Author: devato

With more and more attention focussed on the importance of mental health in the workplace, a growing number of companies are seeking out space that not only allows for productivity but also, for the well-being of the people doing the work. While we’ve seen significant advances in this area during the last decade, it (as in so many other instances) took the pandemic to highlight the true value of what we’re calling “building for better” – both in buildings – and in good construction practices. That means building and buildings that equally value the principles of performance and mental wellness. The construction industry ranks second highest amongst major industries for suicide, an alarming statistic that demands immediate action. Thankfully we’re seeing some forward motion on the subject.

The Stats

  • It’s estimated that as many as 90% of people who die by suicide have a mental health condition that may be undiagnosed. Men die by suicide at a higher rate than women.
  • The construction industry remains a male-dominated field – perhaps one where talking about mental health is considered a sign of weakness.
  • Chronic pain caused by repetitive work and/or work injuries leads to depression, time off work and/or financial strain. Addictions are a very real risk given that any injury might lead to a prescription for managing pain which in turn leads to possible opioid addiction (and/or drugs and alcohol addictions.)
  • Cyclical work and seasonal variances can cause financial hardship.
  • Construction is stressful work that is very deadline driven.
  • Often construction work takes the worker away from traditional support systems like family and friends.
  • Access to tools and resources and/or familiarity with their use (i.e.: online tools) are barriers to finding help.

A Silent Epidemic

Dubbed the “Silent Epidemic” by some construction industry insiders, companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of bringing the discussion around mental health and well-being out into the open. Some U.S. and Canadian companies are leading the way with Lunch and Learn opportunities for employees or putting processes in place for employees to be eligible to receive benefits or sick pay during time off to address a mental health issue. Many companies are using third party services such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAP’s) to support their employees and advertising their availability using onsite promotional tools like posters, company newsletters, or making brochures available in places where employees congregate.

Construction Well-Being

Some of the ways the industry can address both the physical and mental health of its employees are similar to what construction industry experts must now also consider when designing healthier buildings too. There are strong synergies between improving workplace health and safety for construction workers and building smarter, healthier workplaces – buildings that are better for their employees. A Construction Well-Being Model, developed in the US, points to a variety of factors as critical to improving the workplace including: Innovation and technology, education and training and preventative measures that are both physical and mental. It also speaks to the outcomes of considering wellness in design; resulting in increased competitiveness, resiliency and better organization wide communication. In much the same way, building better buildings that take these same factors into consideration will result in healthier workplaces for those who will eventually take up residency in them as well as those who actually built them. According to the Construction Financial Management Association, “in the post-coronavirus business world, demonstrating a caring culture for employees will be both an expectation and an imperative.” It’s time for serious change and Plexxis can help.

Langford Gym & Workout

Plexxis Head Office, Langford, B.C.

Plexxis Software offers solutions for the construction industry that integrates cloud, mobile and on-premise software to improve and enhance team performance. It follows that employees and teams who are able to better manage and streamline the processes related to construction work, will in turn, have a better workplace experience. Our tools are enabling builders to build better buildings for a future workplace that’s efficient, effective and also one that places a premium on mental health. Break rooms with dimmable lights, more (and larger) windows including some that open to let in light and fresh air and creating outdoor eating areas for office workers to get outside during the work day are all important elements of utilizing evidence based design principles to make for a better and healthier workplace.  Whether it’s for the people constructing the building or the people using it, considering both employee performance and their mental health are, as the CFMA so clearly stated, “both an expectation and an imperative.”

*Brought to you by Plexxis Software: Offering software solutions for the construction industry that integrates cloud, mobile and on-premise software to improve and enhance team performance.

Sure, these films are exciting to watch. But perhaps they also speak to something deep inside of us. A desire to do and to be more. They show us qualities and strengths we’d all love to cultivate in ourselves.

Obviously, none of us can fly (without a plane ticket).  We don’t have X-ray vision or the power to turn invisible. Being a real-life superhero, however, isn’t about physical strength and magical powers.  It’s about having great values, personal initiative, confidence – and, most importantly, inner strength.

At Plexxis, we believe each and every one of us working here are superheroes. And it’s not just a fantasy. We are careful to select only those individuals who possess what we believe are true superhero qualities.

