The Ultimate Guide to Construction Reporting

Introduction to Construction Reporting

Am I right in assuming that a huge part of your construction project management is reporting? Using alot of spreadsheets? Probably.

Reporting in construction is a key part of any successful capital project, helping to keep everyone updated on the progress, performance, and results of a project - via reports.

Currently however, Construction Reporting is still mainly executed with siloed use of PDF-equivalent documents and many many spreadsheets often ‘hacked’ together to create something that resembles a report.

Incredibly, across the industry 51.3% of people do this manually, and 40.6% with a spreadsheet.

This is starting to change with the introduction of new technology and better ways of working. Overall, this is a good thing for construction project management and the construction industry—accurate and timely reporting of construction projects is incredibly important because it helps track progress, manage risks, and make smart decisions.

Ultimately, this leads to projects getting done sooner, at lower cost, and giving us all a better future built environment.

This guide is here to give you a thorough overview of Construction Reporting, showing how it has evolved and how modern technology can help.

What is Construction Reporting?

Construction reporting is the process of collecting, analyzing, and sharing information about a project's status, progress, performance, and scope. This includes information on planning, design, and construction on-site. Reporting happens at different levels of project management and is done for projects, programs, and portfolios.

Good construction project reporting helps managers and stakeholders track a capital project’s progress, manage risks, and make informed decisions, leading to successful project completion.

Traditionally, construction project reporting meant manually gathering data from different sources like site inspections, financial records, and other progress updates. The final reports were often long and took a lot of effort to prepare and share.

But with modern technology, the reporting process has changed a lot and for the better!!! 😀

Now, we have advanced digital tools and emergence of project reporting platforms like Mastt, that make the reporting process easier and more efficient.

These technological innovations have shifted project reporting from:

• Manual & periodic task

to:

• Dynamic & continuous process.

Self-service reporting now allow stakeholders to access real-time data, customize reports, and collaborate seamlessly across various levels of capital project, programs and portfolios.

Project, Program & Portfolio: Roll Up Construction Reporting

In the construction industry, reporting is organized at different levels to ensure information flows from the construction site up to key decision makers in the overall capital project, program, or portfolio.

Each level serves distinct purposes within a Project Owner and caters to different stakeholders, making sure the right information reaches the right people at the right time.

Construction Site Reporting

At the construction site level, reports are prepared by subcontractors and general contractors who focus on the day-to-day activities of on site construction.

• Subcontractors: Prepare detailed reports on work progress, resource utilization, and compliance with quality and safety standards. Ensures that the General Contractor is well-informed about the on-ground realities.
• General Contractors: Gather and analyze reports from subcontractors to create daily and weekly summaries.

This information is then used to compile construction status reports detailing progress, materials, schedules, budgets, risks, and issues, providing a thorough overview for the client or capital project manager.

Capital Project Reporting

At the project level, project managers are responsible for collecting and reviewing reports from the general contractor to give a clear picture of the project's status to the Project Owner.

• Project Managers: Create combined project reports, risk management reports, and performance reports. These reports show progress, budget, risks, and issues, giving a full overview that helps in making decisions and planning.

Project managers make sure all parts of the project are monitored and progressing well, from inception through to close out.

Program Level

At the program level, program managers oversee multiple capital projects and require aggregated project information to provide insights across all projects within the program.

• Program Managers: Prepare capital program reports that consolidate and aggregate data from all projects in the program, providing a macro-level view of the capital program's overall performance, common risks, and phases.

Portfolio Level

At the portfolio level, executives within Project Owners overseeing the entire capital program or portfolio need comprehensive reports that provide a complete view of all projects under their management, irrespective of stage or status.

• Project Owners (Capital Program or Capital Portfolio): Prepare reports on portfolio performance, project pipeline, and strategic alignment. These reports gather data on how all projects are doing, their current stage, and status. They show if budgets are being followed, schedules are on track, and if projects align with strategic goals. Clients use these reports to make informed decisions, ensure projects align with their strategy, and give feedback to program and project managers.

