We're excited to celebrate one year since the launch of Pegasus' latest innovation for Opera 3 SE users - the Data Connector, a powerful tool designed to revolusionise how you access, analyse and act on your business data. What a transformative year it’s been for our users!

Launched to empower businesses with smarter, faster access to their data, the Data Connector has proven itself as a vital tool for Opera 3 SE users looking to unlock deeper insights, streamline reporting, and make more informed decisions.

A Year of Smarter Data Access

The Data Connector enables secure, direct access to your Opera 3 SE data, integrating seamlessly with tools like Microsoft Power BI, Excel, and SharePoint. From finance to operations, users have been able to visualize and share data across departments — turning raw information into actionable intelligence.

How It Works

Using modern OData technology, the Data Connector offers flexible querying and a user-friendly data dictionary with pre-defined links. This makes it easy to extract and explore data — even for non-technical users.

Whether you're building dashboards, generating reports, or setting up automated alerts, the Data Connector puts powerful data tools at your fingertips.

What Our Users Have Achieved

Over the past year, businesses have used the Data Connector to:

• Create real-time dashboards for sales, stock, and financial performance
• Set up alerts for credit limits, low stock levels, and overdue balances
• Integrate bespoke development data into broader business analysis
• Leverage AI tools to uncover trends and answer complex questions

Why It Still Matters

In today’s fast-paced business environment, timely and accurate data is more important than ever. The Data Connector continues to deliver:

• Speed: Rapid access to live data
• Security: Controlled and safe data extraction
• Simplicity: Easy integration with familiar tools
• Scalability: Works with bespoke developments and evolving business needs

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate the first anniversary of the Data Connector, we’re excited about what’s next. With AI and automation becoming more central to business strategy, the Data Connector is perfectly positioned to help you stay ahead.

If you haven’t yet explored what the Data Connector can do for your business, now is the perfect time.

For more information or to arrange a demo, contact us at [email protected] or visit www.o-a-sys.co.uk.

In today’s fast-paced digital economy, organisations are under constant pressure to do more with less, working faster and smarter than ever before and the way in which businesses operate is transforming. At the heart of this transformation is the purchase-to-pay (P2P) process, a critical business function that connects procurement activities with accounts payable to ensure a seamless and efficient process.

​Within this area, the role of procurement teams has evolved significantly from buyers to strategic partners adding real business value and driving efficiency within the entire organisation.

The Evolution of Procurement in P2P
Traditionally, procurement was largely an administrative function focused on placing purchase orders, negotiating prices, and ensuring timely deliveries. But modern P2P systems, powered by automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and real-time analytics, have changed the process. Procurement teams are no longer gatekeepers of spend, they are drivers of innovation, compliance, and efficiency.

Key roles of the procurement team in modern P2P 
1. Strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management

Modern procurement teams take a strategic approach to sourcing, focusing on long-term value rather than short-term cost savings. By leveraging P2P tools, they can analyse supplier performance, evaluate risk, and build more resilient supply chains. Procurement professionals also play a key role in developing partnerships with suppliers to help secure competitive deals, quicker shipping and a wider variety of products and enhanced product quality.

2.Policy compliance

Procurement teams manage organisational spend policies and in a P2P environment, they work closely with IT and finance to build rule-based workflows that enforce compliance automatically. Whether it’s ensuring purchases go through approved vendors or that invoice approvals follow appropriate hierarchies, procurement ensures policy compliance.

3. Data-driven decision making

With modern P2P platforms offering robust analytics dashboards, procurement can move beyond intuition to data-driven decision making. From identifying maverick spend to forecasting supplier risk or demand trends, procurement professionals play a central role in unlocking insights that support the wider business and its goals. 

4. User experience

The modern P2P process has moved beyond efficiency and has also streamlined the process and designed intuitive experiences for end users. A successful P2P environment empowers employees to purchase what they need, compliantly and quickly, while keeping the procurement function in control.

