Trimble Construction One is a connected, cloud-based construction management system. It can unite different phases of a construction project—from planning and design to execution and management. Trimble Construction One brings together previously separate Trimble solutions (like Viewpoint, Estimating, and ProjectSight) into a cohesive platform, helping construction professionals to work within a single connected environment. By breaking down data silos, the system can provide necessary information to the right people in real time. This can help construction companies improve efficiency and profitability.
As projects grow in scope and complexity, profit margins and workforce constraints remain tight. To help address these challenges, construction technology has evolved. For years, construction professionals have contended with the limitations of using disconnected systems. Estimating tools that aren’t connected with accounting software. Project management platforms that can’t easily share data with field operations. These disparate systems create data silos that often lead to duplicate entry, errors, and missed opportunities.
What Trimble Construction One Encompasses
Integrated technology presents a new approach: one that connects workflows seamlessly across the construction project life cycle. Trimble Construction One brings together essential operating components, including:
- Financial Management & Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): Robust job cost accounting, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, purchasing, and financial reporting (often leveraging Trimble’s Vista or Spectrum ERP tools and Trimble Pay functionality).
- Project Management: Tools for managing documents, drawings (including building information modeling), field productivity, communications, and project tracking (ProjectSight is a key component).
- Estimating & Takeoff: Construction software for bidding, creating detailed estimates (including model-based estimating), and performing takeoffs (Accubid, Autobid, and WinEst are often key tools).
- Field & Human Resource Management: Mobile tools for virtually every area of the field—from time collection, job checklist, and equipment requests to the ability of service technicians to access job details, manage work orders, capture signatures, and potentially process billing in the field. To help improve and address workforce issues, there are capabilities for onboarding new hires, managing employee information, tracking certifications, and handling payroll complexities all in one platform.
- Data & Analytics: Reporting and analytics features (Trimble Construction One Analytics) provide insights into project performance, financial health, and operational efficiency, leveraging Microsoft tools like SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and Power BI dashboards.
- Equipment & Information Management: Software solutions for tracking equipment costs, usage, and maintenance; Trimble Connect can be used for information sharing and collaborating on models and documents.
In effect, Trimble Construction One acts as a centralized hub, connecting data and workflows to build an efficient construction management ecosystem. The system can be ideal for general contractors, specialty contractors (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and concrete), and heavy civil contractors.
General Contractors
For general contractors, the system can support functions from estimating and bidding through project execution and closeout. Here are common use cases:
- Streamlining Subcontractor Handling: Simplify paying subcontractors, tracking their insurance, and managing paperwork (like lien waivers).
- Providing Real-Time Job Costs: See if your projects are on budget using connected ERP data.
- Simplifying Change Orders: Manage changes digitally from start to finish, automatically updating project budgets.
- Centralizing Plans: Help the full team (office, field, and collaborators) see the latest plans, models, and documents in one place.
- Enabling Digital Field Reports: Give field crews the ability to submit daily logs and photos to track progress using mobile devices.
Heavy Civil Contractors
Heavy civil contractors can leverage tailored functionality designed for infrastructure projects, including civil estimating, earthwork takeoff and modeling, equipment management, and materials tracking features. Here are common use cases:
- Improved Bidding: Create accurate bids quickly using past cost data and digital site models for quantity takeoffs.
- Enhanced Equipment Tracking: Identify where equipment costs (fuel, maintenance, and usage) are going and bill jobs accordingly.
- Generating Progress Reports: Easily log how much work is done each day (yards moved, tons laid, etc.) for precise billing and reporting.
- Efficient Dispatching: Schedule and send crews and equipment to the right jobs at ideal times efficiently.
- Being Paperless in the Field: Use digital forms for daily reports, safety checks, and inspections instead of paper.
- Materials Monitoring: Smoothly track the delivery and usage of bulk materials (like gravel and asphalt) digitally.
The Connected Data Advantage
The value an integrated system can bring is exemplified through connected data and seamless workflows. When estimating data automatically becomes the budget baseline, when field progress updates immediately reflect in project financials, and when resource planning draws from real-time schedule information, several benefits can emerge:
- Reduced manual and duplicate data entry
- Accurate forecasting based on real-time data
- Increased visibility for a clear picture of performance
- Improved collaboration with teams working from the same information source
- Informed decision making based on timely data
Technology Implementation Considerations
Trimble Construction One gives contractors a way to connect operations—from bidding and planning to field execution and accounting—to help improve efficiency and profitability. When considering a robust ERP platform like this, there are several questions to ask, including:
- Is your team spending hours transferring data between systems?
- Do you struggle to produce accurate financial forecasts?
- Are communication gaps between the office and field leading to costly errors?
A connected system can help address these issues, but effective ERP implementation requires thoughtful planning. Best practices include:
- Phased Adoption: Many contractors achieve desired outcomes when the technology is rolled out in phases rather than transforming multiple functions at once. Identify your team’s urgent pain points and start there.
- Process Review: Implementing new technology provides an opportunity to review and redesign existing business processes. Consider how technology can streamline processes and create efficiencies.
- Change Management: Any significant business change, particularly those involving technology, necessitates careful consideration of your employees’ needs and concerns. Training, clear communication, and proactively including team members in the project and phased rollouts are critical.
- Integration With Existing Systems: While Trimble Construction One offers robust functionality, many contractors maintain some specialized systems. Understanding integration capabilities with those systems is important.
Getting Started With Forvis Mazars
While the construction industry continues to advance with technology innovations and favorable economic trends, it faces ongoing challenges from labor shortages, supply chain uncertainties, and policy fluctuations. A connected platform represents a significant shift away from the standalone software tools promoted only a few years ago. Construction professionals should consider their operations, challenges, and goals when contemplating new, advanced technology.
For contractors interested in exploring Trimble Construction One, connect with the Construction Technology Services team at Forvis Mazars today. As a certified Trimble partner, our technology consultants can help you pave a direct path forward to adopting and leveraging construction technology. By thoughtfully gauging technology options against business needs rather than chasing individual, siloed features, contractors can use technology to help build a more resilient and agile future.
Related reading: Digital Transformation in Construction: A Strategic Road Map