Original article by Andy Holtmann on Dexter + Chaney

This is the second installment in a five-part series on how innovative technologies and software are helping project managers streamline processes to build faster, smarter projects.

While the lifeblood of the construction company is the construction project, the lifeblood of the project is the people working on it. Hire bad people to manage and build the project? The results will be poor. Hire smart, talented folks with expertise and the results will be good. Hire forward-thinking, open-minded folks ready to try new things and take calculated risks? The results are likely to be even better.

With construction booming again after the recent recession, there is plenty of work to be had. The talent pool for skilled construction professionals, however, is woefully shallow right now. A Bureau of Labor Statistics report in December of 2013 noted that the construction industry could face a shortage of 1.6 million skilled workers by 2022¹.

Interstate Electrical Services has grown from its humble beginnings in 1966 to become one of the largest electrical contractors in the New England market. Today it manages offices—and projects—across six states. In order to keep their business operations moving efficiently, the company, for many years now, has been relying on Dexter + Chaney’s Spectrum® Construction Software. See how Spectrum has streamlined Interstate Electrical Services’ management processes, and given users real-time access to all of its data wherever work takes them.

Original article by Andy Holtmann on Dexter + Chaney

This is the first in a five-part series on how innovative technologies and software are helping project managers streamline processes to build faster, smarter projects

The lifeblood of any construction company is the construction project itself. How those projects are managed can make or break the company.

That makes project managers (or in some companies, project sponsors who oversee teams of project managers) arguably the most important role in an organization. Whereas others may be responsible for particular tasks or defined roles on the project, project managers have to be somewhat of a “jack of all trades.” They must know the project plans inside and out as well as all of the players, tasks, goals, budgeting and more—not to mention representing the company’s mission statements and reputation by producing a finished product that meets or exceeds expectations.

Article written by John Chaney (CEO and co-founder of Seattle, Washington-based Dexter + Chaney) for Construction Business Owner.

How companies are turning to millennials & technology to bridge the skilled labor gap

The economy is performing well, construction projects are back in full swing and jobs are plentiful. But where are all the workers? That’s a question that has been asked frequently over the last couple of years, as skilled construction laborers, project managers and subcontractors have left the industry—either retiring or moving on to other roles in order to survive the recent recession. Fewer workers are returning to the industry, and training new generations of laborers could become a daunting challenge. It has become one of key issues for the industry to address for the present-day and long-term health of companies.

Higher Yearning

According to a June 2015 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of available jobs jumped significantly from the previous year, adding more than 273,000 to companies’ payrolls. However, the talent pool is taking a hit as a whole generation of baby boomers—the largest segment of construction workers in the past 3 decades—has begun to retire.

See how Spectrum® Construction Software has helped Minneapolis-based Adolfson & Peterson Construction streamline its growing operations by providing easy-to-use tools to manage its construction data and generate detailed reports that are easy to understand.

You don't become one of Arizona's leading heavy highway and civil contractors without creating a winning team. Gilbert, Ariz.-based Hunter Contracting has done just that, and is keeping everyone connected in real time—whether in the office or out in the field—with Spectrum® Construction Software. See how Spectrum's complete, industry-leading, web-based construction ERP software has helped Hunter outpace its peers and create award-winning projects in the good times and proactively weather times when work isn't as abundant.

It's easy to identify why construction ERP systems are advantageous for executives and accounting departments, but how can they benefit project managers? In this podcast, Dexter + Chaney’s Wayne Newitts and Mark Schwartz discuss why project managers should embrace ERP software and why it will make their jobs easier.

Key takeaways from this podcast:

• 1:35 - Wayne asks: "Why do you need ERP software in the field?"
• 2:35 - Mark explains that software is meant to make your job easier.
• 3:00 - Conversation moves to mobile software, accessible in the field.
• 4:34 - Mark talks about the disadvantages of just using spreadsheets and why an ERP system saves time.
• 5:49 - The main advantage for the project manager is the automatic sharing of information.

Woodinville, Wash.-based Cascade Drilling/Technical Services has been named the Dexter + Chaney 2016 Innovator Award winner. The award, honoring a client company that has significantly grown or improved its operations through utilizing Spectrum® Construction Software, is presented annually at Dexter + Chaney’s Connect Users’ Conference.

Cascade Drilling/Technical Services has dramatically grown its business in just the past few years—both organically and through acquisition. See how Spectrum^® Construction Software is helping the company manage this growth boom and maximizing the company's profits.

In this podcast, Dexter + Chaney’s Wayne Newitts and Mark Schwartz have a conversation about construction accounting and why your company may need an ERP software package. Many companies are still using multiple systems for business that may or may not easily share information. Construction ERP systems help consolidate your business so that all departments are sharing information seamlessly.

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems are business management software, usually comprised of integrated applications, that are used throughout your company for nearly all aspects of daily business—including data storage, data management, information collecting, business management, accounting, inventory, human resources and more.

Original article by Curt Westberg on Dexter + Chaney

I have run into about as many theories of equipment costing as there are companies, but one of the major decisions an equipment-intensive company faces is the decision to attribute costs to the piece of equipment, or to the jobs where the equipment is used. There are three basic ways that I have seen this done in the industry.