5. Driving digital transformation

Procurement teams are on the frontline of digital transformation driving growth and efficiency. From e-sourcing tools to AI-based contract management and robotic process automation (RPA) in invoicing, procurement drives the adoption of cutting-edge technologies that reduce costs and enhance value.

Conclusion
The role of procurement has evolved significantly in recent years and in a modern P2P environment it goes far beyond purchasing. It is a strategic function that bridges operations, finance, compliance, and technology with automation at its core. As organisations continue to evolve, procurement teams will play a pivotal role in shaping efficient, resilient, and agile business processes.

Investing in procurement capabilities, both in terms of people and platforms, is no longer optional, it’s a competitive necessity.
To learn more about purchase-to-payment software at Pegasus please contact us today to discuss your requirements and see our cutting edge solution in action.

Pegasus Software’s Stuart Anderson looks at how a converged approach to AP Automation and Purchase Order Processing is expediting cashflow and elevating productivity for organisations. 

Accounts Payable (AP) Automation is seeing a lot of attention currently, as software providers deliver new features and functionality, and AI influences capabilities and potential. 

Using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and AI to recognise key information from invoices, patterns and match these appropriately, AP Automation expedites payment processing and instils best practice across a range of core accounting areas. The addition of Purchase Order Processing (POP) completes the process, aligning payments with invoices in the most efficient way for optimum speed and visibility. 

Eliminating the nine-day PO cycle 
Given that Purchase Orders can take up to nine days to process within large organisations, automation of this fundamental accounting process is a no brainer.

Delayed payments and ambiguity around their specific status can cause frustration and impact relationships with suppliers. In a world where efficiency is king, a slow or inconsistent approach to payments can impact reputation and even threaten core service provision.   

​Formed through a combination of key technologies to form an end-to-end process, AP Automation with Purchase Order Processing (POP) expedites cashflow. It does this through alleviating a number of challenges traditionally associated with payment processing, including:

Boosting efficiency 
AP has traditionally been a heavily manual process for good reason. One of the last bastions of the digital transformation of the office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO), it is complex. Invoices come through in different formats at different times, and matching this to an equally inconsistent, paper-based PO system is a recipe for a sluggish process. Using a combination of OCR and a data lake to sift and present invoices in a consistent format, AP Automation removes this complexity. 

Removing manual entries 
Going hand in hand with efficiency, a convoluted mis-matched approach to aligning payments to POs and expediting the processing of them, can result in losses. Assigning the wrong payment or subjecting suppliers to long waits beyond payment terms while errors are rectified won’t pass muster in 2025. Through having all documents in one place, reconciliation is easy.

Strengthening supplier relationships 
Through consolidating all data on a single, central platform, live statuses can be accessed at any point to update vendors and ensure prompt payment in accordance with terms. Removing ambiguity means that frustrations are reduced and stronger, more longer-term relationships formed. 

Supporting sustainability 
Through removing, or at the very least significantly reducing the reams of paper associated with traditional Accounts Payable processing, there are obvious environmental wins. It’s not unusual for is to see companies with numerous filing cabinets filled with paper, all of which can be eliminated through adopting a digital approach. In some cases, companies have been able to reduce overheads through the associated downshift in office space requirements. 

Instilling scale 
As organisations expand and grow, either organically or via acquisitions, manual processes can really buckle with the additional inevitable workloads.

Having centralised cash flow, data and financial reporting in one place means that adding new entities or additional customers/suppliers can be undertaken in a standardised way, using established process flows. 

A seamless approach Opera 3 SE’s AP Automation capabilities leverage Purchase Order Processing for a truly seamless approach to optimising cashflow, ringfencing supplier relationships and instilling best practice.

To find out more contact us today to see it in action.

The role of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has evolved dramatically over the past few decades, expanding well beyond traditional finance and accounting responsibilities; CFO’s are now seen as strategic partners responsible for shaping strategic direction and driving efficiency. In turn, rising costs and increasingly challenging environments have squeezed profit margins and added tremendous financial pressure to businesses of all sizes. Something must change.