What does it take to join the team at Plexxis Software?

We asked a few of our own avengers. For most, it all came back to the Plexxis core values. Director of Business Development Chad Pearson explains:

Be accountable.

So, what are some of these core values that help Plexxis hire and retain a superhero team? Tristan Boyd, a Full Stack JS Developer, emphasized “character” and accountability as must-have prerequisites to working here.

“The first requirement is being able to accept criticism and apply it to your life. What that requires is a certain strength of character. After all, if I’m afraid to accept criticism, that says I might be afraid of who I am, or how I appear to you. That core insecurity can be a real problem if you want someone to grow and integrate with a team,” says Tristan Boyd. 

Build open and honest relationships.

“The second part is being able to communicate positively with your team members so that you don’t let their shortcomings harm the institution, he says. “It’s pretty challenging to give that feedback to other people without souring your communication channel.  What’s really special about Plexxis is that it allows that criticism to flow without fear of negative repercussions.” 

Be passionate, determined, and relentlessly pursue excellence.

For Fiona Locke, our resource manager, the key to getting hired and succeeding at Plexxis is less about the experience on your resume, and more about personal drive and potential. She describes yet another “core value” that Plexxis employees possess:

Promote positive team spirit: be supportive and helpful.

Positivity is another personal attribute that is simply non-negotiable for Jeni Mitchel, director of client services. In her view, you must be a person with that upbeat and helpful disposition to find success at Plexxis:

“It’s about attitude. The positivity day by day that you bring to the office. Because we’re such a tight knit team.  Think about how somebody coming to the table in a bad mood can affect those around them. We all always try to stay as positive as possible – and are always leaving a window open where we can put our hand out and help those around us with whatever is in front of them,” she says. 

“So, it’s really about, once you get your own tasks done will you help those around you?  I’m realizing that there are several times a day, when you will see opportunities where you can help your colleagues and excel your own learning at the same time”.

Relentlessly pursue excellence.

At Plexxis, we never settle for “good enough” because “good” is the enemy of great. We never follow: We lead. And we do this through relentless innovation and an unquenchable thirst to delight, surprise, and exceed what is expected.

Jonathan Locke, our manager of client services speaks to this final essential core value for all Plexxis superheroes:

“Hard work ethic.  It’s tough here…we’re doing what no companies are doing with changing the game for the industry. So, a commitment to doing hard work is very important,” he says.

That hard work ethic, however, brings a host of rich personal rewards. As CEO and founder Chris Loranger explains:

Although Plexxis is a leading software company, you don’t need to have years of experience or a pile of tech certificates to be part of our success story. What it takes to succeed here is not something taught at university. Nor can it be learned in a work placement.

It’s something deep inside of you. That superhero spirit… waiting for an opportunity to soar!

Got what it takes? So you think you possess the core values and character we’re seeking at Plexxis?

We would love to hear from you.

Submit your resume and let the adventure begin.

See our current career opportunities.

Job Cost Highlights in Plexxis Software for Subcontractors

Job Cost

Job costing for subcontractors is like trying to see what a thousand-piece puzzle looks like when you only have 50 pieces, and those 50 pieces keep changing on you. This is a massive contributor to the problem, where jobs look good until they are 80% or 90% complete, but then the wheels fall off the cart. You would think that keeping the Field and office connected would help, but it’s nowhere near enough as Job sites are VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) environments that are constantly in motion. You must have all the pieces, on top of keeping the Field and office connected, which is what Plexxis provides.


Analysis tab in plexxis

The ‘analysis’ tab is where you can see your budget versus actual variance in your quantity analysis. Once you’ve selected the job, you can view the analysis from different perspectives, like “labour w/ subsection views,” “material w/ subsection views,” “by week by expense type,” etc. To see how this information gets into the system, view our job start-up and Pre-Con video.

In this tab, you can also view hours, monthly billing variance, etc. Based on the analysis, if you notice that you have a job that is not doing too well, you can dive deeper and investigate the problem right here.

As Plexxis allows you to integrate all the different departments, you never have to chase anyone down for information. For example, if you noticed an overage in quantities of a specific material, you can drill into the PO and see the actual PO that put you over the budget and who approved it.

