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Job Costing

Get Accurate Labor and Equipment Hours to Improve Construction Cost Management

How electronic field logs help contractors achieve valid, error-free reporting

Accurate job cost reporting is essential for successful financial management but, in my experience, many companies not using electronic field logs in construction are plagued by their inability to capture two essential data points from the field. Labor hours and equipment hours, key building block of what are typically the two highest job cost items, are frequently inaccurate. This is because many contractors still rely on paper for construction time tracking and to record equipment hours. Read More

Herb Brownett
|August 22, 2019

B2W Apps Keep Mobile Construction Software Working Online or Offline

Data capture, fleet maintenance and resource management continue regardless of connectivity

Anytime, anywhere connectivity for mobile devices may seem like a given in modern society, but contractors know the reality. Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity is not always available where heavy civil construction takes place. Even when it is, it may not be the most efficient way for some companies to use essential construction management software in the field. Read More

John Sheedy
|July 23, 2019

A Better Way to Track Employee Licenses, Certifications and Training

Check credentials in seconds and get alerts in advance about expiration dates

Credentials are critical in managing construction projects, but keeping track of who is licensed, certified or trained for which activities is a management headache. Many contractors, like RJV Construction in Massachusetts, rely on the ONE Platform to minimize this challenge. Read More

Elizah Hulseman
|July 15, 2019

Accounting or Field Tracking Software?

Contractors say combining both systems can improve project outcomes

There is no dispute about the importance of tracking actual performance in the field against the estimate and budget for effective construction cost management. Contractors, however, often debate whether to rely on an accounting system or a specialized construction field tracking software option like B2W Track to do it. Read More

Doug Seyler
|July 10, 2019

The B2W Knowledge Center

Video library puts remote training resources at the fingertips of B2W users

After a contractor purchases B2W construction software, there are a series of steps before they are ready to start using it. The software is implemented, training sessions are completed, and the users are ready to hit the ground running - right? Yes, but as the B2W support team can verify, questions are bound to come up after initial training. Maybe an employee was out that day, or a new employee was hired who didn’t attend training. Even users with years of experience can use a refresher. B2W also adds new features and updates constantly, so there’s always more to learn. Read More

Kayla Lutz
|June 14, 2019

Stopping the Hidden Profit Killer

Unplanned downtime is costly, but construction equipment maintenance software can help you hold it to below 5%.

The profit killer lurking for many contractors is unplanned downtime. This is the time, outside of scheduled maintenance, when breakdowns or emergency repairs knock a machine out of service. However, contractors with best-in-class maintenance processes supported by software like B2W Maintain can change the equation by taking unplanned downtime rates to five percent or lower. Read More

Herb Brownett
|May 8, 2019
Daily Field Log

Daily Field Logs: Faster, Easier, Better

Video highlights clever user interface features that make life easier in the field

Once the estimating and bidding are completed, the daily logs for construction projects become cornerstones to effective management. Foremen and supervisors know timely, accurate data is vital, but let’s face it. There are more productive things they would rather do than record labor, productivity, materials and equipment utilization. Read More

Jen Musil
|April 24, 2019

B2W Employee Spotlight

Jennifer Musil, Principal User Experience Designer

When good software is hard to use, it’s bad software. As a user experience designer, Jen Musil plays a key role in the “look and feel” of the B2W elements. That involves a lot of listening to what users need, along with the software expertise to make powerful features easy and intuitive to use. Read More

Greg Norris
|April 4, 2019

Costing Construction Equipment Accurately with B2W Software

Without accurate rates and a way to assign them, you never really know if you’re making – or losing – money on a job.

Best-in-class heavy construction contractors accurately cost their equipment. Doing this requires two things: an efficient method for tracking equipment utilization time on the job and an accurate calculation of what it costs to operate that equipment. The B2W Software ONE Platform can help with both. Read More

Herb Brownett
|March 12, 2019

B2W Employee Spotlight

Learn how B2W business analyst, Jennifer Angrisano, helps clients incorporate industry best practices for fleet management.

