Construction Software Terms

Have you ever felt lost in a sea of construction software jargon? Maybe you've wondered if "requisition home" is some sort of secret mission hub or if "service request" is just a roundabout way of asking for help.

You're not alone! As technology plays a bigger role in the construction industry, understanding the language of construction software has never been more essential.  

Think of this construction software glossary as your go-to tool for understanding construction software terms.

Stay tuned for a look at the different types of construction software and how they are adapting to the ever-changing market below!

Construction Sofware Terms

Construction software varies in design, functionality, cost, capabilities, and more. We want to provide you with universal terms to help navigate and utilize these tools effectively.

Let’s jump into some construction software terms you should be familiar with!

Active Workflows: The workflows currently in progress, show the status of each task and the dependencies between them.

Administration: The management of company settings, user roles, and system configurations within a construction company.

API (Application Programming Interface): A set of tools that allows different software systems to communicate with each other.

As-Built: The final drawings that reflect the actual construction, including any changes made during the process.

Asset Management: A software tool used to track and manage construction equipment, tools, or materials.

Billing Browser: A tool for viewing and managing all billing information for various projects, including issued invoices and payments received.

BIM (Building Information Modeling): A digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a building.

Bill of Materials (BOM): A detailed list of raw materials, parts, and components needed for a construction project.

Budget Tracking: Software used to monitor and control the financial aspects of a construction project.

Browse Service Schedule: A digital calendar or timeline showing upcoming maintenance, service requests, and calibration tasks for easy tracking.

Catalog: A detailed list of materials, equipment, and tools available for use in a project.

Change Order:  A formal document that modifies the original construction contract, often due to scope changes or unforeseen circumstances.

Company Calendar: A shared calendar that tracks important project dates, deadlines, and meetings for the company.

Company Links: Links or shortcuts to important resources or external websites relevant to the company’s operations.

Company Lists: Lists of predefined data, such as approved vendors, project codes, or standard rates, that the company uses.

Company Settings: General settings that govern how a construction company operates within management software, such as currency, time zones, or default roles.

Configure User Roles: The process of defining what each user can access or do within the construction management system.

Cost Code: A numerical or alphanumerical identifier used to categorize and track specific expenses within a project, such as labor, materials, or equipment costs.

Count Tickets: Documents used to record the results of a physical inventory count, ensuring accuracy between stock records and actual inventory.

Custom Fields: User-defined fields in forms or data entries to capture unique or specialized information related to a project.

Custom Reports: Reports tailored to specific needs, showing custom metrics or data related to unique project or company requirements.

Cycle Times: The duration it takes to complete a repetitive task or activity, such as moving materials or assembling components, used to optimize efficiency.

Daily Reports: Software used to record daily activities, progress, labor hours, and any issues on the job site.

Dashboard: A graphical interface that provides real-time updates on KPIs, project status, and critical data points.

Data Loader: A tool for importing bulk data into the system, such as inventory, projects, or user information.

Documents: Digital or physical files, such as contracts, blueprints, permits, or reports, essential for managing and executing construction projects. (Utilized in construction document management software)

E-Logs: Digital logs for recording key activities, such as equipment usage, hours worked, or incidents on-site, providing a permanent and accessible record.

E-Ticketing: The use of digital tickets to track the delivery and receipt of materials, equipment, or services, improving accuracy and reducing paper-based inefficiencies.

Estimation Software:  Tools used to calculate costs for materials, labor, and other expenses to determine a project’s budget.

Equipment Management: Software for tracking the use, maintenance, and lifecycle of construction equipment.

End-of-Day Report: a concise summary of an employee’s or team’s work for the day. It typically includes tasks completed, milestones reached, obstacles encountered, and plans for the following day.

Environmental Compliance: Tools to help ensure a construction project adheres to environmental laws and regulations.

Equipment Usage Log: A feature that tracks the operational hours or usage of equipment, helping to monitor wear, maintenance needs, and billing.