In comes automation! In recent years automation has emerged as one of the most powerful tools a business can adopt. Once reserved for large corporations with deep pockets, automation technology is now accessible to businesses of all sizes, even the smallest and it’s proving to be a major cost saver across industries.

What is automation?
At its core, automation eliminates repetitive, manual tasks that once ate up hours of employee time. Whether it's processing invoices, managing customer support tickets, data entry or updating inventory levels, businesses can now streamline workflows with software bots and machine learning algorithms. Finance automation is increasing efficiency, saving time and eliminating bottlenecks and pressure points.

By reducing the need for human intervention in routine operations, companies are slashing labour costs considerably – a study by PwC discovered that businesses in the finance sector are saving 30-40% time using automation. But it’s not about replacing people, it’s about allowing teams to focus on higher-value, strategic work and areas that can add value to the business. That shift translates into not only savings but also increased innovation and growth.

Real-world savings in action
Many business functions can now be automated to deliver noticeable savings and benefits. How does it work? Artificial intelligence is used within automation software to trigger specific actions with the result streamlining workflows and processes.

Let’s explore some areas that automation is adding value:

Here are a few areas where automation is directly contributing to cost reduction:

Accounts payable (AP)
AP is an area notorious for labour intensive, costly and time-consuming tasks. There are many benefits to automating this function to such as quicker invoice payments to strengthen supplier relationships and redeem early payment discounts as opposed to late payment penalties. Did you know it can cost anywhere between £4 and £25 to manually approve one invoice but with automation the cost can be lowered to as little as £1?

Procurement 
Automation can streamline procurement workflows and drive efficient processes when buying goods and services to provide a maximum level of control and visibility. Indirect costs can mount up if not managed carefully which can spiral and cost businesses significant amounts of money.

Reporting
Business Intelligence is an area that automation can make a real difference as automation can pull real-time information from across your system to compile an accurate and in-depth analysis, as opposed to an out-dated, unreliable jumble of data. Automation can then populate reports at the click of a button to produce actionable insights to drive data-driven decision making based on accuracy not guesswork. Poor decision making can cost a business thousands so it’s essential to get it right first time, your success depends on it!

Small investments, big returns
Automation doesn’t always mean massive infrastructure overhauls. Many tools today integrate seamlessly with existing ERP systems, such as Opera 3 SE. Cloud-based platforms offer flexible pricing, allowing even small businesses to start small and scale as needed.

What makes automation especially attractive is the quick return on investment. According to a recent study by McKinsey, companies that implemented automation in core processes reported an average cost reduction of 20% within the first year.

It’s about smarter, not harder
In today’s hyper-competitive market with rising costs and tight profit margins, businesses can’t afford inefficiencies. Automation offers a clear path to reducing costs, increasing accuracy, saving time and driving the kind of efficiency that will drive the business forward, whether you work in a large corporation or a small enterprise.

​Automation isn’t just a future trend—it’s a present-day necessity for any business looking to stay lean, agile, and profitable and offers many benefits to those who adopt it.

To learn more about the automation opportunities offered by Pegasus with our leading ERP solution Opera 3 SE, please contact us today.

Purchase orders (POs) are a fundamental part of procurement and financial operations for businesses of all sizes. They provide a structured way to request, approve, and track purchases, ensuring that goods and services are acquired with the correct approval and oversight. But while the concept of a PO is straightforward, the reality of processing them is often anything but.

From manual errors to approval bottlenecks, inefficient PO processes can create significant operational headaches for businesses. Let’s dive into the common challenges businesses face in PO processing and explore strategies to address them.

1. Manual data entry and human error
One of the most common issues with PO processing is the reliance on manual data entry and with manual data entry comes a high risk of human error. A recent survey revealed that more than 27% of finance professionals claim data is input incorrectly in their company. Whether it's inputting PO details into spreadsheets or copying data between systems, every manual step increases the risk of typing errors, incorrect pricing, or mismatched vendor information which can lead to inaccurate records, delays and supplier disputes.