Types of Construction Project Reports [Examples]

Let's dive into the different types of construction project reports. We'll break them down by construction-level, project-level, program-level, and portfolio-level like we did earlier, to help you understand what each one covers.

Oh and as we find good examples, we'll update these links! There's a few missing so far.

Construction Site Reports

There are a few common types of construction reports that focus on information about the actual construction happening onsite.

1. Daily Construction Reports (DCR)
2. General Contractor Monthly Report
3. Quality Control Report
4. Safety Report
5. Site Inspection Report
6. Construction Dashboard

Capital Project Reports

Common reports are the project level will include information on all phases of the capital project lifecycle, from inception through to construction.

1. Monthly Report
2. Progress Report
3. Budget Report
4. Schedule Report
5. RAG Status
6. Risk Register
7. Status Report
8. Steering Committee Report (SteerCo Reports)
9. Project On a Page
10. Project Dashboard
11. Board Report

Capital Program Reports

When delivering multiple capital projects and require aggregated project information, some common reports include:

1. Program Status Report
2. Capital Program Report
3. Program Performance Dashboard
4. Monthly Report
5. Risk Register
6. Cost Report
7. Project Portfolio Dashboard

Capital Project Portfolio Reports

For executives overseeing multiple capital projects and programs, common capital portfolio reports include:

1. Project Portfolio Report
2. Cost Report
3. Executive Summary Report
4. Performance Report

What to include in a Construction Project Report: Key Metrics & Information

Construction reporting has some fairly unique key elements that most industry stakeholders will expect to see. These elements help monitor the project, manage risks, and communicate progress clearly.

1. Overview & Information

• Title and Description: Clearly state the name and purpose of the project or program
• Reporting Period: Document period of time which the report covers.
• Project Image: It’s good to use a consistent image of the project in each report, to provide a visual anchor.
• Location: Specify the geographical location of the project or projects.
• Stakeholders: List all key stakeholders involved, including the client, contractors, subcontractors, and consultants.
• Description: Give a brief overview of the project to remind the reader of its main goals and objectives, including what is and isn't included in the scope of work. For a portfolio, ensure to add a list of projects.

2. Executive Summary

• Progress Summary: Provide a concise overview of the project's progress, key achievements, and any significant issues encountered during the period. Try to imagine if there was only one part of the report that was read, what would you write?!
• RAG Status: Summary simple Key Performance Indicators into a red, green or amber status. Consider KPI such as scope, cost, time and risk.

3. Construction Progress

• Use of Images: Incorporate images to visually document and report the progress made, especially if work is happening on the construction site.
• Current Status: Describe the current status of the project, including the percentage of completion.
• Milestones Achieved: List the key milestones that have been achieved to date.

4. Safety and Compliance

• Safety KPI: Detail the safety information such as lost time injuries (LTI), total recordable incident rate (TRIR), and other safety statistics such as hours worked without incidents, near-misses, and safety training sessions completed.
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Incident Reports: Report any safety incidents and the actions taken to address them.
• Safety Incident Rate Line Graph: A visualization that tracks the frequency of safety incidents over time, enabling teams to monitor safety performance and identify trends or areas needing improvement.

5. Schedule and Timeline

• Detailed Schedule or Timeline: Provide an overview of the project timeline, including start and expected completion dates, including key activities and their timelines.
• Project Delays or Changes: List out any project delays or extensions of time to the completion date.
• Upcoming Milestones: Highlight the next set of milestones and their expected completion dates.
• Gantt Chart: Include a Gantt chart in the Appendix to visually represent the project timeline and progress.
• Project Milestone Chart A visual representation of the progress made towards key project milestones.

