ERP Case Study in Construction: Productivity Gains with Synergix

Background: Construction Industry Challenges.

The Singaporean building industry is struggling with a number of systemic challenges that affect growth and efficiency:

Lack of Uniformity in Data Entry and Overload of Paperwork: Manual operations cause bottlenecks in projects as the project data is distributed across spreadsheets, hardcopy documents, and different software. This fragmentation causes inconsistency in data and difficulty in keeping proper documentation on a project.
Slow Project Claims and Finance Tracking: The traditional manual-based approach to project claims and financial reporting causes a lot of delays, compromising cash flow and customer relations. Construction companies have difficulty in making informed decisions without real-time visibility into project finances.
High Manpower Needs: Data entry and administrative work (done manually) consumes a lot of manpower, and this is at the expense of using the skilled personnel in value-adding activities and it also leads to high operational costs.

About Synergix ERP System

Synergix Technologies is an all-inclusive cloud-based ERP system that has been tailored to the specific needs of the construction industry. The platform brings various business processes together into one, unified system, removes data silos and simplifies operations.

Key modules relevant to the construction ERP system include:

Project Management: Tracking of all projects to their end, allocation of resources and monitoring of their progress.
Finance & Accounting: Financial processes and real-time reporting and cash flow management automation.
Procurement: Efficient buying processes and supplier management and cost control.
Customer Progressive Claims: Computerised claim creation and certification.

The web-based architecture is accessible anywhere and the integrated design removes the use of multiple software solutions making it simpler and less expensive.

Client Success Stories

GA Construction Pte Ltd: Structured Data Management Drives 20-30% Productivity Gain

The Problem: GA Construction had issues with inconsistent processes in data input and the control points were not organised in their business. The manual workflows were using too much manpower and reducing the accuracy of information thus making it impossible to make good decisions.

The Solution: Implementation of Synergix ERP introduces systematic data input processes and automatic control mechanisms. The integrated platform removed manual redundancies and ensured that data in all areas of operation is consistent.

The Results:

Streamlined processes lead to 20-30% productivity increase.
A vast decrease in the manpower needs and time saving.
Improved information quality that can be used during decision-making and transparency of operations.
Enhanced resource management and efficiency of workflow.

General Manager Joseph Liew made the following commendation on the effect of the system: The structured data input and control point approach has not only brought about consistency and organisation into our processes, but also cut back manpower requirements by a substantial margin and saved us invaluable time.

Full testimonial of GA Construction Pte Ltd

Yong Fong Engineering & Construction Pte Ltd: Complete Workflow Integration Achieves 60% Productivity Boost

The Challenge: Yong Fong faced fragmented workflows with data scattered across multiple systems. Manual data entry consumed excessive time, while printing job sheets generated unnecessary costs. The lack of integration between project management and finance created operational inefficiencies.

The Solution: Synergix ERP provided end-to-end workflow integration, consolidating all data from Project to Finance into a single, accessible system. The platform eliminated manual data entry requirements and digitised previously paper-based processes.

The Results:

60% productivity gain with expectations for further improvement
Streamlined workflow from Project to Finance with complete data traceability
Cost reduction through the elimination of printed job sheets
24/7 data accessibility from any location

Director Mandy Chih emphasised the transformation: “The system has streamlined our entire workflow by aggregating all our data into one system, making it easily traceable and accessible anytime, anywhere, while notably increasing productivity through reduced manual data entry.”

Full testimonial of Yong Fong Engineering & Construction Pte Ltd

Arc Floor Pte Ltd: Versatile ERP Automation Transforms Complex Operations

The Challenge: Arc Floor needed an extremely flexible system that will satisfy their complicated operational specifications. Their current processes were not integrated to incorporate project management, procurement and accounting activities thus creating mistakes and misunderstandings.

The Solution: Synergix ERP’s modular approach provided seamless integration between the Project Solution Suite with Customer Progressive Claims, Procurement, and Accounting modules. The system’s versatility allowed for quick modifications to accommodate Arc Floor’s specific requirements.