Solution: Invest in automated PO systems that integrate with your ERP or accounting software. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and data validation tools can also reduce the chance of errors. OCR automatically coverts text into a machine-readable format.

2. Inefficient approval workflows
It can take large companies up to 9 days to manually approve a PO as approvals often involve multiple stakeholders, from department heads to finance managers, and can get stuck in inboxes or routed to the wrong person leading to costly delays, damaged supplier relationships and missed deadlines. 

Solution: The good news is, you can speed up PO approval times by 75-80% by implementing clear processes and digital automated approval workflows with role-based permissions and automated notifications. 

3. Lack of visibility
Once a PO has been submitted it can get lost in the system so the employee who submitted it can often struggle to track it and have no clear visibility into the status of the PO and whether it’s been approved or fulfilled. This can often result in overrun budgets, duplicate orders and difficulty in reconciling invoices.

Solution: Use centralised procurement software with dashboards and status updates offer real-time tracking from PO creation to receipt of goods giving full visibility into the entire process.

4. Non-compliance with procurement policies
When employees bypass formal PO processes known as “maverick spending” (unapproved spending) it undermines procurement controls and can lead to lack of budget control and unexpected costs, internal compliance issues and poor supplier performance and ability to obtain better deals.

Solution: Training staff on procurement policies and enforcing the use of POs through policy is pivotal here. You can do this by making the PO process as simple and easily accessible as possible and fostering a culture of good practice within your company. 

5. Poor Supplier Communication
Even with the very best internal PO processes, sometimes communication with suppliers can be the sticking point. Miscommunication around PO details, delivery dates, or pricing can result in wrong or late deliveries and strained relationships.

Solution: Establishing a clear, consistent communication channel from the start with suppliers is critical. Share POs electronically and confirm receipt and acceptance and choose your suppliers carefully.

Conclusion
While purchase orders are essential to the procurement process, they often come with operational challenges such as those outlined above. The good news is most PO-related difficulties can be mitigated with robust automated software, employee training and having clear policies in place. 

By addressing these common issues proactively head-on, companies can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and build stronger supplier relationships to make the procurement process run smoothly.

We are delighted that we will soon be bringing Purchase Order Processing to our popular Accounts Payable (AP) automation feature with Opera 3 SE. To register your interest and to be among the first to hear the release information, please get in touch today.

It’s hard to imagine now, but not so long ago, improving productivity meant relying on good old-fashioned elbow grease, paper trails, and plenty of face-to-face chats. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and see how the “old school” approach compares to today’s slick software solutions.

The Old School Way: Modern Software Solutions

Manual Record-Keeping : Automation to the rescue
Remember the days of spreadsheets and ledgers? Every number had to be painstakingly entered by hand. Not only was it time-consuming, but it also left room for errors that could easily snowball.
Now, software handles repetitive tasks like invoicing and data entry automatically, freeing up time and ensuring accuracy.

Filing Cabinets Galore : Digital Filing & Cloud Storage
Before cloud storage, businesses stored mountains of paper in filing cabinets. Retrieving important documents often meant sifting through piles of paperwork – hardly the most efficient use of time!
Today there is no more rifling through cabinets – everything’s stored digitally and can be accessed with a few clicks, from anywhere in the world.

Endless Meetings : Efficient Communication
Productivity discussions often involved lengthy face-to-face meetings, where decisions were often delayed, and valuable work time was lost.
Now we say goodbye to endless meetings. Tools like Zoom or Teams streamline communication, meaning quicker decisions and fewer disruptions.

Manual Time Tracking : Accurate Time Tracking
Timesheets were completed by hand, prone to inaccuracies, and often left open to guesswork.
Software like DUET now tracks time automatically, reducing errors and giving you real-time insights into productivity.

