The 12 Best Construction ERPs for Subcontractors

Growing a subcontracting business is no easy feat. Construction projects have a ton of moving parts—from estimating and bidding on projects, to planning timelines and allocating resources, to execution, progress billing, and closing the project out strong. 

At every stage, there’s a chance for your profits to go down the drain, especially if teams can’t stay in sync. And the more jobs you take on, the more people you employ, the harder it gets.

Enter construction ERPs, otherwise known as enterprise resource planning software. 

When and Why Subcontractors Need a Construction ERP

ERPs centralize business operations and end-to-end project workflows for construction companies. These robust systems include procurement, accounting, HR, and project management functionality. They’re a lifesaver for subs dealing with communication breakdowns, cost-tracking challenges, workflow inefficiencies, equipment and labor availability, and many other issues that pop up while growing a construction business. 

With an ERP in place, your back-office, field, and leadership teams gain a unified view of what’s happening across each project and the business as a whole. By centralizing all your project data and workflows in one system, you can improve:

• Financial tracking and project profitability
• Project planning and scheduling
• Budget and schedule adherence
• Materials and equipment availability
• Cross-team communication and collaboration

If you’re considering implementing a construction ERP system, the first step is to figure out which one is right for your subcontracting business. 

12 Construction ERP Systems to Consider

With over 100 construction ERPs available, there’s no way you can research them all. So we’ve put together a shortlist of what we consider to be the 12 best construction ERPs for subcontractors. 

1. Acumatica

Acumatica offers an all-inclusive system with integrated project management, financial management, business intelligence, and more. This cloud-based ERP software offers a construction edition suited to the needs of general contractors (GCs), trade contractors, and service contractors. 

Acumatica’s Capabilities that Matter to Subcontractors

• Financial management: Centralize your general ledger, accounts receivable, and accounts payable functions.
• Job cost accounting: Manage A/P workflows, from invoice creation through posted payment.
• Customer relationship management (CRM): Track all customer activities, including quotes, orders, invoices, payments, support cases, and service calls.
• Project management: Manage and track all project details, activities, issues, and

changes.

• Inventory control: Track materials by project, quantity, and cost. Monitor inventory levels in warehouses, at job sites, and in transit
• Cost projections: Create detailed cost projections and analyze project margins based on various project parameters. 

Learn more about Acumatica’s construction edition for subcontractors and how it works with Siteline to streamline your billing workflow.

2. Viewpoint Vista

Viewpoint Vista—another solution by Trimble—is a scalable, configurable, and fully integrated construction ERP system. Vista reports itself to be the most comprehensive construction solution. GCs and subs use it to improve project visibility, quality, and profits.  

Viewpoint Vista’s Capabilities that Matter to Subcontractors

• Job costing: Manage cost-related project financials, including job budgets, progress, and change orders.  
• Field service management: Track service agreements, streamline dispatching, and provide mobile work order tools for field teams.
• Equipment management: Track construction equipment location, usage, maintenance, and related expenses. 
• HR management and payroll: Facilitate complex construction payroll processes, including multi-state, multi-company, federal, state, and contractual payroll requirements.

Learn more on Viewpoint Vista’s website and how it works with Siteline to streamline your billing workflow.

3. Viewpoint Spectrum

Viewpoint Spectrum by Trimble is an easy-to-use, web-based construction ERP designed for on-the-go accessibility. Its intuitive tools and workflows help subs streamline operations, improve collaboration, and increase profits.

Viewpoint Spectrum’s Capabilities that Matter to Subcontractors

• Automatic invoicing: Streamline accounts payable processes with automatic invoicing. 
• Equipment, materials, and inventory management: Track equipment, materials, and inventory from anywhere. 
• Service management: Manage service work with a user-friendly field service app that tracks critical job information. 
• HR and payroll: Manage employee onboarding, documents, timesheets, time off, expenses, and reimbursement. 

Learn more on Viewpoint Spectrum’s website and how it works with Siteline to streamline your billing workflow.

4. Sage Intacct

Sage Intacct is an AI-powered, continuous accounting and ERP system with construction-specific accounting functionality. Beyond Intacct, contractors turn to Sage’s construction management software to streamline every aspect of construction projects—from preconstruction to closeout.  

