Construction firms want better ERP capabilities, particularly real-time data, mobile access, and stronger integration. They are aligning on what modern ERP systems should deliver, but adoption and outcomes remain inconsistent, and it is still unclear how far the market has actually moved toward the cloud.
A survey of 26 construction professionals conducted by Lumber between November 2025 and March 2026 found nearly 70% of respondents rated real-time data as a very or extremely important requirement for ERP systems, while limited mobile access and lack of real-time data were among the most cited operational challenges. Project tracking, budget control, and software integration ranked as the most valued cloud ERP features.
At the same time, the adoption picture is coming together. Per the report, 73% of respondents are already using a cloud-based, construction-specific ERP system. Within that group, 46% are open to exploring a different cloud platform, while 34% are not currently considering a switch.
That breakdown shows a market primed for cloud ERP adoption but in varying stages of readiness. While the majority of respondents is already established with a solution, vendor loyalty is not yet settled and legacy ERP/in-house systems are still in the mix.
Analysis
What this means: Cloud ERP value depends on execution, not just deployment. Cloud migration rates are meaningful, but so is the large share reporting no change. Delivering measurable outcomes requires strong rollout quality, integration depth, and sustained user adoption.
Real-Time Data Is the Clearest Requirement
The strongest signal in the report is operational need, with real-time data standing out as the most consistently valued capability.
Of the respondents, 42% rated access to real-time data as “very important” and 27% as “extremely important,” while no respondents said it was unimportant. At the same time, 31% identified lack of real-time data in traditional ERP systems as a key operational pain point.
The divide between how construction teams want to operate and how some systems deliver information is a call for modernization. Project tracking, financial oversight, and risk management all depend on timely data, yet many environments still rely on delayed or fragmented inputs.
Mobile Access Is Incomplete Across the Field
Mobile capability is improving, but not fully established. Similarly to real-time data, the survey identified limited mobile access as a challenge tied to traditional ERP systems, it being the most cited pain point by 42% of respondents.
Access to mobile capabilities is uneven, as 54% of respondents report full mobile and field access, 31% report limited access, and 15% report no mobile or field access.
Nearly half of respondents therefore lack consistent mobile ERP access in the field, where project execution, reporting, and coordination take place. Partial access continues to limit how effectively teams can operate across job sites and distributed teams.
Analysis
What this means: Real-time data and mobile access define system performance. These capabilities are consistently identified as both the most important and the most lacking. Field usability and live project visibility should be central to product and go-to-market strategy.
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Project Control and Integration Drive ERP Value
Construction firms prioritize capabilities tied directly to execution, illustrating the operational structure of most construction projects.
Project tracking and monitoring ranks highest at 65%, followed by budget and cost control at 54% and integration with other software at 42%. Field reporting, collaboration, resource scheduling, and document control ranked lower.
That shows where buyers are placing value: visibility, cost control, and coordination across multiple tools. Construction ERP is being judged mainly on whether it helps manage projects, protect margins, and connect with auxiliary software.
Cloud ERP Delivers Gains, but Not Consistently
Among respondents currently using cloud ERP, 11% said it had significantly improved project visibility, forecasting, or decision-making. Additionally, 30% said it had somewhat improved those outcomes, while almost 58% reported no change.
The report attributes the “no change” figure to adoption stage rather than product limitations, meaning some respondents may not yet be fully transitioned or be far enough into implementation to realize benefits. Even so, the results show that cloud ERP can improve visibility and decision-making, but outcomes depend on implementation depth, integration, and adoption maturity.
“Construction has always been a field-first business, and this survey confirms what we hear from contractors every day: Teams are on the jobsite making critical decisions while their ERP [system] is two days behind,” Shreesha Ramdas, Lumber CEO and co-founder, told ERP Today. “The ‘if’ is settled. Now it’s about removing the barriers to ‘when.’”
Analysis
What this means: Construction ERP has moved past the question of whether to modernize. The data shows broad alignment on what good ERP systems should deliver and meaningful cloud adoption already underway. The remaining challenge is closing the gap between where the market is and where it needs to perform.