Noticeboards and Sticky Notes : Data-Driven Decisions
Project deadlines? Those were tracked with a whiteboard or a good old sticky note. It worked – but it was easy for important tasks to fall off the radar.
Instead of relying on gut feelings, businesses now have data-driven insights that help identify inefficiencies and guide strategic decisions.

So, have you thought about whether your business is still doing things the old-fashioned way? If you're looking to cut down on wasted time and boost efficiency, the answer could be a simple software solution away. Why not make the switch and let o-a-sys show you the difference?

#ProductivitySolved #EfficiencyUpgraded #SoftwareSpecialists #oasys

In this week’s episode of Biz Connect, Steve Walker, Chairman of Walker Construction, and Bruce Kidd, Operational Director of O-A-SYS (Operational Accounting Systems).

Steve Walker shares the remarkable journey of Walker Construction, a family-owned firm that has grown and evolved over six decades, with its 60th anniversary just around the corner in 2024. He delves into the company’s rich history, his personal career progression from a school leaver to the chairman, and the vital role the firm plays in the community through the Walker Trust’s philanthropic efforts. Steve also highlights the company's commitment to sustainability and how Walker Construction embodies the values of a modern, socially responsible business.

Meanwhile, Bruce Kidd offers invaluable insights into how businesses can drastically enhance their efficiency and productivity. By dissecting everyday business processes and identifying opportunities for automation and integration, companies can optimise information management, freeing up valuable human resources for more strategic tasks. Bruce emphasises the importance of looking inward to drive change, especially as the UK faces a significant productivity gap—up to 20% behind key continental partners like France and Germany. He urges business owners to rethink their operations to help bridge this gap and remain competitive on the global stage.

​Tune in to hear more from Steve and Bruce, and gain practical advice on how to modernise your business while celebrating the legacies that shape our communities. 

In today's fast-paced business landscape, staying ahead of the competition requires not just ingenuity but the right tools. At o-a-sys, we specialise in providing customised software solutions from renowned providers such as Pegasus Software, EazyStock and PODFather. Our mission is to develop these robust platforms to meet the unique needs of your business, ensuring efficiency and growth.

Customisation: The Key to Success
Every business is unique, and so are its requirements. Our software offerings are designed to be flexible, allowing us to tailor them to fit your specific operational demands. Whether it's streamlining your inventory management with EazyStock, optimising your integration with Pegasus Software, or enhancing your delivery schedules with PODFather, our team ensures that the software works for you, not the other way around.

Inspiration from the Past
As we think about innovation and customisation, it's worth reflecting on the wisdom of those who have shaped the business world. Here are some inspirational quotes that resonate with our commitment to excellence and tailored solutions:

Henry Ford: "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success."
Peter Drucker: "The best way to predict the future is to create it."
Steve Jobs: "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."

These visionaries remind us that success is not just about having the right tools but also about how we use them. By customising our software to suit your business needs, we help you create a future where your business can thrive.

Test Your Knowledge
We believe in continuous learning and growth. To engage your minds and inspire you further, we've prepared a quiz about famous business quotes. Test your knowledge and see how well you know the insights of the greatest business minds.

Take the Business Quotes Quiz here : https://zurl.co/MaWp

Share Your Score and Join the Conversation
After completing the quiz, come back and share your score in the comments section below. You have one week to participate and join the conversation. Let's see who among us is the most inspired by the words of the business greats!

At o-a-sys, we are more than just a software provider. We are your partners in achieving business excellence. Contact us today to learn how we can help you tailor our software solutions to your unique needs and set your business on the path to success.

