
your top priority. The accurate flow of information throughout a
Early Warning Resource Procurement. Cost overruns start project lifecycle is the mortar that guarantees cohesion in an
at the procurement phase of a project. Having construction organisation—its quality dictated by how data is monitored and
management software that monitors the estimate resource controlled. Conversely, by implementing a tailored construction
budget will improve resource procurement control at a quantity, software solution, you eliminate departmental silos ensuring all
rate, and waste level. Any resource cost overruns can then be parties are working from the same page with up-to-the-minute
identified and managed early in the project lifecycle, allowing information.
the project team to mitigate losses.
For more details contact:
Accrued Cost Management. Capturing accrued costs directly Email: info@ccsasia.com
linked to accounts is a key requirement in generating an Website: www.lalssoftwareservices.com

OCTOBER 2022|CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES 59