Why HR modernization can’t wait
How much more could your construction company achieve by getting an employee on the job three days faster? A week faster? And what if, in the same move, you could connect time entry to payroll and project data in real-time? This is what HR modernization looks like—and the benefits are far-reaching. Even payroll is saved from constant questions by empowering employees with mobile-first, self-service tools.
This is exactly why forward-thinking construction companies are trading in outdated systems with modern tools—so they can tackle today’s cost pressures and labor challenges head on to:
1. Get ahead of rising labor costs
Manual systems can’t keep up with the pace and complexity of today’s labor market—especially when wage rates, union rules, and tax jurisdictions vary from job to job. A connected payroll solution automatically enforces compliance and enables accurate job costing in real time.
2. Reduce rework
Paper timecards and spreadsheet-driven approvals slow payroll cycles and introduce errors. With labor scarcity increasing project pressures, wasting hours on these manual processes isn’t just inefficient—it’s expensive.
3. Mitigate profit fade
With real-time labor data flowing from the field into your ERP, project managers gain the visibility they need to make informed adjustments and prevent runaway labor costs—before it's too late.
4. Retain skilled labor
In a competitive labor market, frustration over incorrect paychecks, lost timecards, or hard-to-access benefits info can drive workers away. Digital self-service portals give employees control over their HR experience, improving satisfaction and retention.
5. Free HR to solve bigger problems
When HR teams aren’t buried in paperwork or chasing down approvals, they can focus on bigger priorities. Improving hiring strategies, scaling seasonal workforce plans, and optimizing benefits take center stage.
5 best practices for modernizing construction HR functions
Not sure where to start? If you’re serious about navigating today’s labor and cost environment, these best practices are essential. They’ll help you move beyond the inefficiencies of the past to move your business forward — quickly and efficiently.
1. Adopt mobile time tracking: Implement mobile applications that allow individual employees and crews to enter their labor and equipment time directly from the field. These tools can capture data against specific jobs and phases, and even include GPS functionality for accuracy.
2. Automate time approval workflows: Establish digital approval workflows that allow foremen and project managers to review and approve timesheets efficiently. Once approved, this data syncs seamlessly with payroll, eliminating the need for manual re-entry.
3. Deliver frictionless employee self-service: Offer a robust employee portal where staff can manage their own HR needs. This includes accessing pay stubs and tax forms, updating contact and direct deposit information, and submitting time off requests digitally. Such tools drastically cut down on clerical work for HR and payroll teams.
4. Connect HR and payroll to core financials: Ensure your HR and payroll solutions are seamlessly connected with your company's broader financial management system (ERP). This integration guarantees all data, from new hire onboarding to expense management, flows consistently across departments, providing a single source of truth for accurate job costing and overall financial health.
5. Digitize onboarding: Automate the new hire process with digital packets that allow employees to complete I-9s, W-4s, and other custom forms from their mobile devices. HR managers can easily set up profiles, review documents, and track new hires on a dashboard, accelerating the process and ensuring compliance.
Future-proof your workforce operations
The days of paper forms and rushed payrolls are over. In today’s volatile environment, the construction firms that win will be the ones that equip their HR teams with tools to act fast, stay compliant, and empower employees.
This is where Trimble’s financial management solutions come in. Trimble gives you a connected construction ERP platform with built-in HR, payroll, and field time entry—purpose-built to help you stay agile, accurate, and ahead of the curve.
Want to learn how to protect your margins and support your workforce with a modern HR and payroll system? Talk to a Trimble expert today.
