The Best Cloud Services for Construction Companies

The construction industry operates on a foundation of precision, collaboration, and tight deadlines. Yet, many firms still grapple with outdated IT infrastructure that creates friction at every stage. Managing massive files like BIM and CAD models, ensuring version control across multiple job sites, and connecting field crews with the home office in real time are significant operational hurdles. Relying on on-premise servers or generic file-sharing tools often leads to data silos, costly errors from using outdated plans, and critical security vulnerabilities that put sensitive project data at risk.

Adopting the right cloud services for construction is no longer a competitive advantage—it's a necessity for survival and growth. These platforms provide a centralized, secure hub for all project information, from blueprints and RFIs to daily reports and financial data. By moving to the cloud, companies can streamline workflows, reduce rework, and empower teams with access to the information they need, wherever they are. This guide offers a practical, ROI-focused review of the top cloud services to help you make a sound investment in your company's operational backbone.

Why Construction Firms are Moving to the Cloud

Adopting specialized cloud platforms delivers measurable returns by addressing the core operational challenges of the construction industry. These services transform how project data is managed, secured, and shared, leading to direct improvements in efficiency and profitability. The benefits extend beyond simple file storage, creating a more connected and resilient business.

• Centralized Project Data & Collaboration: A cloud platform provides a single source of truth for all project documents, including blueprints, RFIs, and submittals. This eliminates version control issues and ensures every stakeholder, from the project manager to subcontractors, works from the most current information.
• Enhanced Cybersecurity: Protect sensitive bid information, client data, and financial records with enterprise-grade security features. Cloud services offer more robust protection against rising cyber threats than most on-premise solutions can provide.
• Improved Cost Control & Predictability: Shift IT spending from large, upfront capital expenditures (CapEx) on hardware to predictable operational expenses (OpEx). Scalable, pay-as-you-go cloud models allow you to align IT costs directly with project needs and business cycles.
• Greater Operational Efficiency: Reduce delays caused by outdated information and manual processes. Cloud-based workflows for change orders, daily reporting, and approvals enable faster, more informed decision-making, helping keep projects on schedule and on budget.
• Simplified IT Management: Offload the technical burden of maintaining servers, managing data backups, and applying security patches. This frees up your team to focus on core construction activities instead of complex IT administration.

The Data Driving Cloud Adoption in Construction

The shift toward cloud technology in the construction sector is supported by clear operational and financial drivers. The following data points highlight the key trends and risks influencing the industry's investment in more sophisticated IT solutions.

• The construction industry has traditionally been among the last to adopt new technology, creating a significant opportunity for competitive advantage through strategic IT investment.
• Cybersecurity is a major driver for cloud adoption, with ransomware attacks targeting the construction industry increasing significantly in the last year.
• Over 75% of construction firms are planning to increase their spending on jobsite technology, with cloud-based platforms being a top priority.
• For small to mid-sized construction firms, moving to a predictable flat-fee IT plan that incorporates cloud services can lower total IT costs by 20-30% compared to a reactive, break-fix model.

Our Evaluation Criteria

To provide a practical list of the best cloud services for construction, we evaluated each platform against a set of business-focused criteria. Our methodology prioritizes functionality that delivers a clear return on investment, from the job site to the back office.

• Construction-Specific Functionality: We prioritized platforms with features built for AEC workflows, such as native BIM file support, RFI and submittal tracking, and mobile-friendly field reporting tools.
• Integration Ecosystem: A service's ability to connect with existing accounting, scheduling, and estimating software was a key factor. A platform with an open API and a large marketplace of third-party apps provides greater flexibility.
• Security & Compliance: We assessed for robust security protocols, data encryption standards, and key certifications like SOC 2 Type II, which is a best practice for handling sensitive project finances.
• Scalability & Total Cost of Ownership: The platform must support a company's growth. We evaluated pricing transparency and how well the cost structure scales from small projects to large enterprise portfolios.
• User Experience (Field & Office): We considered ease of use for all stakeholders. A platform must be intuitive for on-site crews using mobile apps and powerful enough for project managers in the office.

Top 10 Cloud Services for Construction Companies

Choosing the right cloud platform is a critical decision that impacts every aspect of a construction project. The following providers offer a range of solutions tailored to different business sizes and project complexities, from general contractors to specialty trades.

Cortavo

Role: All-in-One Managed IT & Cybersecurity Platform

Snapshot: Cortavo provides a flat-fee, all-inclusive managed IT service that bundles service desk support, cybersecurity, connectivity, cloud storage, and even computer hardware into a single subscription. Instead of juggling multiple vendors for networks, security tools, laptops, and cloud services, construction firms get one partner responsible for keeping both office and field teams online and protected. Cortavo has documented results with construction clients, including helping a small construction company recover from a cyberattack and rebuild a stronger security posture, which is especially relevant given how often under-resourced contractors are targeted. Their model is designed to standardise equipment, centralise support, and secure access to project data across job sites, remote workers, and the main office.

