Customer feedback in action: How Buildertrend is evolving with insights from Steve and Heather Tankersley

In the construction industry, where every project requires meticulous planning and execution, having the right software can make all the difference. Construction software like Buildertrend has revolutionized how projects are managed, offering tools to streamline tasks, improve communication and boost overall efficiency. However, the key to developing such effective software lies in understanding the needs of those who use it every day: builders like you.

Builder feedback is crucial to shaping construction software that truly meets the demands of the field. When our developers listen to and incorporate the insights from builders, we can create solutions that address real-world challenges. This feedback helps identify:

• What features are essential
• Which processes can be simplified
• How the software can be more user-friendly

Our podcast hosts, Zach and Charley, sat down with industry-leading builders Steve and Heather Tankersley, co-owners of Tankersley Construction, for a live recording of “The Building Code”. They answered questions and gave their honest feedback about Buildertrend’s construction management software in front of our Product and Engineering team. Steve and Heather are long-time advocates for our platform – but that doesn’t mean they think it’s perfect.

Here’s are a couple of the key takeaways from the episode.

Why did you choose and stick with Buildertrend for your project management software?

When Steve and Heather found Buildertrend, they were a new company looking for a better way to manage their projects and keep things organized.

“We weren’t a 10-year-old established company with these ingrained processes that a lot of companies struggle with,” Steve said. “We were pretty open to stuff.”

“We didn’t have bad habits to break yet,” Heather added.

And their big driver for continuing to push through the learning process was the benefit of the financial features. When things slowed down in early 2020 due to the pandemic, they took advantage of the time and really dove into what the platform could do.

“At that time in 2020, we were about a $2.4 million revenue company,” Steve said. “We were a quarter of what we are right now. But by getting that set up, it gave us the framework to be where we’re at today, four years later.”

By leveraging the tools and taking the time to thoroughly understand their financial position, they set themselves up for sustained growth and success.

How has Buildertrend helped with the evolution of your company?

The Tankersleys never wanted to be just a $1 million remodeling company. Their aspirations and goals went beyond that – which meant they needed a system to help them scale.

“You’ve got to have the framework in place to be able to grow responsibly,” Steve said. “Buildertrend has given us that. At any given time, we’ll have 20 active projects, whether they’re in warranty, pre-construction or construction. And we can run all jobs at one time and see where they’re at – Schedule, financial, everything, so I don’t have spreadsheets everywhere.”

With each new project comes the opportunity to refine processes, enhance efficiency and drive innovation. This relentless pursuit of growth is what separates successful companies from the rest.

“If you’re not growing, you’re dying,” Heather said. “So, why wouldn’t you push yourself to be better? Why wouldn’t you push to keep exploring how to do this process better?”

Heather and Steve continuously challenge their team to push beyond their current capabilities, to explore and implement better ways of doing things. It’s not just about maintaining the status quo but about actively seeking out opportunities for enhancement.

Want to hear more of the Tankersleys’ candid feedback from the live recording?

As experts in the construction industry, Steve and Heather have valuable insights on how they run their business with the help of construction tech. Listen to the full episode to hear their answers to questions from our Product team and their suggestions for how to make our software better.

Not a Buildertrend user – yet? Schedule a demo today and start experiencing the same success as Heather and Steve.