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Software for construction and installation

A construction company or installer works with projects, people on site or at the customer's premises and a lot of paperwork that has to get back to the office. Software helps at every step: a quote that matches the estimate, a schedule everyone can see, work orders and hours that come in straight away and maintenance you don't forget. Here you can see, per area, which packages their suppliers say are suitable for construction and installation.

By Auke Westra, founder of SoftwareWatcher
Text checked on the lists follow the suppliers' data

Most construction companies and installers don't use a single package, but a few parts that work together: quotes and estimating, projects and planning, work orders and hours, and for installers also service and maintenance. Start with the part that takes the most time now, and choose the rest so that it connects to it.

Estimating and quotes

A quote in construction starts with an estimate of materials, hours and subcontracting. Quoting software turns that estimate into a tidy quote that the customer accepts digitally, so you don't have to enter anything again when you win the job.

According to the supplier, suitable for construction and installation:

  • Flixer Pro

    From €65 per month

    No reviews yet

  • Offri

    €10–€25 per user per month

    4.7 out of 5 (13 reviews)

  • Offorte

    From €20 per month

    4.7 out of 5 (3 reviews)

  • e-Boekhouden.nl

    From €4.98 per month

    4.8 out of 5 (2 reviews)

  • Cash

    From €37.50 per month

    4.4 out of 5 (1 review)

7 more packages

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Projects and job costing

For each project you want to see what is planned, what has been spent and whether you are staying within budget. Project software for construction links planning, hours, purchasing and extra work to the project, so you can see during the work where things go wrong and know afterwards what a project really earned.

According to the supplier, suitable for construction and installation:

19 more packages

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Digital work order

Technicians and tradespeople fill in the work order on their phone or tablet: hours worked, materials used, photos and the customer's signature. The order is in the office straight away, so you invoice the same day instead of after retyping paper forms.

The packages in this category:

6 more packages

  • Cash

    From €37.50 per month

    4.4 out of 5 (1 review)

  • Simple-Simon

    From €30 per user per month

    5.0 out of 5 (1 review)

  • Cleverdesk

    €10–€50 per user per month

    No reviews yet

  • vPlan

    €5–€25 per user per month

    No reviews yet

  • McMain Software

    €25 or more per user per month

    No reviews yet

  • Syntess Atrium

    Price on request

    No reviews yet

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Service and maintenance

Installers earn a large part of their revenue from maintenance and breakdowns. Service management software keeps track of which installations you maintain for which customer, schedules periodic maintenance and sends the right technician out with the right information.

The packages in this category:

6 more packages

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Planning people

Who is on which project tomorrow, and with which van? A schedule everyone can see on their phone saves phone rounds on Sunday evening. Check whether the package takes skills, certificates and leave into account.

According to the supplier, suitable for construction and installation:

14 more packages

  • Shiftbase

    From €30 per month

    5.0 out of 5 (1 review)

  • Quinyx

    €1–€25 per user per month

    4.8 out of 5 (1 review)

  • Flux

    Price on request

    4.6 out of 5 (1 review)

  • Cleverdesk

    €10–€50 per user per month

    No reviews yet

  • Cegid HR

    €1–€25 per user per month

    No reviews yet

  • XPS Logic

    €5–€25 per user per month

    No reviews yet

  • TaskTime

    €5–€10 per user per month

    No reviews yet

  • Symagic Social WFM

    Price on request

    No reviews yet

  • Syntegro

    from 3,- per month (per user)

    No reviews yet

  • C-IRIS

    Price on request

    No reviews yet

  • Bedrijfsrooster

    Price on request

    No reviews yet

  • Mijnrooster

    Price on request

    No reviews yet

  • Werktijden.nl

    From €3.75 per month

    No reviews yet

  • Timewax

    €10–€25 per user per month

    No reviews yet

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Hours per project

In construction, hours are the largest cost item and the basis for job costing and pay. With time tracking, employees book their hours straight to the project or work order, also from the site, and the hours go to payroll without retyping.

According to the supplier, suitable for construction and installation:

25 more packages

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Calculate what time tracking costs for your team

Equipment and inspections

Scaffolding, generators, tools and vans: equipment management shows what is where, when it needs inspecting and what it costs. That saves searching and lapsed inspections. There are only a few packages in this category so far.

The packages in this category:

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Everything in one package

As your company grows, you want estimating, projects, purchasing, hours and finance in one system. An ERP for construction does that, but needs more setup. Compare it with separate packages that connect well with each other.

According to the supplier, suitable for construction and installation:

15 more packages

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What does an ERP system cost?

How the packages work together

A common sequence: the quote becomes a project, the project produces work orders and a schedule, the hours and materials from the work order go to job costing and the invoice, and the invoice goes to your accounts. For each package, ask which integrations are standard, and whether you enter data once or in two places.

What to look for

  • Does it work on site: an app that also works without signal and that you can use with work gloves on saves a lot of frustration.
  • Extra work: can you record extra work straight away and have it signed off, so that it ends up on the invoice?
  • Subcontractors and freelancers: can they enter hours and work orders without a full licence?
  • Integrations: with your accounting, your payroll and your wholesalers' price lists.

Frequently asked questions about software for construction

What software does a construction company need?

Usually software for quotes and estimating, projects and planning, work orders and hours, and an accounting program. Installers often also need service management for maintenance and breakdowns. Start with the part that takes the most time now.

Is one ERP package better than separate packages?

Not always. An ERP avoids double entry, but costs more and needs more setup. For smaller companies, separate packages with good integrations are often quicker to get going. Compare them on the parts that matter most to you.

What is the difference between a work order app and service management?

A work order app records what was done on a job: hours, materials, photos and a signature. Service management goes further and also manages the installations at your customers, maintenance contracts and periodic maintenance. Many service packages have a work order app built in.

How we choose the packages

For each area, this page shows the packages from our comparison whose supplier says they are suitable for this industry. In a category that is made for the industry itself, all packages are shown.

At the top are the packages made mainly for this industry: their supplier picks a few industries, not almost all of them. They are followed by the packages with the most reviews on SoftwareWatcher. Nobody pays for a place on this page.