In the fast-paced world of construction, every minute and every dollar counts. Success often hinges on the ability to navigate unexpected challenges and make critical decisions, especially when it comes to making an immediate purchase to keep the project on track.
But, if a construction company uses a traditional expense reimbursement model, they face a dilemma: use personal funds and wait for reimbursement or delay the project and incur increased costs.
These are the limitations of outdated expense management systems in the construction sector, where the ability to navigate financial decisions swiftly can make or break project timelines and budgets.
Fortunately, this can be avoided. There’s a new way for construction companies to handle these types of expenditures: modern expense cards. Construction expense cards provide instant, direct access to allocated funds for situations just like the one above.
From needing to purchase materials on short notice, to handling daily expenses at remote sites, these expense cards are the ultimate solution for streamlining construction financial management and empowering teams on the go. In this article, we’ll explore why.
Challenges in Construction Expense Management
Construction projects often face unpredictable costs due to sudden changes in material prices, unexpected ground conditions, design alterations, and project scope expansion. Delays caused by weather conditions or labor shortages can also increase costs. It’s an industry where success relies on the ability to handle these variables.
Industry leaders recognize this, too. In fact, according to a 2023 survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, 73% of respondents said that material costs are one of their top expense concerns. This underscores the need for strategic planning and financial tools that can adapt to modern projects.
Source: The Associated General Contractors of America
With the unpredictable nature of construction expenses – from fluctuating material costs to unforeseen project adjustments – managing budgets effectively becomes a major challenge. The complexity is compounded by variables such as labor variability, equipment needs, and the logistical costs of operating in diverse locations. This landscape makes it easy for projects to exceed budgets unintentionally, with a single oversight in expense management potentially derailing timelines and financial plans.
Leaders are thus left in search of versatile financial tools designed to navigate these challenges. And that is where construction expense cards play a critical role.
Advantages of Using Modern Expense Cards in Construction
Modern expense cards in construction are a better way to handle these obstacles and revolutionize how financial transactions are managed on-site. They remove traditional barriers and empower teams with the flexibility to handle these situations.
Plus, the administrative burden is significantly lowered due to a lack of paperwork. The whole process from start to finish is designed to be simple and easy.
Here are some of the common pain points that these construction expense cards can solve:
- Purchasing Materials on Short Notice: When immediate material purchases are needed due to unexpected project requirements, an expense card allows for instant procurement, avoiding project delays.
- Handling Daily Expenses for Remote Sites: For teams working on remote construction sites, expense cards facilitate daily purchases, such as local materials or emergency tools, without needing pre-approval for each transaction.
- Managing Fuel Expenses for Company Vehicles: Expense cards can be used to control and monitor fuel expenses for company vehicles, ensuring that spending aligns with budgetary constraints.
- Streamlining Expense Reporting: Construction workers can use expense cards to simplify the expense reporting process, uploading receipts and categorizing expenses through a mobile app, reducing your administrative overhead.
- Empowering Employees with Limited Credit Access: Providing expense cards that don’t require a credit check allows all employees, regardless of their personal credit history, to make necessary purchases, ensuring that work progresses smoothly.
Juice Financial’s Solution for Construction Companies
The Juice expense card is a solution for construction companies that goes beyond mere transaction processing. Our expense cards are designed to tackle the specific challenges of construction projects.
- Granular Spending Controls: Set precise limits and restrictions by merchant type, ensuring funds are allocated correctly.
- Real-Time Visibility: Monitor transactions as they happen, keeping budgets on track and projects moving forward without financial delays.
- Simple Integration: Effortlessly fits into existing financial workflows, making adoption straightforward and enhancing overall efficiency.
- Instant Fund Access: Provides rapid response to unexpected expenses, crucial for maintaining project timelines.
- Quick Issuance, No Credit Hassles: Forget credit checks. Get cards in workers’ hands fast, making onboarding easy for everyone.
With Juice, a construction worker who is in the tough spot and needed to buy supplies ASAP – doesn’t stress about it. Your company would be equipped to handle such a situation without needing to worry about the bottom line.
Don’t Wait to Improve Expense Management (and More) for Your Construction Company
Modern expense cards are a significant advancement for construction businesses. They streamline expense management and offer customizable controls, real-time visibility, and instant access to funds.
The financial world will only continue to advance. Leveraging modern solutions like Juice’s expense cards is essential for those looking to stay ahead of competitors. We’re a trusted partner for our clients, as we’ve processed over $30 billion in transactions.
Ready to integrate your financial operations with your future construction goals? We’re here to guide, innovate, and succeed alongside you. Discover more about our partnership possibilities.