To get the most out of your construction data, all the systems involved across the project need to easily communicate with each other – including project management systems, accounting software, quality control platforms, and more. Here are six examples of valuable CMT Software integrations that help construction projects do just that.
Each step and stakeholder across a construction project uses their own set of specialized tools to get work done faster. How well these tools connect to each other – that is, how well data flows from system to system – can impact how efficient, accurate and productive the project is overall.
View Infographic: How Integrated Technologies Unite Data Flows Across the Entire Construction Ecosystem
Construction materials testing (CMT) is a great example of one part of a construction project that impacts the greater whole. In fact, testing that materials meet quality and safety requirements is the lifeblood of a successful construction project. Progress on the job site can’t happen until materials like concrete have been verified through quality control workflows.
CMT software helps construction projects streamline these quality control processes while improving productivity, accuracy and transparency. Connecting CMT software to the broader technology ecosystem will ensure that mission critical testing data flows exactly where it needs to, allowing projects to get ahead of any problems and work even faster.
Read Blog: 7 ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF MATERIALS TESTING SOFTWARE
Here are the top six CMT software integrations more and more projects are leveraging this year to make sure their testing data is put to work across the entire project.
Top 6 CMT Software Integrations of 2024
#1. CMT Software-Machine Integration
Perhaps the most important integration happens in the testing lab, at the construction material testing machine.
A CMT software integration allows specimen data from wet concrete tests in the field to load into the machine before the test. This means it’s nearly impossible to identify specimens incorrectly or test on the wrong date because the machine “knows” what it’s testing.
Read News: Does Your Machine ‘Know’ What It’s Testing? Forney Introduces ‘Connected CMT Machines’
After the test, results automatically flow from the machine back to CMT software – and anywhere else you need it to go. That’s where the rest of these integrations come in handy.
#2. CMT Software & LIMS
A laboratory information management system (LIMS) is software designed to manage lab workflows and keep track of essential results. In the construction industry, a LIMS allows for managing sample data, work queues, test compliance, accreditation, and more.
Related Reading: 4 Questions About Choosing a LIMS for Small CMT Labs
A LIMS automates key parts of the construction testing workflow. However, without an integration with CMT software, the data tracked about samples in the field can’t automatically connect with the machine, introducing opportunities for error during testing.
CMT software completely closes the gap, helping construction professionals make the most out of their LIMS solution. For example:
- MetaField by Agile Frameworks: Field Inspection and Lab Testing Software with LIMS features
- ElmTree System: Engineering Laboratory Management System
- AASHTOWare Project Construction & Materials: Construction and Materials Management Application for Department of Transportation Agencies
- eFieldData: Field Data Management System with LIMS features
#3. CMT Software & QC Packages
Quality control (QC) packages like StonemontQC, COMMANDqc and Quadrel help material producers optimize mix designs, analyze batches, and manage results. These packages promise to help producers save time and improve quality of their product.
Construction materials testing is a central part of the QC workflow. When QC packages integrate with CMT software, the process is fully automatic, helping material producers improve product performance, quality and consistency.
#4. CMT Software & ERPs
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software like SAP helps organizations manage day-to-day business activities and automate back-office processes. ERPs can help construction firms streamline vendor communications, purchasing, and reporting and analytics. Ultimately, an ERP centralizes important processes.
Integrating CMT software with your ERP will help centralize even more, ensuring that results, data and important dates are synced with the bigger picture of the project.
#5. CMT Software & Concrete Pour Management Software
Concrete pour management software like binni Concrete helps construction projects plan, track and report on concrete placements. Large concrete placements often represent the structural foundation of a project, and maintaining the quality of this pour is critical to the integrity of the entire project. Platforms like binni Concrete eliminate handwritten truck logs and paper tickets, making the pour process more accurate and transparent.
READ CASE STUDY: Maryland Transportation Authority Uses ForneyVault + binni Concrete Integration for the New Nice-Middleton Bridge Project
On the job site, specimens from the concrete pour are taken to the lab for strength testing. Before they can move forward with the project, they need positive results from the lab. A CMT software integration allows these results to come in as accurate and as fast as possible, giving project owners and contractors confidence that the concrete delivered from the mixing truck is what was ordered – and that the final infrastructure is safe.
#6. CMT Software & AI
Finally, AI is taking almost every software category by storm. While it is still maturing, AI has its place in construction, too. Specifically, it can help streamline and automate repetitive manual tasks while bringing even more intelligence to the project.
For example, AICrete is an AI-powered quality control platform that helps concrete producers increase profitability, sustainability, efficiency and productivity. When integrated with CMT software, these benefits can be taken to the next level by removing the chance for error or bias in the testing process.
Conclusion
Machine-integrated CMT software closes a critical gap in the testing workflow, creating an unbreakable link between field tests, lab testing machines and back-office systems. When integrated with your LIMS, QC software, ERP, or other software tools, you can manage important project data in the interface you already know and love.
Read More: CMT Software: To Build or To Buy?
ForneyVault can interface with virtually any software solution that also allows for integrations. Today, we integrate with fifteen of the industry’s most common software solutions. However, we are always working on expanding our integrations and can develop an integration at your request. We can also interface with any custom or homegrown database.
Ultimately, our goal is to break down as many information silos as possible in the construction industry to help companies find advantages and efficiencies.
ForneyVault is machine-integrated construction materials testing software that unites data flow across the entire construction ecosystem. Explore how it works or request a demo.