Historically, accounting and IT departments have managed enterprise resource planning (ERP) environments and forced project management teams to make these solutions work for operations. ERPs can be configured to meet the needs of accounting teams, and their on-prem deployment allowed IT to control accessibility. These solutions are packed with features that cater to the needs of back-office teams, making their lives a lot easier.
But what about the operations teams? They are implementing project and field management tasks, document controls, and third-party collaboration to extend beyond the internal focus of an ERP. They require flexible solutions that can keep up and make their lives easier whether they are in the office or at the jobsite.
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Until recently, software applications for managing the finances of construction paid little attention to anyone outside of the back office. As a result, the technology tools available often stifled collaboration between these external stakeholders, who had limited access to key budget and profitability information, which makes it very hard to run a successful business.
Fortunately, integrations between project management solutions and ERP/financial systems are helping make managing finances, fieldwork, and everything in between much simpler. By combining the power of project management and financial tools, teams can have a solution that meets the requirements of everyone involved in a construction project.
But what exactly do these solutions look like?
To fully understand the construction ERP and accounting landscape, it helps to take a step back and see how we got here.
Traditionally, there were two main trends in the world of construction accounting: ERP and project management.
The first trend was the rise of highly customizable ERPs that offered unique capabilities to each customer. These programs were robust, but they were expensive and usually required a database administrator.
So, another solution emerged: the native model, which came in the form of an ERP with a project management module embedded inside it. These systems were tailored, had additional features represented by modules, and were less expensive to own and implement. However, they felt very accounting-focused and struggled at tracking field-level activities.
Software decisions were primarily made by the IT department or back-office staff in the past, but this trend has changed in recent years. Operations teams, who are responsible for managing projects and ensuring profitability, increasingly assert themselves as crucial stakeholders in software procurement and adoption. Additionally, third-party stakeholder collaboration (e.g., GCs, subs, owners, and designers all connected by technology) has gained broader acceptance in construction projects.
Because of these factors, software providers realized they had to offer better solutions to operations teams. Thus, we saw the growth of web-based collaborative platforms that served the needs of project management and operations.
Another contributing factor driving the construction tech landscape is the rise of point-to-point integrations and middleware. Software companies now recognize the need to build integrations rather than trying to provide an all-in-one solution that meets everyone’s needs.
As such, the number of point solutions and add-ons expanded, and integrations have now become a part of every software decision. Accounting and project management are no exception.
To achieve better results in construction projects, companies must move away from walled gardens and adopt connected platforms. That way, teams, processes, and technologies can stay aligned, resulting in higher efficiency, smarter decisions, and better project outcomes.
One example of such a platform is Autodesk Construction Cloud, which offers the core functionalities key stakeholders need while providing a common data environment to facilitate collaboration.
And thanks to its 280+ integrations, Autodesk Construction Cloud users can extend the platform’s capabilities and connect it to their favorite tools.
Read on to learn about some of the top ERP, accounting, and financial applications that integrate with Autodesk Construction Cloud—and how to get the most out of them.
To get a better sense of how ERP and accounting integrations work with Autodesk, let us take a closer look at some of the leading system integrators and applications you can use with Autodesk Construction Cloud.
Morpheus Technology Group can connect several ERPs to Autodesk Build’s leading budget and cost management solution for a truly integrated financial environment. No more double entry, manual errors or missed information. You gain full transparency from the field to the office on job costs.
ERP and accounting solution integrations:
With Agave, sharing data across different construction software systems is easy, fast, and secure. Agave’s API consolidates fragmented and legacy systems, facilitating seamless integration. Its well-designed and thoroughly documented API requires minimal dev effort and allows businesses to set up the necessary integrations in hours instead of days or weeks.
ERP and accounting solution integrations through Agave include:
Agave also powers the integration between CMiC and Autodesk Construction Cloud. CMiC provides advanced construction accounting functionality including: accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing capabilities, general ledger, job costing, payroll, and producing financial statements
Brinkman Construction uses Agave's integration tool, ensuring Brinkman Construction’s project management staff has immediate access to financial data in Autodesk Construction Cloud. This eliminates the need for field teams to use CMiC to see financial data and removes dual-data entry the teams were performing in both systems. With Agave, Brinkman's data automatically syncs between the two platforms, including budgets, project cost codes, change orders, and more.
hh2 provides a powerful integration solution for keeping Autodesk Construction Cloud and Sage 300 CRE up to date. It allows you to schedule the frequency of syncs and reduce the risk of data loss while streamlining workflows. Execute projects on time and within budget with encrypted data transfers and reduced IT expertise needed to keep everything running smoothly.
And with the ability to sync subcontracts and purchase orders into accounting, hh2 creates a bridge between Autodesk Build and Sage 300 CRE, allowing for increased efficiency and improved data accuracy.
Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect (ACC Connect) is an iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) solution that allows customers to create flexible integrations without writing code. Powered by Workato, ACC Connect supports integrations for Autodesk Build, BIM 360, BuildingConnected, and PlanGrid. Customers can connect their Autodesk Construction Cloud products to automate continuous or scheduled data flows with a wide range of SaaS (Software as a Service) applications, including Box, Smartsheet, DocuSign, QuickBooks Online, and hundreds more.
ERP and accounting solution integrations through ACC Connect include:
Integrating accounting and ERP systems is just one part of managing your project finances. Staying organized and efficient with invoicing and payment management is equally important. Fortunately, Autodesk Construction Cloud has integrations and strategic partnerships with key players in the realm of billing and payments.
When it comes to construction ERP and accounting software, it is crucial to consider the needs of both accounting and operations teams. The good news? With the rise of integrated platforms such as Autodesk Construction Cloud, it is easier than ever to connect your tools and cater to the needs of all project stakeholders.
Check out the available integrations and start improving your construction project workflows today.
