Procore Technologies: Service software
Constructech's Hottest Companies 2007 - Residential
During construction of his own custom home a few years ago, Tooey Courtemanche noticed his builder was struggling on the job. While the tools in use on the project seemed to be fine, what the builder seemed to be lacking was the proper coordination and communication methods that would help him manage complex reporting and tracking processes.
It was at that point Courtemanche decided to apply his knowledge of Web-based technology to help construction companies manage and report complex processes on the job. He founded Procore Technologies, www.procore.com, Santa Barbara, Calif., with a commitment to provide residential builders with a Web-based project management application that would not require an inordinate amount of training for users.
The tool provides site superintendents the ability to communicate with staff, as well as outside parties like architects, designers, and trade partners, from one central online location. Information is automatically distributed to the appropriate parties via fax, email, or both, depending on the needs of the user.
Constructech editors like the fact the Procore service supplements technology tools already in place within a construction firm. A scheduling integration feature allows Procore to integrate with many of the leading scheduling software packages in the marketplace, including Microsoft Project, www.microsoft.com, Redmond, Wash., and Primavera, www.primavera.com, Bala Cynwyd, Pa. This enables companies to utilize software they are comfortable using for the purpose of updating project schedules and have the updated information—across a variety of scheduling applications—automatically transferred to Procore with one click. In all, this means all parties can continue using their native scheduling tools, yet have one resource where all interested parties can view updates.
The scheduling feature allows users to update their schedule as part of their daily log. Schedule changes are saved and subsequently shared online with the entire project team. Changes to the schedule are automatically logged as well, meaning users are able to see precisely when and why various changes were made to the schedule.
Trade partners of Robert Marr Construction, www.robertmarrconstruction.com, Truckee, Calif., are able to view schedule and punch list updates on a regular basis via Procore. The builder uses Microsoft Project to create the scheduling data, which is subsequently gathered each night by Procore and sent via email to the appropriate parties.
Jim Huebner, general superintendent, Robert Marr Construction, calls the Procore tool very intuitive and cites the ease of use as one of its most attractive qualities.
“We first incorporated Procore about two months ago, after evaluating many products in the market,” says Huebner. “Some of the other programs we looked at had more complexities than my guys would probably take the time to learn. In other words, these guys are out in the field and busy and dealing with field things. They don’t have time to go to classes on software on a lot of over-bloated features.”
Following a brief onsite tutorial from the vendor, Robert Marr Construction had the service up and running within six hours. To date, Huebner counts six active projects—with three more set to go online later in the summer—without any training needed for his crew.
“Price was another attractive feature,” adds Huebner. “With some of the other more expensive programs we would basically have to take a salesman’s word that it is good and invest a bunch of money. With Procore we did not have to pay for every user. It was a no risk situation. We could have put it on one job for $200/month for three months and if we didn’t like it, it would have only been a $600 investment.”
This addresses a common challenge many builders and contractors have when it comes to investing in technology—cost. Constructech applauds the fact Procore has arranged its pricing structure in a manner that doesn’t allow companies to use cost as an excuse for not deploying technology. Rather, the company sells its service using a flat monthly per-project rate, meaning users do not need to incur the added expenditure of purchasing user licenses for parties such as architects, engineers, and trade professionals.
Rick Juneau, vice president of the residential and restoration division of Bulley & Andrews, www.bulley.com, Chicago, Ill., likes the way the technology holds project team members accountable for their actions—or in some cases, their in actions.
“It allows you to put certain people onto the system, select them, and ask them questions. Everyone then sees everything all at once in an email as opposed to fax,” says Juneau. “It brings it to the forefront because everyone is always checking email, and they see everyone else that is copied and they know that they need to answer their part before the other guy can answer his part. It creates almost this open dialogue in email, format.”
He says initially a few architects the builder works with did not like working with the tool due to the fact the reminders of their overdue tasks would flood their inbox.
“At the end of the project, however, they said the tool was great, as it kept open issues of a job constantly in the forefront,” says Juneau. “In the beginning some people might see it as a hassle, but in the end they realize it is useful for helping them keep track of open issues and not need to track it in a separate area.”
This is just one example of the technology helping builders in the area of risk avoidance. This is becoming a budding area of interest for many builders. According to Procore, builders are discovering that the ability to track job progress in realtime helps in risk avoidance by flagging problem items before they become major issues.
Procore documents communication, including RFIs (requests for information), punchlists, and change orders, among other data. This helps ensure accountability on the job, documenting who said what and when.
The company says it is currently working with professionals in the banking industry to provide additional functionality on the construction lending side. This is just the latest example of Procore working to ensure the product provides value in multiple areas of the building process.
While Procore is still relatively new to the market—it just recently started making a bigger push into the commercial space—the company already has many satisfied custom homebuilders as customers. Part of this is due to its knack for listening to customer demands.
Juneau says it is never hard to get in touch with a member of the Procore staff and they are always eager to listen to suggestions.
“They all have a great attitude and are really outgoing and aggressive in wanting to understand how to make the technology a good fit for you,” he says. “With some technology providers, if one person suggests something (it is unlikely that they will add the request). But with Procore, if one person suggests something they do a great job of running it by their test pilot users and if it (makes sense on a broad-based scale) they will add that request in to their next upgrade.”
An update in the latest release contains more presentable job forms. Juneau admits he was one of the customers suggesting this enhancement to the product.
Much of Procore’s success lies with its ability to work with its customers to develop the product. Technology is only as good as the companies that use it, and Procore is doing its best to ensure its customers are doing just that.