6. Budget and Financials

• Budget Overview: Present the overall project budget and its breakdown.
• Actuals: Detail the actual costs to date and compare them with the budget.
• Financial Forecast: Provide a financial forecast, highlighting any expected cost overruns or savings, and include detailed metrics such as Forecasted Final Cost (FFC), Estimate to Complete (ETC), and Estimate at Completion (EAC) depending on what is familiar in your region or client.

7. Forecasting

• S Curve: The construction S curve is a projection of future spend, helping project managers anticipate financial and budget constraints throughout the project lifecycle.

• Earned Value Management (EVM): Include metrics such as Earned Value (EV), Planned Value (PV), and the percentage of completion to assess project performance.
• Budget vs. Actual Cost Bar Chart This chart compares planned expenses against actual costs, helping project managers identify cost overruns and areas where the project is under or over budget.

8. Risk Management

• Key Risks: List the key current risks identified and what is being done about them.
• Risk Assessment Matrix A grid that plots potential risks based on their likelihood and impact, helping teams prioritize risk management efforts and develop mitigation strategies.

• Opportunities: List potential opportunities that may arise during the project and develop strategies to capitalize on them.
• Risk Register: Include a risk register, but in the appendix. Don’t congest the report or dashboard. Here is a good example of a Risk Register Report.

9. Design (When applicable)

• Design Overview: Provide an overview of the design concept or progress, and its alignment with project objectives.
• Design Changes: Document any design changes made during the project and their impact on the scope, timeline, and budget.
• Compliance and Standards: Ensure that the design complies with relevant building codes, standards, and regulations.

10. Construction (When applicable)

• Construction Activities: Detail the construction activities that have taken place during the reporting period.
• General Contractor Performance: Provide updates on contractor performance and any issues encountered.

11. Quality Management

• Quality Standards: Outline the quality standards and specifications the project must meet.
• Quality Control Measures: Describe the quality control measures implemented to ensure compliance with standards.

12. Stakeholder Communications

• Key Stakeholder Meetings: Summarize key stakeholder meetings held during the reporting period, including the main topics discussed, decisions made, and any action items assigned.
• Feedback and Concerns: Document any feedback received from stakeholders and how it is being addressed.
• Coordination Efforts: Highlight efforts made to coordinate between different stakeholders to ensure smooth project progression.

13. Challenges and Solutions

• Challenges Faced: Describe any challenges encountered during the reporting period.
• Solutions Implemented: Detail the solutions implemented to address these challenges.

Other Inclusions

For longer reports, try to include:

• Table of Contents: A detailed list of sections and subsections to help navigate the report.
• Version Control Register: A record of revisions and updates to track changes in the report over time.
• Appendices:  Include any supporting documents, such as detailed financial reports, gantt charts, risk registers, inspection reports, and meeting minutes.
• Gantt Chart visual timeline that displays project tasks, durations, and dependencies, allowing project managers to track progress and identify potential scheduling conflicts.

Dashboard vs Report [Use Case + Examples]

Now that we've explored the various types of Construction Project Reports and what to include, let's discuss what to include in them. Before deciding on the contents of any Construction Project Report, consider its purpose, audience, and whether it should be:

• Dashboard style or a traditional long report
• Hard copy or digital format

Each type has its own pros and cons, and understanding these will help customize the report to its intended audience and purpose.

Digital vs Printed Construction Report

When choosing between a dashboard or a report, and whether it will be digital or printed, consider:

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Report Format for each Stakeholder Group

Here’s our recommendations on which type to use based on who your construction project report is serving:

Dashboard Style vs. Traditional Long Report

Hard Copy vs. Digital Format

Here’s a table comparing Hard Copy vs. Digital Format reports:

Whichever you decide, always strive for:

• Drill Down: Always make it easy to check source data and drill down, enabling questions to be answered quickly and easily.
• Useful for decisions: Accurate systems help management make better decisions. If reports aren't effective, the system needs tweaking.
• Easy to understand: Reports should summarize data into simple, visual formats and easy-to-share dashboards.
• Meet regulations: The system should easily provide info for regulatory needs without extra work.
• Secure and reliable: Make sure the report or dashboard won’t fall into the wrong hands!

