As technology advances, more and more construction companies look to capture the time savings that construction software has to offer. In this this article, we’re going to help you find different ways to evaluate construction softwares that can integrate with QuickBooks.
QuickBooks is a multi-faceted tool that can help propel any construction business forward. With this being said, it’s important to ensure that you’re utilizing this tool correctly and can integrate it other construction management softwares that help you increase efficiency.
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Reach Out to QuickBooks For Assistance
First and foremost, if you need to figure out whether or not your construction software can integrate with QuickBooks, a quick Google search will yield your answer. If you find out that yes, your software does integrate with QuickBooks, reaching out to QuickBooks or visiting their website and looking for information is a good place to start.
QuickBooks has tons of great Help Articles, and there is a decent chance that someone else out there has the same question you do. Contacting QuickBooks directly is also a good idea. They have a Learn and Support page where you can reach out to them, and they’ll be sure to help you find the answer to your integration questions.
Visit the Software Program’s Website
Because QuickBooks is such a popular tool, there is a solid chance that the construction software you use may have some resources on integrations on their website.
If you check their site and can’t find any content or information on QuickBooks integrations, try emailing or calling them directly. There is a good chance they will be able to help you out in some capacity, or at least point in the right direction for how to integrate your software.
Find Construction Industry Specific Groups To Ask Your Questions
Misery loves company. Just kidding! Finding a group of peers in the construction industry to bounce your ideas off of and ask for their experiences with different software. This can be a good place to start for valuable feedback. Don’t wait to struggle on your own when the internet has a wealth of connections available for you to find your answer. There are few different places across the web to find a strong construction community. Community groups on LinkedIn, Facebook, and even Reddit have a lot of people you can bounce ideas off of.
If you’re looking for a group to get connected with, but you’re not sure where to start, check out our Facebook Group Construction Cash Flow Round Table! It’s free to join and is full of people just like you looking for the answers to their construction accounting and business cash flow questions.
Understand Construction Industry & Software Terminology
There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to find the answer to a problem, but not knowing where to start. When you’re working with a construction software, it’s important to understand the different terms associated with the software itself as well as the key terms that many construction accountants use to describe different processes. Understanding the pieces that go into to calculating your labor burden and using purchase orders can lead to more specific software searches as you research the different problems you hope to solve within your business while utilizing construction softwares.
Utilize Video Tutorials & Reviews on Construction Software
Sometimes reading about your problem isn’t enough to solve the specific issue you are encountering. Watching tutorial videos developed by the company itself or created by experienced users can be a good place to gather information about whether or not a software integration will be a good fit with the current QuickBooks accounting system you are utilizing. There are many independent reviewers that can help you get a good understanding of what software is out there and what pros and cons come with each them.
Within these videos and reviews, you can commonly find the answer to some of the issues or potential problems you may experience with a specific software. It is not uncommon for other construction business owners to note their frustration with a specific feature or design flaw that you also may be seeing or tell you the biggest pain points that the software was able to alleviate within their company. It is also a good way to find answers to how those individuals worked around their difficulties or were able to get connected with a professional who resolved their problem.
Know The Best Size and Fit of The Construction Software
This is an area that many construction business owners commonly skip while researching a software. Knowing the cost benefit analysis of a software and its practical application to your business needs is actually one of the most valuable things you can do before committing to a software. Really good construction software is designed to help construction companies meet specific industry needs. It’s always good to ask a salesperson what their typical customers look like for that specific software. Ask them the approximate employee size, industry focus, and average number of projects running to see what type of companies have found their software the most valuable. Sometimes a one-size-fits-all construction software will not be flexible enough to meet the volume of project you have running, but could be a really good fit for a very diversified construction business. No software is perfect, but evaluating which ones have worked successfully for businesses similar to yours can help you make a good investment decision.
Have A Construction Software Implementation Plan Before Purchasing
Just because you purchase a software or start paying a monthly fee doesn’t mean it will solve your process problems. The same way a tool in your tool box cannot help you if you never take it out to the box. Software must be tuned to use in your specific business and your team must be trained to use it properly. In many construction companies we have encountered, a large investment in software was made to solve a problem, but no person in the business ever utilized the software to complete all of the tasks it was supposed to be used for. This is a very common problem that we would hate to see you get stuck with.
Sometimes a software can solve all of your problems, but it isn’t within your business’ budget to implement. Researching similar products to that software to see if there is a lower cost option to complete the biggest time savings issues within your company can be a good place to start. Before making a software commitment, it’s important to make sure you are committed to rolling it out within your business. If you don’t have time to implement the software and make all the connections to QuickBooks yourself, you could find the next section valuable!
Work With an Experienced Integration Team Like 24hr Bookkeeper
Here at 24hr Bookkeeper, we support all 3rd party construction software that integrates with QuickBooks. Examples include BuilderTrend, CoConstruct, RedTeam Software, simPRO, and Knowify.
We understand the importance of integrating QuickBooks, which is why we made it one of our services. And, if you’re nervous about how integrations may interfere with your day-to-day, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! We’ll create a reasonable timeline for implementing new software and processes throughout the entire company, all while avoiding interference with daily operations and allows for a smooth transition.
In addition to our integration services, we can also help your construction business in the following ways:
Monthly Bookkeeping
We manage your financials in both QuickBooks and your construction software. We’ll handle accounts payable and receivable, payroll, reconciliations, and review for real-time financials and job costing.
Construction Software Integration with QuickBooks
We integrate QuickBooks and construction software together for a streamlined workflow, from estimating to project management to bookkeeping.
Catch Up Bookkeeping
We bring your financials up-to-date, reflecting accurate, and verified financial data. You’ll be able to produce all financial reports confidently.
Workflow Advisory Services
We produce customized step-by-step financial manuals that identify financial management and workflows, including staff responsibilities and utilization of QuickBooks and construction management software.
Quickbooks Training
Learn to use, understand, and confidently navigate QuickBooks Online with one-on-one or group training.
To get started, reach out to us today!