The Results:

Automated work processes with significantly improved speed
Minimised errors and miscommunications through integrated workflows
Enhanced project claim processing with seamless procurement integration
Customisable solution that adapted to complex operational needs

Sales Manager Rachel Lim highlighted the system’s impact: “The Synergix ERP system’s versatility allowed for quick and easy modifications to meet our complex requirements. Purchasing these modules remarkably automated and sped up our work processes while keeping errors and miscommunications down to a minimum.”

Full testimonial of Arc Floor Pte Ltd

Leng EE Construction Pte Ltd: Advanced Project Claims and Automated Processes

The Challenge: Leng EE Construction needed an effective solution to speed up and monitor project claims accurately. Their manual calculation processes for checking outstanding amounts from main contractors were tedious and time-consuming, while procurement processes lacked automation.

The Solution: Implementation of Synergix ERP with focus on the Project Claim and Certification module. The system provided automated generation capabilities for cutting lists and organised Statement of Accounts by Project Number for easy tracking.

The Results:

Accelerated project claim processing with improved accuracy
Automated cutting list generation for suppliers
Project-organised Statement of Accounts for quick outstanding amount verification
Increased overall productivity through minimised errors and miscommunications

The implementation team noted: “The Project Claim and Certification module truly sets itself apart from other ERP systems in the market by providing us with an effective solution to speed up and monitor our claims accurately, while automatic generation features have helped successfully increase our work efficiency.”

Full testimonial of Leng EE Construction Pte Ltd

Key Takeaways Across All Projects

The four case studies reveal consistent patterns of improvement across different construction SMEs:

Substantial Productivity Improvements: All clients achieved significant productivity gains ranging from 20% to 60%, demonstrating the system’s capability to deliver measurable results across varied operational contexts.
Reduced Manpower and Time Savings: Every implementation resulted in decreased manual labor requirements and time savings through process automation, allowing companies to reallocate resources to value-adding activities.
Improved Accuracy and Real-time Visibility: The integrated approach eliminated data inconsistencies while providing real-time access to critical business information, enabling faster and more informed decision-making.
Seamless Integration Benefits: The unified platform approach eliminated the need for multiple software solutions, reducing complexity while improving data flow between different business functions.

Lessons for Other Construction SMEs

Importance of Selecting a Customisable ERP: Arc Floor’s success demonstrates the value of choosing an ERP system that can adapt to specific industry requirements. Construction companies should prioritise flexibility when evaluating ERP solutions.

Value of Strong Vendor Support and Training: All four testimonials emphasise the critical role of comprehensive support throughout implementation. Yong Fong specifically praised their Account Manager, Lance Loh and Functional Consultant, Christopher Thiew for their dedicated approach to ensuring successful adoption.

Tips for Smooth Implementation:

Engage early with the vendor team: Establish clear communication channels and expectations from the project’s inception
Invest in comprehensive training: Ensure all users receive adequate training to maximise system utilisation
Embrace feedback loops: Work collaboratively with the ERP provider to refine processes and enhance system performance
Plan for gradual adoption: Allow time for teams to adapt to new workflows while maintaining operational continuity

Conclusion

The case of the successful implementation of GA Construction, Yong Fong Engineering and Construction, Arc Floor and Leng EE Construction has indicated that Synergix ERP always provides massive productivity benefits to construction businesses of all sizes and specialisations. Transforming the efficiency of operations by an average of 20-60 percent, these practical applications confirm that the appropriate ERP investment can turn business operations around and bring sustainable business development.

The success of the ERP implementation is always in the choice of a holistic and industry-specific solution, as well as in the collaboration with the vendor who is determined to learn about your specific issues and to support you during your digital transformation process.

Don’t allow your construction business to be set back by manual processes and scattered information. Be among the increasing number of Singapore based SMEs who have revolutionised their business processes by using Synergix ERP and enjoy productivity increase that results in sustainable business performance.