The team creating and standing behind the B2W Platform is as impressive and important as the software itself. In this article, we profile Jennifer Angrisano, who has extensive experience working directly for heavy construction companies and as an industry consultant. Jennifer is putting that background to work at B2W, helping contractors optimize equipment maintenance with B2W Maintain. Read More

Greg Norris
|February 5, 2019

Building eForms with B2W Inform Just Got Easier

Free library of user-ready templates now available to customize forms for construction safety, equipment inspections and more.

Users can create and manage form templates, fill out forms, and view data anytime, anywhere and on any-device. Features include built-in approval workflows, data binding of form fields to a central database, and the ability to capture rich data on forms, such as e-signatures, images, videos, time stamps and GPS locations. Read More

Elizah Hulseman
|February 1, 2019

Thanks to Our Clients for Making 2018 a Great Year

Continuous growth, aggressive product development and passionate support were the B2W highlights

On behalf of the growing team at B2W, I would like to thank you for your business and continuous input on ways we can best serve you. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from so many dynamic contractors on a day to day basis in pursuit of technology that allows you to win more bids and operate more profitably. Read More

Paul McKeon
|January 14, 2019

B2W Maintain Users Confirm: Strong Preventive Maintenance Requires Software

Automation replaces guesswork, oversight and missed service intervals

Recent comments from equipment experts using B2W Maintain sum up a simple truth about fleet maintenance and management. Preventive maintenance is essential to keeping maintenance costs low and uptime high, and heavy construction contractors will struggle to sustain a strong PM program without specialized software like B2W Maintain. Read More

Jennifer Angrisano
|December 27, 2018

For Subcontractors, Estimating Software Does More Than Help Them Win Bids

Running alternate scenarios and adapting to scope changes are areas where spreadsheets can’t keep up when it comes to writing winning bids

Think about heavy construction estimating, and putting together winning bids is probably the first thing that comes to mind. For companies that serve frequently as subcontractors, however, the ability to evaluate and present multiple alternative scenarios for general contractors can be equally important. Adapting bids to changes in the job scope is also an everyday requirement. Read More

Patrick Reitz
|November 20, 2018

Exploring Holistic Fleet Management at October EquipmentSHIFT Conference

If You Manage Equipment, Look Into Joining the Association of Equipment Management Professional (AEMP)

The EquipmentSHIFT conferences promise insightful information on innovative technology and how it will impact the construction sector, and this year’s event did not disappoint. A wide range of suppliers, contractors and other industry experts made presentations on an equally broad range of equipment related topics. Read More

John Kane
|November 8, 2018

Tax Incentives for Year-End Capital Expenses

Now Could be a Good Time to buy Construction Software

It’s that time of year. Kids have gone back to school, the leaves are changing color, the air is getting crisp and… Year-end tax planning strategies are front of mind! But seriously, folks, with the fall season upon us, it’s time to revisit or start tax planning for the coming year-end, and  year-end purchase of capital equipment – including software  Read More Read More

Avatar
|October 31, 2018

B2W Platform is Technology Product of the Year Finalist

New Hampshire High Tech Council cites disruptive innovation and value to construction industry

The ONE Platform is well known in heavy construction, and now it’s getting some heavy recognition in technology circles in its home state. The New Hampshire High Tech Council named the ONE Platform as a finalist for its annual High Tech Product of the Year Award. The winner will be chosen at the group’s Product of the Year dinner on  Read More Read More

Greg Norris
|September 26, 2018

Production Targets: What They Are and Why You Should Use Them

Setting daily expectations more accurately to improve job management

Timely, data-driven decision making is a key to successful heavy construction operations, and contractors can’t make good decisions without gauging actual performance in the field against the expectations established in the estimate. That comparison on a daily basis provides supervisors with the means to address job issues and make corrections days or even weeks before reports can be generated through their company’s accounting/job cost systems. Read More

Doug Seyler
|August 27, 2018

You Can’t Do That with a Whiteboard

9 Benefits of specialized software for scheduling and dispatching covered in new eBook

Getting crews, equipment and materials to the right place at the right time isn’t easy in the ever-changing construction environment. Doing it effectively goes a long way towards keeping projects on schedule and under budget. Read More

