Construction & Real Estate ERP
Construction and real estate operations require ERP systems built around project-centric accounting, job costing, subcontractor management, and compliance with AIA billing standards. Whether you manage general contracting, infrastructure megaprojects, EPC programs, land development, or a portfolio of investment properties, the right platform connects field execution with back-office finance and delivers the cost control visibility that margins in this industry demand.
5
Sub-industries covered
30+
ERP vendors evaluated
4–12 months
Typical implementation
The construction and real estate ERP market spans purpose-built solutions for small specialty contractors through enterprise platforms managing multi-billion-dollar capital programs and diversified property portfolios. Modern construction ERP has evolved far beyond basic job costing to encompass mobile field management, BIM integration, owner/subcontractor portals, earned-value analysis, and real-time cash-flow forecasting. Real estate and property management platforms increasingly converge with construction tools as developers manage the full asset lifecycle from land acquisition through stabilization and ongoing operations. Selecting the right system requires matching your delivery model — lump-sum, cost-plus, GMP, design-build, or lease/manage — with a vendor whose domain depth aligns to your sub-industry and project size.
Browse by Sub-Industry
Construction
ERP for general contractors, specialty subcontractors, and home builders managing project-based operations
Infrastructure Development
ERP for heavy civil contractors and infrastructure owners managing roads, bridges, utilities, and public works programs
Engineering & EPC
ERP for engineering firms, EPC contractors, and design-build organizations delivering complex capital projects
Real Estate Development
ERP for land developers, residential builders, and commercial real estate developers managing the full development lifecycle
Property Management
ERP and property management platforms for residential, commercial, and mixed-use portfolio operators
Top ERP Vendors for Construction & Real Estate
Related Research & Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is construction ERP and how does it differ from generic ERP?
Construction ERP is purpose-built around project-centric accounting, job costing, AIA progress billing, subcontractor compliance tracking, and union payroll — capabilities absent from generic ERP platforms. It connects the field (daily reports, RFIs, submittals, change orders) to back-office finance so project managers and controllers share a single source of truth on committed costs, earned revenue, and projected profit.
Should a construction company choose a best-of-breed tool like Procore or a full ERP like Sage 300 Construction?
Best-of-breed platforms like Procore excel at project management, collaboration, and field documentation but require integration with a separate accounting system. Full ERPs like Sage 300 Construction, Viewpoint Vista, or CMiC combine both in a single database, eliminating data silos. Larger contractors and those performing complex cost reporting typically benefit from a unified platform, while smaller subcontractors may prefer best-of-breed with a simpler accounting back-end.
What billing methods do construction ERP systems support?
Leading construction ERPs support AIA G702/G703 schedule-of-values billing, time-and-material billing, lump-sum milestone billing, unit-price contracts, cost-plus with fee structures, and GMP contracts. Retainage tracking, stored-material billing, and owner-formatted pay applications are standard features in purpose-built platforms.
How long does a construction ERP implementation typically take?
Small specialty contractors and property managers can go live in 2–4 months with a focused scope. Mid-size general contractors typically need 4–8 months. Large general contractors with complex multi-company structures, union payroll, and heavy subcontractor management commonly require 8–14 months. Enterprise capital-program platforms for owners and EPC firms can extend to 12–24 months.
What are the most critical modules for a general contractor?
Core modules for general contractors include job cost accounting, subcontract management, AIA billing, retainage tracking, union and certified payroll, equipment management, project forecasting (cost-to-complete), and document management with RFI and submittal workflows. Change-order management integrated with cost and billing is essential for protecting margin.
How do construction ERP systems handle subcontractor compliance?
Construction ERPs track subcontractor insurance certificates (GL, workers comp, umbrella), license expiration dates, lien waivers, and certified payroll compliance (Davis-Bacon, prevailing wage). Automated alerts prevent payments to non-compliant subs, and some platforms provide self-service compliance portals where subcontractors upload documentation directly.
What ERP systems are best for property management companies?
Yardi Voyager and MRI Software dominate the commercial and mixed-use property management segment. AppFolio and Buildium lead in residential and small-portfolio management. RealPage is strong for large multifamily operators. Entrata is gaining market share in the multifamily sector with a cloud-native, all-in-one platform covering leasing, accounting, and resident services.
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