Quick Setup for Construction Project Reporting [Project Controls + Templates]

Setting up some basic project controls and templates will help make reporting much easier. Here’s a quick guide to setting up both some basic reporting and project controls that will save time and setup for success.

1. Project Plan

Start with a detailed project plan that outlines the scope, objectives, and timeline. Completing this free Project Management Plan Template will help think about what needs to be done and how you might achieve it.

Why It Helps: A clear plan makes it easy to compare actual progress with your original goals when reporting.

2. Project Report Template

Get a free Project Report Template or Project Dashboard Template and tailor it to your needs. These templates include sections for project status, costs, risks, and key milestones.

Why It Helps: A standardized template ensures consistency across all reports, making it easier to compile information and quickly generate comprehensive reports for stakeholders.

3. Construction Cost Tracker

Construction cost tracking requires managing committments and expenses using a Capital Project Cost Tracker in excel or cost tracking software for construction. Regularly update forecasts to reflect any changes.

Why It Helps: Real-time cost tracking allows for quick, accurate financial reports, showing whether you're staying within budget.

4. Milestones

Break the project into tasks with specific deadlines and milestones. Use project management tools to keep this schedule updated.

Why It Helps: A detailed schedule makes it easy to report on whether the project is on track and meeting its deadlines.

5. Risk Register

List potential risks in a Project Risk Register Template or Risk Register Software and assess their impact, and plan how to handle them.

Why It Helps: Proactive risk management ensures your reports can include both current risks and your plans to manage them, keeping stakeholders informed.

6. Control Changes

Set up a process for managing any changes to the project scope, budget, or timeline. Consider a Change Management Plan Template if you feel things need documenting for all the stakeholders involved.

Why It Helps: Tracking changes with clear rules and delegations ensures that your reports always reflect the most current approved project status.

7. Construction Reporting Software

Invest in construction reporting software that can automatically compile data into reports.

Why It Helps: Other than bing awesome, construction reporting software tools save time and reduce errors, making reporting faster and more consistent.

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Project Reporting Operations: 5 Critical Steps to Prepare Reports

With so much information being needed for good quality construction project report, we identifyed 5 key steps to reporting that make the process easier to understand.

We call this Project Reporting Operations (PRO) and we’ll explain the main steps to prepare a report using these headings: Capture, Compile, Circulate, Consume, and Continuous Improvement.

1. Capture

Capturing data is the first step in the reporting process and occurs through the reporting period.

• Collection: Recieving updates on change orders, scope changes, risks, schedule and more. Collection occurs through platforms like Aconex, email, phone calls, site visits and more.
• Documentation: Through the reporing period, data collected is documented in systems and registers to ensure good recording keeping and standardisation. This could be updating a spreadsheet risk register, logging a change order your project management information system, or updating a Primavera schedule.

You're not alone in using spreadsheets for this step, most of the world do it manually and with spreadsheets.

2. Compile

Once the data is captured, the next step is to compile the data into a report. Our research estimates this is traditionally 4-8 hours per report, with so much double handling.

• Preparing: Using a Project Report Template will help organize the report data into a structured format. Populate the report with clear and concise narratives to accompany the data and visual aids.
• Charts & Tables: Use charts, graphs, and tables to show data clearly. These visuals make complex information easier for people to understand.

A well compiled report should look good and answer the questions of its reader. We’ve prepared 10 Tips for the Best Project Status Report to help.

3. Circulate

After the report is compiled and ready, it’s essential to circulate it among the relevant stakeholders. This step involves:

• Distribution: Identify all stakeholders who need to receive the report. This might include your clients, project managers, end users, financial officers and any other key personnel. A list helps, so you dont miss anyone.
• Method & Format: Spreak with your stakeholders, but be sure to use an agreeed method (e.g. email) and a format that is easy (e.g. shared link). Be careful of sending oversized PDFs! We recommend sending a link to your life dashboard.

