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Commercial construction is an infamously difficult industry when it comes to keeping costs within budget. One analysis found that only 31% of construction projects came within even 10% of their estimated costs.  
Facing numbers like these, how can commercial construction businesses better conduct cost management?  
From consolidating data-driven insights to committing to long-term efficiency upgrades, these tips can help commercial developers stick to their budgets. Implement them for greater transparency and oversight. 

1. Consolidate Construction Insights

The top trends in commercial construction this year all revolve around the ability to harness digital information into efficient innovations. From robotics to 3D printing in construction, these innovations are only possible because of the data that fuels their intelligence.   
Similarly, commercial developers can cultivate their own insightful systems through data collection and digital transformation. The 4th industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) is underway. That means that ample solutions are available to you for data consolidation.   
Most prominently, these solutions take the form of Construction Management Software (CMS). CMS provides a singular platform for managing financial forecasts and risk assessments, enabling a new level of transparency in construction cost management.  

2. Gather and Analyze Financial Data

However, generating actionable improvements to construction budgeting requires more than just the right platform for project analysis. It also requires ample financial data that can enlighten those strategies.  
For instance, reducing payroll expenses on a construction project requires knowing where and how to minimize costs while maximizing efficiency. Analysis of financial data can help you identify where to hire contractors, for example, and how to classify them in financial reporting.  
Accurate and real-time bookkeeping is necessary for efficient cost management in commercial construction. Fortunately, advancing technologies like blockchain ledger systems enable more transparent and secure communication of business transactions. 

3. Conduct Thorough Risk Assessments

No approach to financial analysis would be complete, however, without the inclusion of a thorough risk assessment. Risk evaluation is crucial when it comes to running a successful construction business, as it can help you mitigate unexpected expenditures during development.  
The COVID-19 pandemic proved the importance of risk assessments from employee health to supply chain challenges. Now, companies understand that every point of operation should be evaluated to address potential productivity and efficiency barriers like labor shortages and material costs.  
From here, risk data can be paired with CMS to provide a more comprehensive view of expenditures and anticipated needs. 

4. Implement Digital Technologies

Modern digital technologies are central to effective cost-management policies. That’s because only these tools have the potential to better construction productivity through unprecedented levels of transparency and oversight.  
Collaborative platforms and data-driven AI tools make it easier than ever to connect and stream real-time information from suppliers, construction sites, and management systems across an organization. Meanwhile, technology has enabled project managers to transform outdated processes as a means of managing costs.  
For example, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a simulation technology that allows developers to explore a project’s costs and material requirements before breaking ground on a site. By implementing tools like these, construction businesses can model costs more accurately before ever committing to a project. 

5. Constantly Look for Improvements

Finally, your ability to manage costs in commercial construction comes down to your commitment to innovation and improvement. From renewable energies to additive construction methods, a world of tech is opening up new opportunities in the development sector. 
Businesses should commit a portion of their budgets to research and development, investments in people, and technologies that can streamline the ability of a construction manager to stay within budget.  
As you look for ways to advance your own cost-management strategies, consider these tips. With digital platforms and data-gathering tools, finding cost-cutting solutions can be simpler than ever. Integrate these technologies for greater transparency and accuracy of construction costs.