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Project Management Department

February 24, 2026 by
Jonathan Bjorkstrand

Case Study: Automating the Project Management Department for a Growing Construction Firm

The Challenge

A 12-person commercial construction company was managing multiple active projects using Procore alongside scheduling and accounting tools.

On paper, the software stack was strong.

In reality:

  • RFIs were delayed because follow-ups weren’t structured

  • Submittals lacked consistent approval routing

  • Change orders required manual coordination between PMs and finance

  • Budget visibility lagged behind real project updates

  • Leadership relied on manual status reports

Project Managers were spending more time coordinating systems than managing projects.

The firm didn’t need more software.

They needed operational infrastructure.

What We Built

We designed and implemented a structured automation layer on top of their existing stack.

1️⃣ RFI & Submittal Automation Logic

We introduced workflow rules that:

  • Automatically routed RFIs to responsible subcontractors

  • Triggered deadline reminders and escalation alerts

  • Logged status updates across systems in real time

  • Synced approved submittals directly into project documentation

Every RFI moved through a defined lifecycle not an email thread.

2️⃣ Change Order & Cost Sync Infrastructure

Change orders were restructured into automated pipelines:

  • Submission triggered cost review workflows

  • Approval hierarchies activated based on project value thresholds

  • Approved changes synced automatically to updated budget views

  • Finance received real-time notifications

Manual follow-ups were eliminated.

Budget clarity improved instantly.

3️⃣ Executive Visibility & Reporting

We built a centralized reporting layer that:

  • Pulled live project data

  • Tracked RFI turnaround time

  • Monitored change order cycle length

  • Provided leadership with margin visibility across projects

Instead of waiting for weekly updates, leadership had real-time operational insight.

The Outcome

Within the first quarter:

  • RFI response time reduced by 38%

  • Change order approval cycle cut nearly in half

  • Project Managers saved 6–10 admin hours per week

  • Leadership gained consistent, automated reporting across all active jobs

The department moved from reactive coordination to structured execution.

Our Approach

We didn’t replace their tools.

We connected them.

Using workflow orchestration and API integrations, we introduced structured automation logic across the Project Management Department aligning operations, finance, and leadership into one synchronized system.

Because in construction, delays rarely come from bad builders.

They come from broken workflows.