4. Consume

The next step is for stakeholders to read your report, taking the information in and then participating in activities such as:

• Presentations, Reviews & Project Meetings: Have monthly project meetings to go over the report with stakeholders. This helps discuss the findings and any needed actions. Try not to prepare a second presentation and use the report to kill 2 birds with one stone!
• Decision Making: Use the report to help make decisions. This could mean approving budget changes, changing timelines, or fixing any identified risks.

5. Continuous Improvement

Finally, the reporting process should always get better to make future reports and project management better. This means:

• Feedback Analysis: Look at the feedback from stakeholders to find ways to improve the reporting process.
• Process Refinement: Make the data collection, compilation, and distribution processes better based on what was learned. This could mean using new tools, improving communication, or training staff.

Continuous improvement makes sure the reporting process gets better and adapts, leading to better project management and results for future projects.

Looking ahead, the future of reporting is set to be transformed by self-service and continuous reporting platforms.

These advanced systems will automate many manual tasks, provide real-time data and interactive dashboards, and enable seamless collaboration among stakeholders.

Here’s how we see the transformation occuring with the introduction of project reporting platforms.

Challenges in Construction Reporting

When your project reporting operations are going well, a good construction project report helps managers and stakeholders track a capital project successfully to completion. However, when it is not, it can lead to a range of issues and significant cost to the organization.

• Delayed Decision-Making: Poor reporting can lead to delays in decision-making due to lack of accurate and timely information.
• Increased Costs: Inaccurate reports can result in budget overruns and increased project costs due to unforeseen issues.
• Project Delays: Misreported progress can mask underlying issues, leading to project delays and missed deadlines.
• Reduced Stakeholder Trust: Stakeholders may lose trust in the project's management if reports are consistently unreliable or incomplete.
• Risks become Issues: Inadequate reporting can hinder the identification and mitigation of risks, exposing the project to unforeseen complications.
• Compliance Issues: Failure to meet reporting standards can result in regulatory non-compliance and potential legal consequences.
• Team Morale: Consistently poor reporting can demoralize the project team, leading to reduced productivity and engagement.

Good news is, these are all preventable and we’ve identified several factors that contribute to the complexity of project reporting in construction:

1. Too Much Reporting! The involvement of numerous stakeholders necessitates the generation of multiple reports, each tailored to different interests and requirements. This increases the complexity and workload of the reporting process, making it more challenging to maintain consistency and accuracy across all reports.
2. Organizational Structure and Roles: Inconsistent reporting often arises from unclear roles and unstructured data. When individuals report progress in ways that favor their interests, it compromises the integrity of the reports.
3. Corporate Requirements: Reporting is frequently seen as a bureaucratic task aimed at meeting corporate or regulatory demands rather than enhancing project management. This can lead to financial manipulation where project data is altered to align with financial narratives.
4. Contractual and Procedural Demands: Strict contractual obligations can make reporting seem inflexible and disconnected from the dynamic nature of construction projects, causing confusion and conflict.
5. People Issues: Fear of negative repercussions can lead to dishonest reporting, and management pressure can distort the information being presented, further complicating the reporting process.
6. Software and Technology: The use of multiple, non-integrated software tools can result in duplicated efforts and data inconsistencies, making the reporting process more cumbersome.
7. Communication: Effective communication is essential, but the complexity of managing two-way information flows can lead to misinterpretations and increased confusion.
8. Data Accuracy and Integrity: Ensuring the accuracy and integrity of data is a significant challenge. Inaccurate or manipulated data can lead to poor decision-making and undermine the credibility of the reporting process.
9. Timeliness of Data Collection: Timely data collection is crucial for accurate reporting. Delays in data gathering can result in outdated information being reported, which can mislead stakeholders and hinder effective project management.

