FullClarity: NetSuite Solutions for Residential Construction Companies

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FullClarity

Andrew Coghlan, Director , FullClarityAndrew Coghlan, Director
NetSuite has helped companies in managing their business processes with its cloud-based ERP and omnichannel commerce software suites across various industries. However, NetSuite has limited capabilities when it comes to the construction industry and doesn’t fit the needs of building construction. Realizing this, Andrew Coghlan, Director at FullClarity, decided to add a construction module to NetSuite SuiteCloud Platform. This has resulted in a collection of SuiteApp add-ons that deliver construction-specific functionalities for construction companies to price, plan, and manage their projects, including financial accounts, automated WIP, bid requests, and cost estimation. In an interview with CIO Applications, Coghlan shares his insights on how FullClarity customizes NetSuite to suit the requirements of the construction sector better. The solution will help organizations in improving the handling of their projects and expenses via effective project tracking, project estimating, contract control, scheduling, and site management.

Could you give us a brief overview of FullClarity?

My father started a residential building company in the early 60s, which became one of the largest residential building companies of its time in the state. Alongside, he also started a consulting business and became a well-known consultant in the building disputes industry within a few years, specializing in providing evidence in building disputes. In the late 80s, my father shut down the residential building construction company and switched his focus to the consulting business. When John and I took over the consulting firm in 2010 after our father passed away, we implemented NetSuite to enhance our business operations. Then, in 2016, we decided to revive the residential building company and started building homes again. However, we couldn’t find the right software to run the company and decided to customize NetSuite to meet our specific needs. While developing customized applications, we realized that the collection of apps that we developed is a product in itself and so opened the construction software market to NetSuite. We then started developing the solution built on NetSuite for the construction industry. Our solution allows the construction market across the globe to reap the benefits of NetSuite.

Please elaborate on the specifications of your solutions and how will it solve the hurdles of the construction industry.

The construction industry operates in a very different way as compared to other industries, and therefore NetSuite doesn’t fit in construction on its own. NetSuite offers the capability to invoice a client, but it doesn’t allow to make progress claim based on the percentage of work completed or specific milestones, which are standard billing methods in construction. We have set up our claiming process specifically for construction. We have a job costing, order purchasing, and cost estimating functionality that is purpose-built for the construction industry. We have customized the functionalities of standard ERP software to be construction focused. From setting up an initial sales contract, cost estimating, signing the contract, project management, to schedule management, our solution offers it all.

John Coghlan, Director
Our SuiteApps automate tender request for suppliers and online submission of quotation. The solution gives companies the ability to estimate the project budget easily by matching bill of quantities with quotes and vendor price lists. The solution also allows them to manage leads and interact with potential and existing customers. FullClarity also enables users to track all stage claims, variations, and costs that allow construction managers to identify the potential financial issues and take action early. We have implemented a Gantt chart into NetSuite that enables builders to adjust and maintain the project schedule from any device with easy drag and drop. Moreover, FullClarity offers the ability to manage and account for retentions.

Our solution allows the construction market across the globe to begin reaping the benefits of NetSuite

Could you give a success story where your solution turns out to be a game-changer?

We were able to utilize our solutions for handling the construction project of one of our office’s building seamlessly. The entire construction management system is cloud-based and heavily integrated into the accounting system. This allows each person in our construction process, including construction manager, contracts manager, and site supervisor to interact directly with the same and relevant data of the project. The construction manager gets an overview of all the projects. The site supervisor can quickly raise a purchase while he is onsite. Contract admin can easily find the preferred supplier and place orders accordingly. All of this data is stored in and is part of the accounting system. Since our construction functionality is built on top of the NetSuite accounting system, we can access that data in real-time from anywhere. We do not have to synchronize data between multiple accounting systems to get the desired results. We can access all the information on a single system immediately.

What is your clients’ feedback on the solution and how did you handle the COVID-19 situation?

We have received very positive feedback so far. With us, firms can now access all the essential data and information required to run a construction project on a single system in real-time. Since NetSuite is cloud-based and everything that we do is on NetSuite, adapting to work remotely was easy. Our construction team got comfortable with working from home quickly as they didn’t struggle to get access to any of our systems. We have been using NetSuite as our core business system for over ten years, and thereby everything was in NetSuite. Our workforce was able to access the information conveniently. Even the site based workforce had access to our systems. This way, our operations remain effective even during COVID when offices were closed.

What does the future look like for the FullClarity?

We are in the final stage of completing all of the certifications for our SuiteApps, and soon the apps will be formally listed in the NetSuite marketplace – SuiteApp.com. We are continually updating our solutions and adding new features and functionalities such as custom checklists and site forms, client proposal, and customer portal for payments and communications. This will allow users to create customized inspection checklists, punch lists, and quality checklists for site staff at each stage of the project. Built on the NetSuite platform, these modules will enable users to prepare a client-ready proposal document available for customer sign-off from the existing estimating functionality. We are continuously spreading awareness about NetSuite usage in the construction industry and educating them about its benefits for their business operations. We are far ahead in the race of bringing NetSuite into the construction industry than other players. From the expansion standpoint, we will continue to grow in the Australian and the U.S. market. We are also planning to expand our footprints to the U.K. and European markets in early 2021. As a NetSuite partner, we are certainly looking forward to becoming a global force and deliver our solutions to construction companies worldwide.

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