Overview
In today’s fast-paced construction landscape, staying on schedule and within budget can be a constant battle. Manual tracking, disconnected systems, and limited visibility often slow down projects and cut into profits.
A mid-sized construction company decided to embrace Acumatica Cloud ERP, partnering with Techmatic Systems to unify its financials, project management, and field operations under one intelligent platform. The result? Streamlined operations, improved collaboration, and measurable returns on investment.
Challenges
Before implementing Acumatica, the company faced several roadblocks that restricted growth and productivity:
- Data Fragmentation: Project and financial data were scattered across multiple systems, causing duplication and reporting errors.
- Limited Real-Time Visibility: Management struggled to track project progress, budgets, and profitability across multiple job sites.
- Manual, Paper-Heavy Processes: Job costing, change orders, and subcontractor billing were handled manually, slowing down workflows.
- Field-to-Office Disconnect: Field teams had no efficient way to submit time sheets, change requests, or material usage data on the go.
- Delayed Billing and Cash Flow Issues: Invoice generation lagged behind project milestones, leading to delayed payments and cash flow strain.
The company needed a comprehensive construction ERP solution — one that could connect people, processes, and data in real time.
The Solution
After evaluating several ERP platforms, the firm chose Acumatica Cloud ERP, implemented and customized by Techmatic Systems.
Key Modules Implemented
- Project Accounting & Job Costing
Integrated job costing and general ledger systems allowed for precise budget tracking, revenue recognition, and expense control across multiple projects. - Construction Project Management
The firm centralized management of contracts, RFIs, submittals, and change orders. Every project activity was tracked within Acumatica’s project management dashboard for real-time visibility. - Subcontractor Management
All subcontractor agreements, compliance documents, and payment approvals were digitized and streamlined, ensuring faster approvals and audit-ready records. - Field Service & Mobility Tools
Field staff could log time, expenses, and materials directly from mobile devices. Data synced instantly with back-office accounting, reducing communication gaps and data errors. - Document Management System
Every drawing, contract, and photo was stored in a centralized cloud repository with AI-assisted tagging — making retrieval and version tracking effortless. - Dashboards & Analytics
Decision-makers gained 360° visibility with live dashboards showing project profitability, cost variance, and cash flow analytics.
Implementation Highlights
- Seamless Data Migration: Historical job data, vendor information, and invoices were migrated from legacy systems without disrupting active projects.
- Customized Workflows: Techmatic Systems configured workflows for change order approvals, subcontractor payments, and purchase requests to match existing business rules.
- User Training & Adoption: A phased rollout helped employees transition smoothly, with tailored training sessions for project managers, finance teams, and field crews.
- Integration with Third-Party Tools: Estimating and CAD systems were connected to the ERP to maintain continuous project flow.
Outcome & ROI
Within a year of implementation, the construction firm experienced tangible improvements across departments.
| Business Area | Before | After Acumatica Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Project Cost Control | Reactive cost tracking, frequent overruns | Real-time variance alerts and cost insights reduced overruns by 10–15% |
| Billing & Cash Flow | Delayed invoices, inconsistent billing cycles | Automated billing improved cash flow; DSO reduced by 20% |
| Operational Efficiency | Manual reporting and data re-entry | Workflows automated, cutting admin time by 30% |
| Field Collaboration | Limited communication between site and office | Mobile integration enabled instant updates and real-time collaboration |
| Decision Making | Lack of data-driven visibility | Dashboards empowered leadership to make faster, informed decisions |
ROI Summary:
The company achieved payback within 18–24 months. By consolidating systems, eliminating redundancies, and improving billing accuracy, they increased profitability and freed up resources to manage more projects with the same team size.
Key Takeaways
- Integrated Platform: Unified financial, project, and field operations eliminated data silos.
- Automation & Mobility: Reduced manual workloads and enhanced field efficiency.
- Real-Time Decision Power: Improved forecasting and cost control boosted confidence in every project phase.
- Scalability: The firm can now handle larger project portfolios without increasing operational overhead.
The move to Acumatica Cloud ERP marked a turning point for this construction firm. With Techmatic Systems guiding implementation and customization, the company gained the agility to take on more projects, deliver on time, and maintain profitability even in challenging markets.
If you’re in the construction industry and looking to modernize your operations with a cloud-based ERP, Techmatic Systems can help you harness the full potential of Acumatica — tailored to your workflows, your data, and your growth goals.