Best Practices for Project Reporting Construction

We’ve consulted with thousands of projects and digested these 10 tips for best practices to ensure you save time preparing reports while adding the maximum value. Here are our top tips for best practices:

1. Establish Project Reporting Operations

Document who does what and when using the 5 Critical Steps to Prepare Reports above.

Establish a system project reporting operations, as there’s a good chance you’ll need to reproduce more reports and dashboards for yourself or stakeholders regularly. This should include:

• setting up regular reporting intervals
• defining data collection methods
• assigning responsibilities

Because this is such a laborious task and occurs regularly, you’ll get a big time-saving in the long run from doing this correctly.

2. Eliminate Traditional Reporting in Favor of Automated Dashboards

Out with the old, in with the new!

Replace traditional reports with dynamic dashboards that provide real-time updates. Dashboards can offer a more interactive and visual representation of project data, making it easier for stakeholders to understand and make timely decisions.

3. Establish a Reporting Calendar

Ensure reports are delivered on time and, if possible, more often.

Timely reports help stakeholders make quick decisions and solve any problems during the project. Monthly reports mean only 12 reports a year! 🤯 but if you can deliver them every two weeks, that's double the decision-making power.

Plan your reports to be ready just before important meetings. This way, the latest information is available for the meeting, especially if a digital reporting platform is not used.

4. Report only what you need

Know Your Audience and align reporting with decision-making.

Focus on supporting project management and decision-making rather than just meeting bureaucratic demands. Engage regularly with clients and stakeholders to understand their needs and preferences. This ensures reports are formatted correctly, provide valuable insights, and save time by avoiding unnecessary details.

5. Use Clear and Concise Language

Avoid jargon and technical terms that might confuse readers. Clear and concise language ensures that the report is easily understood by all stakeholders. We love this example from the pandemic times!

6. TLDR!

Did you know that our attention span is only 8 seconds? Give the most important information upfront.

Organize the report so key decision-making info is at the top. You don't need to document everything that happened; if needed, put that at the end. A dashboard at the front or a TLDR summary at the beginning might be better for separating ‘decision making’ from ‘record keeping’. This helps stakeholders quickly understand the key points.

7. Include Visuals:

Use charts, graphs, and images to present data visually. Visuals make complex information more digestible and effectively highlight key points.

8. Hide detail behind drill downs or appendicies

Include all necessary data for drill-downs, but hide details behind clicks to keep the report simple. This may involve drilling into timelines, budget breakdowns, progress updates, and risk assessments. Detailed data is essential, but it shouldn't overwhelm the report.

9. Put Controls & Checks to Ensure Accuracy

Check all data to make sure it's correct.

Incorrect reports can cause bad decisions and make us lose trust. But don't punish mistakes. Create a culture where team members feel safe to report accurately without fear. Encourage openness and responsibility so the information is truthful and reliable.

10. Get Construction Project Reporting Sofware

Use a reporting platform like Mastt that minimize duplication and ensure data consistency. Avoid transferring data between incompatible systems, which can lead to errors and increased complexity. An integrated approach streamlines the reporting process.

11. Reporting Data Management

Collecting and managing data well is important for getting accurate reports over time.

This way, you can see what has changed and look at trends. Try to set up one main place for your report data, where you can combine different data sources like project management tools, financial systems, and field reports. If possible, automate data collection: Use both manual and automated methods to make sure the data is accurate and timely.

Recommended Reading

• 10 Tips for the Best Project Status Report

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The Goal: Project Reporting Platform

Eventually, your construction reporting will need a project reporting platform to streamline the ongoing complex and time-consuming reporting operations. The good news is, the construction industry is increasingly adopting digital project reporting platforms to enhance project management and streamline operations, so you should haven to look far.

These platforms like Mastt offer numerous benefits, including automated data capture, real-time reporting, and easy sharing of reports.

