The Second Wave of Custom Construction Management Software

Over the last decade, the custom construction management software landscape has been dominated by a few major players. 

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If you were a small or medium-sized builder, your choices were limited, as the industry was predominantly led by BuilderTrend and CoConstruct. Then, BuilderTrend acquired CoConstruct in 2021 and it felt like the industry had become a monopoly. During the early days of Ressio, I had many conversations with builders who felt like they either had to pick one of the big platforms or stick with manual processes.

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But the industry is changing.

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Today, we're seeing a surge in new construction software options that are offering builders more flexibility than ever before. What’s exciting about this "new wave" of software is that it’s becoming tailored to fit the unique needs of different types of construction businesses.

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At Ressio, we focus on construction management software, but this trend goes beyond us. We’re also seeing a rise in point solutions—specialized tools that focus on doing one thing well. Companies like CompanyCam allow builders to take field photos, Dig manages digital plans, and Adaptive handles advanced analytics for accounts payable and receivable.

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This explosion of options represents a move toward healthy competition and innovation. Now builders can choose solutions that fit their needs, rather than settling for the only available option.

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What Does the Second Wave Look Like?

As newer players enter the custom construction management software space, they bring with them a crucial advantage: innovation at a high velocity.

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There are a few key factors that contribute to this:

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1. The Ability to Build on a Fresh Tech Stack

Older platforms often struggle to innovate because they’re tied to outdated codebases and legacy systems. This makes it harder for them to incorporate AI and automate parts of their workflow.

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At Ressio, we avoid this by maintaining an evolutionary approach to our tech stack. We constantly tweak and update our backend systems to stay current. This means we can operate like a brand-new company every day—allowing us to implement changes and build new features without being bogged down by legacy infrastructure.

2. Faster Iteration and Product Velocity

New entrants also have the advantage of being agile. At Ressio, we release new updates and features every one to two weeks—ensuring that our product is constantly evolving based on customer feedback. This allows us to deliver innovation at a much faster pace compared to older platforms that may only push out updates a few times a year.

3. A Senior, Experienced Engineering Team

Innovation also comes down to the quality of the team. One of the key reasons Ressio can deliver such high-velocity innovation is the strength of our senior U.S.-based engineering team. Each member has 10+ years of experience, with many of them bringing industry-specific knowledge to the table. When you give a challenge to an experienced engineer who understands the industry, the solutions are faster, more accurate, and tailored to the actual needs of builders.

4. Customer-Centric Feedback Loops

Another advantage of newer entrants is their focus on customer feedback. For us, innovation is driven directly by the builders who use our platform. Through our “Voice of the Customer” list, we constantly gather feedback from users. A portion of our engineering capacity is always reserved for implementing customer suggestions which ensures that their pain points are addressed quickly.

Why Incumbents Like BuilderTrend Struggle to Adapt

While newer entrants in the construction management software space have the advantage of speed and flexibility, incumbents like BuilderTrend find themselves in a much more difficult position when it comes to innovation. It’s not that they don’t want to adapt—it’s that they can’t.

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Think of BuilderTrend and Ressio as two different general contractors. BuilderTrend has spent the last 10 years building a skyscraper. It’s tall, complex, and has decade-old features. But like any skyscraper, if you needed to go in and change the foundation, it would be nearly impossible without tearing the entire structure down.

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Ressio, on the other hand, is like a modern two-story warehouse. We're still in the early stages of construction and are building with an intentional design that makes it easier for us to make changes. If we need to tweak or expand part of the foundation, we can do it without knocking down the entire structure.

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This enables us to constantly be gathering feedback from builders, testing new features, and incorporating the best solutions while maintaining everything we have built to date.

What Does This Mean for Builders?

The rapid changes in custom construction management software have massive implications for builders, whether they are already using software or not.

For Builders Already Using Software

In the past, once you committed to a platform like BuilderTrend or CoConstruct, switching to an alternative was tough. All your data lived in one place, and the incremental value offered by other platforms wasn’t compelling enough to justify the switch. In many ways, you were locked in.

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But that’s no longer the case. With many new options and advances in technology, the switching costs have lowered dramatically. For example, at Ressio, we place a large emphasis on making the transition to our platform quick and easy for new customers. Software companies would never offer transferring project data from legacy systems because of how time consuming it was to clean and upload the data. But now using AI, we can take exports of project data from BuilderTrend or other project management softwares, clean it to match our format and have it uploaded into Ressio within minutes.

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That means it’s important for builders to be asking themselves, Is my software still delivering the best value for my business?

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Because the landscape is evolving so quickly, platforms that may have been the best choice a year ago might now lag behind newer, more innovative solutions. 

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For Builders Not Yet Using Software

For builders who haven’t yet adopted construction management software, the situation is also changing. Switching from manual processes to digital tools used to feel like a big effort, but now several tailwinds are pushing towards software adoption:

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1. Generational Transition: Many construction businesses are experiencing a generational shift, where younger, more tech-savvy family members are inheriting operations.
2. A Greater Variety of Solutions: The explosion of new software options means builders no longer have to choose between two or three platforms. This makes it easier than ever to find a tool that fits your specific needs.
3. Tangible Value from Technology: The value these tools provide is more evident than ever. From automating routine tasks to reducing project delays and improving communication with clients, modern construction software offers builders significant advantages.

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Ultimately, the second wave of construction management software puts more control into the hands of builders. Whether you’re re-evaluating an existing solution or adopting software for the first time, it’s now easier than ever to find construction management software that aligns with your business’s needs.