How to overcome construction software training challenges

Using project management software will eventually save your construction business time and money – it’ll just take some effort on your end, first. This is easier said than done, we know. You’re not only trying to learn a new platform to better your business, but you’re also running your business at the same time.

It may seem overwhelming at the beginning, but we promise there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Our customers see the positive impacts of our training resources on a daily basis.

“The best part about Buildertrend is that they offer on the job training,” said Ken Mar, area director at Habitat for Humanity of Omaha. “Not only did we receive in-person training with a Buildertrend team member at our office, but we’re also able to access customer support whenever we need it.”

Our Customer Success team is dedicated to helping you achieve your business goals. Hear from two of our coaches as they share their experiences and insights on how to overcome the initial software training challenges.

How do training resources help customers overcome training challenges?

Jenn Hedgecock, customer success coach: I believe our builders benefit tremendously from our Buildertrend Learning Academy. The course-based learning allows them to allocate time after business hours because meeting with a coach during the day can sometimes be challenging.

Matt Wadleigh, senior customer success coach: The online training resources are a great way to show how navigation works in the Buildertrend platform. It helps them find the features they’re looking for, so they can maximize their time with their coach and focus more on refining processes.

What are some tactics customers should implement when training their team on new software?

Jenn: Having a Buildertrend Champion, a go-to person on their team who is dedicated to learning and implementing the software, is imperative. Instead of trying to find training time for an entire team, they can implement gradually without taking time away from business operations.

Matt: Honestly the biggest one I try to encourage is the Buildertrend Learning Academy. If they’re having an issue with getting the team on board, I’ve had some builders have a competition and the winner gets a free lunch.

What are the best methods for helping your team enhance processes with tech?

Jenn: Meeting with their designated coach on a weekly basis is huge. This is the time where they can come with questions about features, processes, scenarios etc. I have a few builders who’ve taken a piece of our processes and assign homework to their team members to ensure they’re actually logging in and working in a particular feature.

Matt: Start small. Introduce Daily Logs or To-Do’s – easy-to-use features. Once they see how much easier these features makes their day-to-day processes, the more likely they’ll be to open to learning new things.

Can you share a story of when you helped a customer overcome the challenges of training and find success?

Jenn: I have a builder who has pretty much hit the ground running. By having a designated person who learned the program through our trainings and Buildertrend Learning Academy, they’re using our Time Clock feature extremely well. They’re now confident enough to have monthly check-ins with me and ask any one-off questions. They’ve loved the Time Clock widget on the mobile app. It’s super simple for them to see at a glance who has clocked in, to what job and for how long. They absolutely love it!

Matt: I had a group that was coming over from CoConstruct and really struggled with learning a new system. I spent a considerable amount of time with their owners showing them how we could seamlessly move information from one software to the other. From there I shared all the trainings we had done with their team and encouraged them to spend some time in Buildertrend Learning Academy. These customers are now using Buildertrend at a very high level and managing everything through the platform.

What would you say to someone who thinks their old processes are working and that tech takes too much time and effort to adopt?

Jenn: I have many clients who’ve, in the past, had to take time and go back to their office after hours to handle all the paperwork. With Buildertrend, it’s all right there in their hand with the app. They can now easily add daily logs or update their schedule right then instead of spending more time getting back to their computer. That time they’re saving in addition to the real-time updates is a huge benefit.

Matt: I would ask what caused them to seek out software. More often than not, if things aren’t broken, they’re not coming to us. I’d want to know what brought them to us, so we could focus on that.

If a builder has tried software before – even Buildertrend – and quit, why should they give it a second chance?

Jenn: Our builders are looking for a solution to help better their business and save time. They do have to commit and take the time to learn any software. Otherwise, they’re taking steps backwards and finding themselves back to where they were before. Truly committing to making a change is hard, but that’s where they’ll get the most value.

Matt: They should give it a second chance because of the improvements that Buildertrend has made. The addition of new features and updates to original features may be just what they’re looking for.

Let us help you reach your business goals with Buildertrend

If you’re just getting started or looking to take the next step within our platform, we have all the resources you need. Schedule a training, take some online courses or come see us at Buildertrend University. We’re here to help you succeed.

Not a Buildertrend user? Schedule a demo today and see how our project management solutions can streamline processes for your construction business.