Sage’s Capabilities that Matter to Subcontractors

• Financial management: Access a general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, balance sheet, P&L statement, and automated revenue recognition.
• Job costing: Track and monitor job-related labor and material costs and change orders.  
• Invoicing: Generate and track invoices for fixed price, time and materials, and cost-plus contracts.
• WIP reporting: Identify and manage overbilling and underbilling transactions, and access historical WIP data by project.
• Pre-construction: Leverage other Sage tools for estimates, bid management, and takeoff. 
• Operations management: Use Sage’s operations solutions to track and manage schedules, project tasks, equipment, communications, and more.

Learn more about Sage Intacct and Sage’s other construction solutions, along with how it works with Siteline to streamline your billing workflow.

5. FOUNDATION Software

FOUNDATION Software is a cloud-based construction accounting software. Even though it’s technically considered accounting software, the robust capabilities available through FOUNDATION’s add-on modules make it comparable to the ERPs on our list. 

FOUNDATION’s Capabilities that Matter to Subcontractors

• Job costing: Build project budgets, track and report on costs, and seamlessly manage change orders. 
• Financial management: Streamline accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general accounting processes.
• Payroll: Manage payroll processes, including timecard entry, processing, and calculations, prevailing wage management, and payroll reporting
• Project management: Manage all aspects of construction projects, including documents, schedules, inventory, progress billing, and change orders.
• HQ Suite: Access additional applications to manage all other aspects of business operations, including health and safety, human resources, and executive planning.

Learn more on FOUNDATION’s website and how it works with Siteline to streamline your billing workflow.

6. CMiC

CMiC is an AI-powered construction ERP designed to optimize financials and project management for construction businesses. GCs and specialty contractors use it to plan and manage all financials, projects, resources, and content assets so they can boost productivity and drive growth.

CMiC’s Capabilities that Matter to Subcontractors

• Financials: Leverage construction-specific functionality for budgeting, general ledger, accounts payable, and accounts receivable processes.
• Asset Management: Manage equipment schedules and usage, track fleet inspections and maintenance-related costs, and schedule work orders.
• HR Management: Streamline payroll, automate mobile timecards, and monitor crew performance. 
• Project Management: Manage everything from bidding, procurement, and estimations to job billing, change orders, and compliance documentation.
• Workflows: Automate processes and communication workflows to keep back office, field, and customer teams in sync.
• Analytics: Get real-time, project-specific data to improve business performance and make sound long-term decisions.

Learn more on CMiC’s website and how it works with Siteline to streamline your billing workflow.

7. Procore

Procore is a cloud-based construction management software that streamlines the entire construction process for GCs and subs from bid to final payment. It covers financial management, preconstruction, workforce management, business intelligence, and more. 

Procore’s Capabilities that Matter to Subcontractors

• Preconstruction: Plan and manage costs, bids, schedules, drawings, specifications, and takeoffs.
• Project management: Organize and track project plans, documents, tasks, and costs to keep everyone on the same page and finish projects faster.
• Resource management: Manage labor, equipment, and materials with comprehensive resource planning and inventory control tools.
• Financial management: Monitor budgets and costs during every phase of projects with invoicing, budget tracking, and automated accounting workflows.   
• Business intelligence: Get AI-powered insights across project plans and financials to make better, faster decisions. 

Learn more on Procore’s website and how it works with Sitleline to streamline your billing workflow.

8. Premiere

Premiere is a cloud-based ERP solution designed exclusively for construction. It unifies teams, financials, and projects in one platform to help construction companies achieve operational excellence. 

Premiere’s Capabilities that Matter to Subcontractors

• Financials: Manage P&L statements, cash flow statements, balance sheets, WIP reporting, and inter-company transactions.
• Accounting: Streamline accounts payable processes, automate project invoicing, monitor budgets, and manage lien waivers.
• Job Costing: Monitor labor, materials, and overhead expenses, manage change orders, track vendor compliance, and streamline inventory control.
• Project Management: Centralize construction documents, drawings, communications, project plans, tasks, schedules, and workflows. 
• Predictive Intelligence: Leverage an AI-powered assistant to identify red flags, locate details, customize tasks, and optimize workflows.

Learn more on Premiere’s website.

9. Access Coins

Access Coins is an end-to-end construction management software that gives construction companies full visibility across teams and projects. Subs use it to centralize projects, streamline financials, automate processes, and mitigate risks.

Access Coins’ Capabilities that Matter to Subcontractors

• Project management: Centralize every aspect of projects from budget and billing, to time and attendance, to daily reports and project documents. 
• Workforce management: Manage employee payroll, benefits, and PTO tracking, as well as multi-state and local taxation.
• Finance and operations: Streamline accounting and invoicing processes, monitor project margins, and track and forecast cash flow. 
• Field service management: Organize work orders, tasks, time and materials, notes, and customer approvals.
• Supply chain management: Evaluate, track, and manage suppliers, inventory, and logistics in one place from anywhere.

Learn more on Access Coins’ website.

10. NetSuite

Oracle NetSuite offers a cloud-based construction ERP that provides tools to estimate, track, and analyze project costs and profitability. Construction companies use it to improve speed, drive cost efficiencies, and centralize communications across leadership, the back office, and field teams.

NetSuite’s Capabilities that Matter to Subcontractors

• Construction Accounting: Automate general accounting tasks and handle project-based accounting functions like revenue recognition, WIP reports, and time and materials billing.
• Job Costing: Estimate labor, materials, and overhead costs. Plus, track fluctuating costs, change orders, and cash flow. 
• Field Service Management: Use its mobile field service app to track, schedule, and monitor service requests. 
• Customer Relationship Management: Centralize all customer interactions, documents, invoices, payment history, and more.
• Project Management: Manage project plans, schedules, resource allocation, timesheet tracking, and expense authorizations. 

Learn more on NetSuite’s website.

11. Microsoft Dynamics 365

Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers XPLUS Contract Management (XCM), a specialized ERP solution built for medium and large construction companies. It provides a 360-degree view of projects from bidding and budgeting to execution and closeout. 

Microsoft Dynamics 365’s Capabilities that Matter to Subcontractors

• Project management: Centralize project plans and budgets to optimize processes, manage inventory and resources, and analyze productivity.
• Accounting: Manage general accounting processes, including general ledger, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
• Purchase and agreements: Handle purchase agreements, sales agreements, and acceptance protocols. 
• Cash flow management: Compare planned to actual budgets, track profit margins, and monitor cash flow.

Learn more on Microsoft Dynamics 365’s website.

12. Jonas

Jonas Enterprise offers ERP software purpose-built for the construction industry. Contractors use it to centralize accounting, field teams, projects, and operations. 

Jonas’s Capabilities that Matter to Subcontractors

• Accounting and Payroll: Streamline accounts receivable, accounts payable, general ledger, payroll, reporting, and multi-company accounting.
• Job Project Management: Handle estimating, forecasting, job costing and billing, project scheduling, and project communications.
• Service Management: Manage work order creation, billing, dispatch scheduling, and tech tracking for service requests and planned maintenance agreements.
• Analytics and Reporting: Access reports across every aspect of the business, including work-in-progress, job progress, labor, equipment, and materials. 

Learn more on Jonas’s website.

Pros and Cons of Construction ERPs 

ERPs do a great job of connecting your back office with job site operations. They centralize many workflows that you might currently handle with separate tools or even spreadsheets. 

The ERPs on our shortlist deliver robust functionality that helps you build a more efficient and profitable business. They also include exceptional accounting tools that are designed to streamline your financial processes and make your finance team’s job much easier. But even the best construction accounting software doesn’t adequately address all the nuances involved in subcontractors’ billing processes, as these systems are primarily built with GCs in mind.

We recommend that subs enhance their tech stacks by integrating their ERP with construction billing software that’s specifically built to streamline their payment application processes. 

Subs who use Siteline for their pay apps and lien waivers experience six times faster billing and get paid three weeks faster on average. If those kinds of results would make a world of difference for you, get a demo of Siteline today.