PlanHub empowers construction pros at NAHICA’s ExpoContratista 2024 in Atlanta

Every day, PlanHub helps construction professionals throughout the United States network, win more projects and level up their businesses.  This year, we embraced a new opportunity to connect with the construction community in person, thanks to an amazing weekend at the National Hispanic Contractors Association (NAHICA’s) recent ExpoContratista 2024 event in Atlanta, GA on October 4th and 5th. 

Making Waves in Atlanta

PlanHub’s team, including Xiomara Diaz, Jesel Silva, Christopher Gomez, and Eduardo Mazal had an incredible presence at ExpoContratista 2024, engaging with countless contractors eager to learn how to incorporate PlanHub into their business operations. Additionally, PlanHub hosted private presentations with two local general contractors (Glazer Design & Construction & ATL Torres Remodeling) and facilitated two live, standing-room-only workshops featuring interactive Q&A sessions and exciting raffle giveaways.

Bringing together industry leaders, cutting-edge solutions and unparalleled networking opportunities, ExpoContratista is the leading Hispanic Construction Trade Show in the nation. PlanHub’s high-profile role as a featured participant throughout NAHICA’s flagship event was a direct result of  the ever-growing partnership between the two organizations. 

“Our relationship with NAHICA is enabling us to create a meaningful impact by connecting diverse construction professionals with essential tools and resources, “ said Kimberly Rogan, Chief of Staff at PlanHub. “By working together, our organizations can drive innovation, foster inclusivity, and strengthen business opportunities for Hispanic contractors, suppliers, and industry leaders.”

PlanHub + Nahica = One Powerful Combination

NAHICA is a leading organization dedicated to empowering Hispanic contractors and subcontractors in the construction industry. With a strong commitment to diversity and professional growth, NAHICA offers resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy to foster success within the Hispanic construction community.

The organization has grown significantly in the past year, a testament to their ongoing commitment to empowering Hispanic professionals in construction by fostering valuable connections between industry stakeholders. Bringing together subcontractors, general contractors, and suppliers under one roof, NAHICA provides an ideal platform for networking, education, and business growth.

Partnering with NAHICA, PlanHub is at the forefront of these efforts, offering preconstruction software solutions that streamline project planning and execution for general contractors and suppliers alike. PlanHub’s platform facilitates live connections, optimizes takeoff processes, and ultimately helps contractors and suppliers collaborate more effectively to achieve better business outcomes. Together, NAHICA and PlanHub are shaping the future of the construction industry by creating opportunities that enhance productivity, improve workflows, and build stronger business communities.

This shared vision positions PlanHub as a vital partner in NAHICA’s mission to shape a better construction landscape, enabling members to grow their networks, optimize project execution, and ultimately enhance their overall business success.

“The Hispanic construction community plays a crucial role in the growth and success of our industry,” said Ro Bhatia, PlanHub CEO. “We’re proud to strengthen our partnership with NAHICA, connecting more deeply with this community, understanding their challenges, and providing the tools they need to succeed.”

With an ever-growing commitment throughout both organizations to find new ways to work together and help more construction professionals succeed, we look forward to creating (and sharing more success stories in the years to come.

Create Your Own Success Story with PlanHub

Whether you are a general contractor, a subcontractor or a materials supplier, PlanHub’s All-in-One Construction Platform offers all the tools you need to network, save time and grow your business with ease. Learn more today!

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One way that subcontractors can get more construction leads is to get on project bid lists. These bid lists provide subs with information on projects that are up for bid and searching for sub bids. It’s a great way to get leads sent to you instead of spending time searching for them.
The question is, how can subcontractors get on these bid lists to find potential projects accepting bids? Here’s a shortlist of five proven strategies that work.

