There are over 32 million small businesses in the United States, and many of them struggle to make it past the first couple of years in their respective industries.

Properly managing your workers is crucial when it comes to ensuring the longevity of your company. This is especially true when it comes to contractor management. There are many tools available to help with this obligation, but it can be difficult to find the best contractor management software.

Listed below are some of the most notable attributes you should consider when looking for contractor management systems.

1. Usability

No matter how good contractor management software is, you won’t get the most out of it if it’s not intuitive to use.

You should have no issues navigating interfaces and finding what you’re looking for. It’s not uncommon for this type of software to have search functionality. This will allow you to easily jump to specific areas of the application.

To fully test its usability, you should look for providers that offer a demo version or free trial. Otherwise, you may discover that you don’t enjoy working with the application.

2. Past Reputation

Looking at past feedback will go a long way when it comes to finding the best solution. Check what past customers have had to say about the results they got.

If the provider attempts to deflect blame or become aggressive when faced with negative feedback, this is a red flag you can’t ignore. In a case like this, it’s in your best interest to look elsewhere.

3. Ongoing Support

Never pay for a solution that developers have abandoned. Without ongoing support, the application will likely experience numerous bugs and crashes. It could also have security flaws, which could put your sensitive data at risk.

The developers should both implement regular updates and prioritize customer support. The last thing you want is to find yourself in a situation where you have to overcome issues on your own. Most people won’t have the time or resources to do so.

4. Access to Analytics

Having access to comprehensive analytics is crucial. This will provide an in-depth look at your contractors’ performance and allow you to make the appropriate changes.

For example, you might find that certain tasks require fewer contractors than you anticipated. You can then reconfigure what projects each contractor will work on in the future.

Accessing information like this can easily help you save a substantial amount of money by minimizing excess spending. You can then reinvest this money into other areas of your business.

5. Available Features

Don’t overlook the available features the contract management software offers. One of the most common is on-site contractor tracking, which allows you to match time worked to invoices.

Another popular feature is contractor induction, which can help keep workers fully aware of job site policies and hazards. Providers will often list the application’s main features on their websites. However, it’s worth getting in touch with them to learn more.

6. Easy Onboarding

Although onboarding is a straightforward process, it can become tedious or even overwhelming when working with a large number of contractors. The management solution you choose should simplify the onboarding process.

This will make it much easier to gather information like insurance, certifications, and tax details. It can also help ensure you don’t overlook anything.

7. Compliance Checks

Even a single compliance breach can have a large number of consequences. You could incur fines and similar penalties, and you could even experience damage to your brand reputation. Compliance checks will match each contractor’s active compliance with their work orders.

When outsourcing to dozens of workers, checking compliance can sometimes become overwhelming. You won’t have to worry about issues related to qualifications and insurance. It will also make it much easier for you to manage a large number of contractors.

8. Financial and Accounting Management

The solution you choose should have built-in payment processing. It should also gather the required data for taxes, insurance, etc.

The more the app can do, the easier it’ll be for you to deal with financial responsibilities. This is particularly useful for larger organizations. However, small businesses can also benefit greatly. Smaller companies often have trouble managing these obligations when working with contractors.

9. Mobile Optimization

This is something that many entrepreneurs overlook. Mobile optimization is non-negotiable when it comes to contractor management software. There will be plenty of times when you need to access the software from a tablet or smartphone. You should have no problem issuing tasks and work orders from a remote location.

The same can be said about inductions and compliance notices. Just be sure that they provide ongoing support for mobile devices.

10. Integration

It’s not uncommon for business owners to integrate contractor management solutions with existing software. Problems can arise if these tools don’t interact well with each other.

The good news is that reputable brands often prioritize integration. Look for a solution that is easy to integrate with popular workforce platforms. This will help prevent a large number of problems you may have otherwise encountered.

Leverage These Contractor Management Tools

At first, it may seem difficult to find the best contractor management tools for your business. As long as you consider the above information, you shouldn’t have much trouble getting started on the right track and making the most out of your contract workers.

Reach out to us today at Bradford Jacobs. With over 20 years of experience in our industry, we can easily help connect you with the right solutions.