Why Do Contractors Choose Workyard Over Autodesk Build?

While Autodesk Build excels in project management and construction workflows, Workyard outperforms it in several areas that are particularly beneficial for businesses focused on workforce management.

Here are the top reasons why you might choose Workyard over Autodesk Build:

1. Real-Time Employee Time, Location, and Mileage Tracking.

Since Autodesk Build is focused on project and document management, GPS tracking isn’t its strong suit. It uses GPS technology, but it’s only limited to tagging photos and documents with GPS coordinates.

For construction companies who want better visibility into their crew’s productivity in the field, Autodesk Build isn’t the best choice. It lacks a built-in technology to let you track the workers’ time, location and mileage whenever you want to.

In contrast, Workyard boasts of an industry-leading time clock app that logs workers’ time as soon as they clock in. It also automatically tracks the user’s location, helping managers attribute each place visited to every clock in/out time recorded in the timesheet.

Workyard’s GPS tracking is the most robust in the industry, automatically updating location data in real-time, not every several minutes or hours. This is particularly useful for ensuring that workers are where they need to be and for verifying job site attendance.

In addition, it tracks mileage the moment the workers goes on driving mode, giving managers a more complete and reliable picture of how each worker spent the time during a shift. It also provides valuable data for accurately calculating travel expenses and reimbursing employees.

2. Robust Offline Functionality.

Workyard continues to track time, location, and other critical data even when workers are in areas with poor or no internet connectivity. Yes, GPS would work without the internet.

Workers can still clock in, take breaks, and clock out as Workyard quietly works and records data in the background. Managers won’t be able to see the workers’ location or time card data while they’re offline but as soon as connection is restored, every data stored will automatically sync to the server and uploaded to Workyard’s backend.

Autodesk Build, on the other hand, requires an internet connection for most of its functionalities. Its offline mode restricts users from doing anything else aside from editing previously downloaded projects, wherein each change will be automatically uploaded once connection comes back.

This can be a significant limitation in remote or rural job sites where connectivity is unreliable, potentially leading to gaps in data and project tracking.

3. Integrated Workforce Scheduling.

Workyard’s user-friendly contractor scheduling software is built into its system, allowing business owners, admins, or project managers to quickly create their team’s schedules without the need for any third-party software.

With drag-and-drop schedule editing, real-time visibility into worker availability, and the ability to optimize dispatch routes, Workyard simplifies the process of managing your workforce. The software also supports bulk schedule updates and repeatable tasks, making it easier to manage recurring jobs or large teams.

On the flip side, Autodesk Build lacks an integrated scheduling software. Like Procore, it only serves as a viewing platform for workforce schedules created elsewhere, specifically third-party scheduling tools like Asta Powerproject, Microsoft Project, and Primavera P6.

For this reason, users need to complete the additional step of importing the master schedule from external source before the team can finally have an actual schedule to work or collaborate on.

4. Built-in Labor Compliance.

Compliance with labor laws and regulations is critical for any construction business.

Workyard has built-in features that help you manage labor compliance effortlessly. The software includes customizable rules for overtime, breaks, and geofencing, ensuring that your business adheres to specific local regulations, such as those in California or Washington.

Automated reminders for breaks and automatic overtime adjustments reduce the risk of non-compliance and potential penalties.

In comparison, Autodesk Build’s labor compliance is only limited to quality and safety checklists to ensure the team meets the required standards on construction sites.

It lacks all of Workyard’s labor compliance features, meaning you would need to manage compliance through other tools or manual processes, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.

5. User Interface.

Workyard offers a modern, intuitive interface that is easy for both field workers and office staff to use. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, with quick walkthroughs for new users and an interface that minimizes the learning curve.

This makes it easier to onboard new employees and ensures that they can start using the software effectively from day one.

While Autodesk Build also has comprehensive virtual walkthroughs, it is more complex due to the extensive project management features it offers. The flawed navigation design may also cause some first-time users to end up getting stuck on a page, struggling to find which one to click to return to the default landing page.

For businesses that need a straightforward, easy-to-use tool for workforce management, Workyard’s interface is likely to be more suitable.

Conclusion

While Autodesk Build is a powerful tool for project management, Workyard offers features that make it a better choice for businesses focused on workforce management.

With superior employee time, location, and mileage tracking, robust offline functionality, integrated workforce scheduling, built-in labor compliance tools, and a user-friendly interface, Workyard is well-suited to meet the needs of construction businesses looking to streamline their operations and maintain compliance.

Want to see more detailed coverage of Autodesk Build? Click the link in this sentence to check out our No-Nonsense Review of Autodesk Build (PlanGrid), which includes a detailed analysis of the app’s features, advantages, shortcomings, pricing, user reviews, alternatives, and more!