ConstructionOnline Blog

Cydney Dorsey

Cydney Dorsey

Recent Posts by Cydney Dorsey:

The Complete Guide to Construction Submittals

Every construction professional who has signed a contract should understand the critical role of submittals. These are essential documents—ranging from shop drawings and material samples to product data and test reports—that contractors provide to architects, engineers, or consultants before work begins. Submittals allow these professionals to verify that the proposed materials and methods comply with the project specifications, ensuring that construction proceeds as planned.

Read More...
Topics: Best Practices Submittals Project Management

Get Ahead, Stay Ahead: Why The Best Time to Get Started with Construction Software is Now

If you’re waiting until everything is “just right,” you’re waiting too long. Here’s why the best time to adopt construction project management software is now.

In construction, timing is everything. Yet, many companies hesitate to adopt construction project management software, thinking they should wait until they have more contracts signed or a busier workload. It seems like a logical approach—why invest in software if there isn’t enough work to justify it?

But the reality is, waiting too long puts you at a disadvantage. Successful construction businesses don’t just react to growth; they plan for it. The companies that implement the right tools before they need them are the ones that scale efficiently, maintain profitability, and navigate downturns with resilience.

Read More...
Topics: Business Building

5 Reasons We Dig Construction Estimate Templates

Construction estimate templates, schedule templates, document templates, project templates - these only apply to certain types of builders, right? Wrong.

It's a common misconception that templates are only beneficial for spec, tract, or production builders. Because these types of builders generally structure their work around a standardized set of options with limited customization, templates do work exceptionally well for them.

However, we've found that many other types of construction teams are often surprised to learn that templates can be incredibly beneficial for nearly any type of construction project. Templates help establish standard, dependable processes in all fields of project management - a best practice that supports the growth and success of construction businesses. 

For builders working with UDA ConstructionOnline, we often suggest working with templates to improve efficiency and accuracy. It’s no secret that rising material & labor costs have had a big impact on construction companies and construction clients in recent years. Now, more than ever, construction professionals need solutions to help control costs and ensure projects remain profitable. This is where construction estimate templates come into play. 

Construction estimate templates are essential for business success. Leveraging well-designed construction estimate templates can streamline your estimating process, improve accuracy, and ultimately boost your bottom line.

Not convinced you should be using templates? Read on to learn more about why you should start using construction estimate templates today:

Read More...
Topics: Free Template Estimating Financials

The Ultimate Guide to Construction Warranty Management

Construction projects are significant investments, and ensuring their longevity and quality is paramount. One of the critical aspects of safeguarding these investments is effective warranty management. Construction warranty management plays a crucial role in ensuring long-term client satisfaction and maintaining your company’s reputation. Whether you’re a general contractor, project manager, or construction business owner, mastering construction warranty management can set your business apart from the competition.

This comprehensive guide dives into what construction warranty management entails, why it’s essential, and how you can optimize your approach with best practices and the latest tools.

Read More...
Topics: UDA ConstructionOnline Warranty Management

Maximizing Margins: The Key to Ensuring Profitable Construction Projects

Profitability is the foundation of every thriving construction business. Yet, in an industry rife with tight margins, fluctuating costs, and complex projects, tracking and optimizing profits can feel like an uphill battle. Many builders fall into the trap of focusing solely on revenue, overlooking the detailed financial insights that separate profitable projects from those that barely break even.

Read More...
Topics: Business Building Best Practices Financials Project Health

The Power of Progress: Why Tracking Construction Jobs in Real-Time is Essential

Every construction project tells a story, a unique narrative that unfolds from the very first day of groundbreaking to the celebratory moment of ribbon-cutting. Each phase of this journey reveals a series of milestones that mark progress, challenges that test resilience, pivots that require adaptability, and triumphs that celebrate success. However, without a clear and organized way to track that story, it risks becoming fragmented and disjointed, leaving teams in a state of confusion and clients feeling uncertain about the project's direction and status.

Read More...
Topics: Business Building Best Practices Daily Logging Project Tracking Project Management

Your Blueprint for Success: Mastering Planning in Construction Management

In the fast-paced world of construction, effective planning isn’t just a step in the process - it’s the cornerstone of success. The dynamic nature of the construction industry demands meticulous attention to detail and strategic foresight, as every decision can significantly impact the outcome of a project. From managing multiple projects simultaneously to coordinating complex schedules and efficiently allocating resources, detailed planning is essential. It lays the foundation for timely and cost-effective project delivery, and also ensures that the quality of work meets or exceeds expectations.

Read More...
Topics: Business Building Best Practices Scheduling Project Management

Protecting Your Construction Business: Insurance and Permit Tracking Best Practices

Managing a construction business comes with high stakes. Legal and financial risks lurk behind every project, and even minor oversights can lead to costly fines, lengthy delays, or even damage to your credibility and reputation. Two key components of defense against such risks are addressed with effective insurance and permit tracking, however these critical areas are often overlooked and under-managed by construction companies. Inadequate insurance coverage or missed permit deadlines can jeopardize not only individual projects but also the future of your business.

Read More...
Topics: Best Practices Permit Tracking Insurance & Certificates Project Management

Project Logs: The One Thing Your Construction Team Should Be Doing Everyday (and Why)

In the dynamic world of construction, keeping track of progress and activities on a daily basis is essential for keeping projects on track (and under budget). This process, most commonly known as daily logging, is one of the most critical elements of construction project management. It helps monitor the status of work, identify delays, track safety concerns, and ultimately improve accountability on the construction site.

Read on to learn more about how daily logs are truly the secret weapon for construction project success.

Read More...
Topics: Best Practices Daily Logging Project Tracking

Construction Purchase Orders Made Simple: How to Streamline, Protect, and Profit

In construction, Purchase Orders (POs) aren't just paperwork - they're essential tools that help streamline project management, safeguard your business from legal risks, and maximize profits. A cornerstone of sound financial management in any successful construction project, Purchase Orders help to control costs, track expenses, and ensure that the necessary resources are available when needed. Proper documentation & management of construction POs can make or break a project.

Are you effectively managing your construction POs, or leaving your company exposed to risk and inefficiency? In this blog, we will walk through the best practices for documenting purchase orders to keep your operations running like a well-oiled machine.

Read More...