In the world of utilities, speed and precision still reign supreme. Contractors who work on short-cycle projects handle tasks that demand fast turnarounds and precise management—like responding to emergency repairs or performing routine maintenance on infrastructure like gas or electrical lines. Many utility contractors and those involved with these types of quick-hit projects have struggled to find a solution that meets their pace and revenue management needs.
As industry leaders, HCSS has always kept an ear to the ground — listening to every struggle and frustration. While our current customers love HeavyJob for the civil construction space and lean on it for bigger, competitive bid work, they wish there was an end-solution for their shorter-duration work.
We’re evolving to meet those needs…
HCSS is upgrading HeavyJob to accommodate short-cycle operations.
The days of shuffling between spreadsheets and standalone programs to accomplish basic service work tasks will be in the past. HCSS is always excited to innovate and improve for our clients. This is just another way we’re transforming to support YOU!
Short-Cycle Work vs. Bid Work
With all these terms like “short-cycle,” “utilities,” “bid work,” etc. — it can be tricky to nail down exactly what type of operations we’re referring to. To help with the leg work, we’ll describe each one and the struggles that come with them.
Short-Cycle Work for Utility Contractors
This type of work is all about getting things done quickly and efficiently. While not exclusive to utilities, short-cycle work is the bread and butter of utility contractors. This includes everything from maintaining high-voltage power lines and replacing old transformers to installing smart gas meters in homes — it’s a whole different ball game compared to big projects like a months-long lane expansion on an interstate highway.
For those tackling these quick-turnaround jobs, diving into the analytics on a granular level can be the difference between maxing out your potential revenue and leaving money on the table. It’s not just about getting the job done quickly; it’s about understanding where you could improve to ensure all your pay items are recorded accurately so you can bill for all your work.
Common struggles of short-cycle work:
Slow Billing & Delayed Payments: The fast pace of short-cycle work demands a quick turnaround for billing and payment processing.
Inaccurate Coordination & Communication: Misalignment between field teams and office staff can lead to inefficiencies and errors.
Lagging Data & Slow Pivots: Outdated or delayed information hinders the ability to make timely decisions or adapt to changes.
HCSS has a long history of supporting contractors doing Lump Sum and Time and Materials work and is now including functionality to support the unit-price work typically seen in short-cycle operations — making billing simple and easy.
Master Service Agreements (MSAs) streamline operations by setting out general terms for multiple projects. This reduces the need for lengthy negotiations every time a new task arises and makes it easier to manage the timeline of quick-turnaround projects.
Bid Work for Heavy Civil Construction
This type of work deals with large-scale projects that require a ton of time and planning, like building highways or huge commercial buildings. These projects are complex and often involve multiple stages — requiring plenty of careful coordination and detailed planning.
The contracts for these types of projects are usually more formal and cover everything from managing big budgets to sticking to tight schedules. Unlike short-cycle work, where unit-priced contracts are common, competitive projects often use fixed-price contracts or detailed cost structures that cover the whole project. It’s all about handling the big picture and making sure everything runs smoothly from start to finish.
Common struggles of competitive work:
Running Over Budget: With extensive budgets and detailed cost structures, it’s easy for expenses to spiral out of control. Errors in estimation, unforeseen fleet costs, and running behind schedule can lead to budget overruns — making it crucial to track and manage costs throughout the project carefully.
Inefficient Costing: Big-bid projects often stretch over months or even years. This means you need to maintain focus and efficiency over a long period, deal with fluctuating costs, and adapt to changes in scope or requirements. Keeping the project on track and within budget while maintaining quality can be tough over such extended timelines.
Introducing HeavyJob for Short-Cycle Operations
At HCSS, we’re excited to announce that HeavyJob is evolving to meet the unique needs of short-cycle work in the utilities sector. While it’s still the HeavyJob you know and love, we’ve enhanced it to address the specific demands of shorter-duration projects.
Real-Time Tracking and Custom Reporting
With the new HeavyJob features, you can keep a close eye on work in real-time and create custom reports to get a clear picture of how things are going. Project Managers will appreciate being able to track jobs from anywhere so they can stay on top of everything without being chained to their desks. And when it comes to payroll, it’s a lot simpler: just input time cards directly from the field, ensuring everyone gets paid accurately and quickly. This means less hassle and more control over your projects — making your workflow smoother and more efficient.
Get ready for:
- Detailed cost analysis
- Crew utilization tracking
- Unit-price pay item tracking
“HeavyJob is the best, first-in-class software that meets the pace and revenue needs of short-cycle customers in the utility markets, especially for unit-priced work.”
—Kishan Patel | Senior Vice President, Product
Mobile App Built for the Field — Connect the Field to the Office
The mobile app makes connecting the field with the office very easy. It keeps everything in sync, so work progress, issues, payroll, and billing info are shared seamlessly and accurately. Need to pivot and solve problems on the fly? The app gives office teams instant updates on what’s happening on-site. The app leverages historical data for accurate project bidding, helps document site conditions and issues with pictures and text updates, and exports payroll data to your preferred accounting software.
Get ready for:
- Comprehensive issue tracking
- Real-time problem-solving (straight from the field)
- Daily updates & documentation
Improved Cash Flow / Unique Cost Codes for T&M Work
With improved cash flow and unique cost codes for time and materials (T&M) work, you can bill faster by reporting completed work daily and ensuring accurate billing for all performed work. New features help cut down on billing disputes and delays with clear, detailed documentation for change orders and T&M work. It even includes a quick toggle switch for identifying T&M work on time cards and allows for capturing e-signatures for approvals, streamlining the billing process.
Get ready for:
- Accurate billing
- Reduced disputes & delays
- Enhanced project margins
HCSS Enables You to Capture 100% of Your Revenue
HCSS is your solution for handling every aspect of your short-cycle projects! With the new features in HeavyJob, you’ll get real-time updates on everything you need — making it easier to make quick decisions and speed up invoicing. Track all the work your crew has accomplished at the end of the day and stay ahead of the curve with HCSS.
Ready to see how the new HeavyJob can transform your short-cycle operations?
Learn more about HeavyJob and its new features HERE!