#Pegasus #EazyStock #PODFather #Quiz 

Celebrate World Meditation Day with o-a-sys
In today's fast-paced world, finding moments of tranquillity can be challenging, especially for professionals immersed in technology. On World Meditation Day, we invite you to take a step back, breathe deeply, and explore how mindfulness can enhance both personal well-being and professional productivity.
Mindfulness Meets Technology: A Harmonious Blend
At o-a-sys, we understand the importance of balance. Our software solutions are designed to streamline your workflow, giving you more time to focus on what truly matters. Just as meditation clears the mind and reduces stress, our software clears the clutter from your daily operations, allowing for a more focused and serene work environment.
Tips for Integrating Meditation into Your Workday:

1. Start with a Digital Detox: Set aside 5-10 minutes each day to disconnect from all screens. Use this time to practice deep breathing and center your thoughts.
2. Mindful Breaks: Utilise short breaks between tasks to practice mindfulness. Apps can help schedule these intervals, ensuring you remain productive and stress-free.
3. Tech-Assisted Meditation: Explore meditation apps that integrate seamlessly with your workflow, providing guided sessions tailored to your schedule.

Our Commitment to Your Well-being: Just as our software is designed to enhance your efficiency, we believe in supporting your overall well-being. This World Meditation Day, let's embrace the synergy between technology and mindfulness, creating a healthier, more productive work environment together.
#WorldMeditationDay #Mindfulness #TechAndWellness #SoftwareSolutions #oasys

The construction industry is well known for tight margins meaning that businesses within this sector must work extra hard at monitoring spend to ensure they make a profit. In fact, research has revealed that 69% of projects go over budget by at least 10% and only 31% come within 10% of their original plan. 

Why do construction projects go over budget?
The construction industry is notorious for overspending, and typically, the main reasons a construction project goes over budget is lack of planning and budget control, but communication breakdowns and unforeseen circumstances, such as weather, can also play a part.

7 tips for keeping your construction projects on budget
It can be challenging to keep your construction projects running on budget, but not impossible. With good cost control measures in place, you can ensure your projects are more profitable and efficient. Let’s look at our 7 tips for managing your construction costs:

Thorough estimates
You can have all the best cost control techniques in place, but if you don’t take your time to produce thorough estimates then it’s likely they will fail. Putting together thorough estimates is something that cannot be rushed and it’s important you examine all areas of the project such as overheads, permits, labour, equipment, and materials, and draw up a list of miscellaneous costs you may potentially encounter. Don’t forget to use experience from similar jobs and compare their costs to make your estimates more accurate and get inputs from various job functions to support the process.

Daily reports
Conducting reports daily will highlight any areas that may be going array and will help you identify if costs begin to creep up, so you can put measures in place sooner rather than later, before you run into disruptions.

Communication
In much the same way as regular reporting is beneficial, so is strong communication, as you are more likely to stay on budget if your team understands what they need to do, and when. Open lines of communication can also help you deal with costly issues as soon as they arise, rather than risk going over budget while it takes time to resolve them.

Limited change orders
Changes mid-project are one of the highest areas of expenditure, as contracts managers make changes requested by the customer. By changing your agreement to making changes only in emergencies or rectifying your own errors, you will limit the damage to your bottom line.

Back-up
You should have back-up plans in place in case something happens which threatens your budget like the breakdown of machinery or loss of a crucial contractor. Consider all potential risks, like the ones mentioned, and consider a back-up plan which could help mitigate unexpected additional costs.

Trusted subcontractors
Subcontractors are not employees and therefore they can become an unpredictable source of extra income and delays, and you could experience quality control issues too. It pays to put together a list of trusted subcontractors you have previously had a good experience with, so you don’t need to take the risk in finding new ones, or encounter costs mid-job while you source additional contractors.

Construction Management Software
Ultimately the most efficient way of keeping your costs under control is with robust construction management software to give you complete visibility, reporting and clear lines of communication. A good construction solution will give you control over all aspects of your construction projects so you can reduce costs, stay within your timeframes, and maximise profitability.

Final thoughts…The construction industry is a fast-paced environment, and it can be particularly challenging to stay on budget and within your set timeframe as the industry is well known for overspending and over-running due to the unpredictability of the environment. However, by implementing some clear cost control methods such as regular reporting, clear lines of communication, only employing trusted subcontractors and providing thorough estimates you can begin to regain control of your costs and protect your bottom line. Investing in a robust construction management solution is one sure fire way to help you manage all areas of your construction projects and stay on time and budget more efficiently.