Here’s a detailed look at Mastt’s vision for implementing a global project reporting platform:

1. Automated and Easy Data Capture

Project reporting platforms use automated tools to collect and process information quickly. This gets rid of manual data entry, which can be slow and full of mistakes.

• Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project Upload: Easily upload project schedules from Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project to streamline project timeline management.
• Integrate Actuals from ERP: Effortlessly drag and drop or integrate actual performance data from your ERP system for real-time project tracking.
• Integration with downstream systems: Seamlessly integrate with other systems to ensure data consistency and improve overall project management efficiency. Pull data into your dashboard from procore, aconex and other tools.
• Easily Drag/Drop spreadsheets for AI Upload: Quickly drag and drop spreadsheets for AI-assisted data upload, enhancing accuracy and reducing manual data entry.
• Project Management Information Systems (PMIS) reporting: Pull data from your PMIS directly into your reporting platform to manage and disseminate project data efficiently, providing real-time insights and facilitating better decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

These automated tools reduce human errors and keep data accurate and current.

2. Data Management

Your reports are more than just a decision-making tool; they are a slice of a database you need to maintain. Reporting platforms have built-in centralized data management systems to store, organize, and retrieve project data efficiently. These systems should support data integration from multiple sources and ensure data consistency and accuracy

• Stores Data Over Time: Reporting information is curated through the capture, compile, circulate, and consume process. This version of the data is stored for future reference and analysis.
• Period Comparisons: Good data hygiene enables the comparison of data between different periods. This allows for the identification of trends, progress tracking, and the evaluation of performance over time.
• AI Enablement: The data is formatted in a way that is ready for AI analysis. This ensures that advanced analytical tools can be applied to gain deeper insights, predict outcomes, and optimize decision-making processes.

3. Automated Reports and Dashboards

One of the primary goals of project reporting platforms is to automate the creation and distribution of reports and dashboards. This reduces the time and effort required to generate reports manually.

• Automated Dashboards: Create automated dashboards that provide real-time visibility into project metrics and performance indicators.
• Visualization Tools: Incorporate advanced visualization tools to enhancing project tracking and management.
• Scheduled Reports: Reports can be automatically refreshed at defined intervals and delivered to stakeholders through various channels, such as email or online tools. This ensures that everyone has access to the latest information without manual intervention.

If you are interested in some examples, check out this library of great construction report and dashboard examples.

4. Self-Serve and Easy Sharing of Reports

Project reporting platforms enable easy sharing and collaboration among project stakeholders, fosters a more transparent and cooperative project environment.

• Project Report ‘Website’. Self-service reporting platforms enable stakeholders to access real-time data, customize reports via a secure, shareable website link. No more PDF Reports over email!
• Shared Access: Multiple organizations and users can permission access and create reports simultaneously. All team members are working with the most current data.
• Customizable Reports: Reports can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different stakeholders, allowing for more relevant and actionable insights.

5. Real-Time Data

Real-time data consumption is a major plus of project reporting platforms. It allows project managers and stakeholders to make informed decisions based on the most current information available, without preparing anything!

• Real-time Dashboards: Gain real-time visibility into project metrics and performance indicators.
• Immediate Updates: Real-time data capture and reporting enable project teams to stay up-to-date with the capital projects status and quickly identify any issues that may arise. This helps in making decisions more accurately and efficiently.
• Enhanced Decision-Making: Access to real-time data allows for proactive risk management and quality assurance. Project managers can quickly address issues before they escalate, ensuring that projects stay on schedule and within budget.

6. Truth, Honesty, Collaboration and Communication

Digital reporting platforms improve communication and collaboration across a capital project organization, providing a single source of truth.

• Improved Communication: Features like commenting, notifications, and version control make it easier for team members to discuss and resolve issues quickly, fostering a collaborative environment.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Real-time project updates and detailed reports enhance transparency and trust among stakeholders, leading to better project outcomes.

