B2W Blog - B2W Software

Construction Operations Software Optimization

Software Adoption for Heavy Civil Construction Companies

5 Big-picture Steps to Ensure Successful Implementation

As technological innovation continues at a breakneck pace, many heavy civil construction companies remain reluctant to move into the era of software-driven business processes. Some fear the unknown. Others have been bitten by experiences with inferior applications, ill-conceived implementations or poor support. Fortunately, software applications like those within the ONE Platform for managing estimating and construction operations are increasingly intuitive, Read More

Greg Norris June 28, 2018

B2W Employees Embrace Smart Commuting Challenge

One of 54 Area Teams That Logged 176,000 Sustainable Miles in May

Ten B2W Software employees took on the commuteSMART Seacoast challenge in May, leaving their cars at home and commuting to work on foot, bike or public transportation. The group racked up 899 commuting miles, keeping 826 pounds of CO2 out of the environment and saving an estimated $512. Charlie Nickel (Technical Writer) organized the B2W team. Members included Steve Gaudreau Read More

Greg Norris June 21, 2018

Construction Operations Software Optimization

New Hampshire CFMA Chapter Addresses Role of Construction CFO

Herb Brownett Guest Speaker at May Meeting

Former CFMA (Construction Financial Management Association) national chairman Herb Brownett led an interactive presentation exploring how the industry’s best CFO’s are transcending the accounting function to help build the value and future of their companies when the newly formed NH CFMA chapter met in May. The session titled What should a construction CFO really be doing? focused on how and Read More

David Flynn June 12, 2018

B2W Employee Spotlight

Greg Dubois, Client Services

The B2W team leverages construction, technology and operational expertise to drive visionary product development and a relentless responsiveness to clients. We’d like to introduce you to Greg Dubois with our Client Services team. How long have you been with B2W Software? 1 year What do you think makes B2W unique? The cultural atmosphere and operating philosophy that is much more Read More

Lauren Wilson June 5, 2018

Estimating Industry Trends

7 Habits of Highly-Effective Construction Cost Estimators

Estimating Heavy Civil Construction Projects Can be Complicated–Here’s How to Get It Right

Cost estimation is a make-or-break phase for construction projects. The right estimates will help your business win more jobs and help your clients better understand what’s in store for them. Here, we’ll discuss 7 of the most important traits shared by highly-effective construction cost estimators. Capturing a Repeatable Cost Structure Skilled estimators understand that they don’t have to spend their Read More

Greg Norris May 24, 2018

Estimating

How Much Does Estimating Software Really Cost?

Actually, it pays for itself many times over

When heavy construction contractors that rely on spreadsheets to manage estimating begin to look at an enterprise-class solution like B2W Estimate, one obvious question comes up early in the conversation. “How much does the software cost?” I sometimes answer, jokingly, that it’s free. Before they get their hopes up too much, I feel compelled to clarify. What I mean is, Read More

Jeff Russell May 15, 2018

Construction Operations Industry Trends

Turn Employee Competitiveness into an Advantage

B2W Tools Can Make Daily Performance Data a Powerful Motivator in the Field

Heavy construction employees tend to be competitive by nature, and a growing number of managers are using performance data to turn that trait into performance improvements. Relying on tools like B2W Track and B2W Inform, allows them to capture data electronically and use it to populate timely reports and dashboards, which are easy to produce and extremely valuable as motivators Read More

Greg Norris May 9, 2018

Construction Operations Industry Trends

A Better Way to Track Time and Materials Work

B2W Track Allows Contractors to Track and Differentiate on a Single Electronic Field Log

Whether it’s called “time and materials”, “cost plus”, or “force account”, the work done outside of a fixed price contract presents challenges on most heavy construction projects. B2W Track provides a more effective, automated way to track this work and ensure that it is accounted for and billed correctly. Read More

John Sheedy May 3, 2018

Construction Operations Industry Trends

Construction Payroll Processing Advantages with B2W Track

Eliminating redundant, manual data entry into accounting systems pays off

M&M Excavating used to refer to it as a “dreaded, day-long Monday ritual”, and the experience is all too familiar at heavy civil construction operations of all sizes and specialties. Two or three employees at that company used to spend most of the day pouring over job reports and time cards for work performed at each job sit the previous week. Read More

Greg Norris April 16, 2018

Construction Operations Software Optimization

2018 B2W Client Award Winners Announced

American Asphalt and A.J. Coleman & Son epitomize operational, data and ROI advantages

The 2018 B2W Client Awards were presented at the annual User Conference in Boca Raton, Florida from March 25-27, and American Asphalt Company and Alvin J. Coleman & Son walked away with the trophies. American Asphalt of New Jersey was cited for Best Use of the B2W ONE Platform. The award for Best ROI with a single B2W Element went Read More

Greg Norris April 10, 2018

Construction Operations Industry Trends

Software and the Struggle to Find Construction Employees

“Young people don’t want to work in the dark ages.”

