The 10 best construction ERP systems

The construction industry makes use of all kinds of specialized equipment, and its ERP software is no exception. When it comes to choosing software for your construction firm, opting for a construction industry ERP that you know can meet your specific needs can often save you time in getting your processes up and running.

Your first step to finding the best construction enterprise software for your business is narrowing down your feature requirements. In this guide, we’ve outlined some of the best construction enterprise software available including some of the key features to look for when selecting your ERP. You can check through our list of features below to ensure you’re investing in an ERP that can handle your unique needs.

What is construction ERP software?

Construction ERP software is a specialized enterprise resource planning system built for the unique needs of construction companies. These systems should include management of general contractors, subcontractors, financial management, construction accounting, payroll, and service operations in one central database.

Features to look for in a construction industry ERP

Construction companies should look for an ERP system with:

• CAD interface
• Accounting
• Service fleet asset management
• Financial management
• Payroll
• Management of contractors
• Sub-contractor management
• Logistics and transport
• Scheduling
• Complex workforce management
• Inventory
• Workflow processes

How to choose a construction ERP system

The first filter is to know where your business fits within the construction industry.  A developer needs to control costs at a high level. Likely, that business will hire contractors to perform most or even all the actual construction.  The developer still wants to earn a profit. General contractors will perform much work with their own staff and will hire subcontractors for other components of the work. That general contractor wants timely payments from the owner or developer and needs to manage payments and costs that belong to the subcontractors.

Plumbers, electricians, crane operators, and those specialty trades depend on everyone involved to keep the project moving as planned while controlling their costs, receiving payments from the general, and keeping the paychecks flowing to their working staff. No single ERP handles all these diverse needs perfectly, but let's look at a few examples and you can make up your own mind.

What is the best ERP for construction companies?

The best construction ERP will meet your specific ERP feature requirements, but some systems we've included in our top construction ERP roundup include:

• Viewpoint
• Solidblox
• Foundation
• Jonas ERP
• Acumatica
• Sage
• Epicor
• Microsoft Dynamics
• Penta
• Maestro

There are many more systems you can discover using our comparison tools, and you can filter these based on your needs, as explained above.

Viewpoint
Viewpoint is from Trimble and provides a construction accounting system that is at the heart of their ERP. ViewpointOne, hosted in the cloud, combines the industry’s best construction enterprise resource planning (ERP) offerings with project management and field products. Viewpoint has modules aimed specifically at a variety of construction businesses such as general heavy, highway, civil, engineering, mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and plumbing. 

All of the software can integrate with Trimble instruments including laser and optical measurement and GPS systems.

Solidblox
Solidblox is ERP software designed to set a construction business on solid footing. If your business is a real estate developer, infrastructure developer, or general contractor, this could be the system you need. 

Integra is their ERP foundation. ProjectMan is for the management and costing of construction projects. RealtyMax is the CRM component of their system. Resourcer helps manage labor, subcontractors, inventory, and equipment. Costless is the name of the financial management and human resources modules. And Mallwox provides tools to help optimize the return from shopping malls.

Foundation
Foundation Software claims to be America’s number 1 construction account system. They offer a variety of modules that link to create a complete ERP. The majority of their users have 15 to 250 employees in the field and between $3 and $50 million in revenue each year. Many wanted to upgrade from QuickBooks or other small business accounting products. Components include job costing, payroll, scheduling, project management, equipment tracking, and time & material.

Use our free construction ERP comparison tool to find the best software for your business needs

Jonas ERP
Jonas construction - ERP is a comprehensive and fully integrated construction accounting and service work order solution used by over 1,000 clients across a number of construction markets. Jonas Enterprise serves mechanical, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, general, excavating, and heavy highway businesses. Jonas Premier is for general contractors, design-builders, home builders, and land developers. Jonas is best suited for companies in the revenue range of $5 Million to $100 Million.

Acumatica
Acumatica is a major provider of ERP systems for a variety of businesses including construction. Their products are a modern construction ERP for residential and commercial construction management. The system has the latest project reports, contracts, budgets, plans, specifications, change orders, invoices, purchase orders, and job costs.

It will keep staff and subcontractors informed and communicating—on phones, tablets, and PCs. You get accurate information by making the financial system your single source.

Sage
Timberline is one of the oldest construction ERP systems. I first saw this system around 1980 and today it is part of the Sage family. Timberline is now Sage 300. Sage 300’s target is real estate and construction businesses. This ERP includes cost estimating, project management, finance and accounting, document management, and service management.

Sage 100 is another ERP from the same provider. This one is targeted more at contractors. Estimate the job, submit your bid, receive the contract, and manage the project including costs and cash flow to completion.

Epicor
Epicor is an ERP set of products with optional modules that will fit construction companies and many other types of business. Epicor works as an on-premises system and in the cloud as a SaaS ERP. Epicor can include ERP, project management, customer relationship management, quality management, and estimating. Epicor is quite flexible and is easily set up for your unique business.

Dynamics
Microsoft Dynamics SL is part of the extensive Dynamics family of ERP systems from Microsoft. SL is aimed at project-based businesses. Dynamics SL is used worldwide and estimating and project costing are recognized as strengths. Optional modules allow a business to tailor the system to its needs. As a plus, this ERP uses the power of the entire office suite to extend its value.

Penta
Penta is construction ERP software that has been around 35 years. While Penta’s reputation is considered a system for subcontractors, Penta can be used by many businesses in the construction industry.  Penta includes construction accounting and payroll. Project management and engineering management are included. Penta will help a business manage equipment and inspections too.

Maestro
Maestro is a construction ERP system out of Canada. General contractors, home builders, concrete producers, trade contractors, and drilling and mining are target customer businesses. Maestro starts with accounting and project management. A business then selects from a list of core modules such as billing, payroll, procurement, and estimating. Then there are more than twenty modules to choose from that you can use to tailor the product to the specific needs of any construction business.