We have a live connection between bidding, field and finance. So, without any imports, exports, custom APIs or anything being done, the Field has access to the same information, or as much information as you want them to have. For example, if the foreman on the Field goes to the ‘Jobs’ breakout using the foreman app on his/her iPad and wants to see the live ‘job material breakout’ in quantities, they can do that. All the information that the foreman requires is available, including pending and approved change orders. All this information is immediately available without any emails or reports being sent around.


purchase order in Plexxis

We strip the pricing out of every single document that goes to the Field. For example, if you want the foreman to have the ability to view purchase orders, they will be able to see what materials are coming in but won’t be able to view any pricing info. They can also take actions such as taking a picture of the packing slips, making notes of anything that is damaged or didn’t show up, and making sure that AP has everything they need to go out. When that purchase order is created, the cost hits the job at the time of the purchase order, and you’re not waiting for the invoices to come back and the invoices having to be entered before you get an actual committed cost.


daily time tracking by activity

The image above shows you the ‘Daily Time Tracking’ view in the foreman app. If you want to go from a production by employee perspective, select the ‘Employees’ view.  This is a single employee timecard, and you can enter costs, time and production that they completed. You can also switch over to ‘Teams’ view and complete timecards and production by a crew. Or you can go into the ‘Job Progress’ and enter in a percent complete or quantity complete. It’s the Field’s choice.


cost projection in Plexxis

On the ‘Projection’ tab, click on an ‘Open’ cost projection and select the option to “Show Production Units.” You can see the production units or the opinion that has come in from the Field. The Project Managers can override it with their opinion and indicate the reasons why. This will automatically feed the live WIP analysis, which you will see in our financial management video.


job projected cost variance in Plexxis

At Plexxis, we’re not necessarily changing anything about what you do. We’re just making everything easier, live, and at your fingertips. For example, look at the Projection Cost Variance report (as shown in the image above). To print the PCV report, go to the ‘Main’ tab and click the ‘Projection Cost Variance’ button at the bottom of your screen. In this report, you can view your budget versus your actual with remaining and projection along with other high-level status reports. You can also view the last ten projections so you can see how the projections are trending. This information is live, and you can automatically set this on the scheduled reports. This way, it hits your full distribution list at any time or frequency that you set.

LIVE Labor and Material Visibility

Here is an example of what live feedback between Bidding, Field, and Finance looks like.


Live labour & material view in Plexxis

The image on the left shows how nicely Plexxis unites all the core workflows that subcontractors use daily. It feels like a first-class direct flight, especially when you compare it to the image on the right, which happens when subcontractors use software made for GCs. All too often, this software has been improperly relabeled as subcontractor software, and it feels like a flight with ten connections. You still get to the same destination, but the trip sucks. You’ve had no time to rest, no time to eat properly and you and your colleagues are in a bad mood.


Plexxis Administrator App

Our system is multi-trade, multi-company, multi-branch and multi-division. On the mobile application, you’ll notice that all apps are in one spot. You do not need six to ten apps to complete all your functions. Our app is a super app.


If you click on ‘Jobs,’ you can look at the labour breakout (image on the left) and material breakout (image on the right). You get a live labour breakout with remaining hours and remaining man-days, including pending and approved change orders. When you go over to the material breakouts, you get remaining and percent spent by item, or if you want, by floor.

Job Cost

Payroll and HR’s LIVE Connection Between Bidding, Field and Finance in Plexxis Software for Subcontractors

Payroll and HR

A common struggle in Payroll is unforgiving deadlines.  Employees need to be paid, yet often, these same people don’t have time to submit timecards, which must then be entered by Payroll. At the same time, they have to look in 10 different places to find the information they need to validate that the data is correct. To make matters worse, construction is a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) environment where the complexities of labour are constantly changing, and Payroll must keep up with all these changes while handling everything else. We at Plexxis fix this insane problem.

