How we provided full-stack development for a construction workflow management solution
Erbis has recently implemented a fully-fledged service for a leading construction management software vendor in Denmark.
What follows are details of the process that led us to the final result.
Challenge
Many issues need to be agreed upon before launching construction. First, companies create an architectural drawing and estimate the material. Then they accept bids from contractors and do accounting. Finally, they start the project and manage the construction flow. All this requires the collaboration of owners, contractors, and project managers at many different organizations.
Considering the multitasking of the construction process, the workflow management app is a perfect solution that would land all participants on the same page. The Danish software provider approached us with this very task. At the first contact with the Erbis team, a fresh business idea was the only thing they had. The client tasked us to implement the product from scratch. It involved creating a product strategy, developing software, and publishing a ready product to the app marketplace.
Pre-development stage
We assigned three people to carry out the preparatory work: Business Analyst, Solution Architect, and UI/UX designer.
Our BA started by researching the construction market in Denmark. They analyzed the volume of capital construction and repairs, the number of commissioned residential and non-residential buildings, and the volume of real estate transactions. They also researched the building materials industry and revenues of the largest retailers. Having understood the construction market trends, the BA studied the available construction software and identified main competitors.
Based on the research conducted by the Business Analyst, the Solution Architect created the product concept. It described the future software from the user's point of view. Among other things, it identified the problems the app would solve and listed features valuable for users.
The last step of pre-development was creating an app interface. Our UI/UX designer started with a black and white wireframe to show the app structure and the placement of elements.
Next, they painted the wireframe in corporate colors and provided a mockup. Finally, a clickable prototype was made to mimic user journeys and experiences.
Development flow
We started with the selection of server space and IT infrastructure. After analyzing the leading cloud providers, we opted for Amazon Web Services.
The project was written in Java, TypeScript, and Angular. MSSQL was chosen as the database server. To establish app persistence, we set up JPA/Hibernate.
We assigned a team of seven to work on the project:
- project manager
- software architect
- backend developer
- two web developers
- QA engineer
- UI/UX designer
They were working full-time under the dedicated team model. The development flow was broken down into traditional two-week iterations, as provided by Scrum. The client actively participated in the project, regularly communicating with the team via Google Meet.
Tech stack
- AWS
- Angular JS
- Spring
- Saas
- MSSQL
- JPA/Hibernate
End product
The Construction Workflow Management solution provides an advanced document management system that keeps records of the various versions of documents created and modified by different users. The system has a rights management module that allows administrators to give access to documents to individuals or to groups of people.
The software also provides tender management functionality, various reporting and statistics tools, and integration with digital print vendors. It is distributed on a premium contract basis, independent of organization, and therefore fair to all participants in a project.
The Results
Erbis has developed a product that helped our client take a leading position in the construction software market. The app gained a fairly large customer base immediately after the launch of MVP. When we released a fully-fledged product, it became one of the most popular construction software in Denmark.
Thousands of construction tenders have already gone through this system. It has helped many organizations reduce risks associated with inefficient management of workflows across multiple project stakeholders.
Do you want to create construction workflow management software?
Construction management software does more than just automate tasks. It brings information and people together to improve efficiency and creates a digital platform for business development. The use of construction apps helps create more reliable, economical, and adaptable buildings. Additionally, it streamlines the construction process landing owners, contractors, and buyers on the same page.
If you want to create construction software but don't know where to start, get in touch . Our managers will analyze your idea and advise a solution that 100% meets your business needs.
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