Export Data: A feature that lets users export data (e.g., inventory, financials, project milestones) into external formats like Excel or CSV.

Export Templates: A function that allows users to export reports, financials, or inventory data using predefined templates for easy sharing and analysis.

Field Reports: Daily or periodic updates from the job site, detailing activities, issues, and progress, often used to ensure transparency and maintain accurate records.

Force Majeure:  A clause in contracts that releases parties from liability if unforeseen events or circumstances cause delays.

Geographic Information System (GIS): A mapping system that helps analyze spatial data for construction planning and site management.

General Contractor (GC) : The primary party responsible for overseeing the construction project.

Gantt Chart:  A type of bar chart used in project management to illustrate the start and finish dates of various elements of a project.

Hazard Analysis : Software tools used to identify, assess, and manage potential hazards on a construction site.

Hourly Rates: A cost-tracking feature in construction software that calculates labor costs based on hourly wages.

Health & Safety Management: Software used to track and enforce safety protocols and report incidents on-site.

Idle Times: Periods when resources such as equipment or labor are not actively engaged in work, often identified to reduce downtime and improve productivity.

Integration: The process of linking construction management software with other systems (e.g., accounting, scheduling) for seamless data sharing.

Inventory: The materials, tools, and equipment available for a project, tracked to ensure enough supplies are on hand without overstocking.

Inventory Management: The process of tracking and controlling the materials, tools, and equipment used in construction projects. It can be a digital solution for managing and automating inventory tracking, replenishment, and usage.

Invoice Browser: A searchable interface for viewing issued and outstanding invoices related to construction projects.

Item Browser: A system or tool used to search for specific materials or tools within a company’s inventory.

Job Costing: The process of tracking all costs (labor, materials, equipment) associated with a job and generating invoices to bill clients. 

Job Stock: Inventory of materials and tools specifically allocated for a particular construction project.

Key Performance Indicators: Metrics used to evaluate the success of a project, such as budget adherence, safety incidents, or schedule deviations.

Kickoff Meeting:  A project management term referring to the initial meeting to set the scope and objectives of a construction project.

Labor Management: Tools used to track worker hours, productivity, and payroll on construction projects.

List Visibility: The ability to control who can see certain lists, such as vendor lists or project lists, based on roles or permissions.

Low-Level Browser: A detailed view or search function for low-level stock items that require periodic monitoring or restocking.

Material Tracking Software: Tools used to monitor the inventory and delivery of materials on a construction site.

Milestones: Key stages or deliverables in a construction project, often tracked through project management software.

Material Tracking:  Software tools used to monitor the inventory and delivery of materials on a construction site.

Map: A visual representation of job sites, showing the locations of equipment, materials, and workforce in real-time.

Numbering: A method for assigning unique identifiers to projects, equipment, or tasks to ensure proper tracking.

Notification System: A feature that sends alerts or reminders about deadlines, changes, or issues to stakeholders in the project.

NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement): A legal contract that prevents the sharing of confidential information within the construction project.

Net Profit Margin : The percentage of revenue remaining after all expenses, a key financial metric often tracked in construction software.

Overhead Costs: Indirect costs associated with running a construction project, such as utilities and office expenses.

Photos: Visual records captured on-site to document project progress, safety compliance, or potential issues. Often stored and organized within construction software for easy access and sharing.

Pick Tickets: Instructions or lists of items that need to be picked from inventory for use on a job site.

Progress Tracking: Monitoring the status and completion of tasks, milestones, or phases within a project to ensure alignment with the schedule and budget.

Purchase Orders: A formal document issued by a buyer to a supplier, authorizing the purchase of materials or equipment.

Purchasing: The process of acquiring materials, tools, and equipment needed for construction projects.

Punch List: A list of tasks or items that need to be completed or corrected before the project is considered finished.

Rate Sheets: Documents that list the rates for labor, equipment, and materials used in a project, often provided to clients for transparency.

Receiving Tickets: Documents used to verify and record the receipt of materials or equipment delivered to a job site or warehouse.