To learn more about our construction solution Pegasus CIS 5, please contact us today, and arrange a free demo to see it in action.

​One of the largest industry sectors, with a gross value of £122 billion in 2021, construction has rebounded in a big way post pandemic. Some figures suggest that workloads spiked by 66% in the 12 months to July 2021 (The State of the Field Service Sector, a report published by BigChange). 

However, in parallel, 2022 is set to experience a major labour shortage of around 665,000 construction workers. According to trade association ABC, an estimated 1.2 million construction workers will leave their jobs in 2022, accounting for much of the shortfall. At the same time, entry-level construction laborers increased by 72.8% against an increase in the total number of construction workers of just 25%, highlighting a large skills gap. 

6000 wasted hours a year 
When you consider that poor back office processes in the industry are collectively taking around 6000 hours every year, it’s clear that rapid action to help mitigate this shortfall is required. 

One of the challenges in addressing poor productivity is that construction companies have been slow to embrace digitalisation, and instead have relied on spreadsheets and paper-based processes for longer than many of their peers. As workloads have spiralled, they’ve invested their energy in keeping up with the deluge, fighting against the inefficient processes in play to a degree, rather than taking a longer term view. Given that nine out of ten projects were delivered late in 2021, and over two thirds (69%) went over budget by at least 10%, it’s clear this isn’t sustainable.   

In fact, taking a step back and understanding the level of back office inefficiencies, and taking action to modernise and digitalise, can free up valuable resources to instil greater productivity, collaboration and accuracy, and support skills and labour shortages which are so prevalent currently.

Expediting digital investment by 70% 
The good news is that we are now seeing significant traction in this area with more than 70% of those involved in construction technology planning to invest more in 2022 compared with 2021 according to research.

CIS systems in particular, which incorporate financials, can facilitate greater efficiency, productivity and collaboration. When it comes to project management, they can provide a comprehensive overview which spans all contractors, subcontractors and employees, thus ensuring the right people and equipment are at the right site at any given time.

Crucially, they can deliver enhanced communications and workflows which can flag anomalies and provide trends and insights. These insights also support the customer experience, as documents and reminders can be stored to manage communications across the entire customer journey. In turn this of course helps to mitigate the time, cost and frustration associated with relying on excel and long e-mail chains to manage time-sensitive decisions and activity.  

Effective contract costing can make or break the profitability of a particular job. Fully integrated with financials, the best systems span all elements of contracts management, managing contract costing, valuations, sales applications, purchasing and subcontractors, from payment applications, VAT invoicing and cash receipt matching. Through being able to measure actual expenses against forecasted costs to flag gaps and facilitate intervention before they get a chance to escalate, costs and audit trails can be identified in real-time. This can then be used to support short term tweaks in the project’s budgets and/or timeline, and feed into estimates and projections for future projects to increase accuracy. 

Embracing a new digital era 
There’s no doubt that the future of construction is buoyant. Modern, future-ready back office systems and processes are therefore needed to support a new era and ensure the sector can capitalise on its growth potential.

Ultimately, the right kind of digitalisation can help equip the construction industry for the future through instilling resilience and agility, and reducing the impact of the unpredictable. 

Those technologies making the biggest difference are ones which capture, analyse and distribute insights in order to manage a project faster, more responsively, and more accurately. These insights help teams anticipate and respond to unpredictable issues quicker, or even to prevent them before they arise. In strategic terms, this results in increased opportunities to improve worker productivity and bring more jobs in on time and on budget, not only helping to mitigate the labour shortage, but enhancing the customer experience and reputation along the way.  

To learn more about our CIS solution, CIS 5, please contact us today to discover how it could help your projects or to arrange a personalised demo for your business.