Core Strength: A fully bundled IT and security stack—covering hardware, software, connectivity, and protection—that reduces vendor sprawl and closes gaps that attackers often exploit.

Best For: Small to mid-sized construction firms that want “IT as a utility” with predictable monthly costs and a single team responsible for uptime, security, and device lifecycle management.

Pro Tip: Ask Cortavo to map out how their flat-fee plan would cover every endpoint in your environment—office PCs, field laptops, tablets, and site Wi-Fi—along with what happens during a cyber incident, based on their construction case study experience.

Autodesk Construction Cloud

Role: Connected Design, Preconstruction, and Field Execution

Snapshot: Autodesk Construction Cloud connects workflows, teams, and data at every stage of the building lifecycle. It unifies products like Autodesk Build, Takeoff, and BIM Collaborate under one common data environment. This integration is particularly powerful for firms that are heavily invested in Autodesk's design software, such as Revit and AutoCAD, as it creates a seamless transition from design to construction. The platform excels at BIM collaboration, enabling teams to detect clashes and manage design changes before they become costly rework in the field. Its robust document management and field collaboration tools ensure that everyone is working from the latest information.

Core Strength: Deep integration with Autodesk's design software (Revit, AutoCAD) for a seamless design-to-build workflow.

Best For: Design-build firms and contractors that rely heavily on BIM for project planning and execution.

Pro Tip: Use the PlanGrid Build mobile app for intuitive field access to sheets and markups.

Trimble Connect

Role: Open Collaboration Platform

Snapshot: Trimble Connect is a cloud-based collaboration platform designed to connect stakeholders across the design, build, and operate lifecycle. Unlike more closed ecosystems, it is built on an open standard, allowing it to work with data from a wide variety of software and hardware sources, including non-Trimble products. This makes it a flexible choice for projects involving multiple teams using different tools. Trimble Connect excels at coordinating 3D models, allowing users to view, share, and access project data from anywhere. It helps teams identify and resolve clashes between different models (e.g., structural, MEP, architectural) before construction begins.

Core Strength: An open, hardware-agnostic platform that supports collaboration across diverse software and data formats.

Best For: Companies that need to coordinate complex 3D models and data from multiple software vendors.

Pro Tip: Use the "To Do" feature to assign tasks and track issues directly within the 3D model.

Viewpoint Vista

Role: Construction ERP and Accounting Software

Snapshot: Viewpoint Vista is a comprehensive, cloud-based construction accounting and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution. It integrates accounting, project management, equipment management, and service operations into a single database. This provides real-time visibility into project financial health, helping contractors manage costs, payroll, and billing with greater accuracy. While its core strength is financials, Vista also includes robust project management capabilities. It is designed for contractors who need tight control over job costing and financial reporting across their entire portfolio. The platform helps streamline back-office operations and provides the data needed for strategic business decisions.

Core Strength: Deep, integrated construction accounting and job costing within a full ERP system.

Best For: Large contractors and specialty trades requiring a powerful, finance-centric ERP to manage complex operations.

Pro Tip: Customize financial dashboards to give project managers real-time visibility into job cost performance.

Bentley ProjectWise

Role: Project Information Management and Collaboration

Snapshot: Bentley ProjectWise is a collaboration and information management platform designed for large-scale, complex infrastructure and engineering projects. It serves as a common data environment for managing, sharing, and reviewing the vast amount of data generated during the project lifecycle, from CAD and BIM files to contracts and correspondence. ProjectWise provides sophisticated workflow management and version control, ensuring that teams are always working with approved information. Its focus on engineering data integrity makes it a standard in sectors like transportation, energy, and public works. It helps distributed teams collaborate effectively while maintaining strict document control and security.

Core Strength: Advanced work-sharing and engineering content management for large, complex infrastructure projects.

Best For: Engineering firms and owners managing large-scale infrastructure projects with distributed teams and complex data.

Pro Tip: Establish clear workflow rules within ProjectWise to automate document review and approval processes.

Oracle Aconex

Role: Neutral, Multi-Party Project Controls

Snapshot: Oracle Aconex is a cloud-based platform that provides a common data environment for managing information and processes across all project stakeholders. A key differentiator is its "neutrality"—each organization on a project controls its own data and decides what to share with others, creating a secure and auditable trail of all communications and transactions. This makes it ideal for large, complex projects with multiple joint venture partners or stringent contractual requirements. Aconex provides robust tools for document management, workflow automation, and cost controls, ensuring transparency and accountability among all parties from start to finish.

Core Strength: A neutral, auditable platform where each project organization manages its own data and communications.

Best For: Large-scale, joint-venture projects and public-private partnerships requiring strict process control and auditability.