The first thing we’ll go over in this blog is Payroll and HR reports. Subcontractor reporting requirements are complex, but we have this handled.  Also, Plexxis has retroactive certified Payroll reporting so, if you forget to indicate that it’s a certified Payroll at the beginning of the job, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.


employee information in Plexxis

As you can see in the image above, we have included the necessary employees and subcontractor details all in one spot – information you need to automate Payroll, garnishments and even HR benefits enrollments. Plexxis has a live connection between Bidding, Field and Finance. For example, if you look at the safety and experience information, you may want some of this information available to the Field. Through the Foreman Super App, you can and make that information available to the Field. You can decide on a foreman-by-foreman basis or a job-by-job basis which information you want the Field to see.


New subcontractor in Plexxis

The information flows both ways.  For example, let’s say you have a new Field worker walk on the job. They walk on, they’re working on floor one, and they’re brand new. You can complete a new employee profile on the app – cost time and complete the timecard. This information comes into Payroll, however, that employee cannot be paid until Payroll & HR completes the setup process for each employee.

The PM/Accounting system drives the configuration of the app.  Every time you get a job, the foreman has to only turn on their app, and they will see their jobs, and each job will automatically configure in the app for them.


daily time tracking in Plexxis

Here’s an example of that. If you change the floor from one to two, the cost codes will automatically convert to the job-specific codes. If you go to a roofing job, you’ll see roofing activity codes. If you go to a concrete or landscaping job, you’ll see the relevant activity codes there. You do not have to scroll through hundreds of cost codes to cost the time accurately. We do everything we can to minimize cost coding errors. To see this app operate in detail, we highly recommend you look at the Super App videos.


daily time tracking by crew

Here is where you can complete timecards by employee. If you have crews, click on the ‘Teams’ button as shown in the image above. The foreman can add and remove members of a crew with great ease. If the foreman removes certain workers, their time will go with them. It is a collaborative app. If the workers were to join another job, the foreman of the other job would see the time from this job. The app makes it very easy for the foreman to manage crew members.


roll call summary in Plexxis

If you track the ins and outs, we have the roll call feature, which will enable you to have the foreman track the ins and outs, or you can have the employees check-in and check-out using a pin or facial recognition. If you have a supervisor approval process for your timecards, you have two options.  You can do it in the PM/Accounting system, or you could do it with the app. Our app is compatible with both Apple & Windows operating systems.


time entry verification in Plexxis

Supervisors would typically go to the weekly timecard verification tool, where they can look for anomalies. They can pick their jobs, pick the subsections, or they can use filters to look for anomalies, such as “show me everything with more than seven and a half hours,” “show me everything missing a day,” “show me all overtime,” or “show me time and a half.” The supervisor can also filter by foreman, by job type or hour type. This tool is where they can complete their verification process, look for anomalies and save Payroll a significant amount of validation time.


labor entry in Plexxis

All the data entered in the app will come into the labour entry screen so Payroll can see the entries themselves – any mobile notes that came in, any reimbursement information, etc. This way, all the data entry is eliminated for Payroll, allowing them to focus on finding errors before generating the timecards and remitting payment.

Payroll and HR

And where would Batman be without Robin? Captain America without Falcon. And Batgirl without Black Canary.

“Avengers Assemble “, in fact, is a rallying cry that calls on the team of superheroes – all from a disparate backgrounds and each with different skills, to fight an enemy and save the world.

At Plexxis, we believe the same is true with our own superheroes. By assembling diverse talents, personalities, and ideas, we build teams that create innovative products and ultimately drive success.

“We believe that building a team is above everything. It’s not a product that we build. We build a team that builds products. The idea is to spend time together, hang out, and build loyalty with each other,” says CEO Chris Loranger.

Here are five ways that teamwork turbocharges Plexxis and makes us a truly unique employer in Canada.

  1. We work and play together.

At Plexxis, we work hard – REALLY hard. But we play hard too. The [un]common denominator? We do it together, in-person, side by side, in a physical workspace – rather than working remotely via a computer screen.

Why? Because we believe the strongest teams create, build, innovate, laugh, relax, celebrate, and grow together, in the same location  – not separated and siloed in a virtual world.

Our inspiring work locations both in Ontario and BC are conducive to great teamwork, relationship building – and fabulous comfort and leisure too. After all, the team that plays together, stays together – fights, wins and excels together in whatever they do!