Mike Morneau
|August 7, 2018

Going from B2W Estimate Pro to Enterprise

5 Reasons it might be time to upgrade to the more powerful edition

Each of the three versions of B2W Estimate provides unparalleled performance and reliability. So why would you take the leap from the Professional edition to the Enterprise edition? If any of these situations apply to you, it might be time to upgrade. Read More

Greg Norris
|July 31, 2018

New Survey Yields Interesting Results on Technology in Heavy Construction

Data shows awareness of benefits but also missed potential

Heavy construction companies know there’s a lot to gain when their office, field and maintenance operations run efficiently and communicate with each other in real time. Most recognize that they need software and mobile capabilities to make this happen. Still, many stop short of investing and continue to miss out on opportunities technology could provide. Read More

Greg Norris
|July 20, 2018

Software Adoption for Heavy Civil Construction Companies

5 Big-picture Steps to Ensure Successful Implementation of Construction Software

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. Read More

Greg Norris
|June 28, 2018

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. Read More

David Flynn
|June 12, 2018

B2W Employee Spotlight

Greg Dubois, Client Services

Get to know Greg, one of our client services team members who works closely with customers to integrate B2W products with their existing accounting systems. Read More

Lauren Wilson
|June 5, 2018

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  Read More Read More

Greg Norris
|May 24, 2018

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 Read More

Jeff Russell
|May 15, 2018

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 Read More

Greg Norris
|May 9, 2018

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 Read More

John Sheedy
|May 3, 2018

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 Read More

Greg Norris
|April 16, 2018

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 Read More

Greg Norris
|April 10, 2018

Software and the Struggle to Find and Hire 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 Read More

Greg Norris
|March 14, 2018

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 Read More

Greg Norris
|March 7, 2018

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 Read More

Jennifer Angrisano
|January 30, 2018

Streamline the Process for Heavy Construction Equipment Moves

Four Critical Challenges that Arise When Scheduling and Dispatching Heavy Construction Equipment

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 offers  Read More Read More

Mike Morneau
|January 16, 2018

“5 out of 5 Stars”

2-Minute Video: B2W users say ease of use can dissolve resistance to construction 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 Read More

Greg Norris
|December 29, 2017

Don’t Just Collect Safety Data – Use It to Create Actionable Measures and Precautions on the Job Site

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 Read More

Greg Norris
|November 30, 2017

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 Read More

John Kane
|November 20, 2017

A Step by Step Guide for Hiring a Great Construction Project Cost Estimator

By taking the time to refine your overall hiring process, you will attract the top talent and hire the best estimators in the market.

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 Read More

Jen Caesar
|October 31, 2017

Paper Forms in Construction Can Be Costly. It’s Time to Consider Going Paperless with Mobile Data Capture

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 Read More

Elizah Hulseman
|October 27, 2017

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 Read More

John Kane
|October 23, 2017

Top 10 Things You Can’t Do 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 Read More

Elizah Hulseman
|September 28, 2017

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 Read More

Jen Caesar
|September 22, 2017

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 Read More

Jeff Pankratz
|September 12, 2017

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 Read More

Rich Humphrey
|September 7, 2017

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 Read More

Rich Humphrey
|August 30, 2017

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 Read More

Jen Caesar
|August 29, 2017

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 Read More

Greg Norris
|August 25, 2017

Streamlining Key Construction Operations with Software

How to Optimize Critical 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 Read More

Mark Hooks
|August 4, 2017

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” in the construction industry 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  Read More Read More

Elizah Hulseman
|July 27, 2017

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 Read More

Tom Willey
|June 26, 2017

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. Read More

John Kane
|June 23, 2017

B2W Estimate and the Error-check Wizard

Catch Potential Mistakes During the Bidding Process with the Ease of a Spell-Check

For heavy 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. Read More

Anthony Salvatore
|June 23, 2017

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 Read More

Rich Humphrey
|June 20, 2017

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