Pro Tip: Use the mail module to create an unalterable audit trail for all project correspondence.

Fieldwire

Role: Field Management and Collaboration

Snapshot: Acquired by Hilti, Fieldwire is a jobsite management solution designed specifically for the field. It provides a single place for foremen, project managers, and superintendents to coordinate tasks, track issues, and access the latest plans on their mobile devices. The platform excels at plan viewing, task management, and field reporting, including daily reports and punch lists. Its intuitive interface makes it easy for field crews to adopt and use, reducing the communication gap between the jobsite and the office. Fieldwire helps streamline on-site operations, improve productivity, and ensure work is completed correctly the first time.

Core Strength: An intuitive, mobile-first interface focused on task management and plan viewing for field teams.

Best For: Specialty contractors and general contractors looking for a simple, effective tool to improve field productivity.

Pro Tip: Link tasks directly to locations on your project plans for maximum clarity for your crew.

Raken

Role: Daily Reporting and Field Data Capture

Snapshot: Raken is a cloud-based application that simplifies field data collection and daily reporting. Its mobile app makes it easy for superintendents and foremen to create professional daily reports, track work logs, capture site photos, and manage safety checklists directly from the jobsite. The software aggregates this field data into real-time dashboards, giving office-based project managers instant visibility into site progress and potential issues. By digitizing a process that is often done on paper, Raken saves time, improves the quality of field data, and creates a searchable record of all jobsite activities for better documentation and risk management.

Core Strength: Streamlined, mobile-first daily reporting and field data capture that is easy for crews to use.

Best For: Contractors of all sizes who want to digitize and standardize their daily reporting process.

Pro Tip: Use the speech-to-text feature on your phone to quickly fill out report narratives.

Buildertrend

Role: All-in-One Platform for Residential Construction

Snapshot: Buildertrend is a cloud-based project management platform designed specifically for home builders, remodelers, and specialty contractors in the residential space. It combines project scheduling, customer management (CRM), service management, and financial tools into a single system. A key feature is its client portal, which allows builders to share progress updates, photos, and documents with homeowners, improving communication and customer satisfaction. The platform helps manage the entire project lifecycle, from pre-sale and estimating to project execution and warranty. It streamlines operations for smaller construction businesses that need an integrated solution to manage their unique workflows.

Core Strength: An integrated suite of tools with a strong client portal for residential builders and remodelers.

Best For: Custom home builders, remodelers, and residential contractors managing multiple projects and client relationships.

Pro Tip: Set up the client portal early to establish clear communication with homeowners from day one.

InEight

Role: Project Controls and Capital Project Management

Snapshot: InEight provides a suite of cloud-based project controls software designed for capital-intensive projects in industries like construction, infrastructure, and energy. The platform focuses on connecting field execution with back-office planning and controls. It offers advanced capabilities for estimating, scheduling, field data capture, and managing changes, all designed to provide real-time visibility into project performance. InEight helps organizations predict and manage project costs and schedules with greater certainty. Its data-driven approach allows project managers to identify potential issues early and make informed decisions to keep large, complex projects on track.

Core Strength: Advanced project controls for planning, estimating, and managing cost and schedule on capital projects.

Best For: Large contractors and project owners managing complex, capital-intensive projects with a focus on predictability.

Pro Tip: Integrate field data capture with your project schedule to get real-time progress updates.

How to Get Started with Managed IT

Implementing and managing these powerful cloud platforms requires dedicated IT expertise. Our process is designed to provide a clear, simple path to comprehensive IT support.

1. Submit your IT needs (quick online form)
2. Get a consultation to match the right plan for your team size and goals
3. Receive a flat-fee managed IT plan (cybersecurity, support, connectivity, cost management)
4. Onboard quickly with certified experts, 24/7 help desk, and ongoing technology support

Why Partner with Cortavo?

We provide expert IT management that allows construction firms to maximize the value of their technology investments without the overhead of a large internal IT department.

• Seamless IT management for onsite, hybrid, and remote workplaces
• Transparent, flat-fee plans with predictable costs
• Comprehensive services: cybersecurity, help desk, connectivity, hardware, and cost management
• Peace of mind: recognized as a top managed service provider by G2, Cloudtango, and Clutch

Conclusion

Choosing the right cloud platform is a foundational business decision that directly impacts the efficiency, collaboration, and profitability of any modern construction company. The tools listed here provide the digital infrastructure needed to connect the field and the office, streamline complex workflows, and deliver projects on time and on budget. However, technology itself is only half of the equation. Effectively deploying, integrating, and securing these systems requires specialized IT knowledge that many construction firms don't have in-house. A managed IT partner can bridge that gap, handling everything from cybersecurity to user support. This allows your team to focus on what they do best—building. By pairing the right platform with the right IT management, you can build a more resilient and competitive business with the best cloud services for construction. Let's talk!

Frequently Asked Questions