Five ways subcontractors can get on more bid lists

1) Networking

Everyone knows that in this industry, it’s not what you know but who you know. You also already know the value of networking for your business, so we’re not going to waste time discussing it. The key is knowing where to network to get the most bid opportunities.
The best organizations to join are your local contractors’ associations, bid exchanges, and the industry organizations specific to the type of work you perform. Contractors’ associations and bid exchanges offer more benefits than just bidding opportunities, so being a member of these organizations is a valuable investment when you are trying to build relationships. Membership in industry organizations provides a sense of authority to your business, which could mean you get more opportunities.
Attending industry conferences is another great way to meet potential clients. Attend general construction industry events, as well as those geared to your particular work. Take the time to get to know some of the attendees, whether it’s over lunch or drinks after the conference. Make sure you have plenty of business cards to hand out.

To learn more about PlanHub’s full selection of game-changing networking tools, sign up for a free demo today!

2) Online presence

The more places your business is listed online, the easier it is for potential customers to find you. Now, this doesn’t mean you have to have an account for everything and purchase advertising everywhere. However, having some key listings is essential to be found on the internet.
Let’s start with a company website. It doesn’t have to be complicated or flashy, but you need to update it on a regular basis. To be found by search engines, you’ll want to ensure you have some key terms on your site. These terms may include your company’s name, the type of work you do, and your service area.
List your company with as many online directories as you can. These directories, like YP, Yellow Pages, and DEX, allow you to list your company and purchase advertising if you’d like. Although phone books have mostly gone extinct, listing in these directories is still crucial as it boosts your online presence, which improves your chances of being found online.
Social media is a popular way for contractors to advertise their business. You don’t have to purchase advertising, but you should use the platforms to share news about your company and work. You don’t have to be on every platform, but Facebook and LinkedIn are the best for businesses looking for potential customers.

3) Reverse trade shows

Reverse trade shows are events organized by large organizations looking for vendors to work with them. Sometimes, these shows are geared just for construction opportunities. They are often hosted by schools, universities, and other large multi-site companies and institutions. These shows are a great way to meet potential new clients and get in front of key personnel.

4) Vendor prequalification

Large organizations, primarily public entities like cities, schools, and universities, often have open prequalification periods for contractors who want to work with them. You’ll be asked to submit an information packet about your company, including past project experience, references, bonding capacity, and team resumes. Once approved as a vendor for these organizations, you’ll be on the list to hear about new opportunities as they are released for bids.

5) Bid sites

Online bid sites like PlanHub are a great way to find subcontractor bidding opportunities. When you register for these sites, you enter your company information, as well as information on the geographic areas you serve, the scope of work you provide, and the size of projects you’re interested in. Once you’ve entered this information, you can wait to be contacted or search for open opportunities on the site.
Bid sites are an excellent idea for gaining more opportunities because they provide your company with another online presence, which means you’ll show up higher in search results.

Securing a spot on contractors’ bid lists is a crucial step for any subcontractor looking to expand their opportunities and grow their business. By implementing strategic approaches to join construction bid lists, such as networking, showcasing expertise, and maintaining a strong online presence, subcontractors can enhance their visibility and reputation in the industry. Understanding the dynamics of the construction bid list and consistently refining your approach can significantly increase your chances of being included in the bid list for construction projects. By staying proactive and continually seeking new opportunities, subcontractors can remain competitive and relevant in an ever-evolving market.

Ready to take your business to the next level? Sign up with PlanHub today to get more high-quality construction leads and networking tools.
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By leveraging data analytics, contractors are learning that they need to improve their processes in order to make more money and win more work. Let’s take a look at what role data analytics can play in helping your construction firm.

What is Construction Data Analytics?

Construction data analytics is the process of using software and historical data to find patterns and gain actionable insights into construction projects. The software can identify and predict when patterns will emerge, giving the construction team advance notice to take corrective action. Using this data analysis can lead to improved operations and higher-quality work.

Other benefits of construction data analysis include increased productivity, more profit, improved safety, and winning more work.

What Tools Do you need?

To tap into the powerful data science process, you’ll need four components: data, software, hardware, and training.

