ERP for construction
ERP systems for construction
We build and integrate ERP systems for construction and civil engineering. When off the shelf systems do not fit how you work, we connect what you already run or build the parts that are missing.
- Keep the systems that already work
- Change orders and staff registers on a phone
- Actuals against estimate while the project runs
What is a construction ERP?
What sets it apart from a general ERP is that everything hangs off the project. The estimate becomes a bid, the bid becomes a project, and every hour, purchase and change is booked against that project. Without that chain you only learn whether a job was profitable once you invoice it.
Estimating and bidding
Figures that follow through into the project without anyone typing them a second time.
Project accounting
Actuals against budget in real time, per project and per cost type.
Time reporting
Reporting from a phone on site, linked straight to the right project.
Change orders
Variations logged on site with photos and approval, so nothing is forgotten at invoicing.
Purchasing and materials
Orders, deliveries and invoice matching tied to the project.
Staff register
Electronic attendance logging on site, as Swedish tax rules require.
Construction ERP: what alternatives are there?
There are three routes. We help with the last two and will tell you when an off the shelf system is enough.
Industry specific system
Covers most needs immediately with no development. Fastest to start and lowest upfront cost.
You adapt to the system's way of working. Hard to fit your own flows, and integrations often cost extra.
General ERP adapted for construction
A solid finance foundation such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, with modules and extensions on top for projects and time.
The customisations become yours to maintain. Requires someone who knows both the platform and the industry.
Custom built or integrated
The system follows your operation rather than the other way around. Keep what works, build only what is missing.
Requires a development partner and takes longer than buying a licence.
If you already have a finance system that works, replacing everything is rarely worth it. Usually it is enough to connect the parts that do not talk to each other.
Integrating estimation software with the ERP
One of the most common problems we solve in construction is that the estimate lives in one program and the project in another. The same numbers get entered twice, and when the estimate changes the project never catches up.
Estimators keep their tool
Nobody has to relearn. The program they know by heart stays.
The estimate carries over
Line items flow into bid and project without manual entry.
Actuals against estimate
You see how the project tracks against the original estimate as it runs, not afterwards.
ERP built on Microsoft Dynamics
If you already run Dynamics 365 Business Central, or are considering it, you rarely need to replace it. Finance is handled. What construction usually lacks is flows for projects, change orders and time reporting in the field.
- Custom extensions for project structure, change orders and approval flows
- Mobile app for time reporting and staff registers connected to Dynamics
- Integrations with estimation software, payroll and suppliers
- Reports showing actuals per project rather than only per account
Construction and civil engineering
Civil engineering projects have different needs from building construction. Longer contracts, heavier equipment and measured contracts place different demands on the system.
Machinery and resources
Hours and costs for owned and hired equipment booked per project.
Measured contracts
Continuous reconciliation against the bill of quantities during the contract.
Subcontractors
Agreements, call-offs and invoice matching gathered per project.
ContextAn ERP for construction is one example of custom system development.
RelatedTime reporting and staff registers work best on a phone out on site. Read more about how we develop apps for iOS and Android.
How a project runs
Free intro call
We go through the systems you run today and where things chafe.
Proposal in 48 hours
Scope, timeline and fixed price. We say so if an off the shelf system is enough.
Most valuable part first
You get the piece that helps most into production first, often time reporting or change orders.
Continued development
The rest is built while you already benefit from the system.
We build systems used every day
We build internal systems and integrations for companies that need more than an off the shelf product delivers.
Sony Music Sweden
Internal project management platform teams use daily to coordinate releases and campaigns.
PEGÖ Industriprodukter
Technical partner for setups, integrations and day to day technology decisions.
Frequently asked questions about construction ERP
What is an ERP system for construction?
A construction ERP brings projects, time, purchasing and finance into one place. What sets it apart from a general ERP is that everything hangs off the project: the estimate becomes a bid, the bid becomes a project, and hours, materials and change orders are booked against that project. Without that link you only learn whether a job was profitable once you invoice it.
What alternatives are there for construction ERP systems?
There are three routes. Industry specific off the shelf systems cover most needs immediately but dictate how you work. General ERP systems such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central are adapted with modules and add-ons. A custom system, or integrating the tools you already run, suits companies whose operations differ from the template. We help with the latter two and will tell you when an off the shelf system is enough.
Can we keep our estimation software and connect it to the ERP?
Yes, and it is often the better choice. Estimators rarely want to abandon a tool they know by heart. We build an integration that carries the estimate through to bid and project automatically, so nobody enters the same numbers twice and nobody has to relearn their job.
Can an ERP be built on Microsoft Dynamics?
Yes. Dynamics 365 Business Central is a common foundation when you want finance handled out of the box but need your own flows for projects, change orders and time reporting on top. We build those parts as extensions and integrations rather than replacing the system.
Does the system handle change orders and staff registers?
Those are two of the most common reasons construction firms contact us. Change orders need to be logged on site with photos and approval, otherwise they are forgotten at invoicing. In Sweden an electronic staff register is legally required on construction sites. We build both into an app that works on a phone.
What does a custom construction ERP cost?
An integration project connecting systems you already run normally starts around 150,000 SEK. A custom system covering projects, time and change orders lands higher and depends entirely on scope. We always start with a free call and send a fixed price before anything is built.
How long does an implementation take?
An integration between existing systems usually takes 4 to 10 weeks. A custom system is built in stages where you get the most important part first, often time reporting or change orders, and the rest follows. You do not wait a year for something usable.
What happens to the data in our old system?
We migrate projects, customers, articles and history as part of the rollout. Old data has to be searchable from day one, otherwise people keep opening the old system. You own all the data and can export it whenever you want.
Tell us how you work today
Describe the systems you use and where things chafe, and we will get back to you within one business day with concrete next steps.