Can top-tier software help construction companies attract and retain top-notch talent? Brandie Meisner says yes. “We need technology to attract the younger, tech-savvy employees to grow the workforce industry-wide,” the CFO at M&M Excavating in northern Michigan says. “Young people don’t want to work in the dark ages,” she elaborates. “They’ve lived with technology all of their lives; it’s an Read More

Greg Norris March 14, 2018

Construction Operations Software Optimization

Talk the Talk:

Top 10 Heavy Civil Construction Technology Terms You Need to Know

Are you considering new software solutions at your heavy civil construction company? Here are some straightforward definitions for the most important software and technology terms contractors need to know. Chances are, these terms aren’t completely foreign. Still, many people have a vague or partial understanding of exactly what they mean. Brushing up will help you sound like a pro, cut Read More

Greg Norris March 7, 2018

Construction Operations Industry Trends

Want Best-in-class Fleet Maintenance for Your Heavy Civil Construction Business?

Keep track of these key performance indicators

In addition to personnel, equipment is essential to heavy civil construction operations. Keeping a fleet on the job and in safe, working order is a challenge with considerable financial risks and rewards. Add maintenance and repair costs to the impact that out-of-commission equipment has on productivity, and the bottom line can suffer significantly. The logical solution is to put systems Read More

Jennifer Angrisano January 30, 2018

Industry Trends

B2W User Conference Keynote Speakers Announced

NBA Veteran and Industry Expert will be Featured Speakers at B2W User Conference 2018

Construction industry insight and the motivation to achieve peak performance will be the topics when Steve Jones and Walter Bond make keynote presentations at this year’s B2W Software User Conference in March. Jones is senior director for Industry Insights Research with Dodge Data & Analytics. He focuses on how emerging economic, practice and technology trends are transforming the global design Read More

Greg Norris January 24, 2018

Construction Operations Mobile Technology

Streamline the Process for Equipment Moves

Streamline the Process for Construction Equipment Moves

Not much happens in heavy civil construction without equipment, and those responsible for scheduling and dispatching face four critical challenges: Identifying what needs to be moved Tracking information related to equipment movement Efficiently assigning moves to drivers Communicating with the drivers Let’s take a look at each of these requirements and how a comprehensive software solution like B2W Schedule Read More

Mike Morneau January 16, 2018

Construction Operations Industry Trends Software Optimization

“5 out of 5 Stars”

2-Minute Video: B2W users say ease of use can dissolve resistance to software

Stereotypical “old-school” construction workers resisting software at all costs are like flip phones. You come across them now and then, but the sightings are increasingly rare. As construction applications evolve, along with market pressures and employee expectations, the old excuses that “software isn’t for us”, “our existing systems work just fine” or “we’re not ready for software” are dissolving fast. Read More

Greg Norris December 29, 2017

Construction Operations Software Optimization

B2W Benefits – From a Financial Perspective

On the Road at CFMA Fall Conferences

Hands-on users in estimating and operations roles are very familiar with the value of the B2W platform, and a growing number of financial executives in the heavy construction sector are getting the message too. To illustrate ROI and bottom-line benefits of its unified platform, B2W Software had a major presence at the CFMA (Construction Financial Management Association) Annual Conference in Read More

David Flynn December 19, 2017

Construction Operations Mobile Technology

Don’t Just Collect Safety Data – Use It

Every construction company collects a high volume of safety information, but Minger Construction is using B2W Inform to do something not many others do particularly well. “Instead of just collecting the information, we can actually use it to identify trends and improve our performance,” explains Mike Nelson, safety director for the Minnesota based company. Minger creates Daily Crew Safety Briefing Read More

Greg Norris November 30, 2017

Construction Operations Software Optimization

6 Steps to Implementing Maintenance Software

This article originally appeared in Grading & Excavating Contractor magazine Switching from a fragmented mix of spreadsheets and paper-based processes to specialized software to manage equipment maintenance and repairs can have a big impact on profitability for heavy civil construction companies. The most effective companies leverage software sometimes referred to as a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to hold maintenance Read More

John Kane November 20, 2017

Software Optimization

Why You Should Attend a User Conference

Software user conferences can often seem hard to justify. Between the registration fee, travel costs, and time not working, it can be tough to commit that time each year away from the office or jobsite. It’s important to remember how much the benefits of attending a user conference can outweigh the challenges. Here are a few reminders when you’re considering Read More

Lauren Wilson November 3, 2017

Estimating

Take the Guesswork out of Hiring a Great Estimator

Estimators are the cornerstone of any successful heavy civil construction company. Without a talented estimator, the possibility of creating and maintaining a feasible project budget goes out the window. Good estimators are self-starters who are capable of making important decisions surrounding budget costs with limited information. They need to work well individually as well as on a team, and communicate Read More

Jen Caesar October 31, 2017

Estimating Software Optimization

B2W Estimate Case Study – EPC Services

“You could try to compete with pens and paper or Excel, but for how long?”