1. Data

Construction contractors are swimming in data, but many don’t realize it because they still rely on analog systems to run their companies. Paper documents and analog communication processes make it difficult to analyze the data and identify patterns. But when information is digitized, stored, and tracked in software, the power of data science begins to emerge.

2. Software

Contractors that want to take advantage of analytics have to invest in software that is capable of collecting, storing, and analyzing construction data for trends. Don’t be fooled by systems that are designed for other industries. Construction is unique in many ways, and the software you use has to be developed specifically for construction.

3. Hardware

All employees, at every level, must be able to enter data into the system and read the results of data analysis. This means your construction team must have the hardware for data collection everywhere they go.. The required hardware includes desktop computers or laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

4. Training

Finally, once you have the above pieces in place, you’ll need to train your employees on the software, including how to enter project data and interpret the results. The predictive power of analytics is based on getting accurate information from every level of a project. So, it pays to ensure everyone can properly enter the raw data and interpret the software’s feedback.

Construction Data Analytics Examples

Construction data analytics helps contractors improve their decision making. Let’s look at three examples of how it can help your contracting business: make better bidding decisions, forecast project cost overruns, reduce operational cost and predict safety hazards.

Make better bidding decisions

How does your construction company decide which projects to bid on and which to pass on? Is it a gut feeling about the project, or have you analyzed your bidding success over the years? One construction company took data from over 100 projects, including location, time and materials, contract structure, and profit margin. By analyzing these factors, they discovered project characteristics that influenced their success on the project and how much profit they made. Using this information, they bid exclusievely on projects that would be successful and make more money.

Forecast cost overruns

Instead of just reporting on cost overruns that have already happened, analytics allows contractors to see where the project is vulnerable before it happens. If the entered project data includes productivity measures and manpower use, the software can monitor work progress and predict delays or added costs due to lack of production or other causes. It can also aid in forecasting the number of skilled laborers needed for the project before hiring construction workers.  Events like weather delays and subcontractors who fail to show up on the project can be tied to direct cost increases.

Predicting safety hazards

When safety data is tracked and analyzed, the software can identify dangerous work activities that have caused problems in the past and warn workers to take additional precautions. It can also directly prevent potential problems like safety and job shutdown issues by tracking equipment maintenance requirements and warning users about lagging maintenance, minimizing project risk, breakdowns, or malfunctions.

All contractors can use data analytics to improve their construction firm’s performance, provide safer job sites, and make better decisions when finding new construction projects on construction bidding websites. General contractor software like PlanHub can help you gather the information you need to make your bidding more effective so you can win more projects. Request a demo today to see how we can help.

The Bottom Line

In wrapping up our discussion on data analytics in construction, it’s evident that the role of data analysis in construction is becoming increasingly indispensable. By harnessing the power of construction data analytics, industry professionals are not only able to make more informed decisions but also predict future trends, optimize resource allocation, and enhance project outcomes. The integration of analytics in construction signifies a transformative shift towards more data-driven methodologies, enabling a level of precision and efficiency previously unattainable. As we continue to navigate the complexities of modern construction projects, the strategic application of data analytics in construction will undoubtedly be a key driver of innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness in the industry. Embracing these analytical tools and techniques is not just an option but a necessity for those looking to lead in the construction sector’s evolving landscape.

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What is Builders Risk Insurance?

Builders risk insurance, also called course of construction insurance, protects buildings while they are under construction. It usually applies to new buildings, and it helps mitigate the risk of certain property damage while a project is under construction. It’s used exclusively on privately funded projects since public projects are self-insured by the government.

Builders risk insurance coverage covers damages to materials, supplies, and equipment from the time they are in transit to the job site until the project is completed by the builder. The property owner or contractor is reimbursed the cost to replace damaged materials and equipment if a covered event should happen. Soft costs like lost sales, rental income, and loan interest may be covered if they are specified in the policy.

Builders risk covers damages caused by fire, lightning, hail, acts of God, impact by vehicles or aircraft, vandalism, burglary, or building or land collapse.