“The new (BC) location is going to be literally 200 meters from a beautiful lake and the lakefront trail. Like our Ontario Head Office, we’ve got a basketball court, a games room, billiards and ping pong tables. There are even massage rooms for people who just need one but just can’t get out… 

But all those amenities are primarily driven around the idea of us spending time together with each other,” says Chris.

  1. We learn and grow together.

One man’s meat is another man’s poison. That’s what the Avengers believed – and we do too. The strengths and weaknesses of our talented superheroes are vastly different—and it’s through those differences that we generate even greater energy… greater power.

As Jonathan Locke, Client Services Manager observes:

“Programmers have different minds. Accountants have different minds… It’s so rewarding because you are learning from them all the time, says Jonathan.

“You can plug into things and together think differently about things that already exist… It’s the creativity, part of it: building new modules, building new apps, building new functions… and working together with the team to take it that much farther…

There are a lot of unique personalities, which can be challenging and rewarding. The best part it is that everything is new, everything is fresh. Everything is…a team working together to do what no one else has ever done essentially.” 

And from Tristan Boyd, Full Stack JS Developer –

  1. We trust one another – and build truth together.

The Avengers also shine a spotlight on just how important it is to trust our teammates… to be honest, sometimes brutally honest with one another. At Plexxis, we achieve this through a credo called “Build Truth”. We uphold it with our client relationships and with each other.

The secret to team success? Never hide anything that could jeopardize the end goal. Be truthful. Be honest and demonstrate that we care for the success of the company, the success of the team and the success of each individual. Truth in feedback is a super-powerful ingredient that we practice every day at Plexxis and it’s one of the reasons our teams are so strong.

“A pat on the back… we all love that. It motivates you to do better. But truth can be some bad news too…It’s time to pull up your socks! The way I take this is … it’s something that makes me better… I feel truth among colleagues makes us stronger because now we are all better,” says Farrah Merchant, programming coordinator.

  1. We overcome obstacles and celebrate achievements- together.

Whether working in a group of two or twenty, passionate in-person collaboration is one of the best things about working at Plexxis   When we have the same values, vision and mission, challenges don’t define us, rather, achievements become extraordinary.

Teamwork allows us to have richer and more rewarding experiences, both in life and in our work. When faced with defeat or a tough obstacle to overcome, our team members are there to support us, encourage us – and offer solutions.

And when we truly ‘rock it’ on a project and crush our goals, we can all celebrate together and share in the victory.

Ali Abbas, lead programmer ERP, weighs in what really turbocharges Plexxis:

“It’s team-oriented:  we help each other through the tough times, and we celebrate each other’s achievements. It’s honestly a wonderful place to call home,” says Ali. 

“I can keep naming all these different people that have helped me in my journey, but all of them provide guidance, mentorship… sometimes it’s: ‘how to handle stress’ how to manage your, expectations or how to deal with a day where you didn’t feel like you got done as much as you wanted to,” he says.  

“Those days are gonna happen. So, it’s amazing I have people in my team that are not only able to challenge me in different ways but are also there to help me through my work problems. That, I think, is what is enables me to do my best work.”

“I don’t ever feel alone here, says Fiona Locke, Resource Manager. 

“I don’t ever feel like I’m alone with the problem I’m working on. There’s always someone I know I can turn to that will help me find a solution if I ask it. I’ve never asked a question for help and gotten a “no” in response. And that’s really important. If you don’t feel supported by your coworkers and your fellow management team, that can be really deflating and really, it doesn’t push you to be your best.”

  1. We’re better together.

As the saying goes, united we stand, divided they fall.

At Plexxis, we genuinely believe that success is dependent on building people and teams FIRST.  It’s only through our superheroes, that we can then create extraordinary products for our customers. With this clarity in priorities, we work together as a committed, supportive, tough, and innovative team to make what many believe is impossible… possible.

“It inspires me seeing the team push themselves, they push themselves beyond their limits, beyond their knowledge to always improve and do better. That inspires me to do the same. To step outside of my comfort zone,” says Fiona.

Are you looking to join a superhero team– and feel you would be a great fit at Plexxis?

We would love to hear from you.

Submit your resume and let the adventure begin.

See our current career opportunities.

Perhaps you remember watching The Jetsons as a kid? