In May I was fortunate to be asked to join local building company for a short time as their Delivery Co-ordinator. The role involved implementing their project management software Buildertrend into everyday practices and updating their Work Health and Safety policy and practices using Hazard Co.

Buildertrend is a construction project management software for home builders, remodelers and contractors.

Buildertrend boasts:
  • Bring in more leads and turn them into customers
  • Simplify project planning from start to finish
  • Manage finances simply and precisely
  • Run every job site efficiently

Having used Companion for SO long, Buildertrend I feel is more a kin to other PM software like Monday.com, ASANA and the like (but doesn’t celebrate you when you finish a task!)

It can be used on an iPad and phone and includes the expected functionality of being able to turn on and off messages to suppliers and users. It has a Client portal area which is useful for communicating to clients (But I feel needs more work in its display).

Overall, user friendly but (as always) requires an effort to set up – and the saying stands – what you put in, you get out.

HazardCo is a web based software focusing on Work, Health and Safety (WH&S in NZ and OOSH in Australia).

The software has 3 focus areas:

Pre-site
Create a site specific safety plan in minutes using the handy generator. Send a compliant pre-qualification questionnaire to your contractors in one click
Let the automated system remind your contractors to submit their insurance.

On-Site
Workers scan in the first time they visit site to induct themselves and upload their credentials. Workers quickly scan in and out each day so you have a record of who is on site. Workers create and submit H&S reports using the guided App

Oversight
Get real time visibility of who is on-site. Monitor H&S activity and inductions at a project or company level. Create a record of good health and safety practices over time. All your reports are saved in one place and easy to find

Its fairly easy to use, but still requires a process in place to use it effectively (and PAID for all of its functionality – the free version works – dont get me wrong but I err on the side of caution when it comes to WH&S and wouldnt hesitate in the full version…)

Alas the time spent with the builder has now ended, but the skills I have learnt using BuilderTrend and HazardCo will remain in my pocket of “thing I know” (and you know that pocket is pretty deep with mostly useful information!)…and as always if you need a hand with either program (or anything else) you know where to find me.