Municipalities need better tracking and management of Capital Improvement projects

In order for capital improvement projects to be carried out successfully, they need to be tracked and managed well. They require a lot of collaboration, planning, review and approval, as well as ongoing operations functions. Also, there is an increasing need for optimized capital investments for a better return on investment. It is also important to streamline and expedite the process of harnessing scarce resources. Managing one of these projects can be difficult and time consuming–especially when funds are inadequate, there is not enough staff and schedules are not clear.

Municipalities can benefit from using public works software such as WebDPW to manage these projects. This type of software is specifically designed to meet the needs of Public Works and Capital Projects departments, which require a wide range of collaboration, review, planning and approval functions–as well as ongoing operations functions. When you have the right management software for these projects, you can make the project much more successful.

Here are 3 top reasons municipalities require better management for their projects:

1.  Constituents Demand Transparency

When municipalities carry out capital improvement projects, constituents demand more transparency and oversight of the projects. It is crucial to be able to monitor budgets, track expenditure and create reports, and convey this to constituents.

Public works software allows all of this to be done quickly and easily. It will create a completely “open book” environment where submissions, documents and any other updates will be available in real time. It is even possible to create a fully versioned document history for improving record keeping and accessing information. The project data will always be kept in one central location and the information is always current.

2.  Avoiding Backlogs

When adequate tracking software is not being used, municipalities often face backlogged projects and stagnated initiatives. This means that contractors will be hesitant to bid on projects or offer their best pricing, as they know that there will be a lengthy timeframe for awarding the bid. This long wait from project initiation to payment means that municipalities will end up paying contractors more and drag out the project longer than necessary.

Unlike legacy silo approaches that compartmentalize, complicate and delay a project–software such as WebDPW can improve efficiency for all the building projects within a community. This not only results in fewer backlogged projects but also a better Return on Investment (ROI).

3.  Improving Program Management

When programs are managed poorly, there is poor stewardship of public works infrastructure resources and taxpayer money. This will cause frustration and mistrust of the municipality. However, when the right software is used then it can facilitate effective communication and streamline processes so that more can be achieved, and more money is saved as a result.

Improving how projects are managed allows for infrastructure projects to be managed more effectively.  Roads and bridges are able to manage their construction, expansion and repair. Water, storm water, utilities and sanitation are able to manage their construction, expansion and repair. The same goes for traffic, building assets and much more. Each of these public works projects will have a collaboration environment where they can have instant web access to all of their project data.

WebDPW offers a collection of maps and apps that can be used by a team of public works staff to define projects, outline goals, coordinate schedules, track performance and share project status with the important stakeholders. It is designed to make it easier and more straightforward to develop, prioritize and monitor the project.

Public Works Software

Technology is the thing that grabs the attentions of every constituent whether he or she is aware of it or not. This is the reason that Public Works Software is the best tool for public sector organizations to better manage their capital projects.

To find out how your organization can benefit from a Public Works software system, email: sales@webdpw.com or call 1-800-603-5578.