General contractors face multiple challenges. To effectively manage business information, it's critical to integrate data from multiple branches or divisions. Managing job schedules, job site materials, cash flow, profit margins, and labor effectively requires constant diligence and innovation. And the primary concern? Providing timely, quality service to clients within the scope of their contract and at a profit.

With Microsoft Office Project Server 2007 and its clients, your organization can more effectively manage and coordinate work ranging from one-time projects to complex programs across the entire project life cycle. Office Project Server 2007 is designed to be accessible by its clients, Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007 and Microsoft Office Project Web Access.

In one fully integrated system, you get browser-based project management with full e-collaboration capabilities -- plus complete financial and cost accounting on a solid, scalable Microsoft foundation.

HardHat Technologies has brought together several case studies from established companies in different areas of the construction industry. These companies feel so strongly about how Microsoft Dynamics SL has elevated their company’s success that they want to share their experiences. Click on the company name to get full details.

Kirkwood Electric, Inc. began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1895. This fourth-generation company is composed of four divisions; Residential, Commercial, Service, and Home-Technologies. As their Service division grew rapidly, Kirkwood needed a solution to help them improve the records and accountability of this division. They also wanted to improve tracking of Residential and Commercial project profitability and reporting. Kirkwood implemented Microsoft Business Solutions–Solomon (now part of Microsoft Dynamics™), including the Field Service Management and Project Management modules. The company has 100 employees and 20 users. Annual revenue for the company is approximately $7.5 million.

BP Air Conditioning, a mechanical/service contractor headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, constructs and services heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for companies in Manhattan and surrounding areas. With only 115 employees, the company books approximately 33 construction jobs and services approximately 100 customers each month. Additionally, BP Air Conditioning manages more than 485 service contracts and maintains some 4,000 pieces of equipment annually. Last year, the construction side of the business earned U.S.$53.7 million in revenue, and the service department brought in $7.6 million.

ATS Automation of Renton, Washington, provides building automation contracting services including engineering and installation of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment to commercial buildings and campuses. ATS ran its business on an aging version of Peachtree accounting software, numerous versions of Microsoft® Excel, and a few vertical applications. The accounting staff invested a great deal of time performing duplicate data entry to tie the systems together and then printed monthly reports that sat in binders. Seeking a modern accounting solution that could automate business processes and provide Web-based access to critical information, ATS implemented Microsoft® Business Solutions–Solomon (now part of Microsoft Dynamics™). The company has approximately 90 employees, annual revenues of U.S.$20 million, and offices in Spokane and Anchorage in addition to the headquarters location.

Headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, Royal Professional Builders constructs custom homes in Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties. In the more than 20 years of its existence, the company has built over 3,000 homes, as well as a number of community centers, schools, and other facilities. To better manage a vast increase in business volume, Royal Professional Builders wanted to boost its service levels to customers and improve the efficiency and dependability of financial management. Three disparate software systems required intensive upkeep, caused information discrepancies, and slowed down business processes. Royal Professional Builders implemented and integrated Microsoft Business Solutions—Solomon and Microsoft CRM software (both now part of Microsoft Dynamics™). With a powerful business management infrastructure now in place, the company can manage its rapid growth and record revenue efficiently, with enhanced profitability and more reliable financial management capabilities. The company has 150 employees.