Glen Smith has a lot of experience with just about every solution for heavy construction estimating – from pencils, to spreadsheets to several specialized software applications. The general manager at EPC Services says four vital capabilities put B2W Estimate at the top of the list: Completing bids faster Minimizing mistakes and risk Collaboration among multiple estimators Ease of use and Read More

Greg Norris October 30, 2017

Mobile Technology

The Costs of Paper Forms and Some Benefits of Going Mobile

Paper forms have consistently been the most common method of data capture within the construction industry for decades. However, as technology plays a bigger and bigger role within companies, and business processes become more complex, paper forms are a growing threat to efficiency and profitability. Most companies cannot rely on these slow and inefficient data processes. The following facts will Read More

Elizah Hulseman October 27, 2017

Construction Operations Software Optimization

Preventive Maintenance Planning & Scheduling

Best practices to drive equipment uptime, utilization and profitability

Preventive Maintenance is the backbone of a productive, profitable heavy civil construction company. As a matter of fact, keeping assets in the field running and maximizing utilization is, in large part, the Shop Manager’s main focus and a large piece of the profitability puzzle. The modern Shop Manager must analyze the fleet and the capabilities of Mechanics and put the Read More

John Kane October 23, 2017

Construction Operations Software Optimization

Top 10 Benefits You Can’t Get With Paper Forms

Paper forms and the headaches that accompany them are all too familiar in the construction industry. For many years, paper forms were the most effective solution for capturing data in the field, as digital, mobile solutions were unavailable, not user friendly, or cost prohibitive. However, this has changed significantly in the last ten years with the increased availability of tablets Read More

Elizah Hulseman September 28, 2017

Industry Trends

Suicide Awareness and Prevention

September is Suicide Awareness Month, and with more focus being given to mental health across the board, it is important to understand its role and impact within the construction industry. Unfortunately, construction has the highest total number of suicides, and is ranked second highest for suicide rate in comparison to other industries. The overall U.S. suicide rate is 13.26 per Read More

Jen Caesar September 22, 2017

Industry Trends

Defining World-Class Software Support

We treat you like a person and help you like a friend – 24/7/365

Any computer user who has ever placed a call to a support hotline knows the difference between a quality support experience and, well, the opposite. But what does quality support really mean? Let’s start by talking about what it isn’t. How many of us have… called a support line, only to be greeted by an automated attendant which forces us Read More

Jeff Pankratz September 12, 2017

Construction Operations Mobile Technology Software Optimization

The Value Proposition for Mobile in Heavy Civil Construction

Heavy civil construction projects need to carefully manage logistics in order to ensure success. Project complexities are driven by large amounts of resources over huge geographic regions, with three key resources needing optimization so projects are efficient and successful: People Equipment Materials The rise of mobile technology is well aligned to address the field operations requirements associated with optimizing people, Read More

Rich Humphrey September 7, 2017

Construction Operations Mobile Technology

Technology to the Rescue

Mobile is the Technology Platform for the Heavy Civil Jobsite

Heavy Civil Infrastructure projects are getting larger and more complex, and as a result, over 50% of projects fail to meet budget and schedule. This increasing complexity is driven by many factors including… No two projects are the same. Each project has its own unique set of existing circumstances. Conditions on the job are always in flux, and often the Read More

Rich Humphrey August 30, 2017

Construction Operations Mobile Technology

Digitizing Your Holistic Safety Program on the Construction Job Site

3 Pronged Approach to Construction Safety Management

Working in the construction industry comes with its fair share of risks: roughly 20% of all worker deaths occur at construction jobsites, with the top four causes of these fatalities including falling, being struck by an object, electrocution, and getting caught/compressed between two objects. In order to help keep workers risk-free and jobsites compliant, a holistic safety program needs to Read More

Jen Caesar August 29, 2017

Construction Operations Mobile Technology

B2W’s Guide to Managing Construction Costs

Managing Construction Project Costs Where They Occur – in the Field

Heavy construction costs occur in the field, and that’s where collaboration and insight can give contractors better cost tracking and cost control. The problem is, many contractors continue to rely primarily on financial or ERP systems to tell them how they are performing versus plan. Now, operational software and mobile capabilities are paving the way for a more effective field-centric Read More

Greg Norris August 25, 2017

Construction Operations Mobile Technology Software Optimization

Streamlining Key Construction Operations Processes:

Heavy Equipment Inspections, Fleet Repair Requests and Maintenance Work Orders

Equipment inspections, repair requests and maintenance work orders are essential, every-day processes within heavy construction operations. Let’s take a look at: How contractors typically complete these process and the challenges they face with current workflows. How they could complete them more effectively with connected workflows and a unified construction software platform. Problems with Paper and Disconnected Processes For inspections, contractors Read More

Mark Hooks August 4, 2017

Construction Operations

B2W Case Study: Bluebird / Trotter & Morton

Leveraging B2W Inform, Including the Alerts and Notifications Feature

Scott Adams attended the B2W User Conference in 2015 and was intrigued by an upcoming addition to the B2W platform being previewed for the first time. Fast forward two years, and B2W Inform was a pivotal asset in his employer’s to move toward paperless field data collection. Forms at Bluebird Contracting and the Trotter & Morton Group of Companies were Read More

Greg Norris July 31, 2017

Construction Operations Mobile Technology

Going Paperless: The Benefits of e-Forms in Construction

Video case studies illustrate the advantages of electronic forms for two core heavy civil processes

Going “paperless” is an increasingly popular goal, as contractors look to escape the inefficiencies, lag time and errors that paper forms bring, while better leveraging the data those forms contain. At Barriere Construction in Louisiana, safety meetings and equipment inspections are two processes where dramatic improvements have been achieved via the B2W Inform solution for data capture and analysis. “We Read More

Elizah Hulseman July 27, 2017

Construction Operations Software Optimization

B2W Welcomes Herb Brownett

Industry Expert Assisting Contractors as Consultant

Having worked closely with Herb Brownett over many years when he was a B2W client at Pennsylvania sitework and excavating specialist Brubacher Construction, two things are clear. He has an in-depth knowledge of our platform and he knows how to deploy our applications to enhance bidding, operations and profitability. That’s why we’re so pleased that Herb, who recently retired as Read More

David Flynn July 26, 2017

Construction Operations Mobile Technology Software Optimization

Did You Know? – B2W Track Tips & Tricks

3 Big Time Saving Tips for Field Log Data Entry

We’re all pressed for time and trying to “do more with less”. This blog post highlights little-known and underutilized features in B2W Track to help recoup some time each day. Over the years, B2W Software continuously adds great features, and more than a few go unnoticed – including these overlooked gems. Exclude Zero Cost Labor Types Auto-Add Foreman Auto Add Read More

Tom Willey June 26, 2017

Construction Operations

Automated Warranty Tracking

A Powerful Addition to Maintenance Management

Contractors maintaining a few dozen or a few hundred pieces of equipment know that keeping track of warranties and optimizing coverage are real challenges. Tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars can be lost by not knowing which repairs and replacements could be covered and when. In this article in Construction Executive “Tech Trends”, John Kane explores how maintenance Read More

John Kane June 23, 2017

Construction Operations Estimating

B2W Case Study: Kitsaki Projects

Improving Estimating, Field Performance Tracking and the Link Between the two

Improving estimating, field performance tracking and the link between the two “B2W Estimate and Track have had a profound impact on our company,” says Benson Thoudsanikone, general manager of Kitsaki Projects. The company has close to 200 employees and focuses primarily on utility-based construction projects in Saskatchewan. Kitsaki implemented the B2W Estimate and Track solutions in tandem, with the goals Read More

Greg Norris June 23, 2017

Estimating Software Optimization

Did You Know? – B2W Construction Estimating Software Tips and Tricks

B2W Estimate Error-check Wizard Catches Potential Mistakes During the Bidding Process with the Ease of a Spell-Check

For heavy civil construction cost estimators juggling multiple bids on a tight deadline, every second counts and – if they aren’t careful – so can every error. That’s one reason why the B2W Estimate software application includes a unique and powerful tool: the Estimate Error-check Wizard. The wizard not only checks for red flags in a final draft, but guides Read More

Anthony Salvatore June 23, 2017

Industry Trends

Horizontal vs. Vertical Construction

Construction Software Requirements Vary

For those that follow the construction software and technology market, there is a noticeable uptake in technology among construction firms. VDC, BIM, mobile project management apps and the Internet of Things (IoT), top the list. This has not gone unnoticed by software firms and venture capital. Both have been investing heavily over the last few years. Most of this investment, Read More

Rich Humphrey June 20, 2017

Construction Operations Estimating Mobile Technology

Field-centric cost management at M.A. Mortenson Company

B2W Client Video

An accounting or ERP system is the go-to tool for managing project costs at many heavy construction companies, but those systems are specifically designed for recording and reporting after costs occur. The limitation is that they are not very effective at helping contractors stay on top of project costs where and when those costs actually occur – in the field Read More

Jeff Russell June 19, 2017