Recycle Bin: A temporary storage for deleted items (projects, documents) that can be recovered if needed.

Reports: Formal documents providing updates or summaries on different aspects of a construction project (cost, timeline, etc.).

Reports & Graphs: Visual and data-driven representations of project metrics, finances, and progress for decision-making.

Request History: A digital log that stores all previous material or service requests, helping track inventory movement or decision-making patterns.

Requisitions Home: The central hub for managing and viewing material requisitions within the organization.

Retired Tools: Tools that are no longer in use due to wear or obsolescence.

Returns History: A log of all items or equipment that have been returned to inventory, often with reasons such as over-ordering or job completion.

Returns Home: The central location where tools or materials being returned to inventory are managed.

Scheduled Reports: Predefined reports that are automatically generated and sent at specific intervals (e.g., weekly, monthly).

Scheduling Software: Tools used to plan and track construction tasks, ensuring projects stay on time.

Service and Calibration: The process of maintaining, repairing, and calibrating tools and equipment to ensure they function properly on-site. With software, this feature schedules, tracks, and logs the service and calibration of equipment, ensuring it meets safety and performance standards.

Service Request: A formal request to repair or service a piece of equipment or tool used on a job site. (

Settings: A module where users can adjust preferences, configurations, and system-wide settings.

Super Codes: Similar to cost codes, super codes are a way to group tasks that are frequently performed together.

Task Browser: A tool used to view and manage all tasks related to ongoing construction projects.

Task Management: The process of organizing, assigning, and tracking tasks for teams across different phases of a project.

Templates: Predefined forms or blueprints used to standardize tasks or processes across projects, such as requisition orders or job cost reports.

Time Tracking : Tools for recording the hours worked by employees, contractors, or subcontractors.

Transfer Tickets: Documents or forms used to track the movement of materials or equipment from one location to another.

User Permissions: Software features that control who can access and modify certain aspects of the construction project data.

Virtual Construction: A digital simulation of the construction process used for planning, visualization, and testing.

Wireless Gateways: Devices used to communicate with wireless tags and transmit data to track equipment or inventory.

Wireless Tags: Small devices attached to tools, equipment, or materials to track their location using wireless signals.

Workflow Browser: A feature that visualizes workflows, showing which tasks are completed, in progress, or pending approval, for streamlined project execution.

Work Orders: Formal orders detailing specific tasks or maintenance work that needs to be carried out on equipment or at a job site.

Xref (External Reference): A file or drawing attached to a project that can be updated independently but is included in the main project.

Year-End Reporting: Tools for generating financial and performance reports at the end of a fiscal year for construction companies.

Zoning Software: Tools used to plan and assess land use, including local zoning regulations.

Zoom Meetings: Online meetings that allow remote project collaboration among stakeholders in construction.

Different types of Construction Software

There are various types of construction software designed to address specific needs throughout the lifecycle of a construction project. These software tools streamline processes, improve collaboration, and help ensure the successful completion of projects. 

Here are 6 categories of construction software:

Accounting Software: designed to manage the financial aspects of construction projects. It can help track costs, manage budgets, generate invoices, and oversee cash flow. 

Building Information Modeling (BIM) Software: provides digital representation and management of physical and functional characteristics of buildings.

Construction Operations Management Software (coms): provides complete oversight of operations, covering asset management, safety measures, field activities, fleet tracking, and other essential functions.

Construction Takeoff Software: is used to determine and quantify the materials needed for a construction project, directly from digital drawings or blueprints.

Estimating Software: helps contractors create cost estimates, providing a comprehensive estimate for projects. 

Project Management Software: is a tool designed to help teams plan, organize, manage, and track the progress of a construction project.

Conclusion

Mastering construction software terminology doesn’t have to feel like decoding a secret language. With this glossary, you can confidently navigate the tech tools shaping the industry. Stay curious, keep learning, and watch how understanding these terms makes your projects smoother and your workday easier!