Proven PM, aleading Project Mangement firm, reported increased client satisfaction, reduced reputation risk and winning of repeat work since onboarding a project reporting platform.

7. Cost Savings and Environmental Benefits

Adopting digital reporting platforms can lead to significant cost savings and environmental benefits. Our research shows that a capital program of only 10 projects spends over $270,000 per year to report and could save up to $157,500 per year thanks to automation.

• Reduced Labor Costs: Automation reduces the need for manual labor, allowing companies to allocate their workforce more effectively and reduce labor costs. It pays work out the trust cost of reporting to your business, and what returns a reporting platform can offer.
• Paperless Operations: By eliminating the need for paper-based reports, digital platforms help in reducing paper consumption and waste, contributing to environmental sustainability.

Best Construction Reporting Software

While many tools provide comprehensive construction management features, only a few focus specifically on the job of reporting. Here are some of the best tools and software focused on construction reporting.

1. Mastt - Project Reporting Platform

Mastt is a true project reporting platform, designed to offer in-depth reporting functionalities specifically for construction and capital projects.

• Features: Customizable dashboards, real-time reporting, cost management, risk management, schedule management, and snapshot functionality.
• Benefits: Reduces reporting time by 50% thanks to its tailored solution for capital projects. No need for any spreadsheets or separate data. Al reporting tools are connected to project controls.
• Pros: Get started free, very easy to use, intuitive modern interface.
• Cons: Has a free project tier, but will requrie payment for more than 1 project

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2. Power BI

• Features: Data visualization, real-time reporting, interactive dashboards, and advanced analytics.
• Benefits: Highly customizable reporting tool that integrates with various data sources, providing powerful visualization and analytical capabilities to derive actionable insights from construction data.
• Cons: Can be complex to set up and customize for specific construction needs.

3. Tableau

• Features: Data visualization, interactive dashboards, real-time analytics, and extensive integration options.
• Benefits: Strong visualization capabilities, making it easier to create insightful and interactive reports from complex construction data.
• Cons: Can be expensive, with additional costs for data connectors and server options

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4. Microsoft Excel

• Features: Data analysis, customizable reporting, pivot tables, and integration with other Microsoft tools.
• Benefits: Widely used and highly versatile, allowing for detailed and customized reports, especially when paired with advanced features like Power Query and Power Pivot.
• Cons: Reporting can be labor-intensive and prone to human error without automation.

5. Smartsheet

• Features: Project management, reporting dashboards, real-time updates, and collaborative features.
• Benefits: Combines project management with strong reporting capabilities, offering real-time updates and collaborative reporting features tailored to construction needs.
• Cons: May lack advanced analytical capabilities compared to dedicated BI tools.

6. PowerPoint

• Features: Presentation software, slide creation, data visualization, and integration with other Microsoft Office tools.
• Benefits: Widely used and familiar tool for creating and presenting reports, with strong visualization capabilities and ease of use.
• Cons: Limited real-time data integration and primarily presentation-focused rather than interactive reporting.

Key Considerations for Selecting Construction Reporting Tools

When choosing the right tool for construction reporting, consider the following:

• Fit for Purpose: Ensure the software idoes exacttly the job you need it to.
• Ease of Use: A user-friendly interface is crucial for quick adoption and efficient use by the team.
• Customization: The ability to customize reports and dashboards to meet specific project needs.
• Scalability: The software should be able to grow with your business and handle projects of varying sizes and complexities.
• Customer Support: Reliable customer support and training resources to assist with implementation and ongoing use.

Wrapping Up!

Construction reporting isn’t going anywhere, any time soon! Improving construction reporting is going to continue to be crucial for project success and improving our built world.

Things are changing, and by adopting modern reporting practices and utilizing advanced tools, we can all ensure timely, accurate, and insightful reports.

Remember, the goal is to simplify the process and make data-driven decisions easier for all stakeholders. Happy reporting!