Exclusions to builders risk coverage include employee theft, war, and terrorism, wear and tear of the building material, rust and corrosion of the construction material, poor design or workmanship of the building material, temporary properties, debris removal, and pollution cleanup. If a project needs coverage for one of these excluded incidents, it can generally be purchased as an add-on to the builders risk insurance policy.

General liability insurance, which all contractors must have, covers the damage and loss of a contractor’s tools and equipment due to natural events, theft, vandalism, or fire. Builders risk policies cover the materials and equipment that will be installed in the project.

Should you buy builders risk insurance?

Because builders risk covers the entire project, it can be purchased by any of the parties involved in the project. Owners often have the most to lose, so they will often purchase a builders risk policy and add the general contractor and subcontractors to the coverage.

If an owner is constructing a new building and doesn’t have any current property protected by an insurance policy, it may be less expensive for the general contractor to purchase coverage. Of course, the contractor can ask the owner to reimburse them for the cost.

If an owner is remodeling or renovating an existing building on which they already have property insurance, construction is usually covered by their existing policy. In this case, a builders’ risk policy is not required. Owners should check their property coverage to ensure that it provides the necessary coverage for their construction project in case of any construction site hazards and mishaps.

Other ways to protect yourself

General contractors and subcontractors can ask the owner to provide builders’ risk insurance on private construction projects. Since everyone on the project is covered by the policy, it doesn’t matter who purchases it. Remember that builders’ risk is not necessary in remodel or renovation projects. As part of risk management, it would also be beneficial to instill construction safety tips in the workers prior to starting the job.

Another type of policy, called an installation floater, covers small projects usually performed by a subcontractor. These can be used to cover small remodel or renovation projects that may not be covered by general property insurance. While subcontractors usually purchase installation floaters, a general contractor can provide it when necessary.

Builders risk and other insurance policies protect general contractors, subcontractors, designers, and project owners from losses that may damage a construction project. Having the proper insurance on a project is key to mitigating risk, which contractors must do on a daily basis. No matter who purchases the policy, it’s important to have protection to avoid added costs due to damage during construction. Using construction bidding websites like PlanHub will give you access to general contractor software free and will help in the construction contractor process.

Who Needs Builder’s Risk Coverage?

Any person or company with a financial interest in the construction project needs builder’s risk insurance. Some common people you may want to include on your policy as insureds include the:

• Property owner
• General contractor
• Subcontractors
• Lender
• Architects

How Much Does Builder’s Risk Insurance Cost?

Every builder’s risk insurance policy is different, so costs vary depending on what you need. Your policy may need more coverage or you may need to add extensions to help protect your construction project. Generally, your builder’s risk insurance cost depends on the:

• Construction materials
• Type of project
• Policy details, like coverage amounts and limits

A good rule of thumb is to choose coverage limits equal to the anticipated cost of construction. If your construction project is expensive, it could result in a higher insurance rate.

What Does Builder’s Risk Insurance Cover?

A builder’s risk insurance policy helps protect your construction projects from certain kinds of property damage. It can also help cover additional soft costs or expenses not directly related to construction if property damage causes a delay. This can include:

• Lost sales
• Rental income
• Additional interest on loans
• Real estate taxes

When Should Builders Risk Insurance Be Purchased?

Builders risk insurance should be purchased before construction begins to ensure coverage is in place from the very start of the project. This type of insurance protects the project from risks such as fire, theft, vandalism, and natural disasters during the construction phase. Ideally, the policy should be active from the moment materials are delivered to the site or construction work commences, and it should remain in effect until the project is completed and accepted by the owner. In some cases, the responsibility for purchasing builders risk insurance falls on the project owner, while in other instances, the general contractor may be required to procure it. It’s crucial to have this insurance in place before any work begins to avoid gaps in coverage that could leave the project exposed to financial risk. Additionally, lenders often require proof of builders risk insurance before disbursing funds for construction, making it an essential step in the project’s initiation phase.

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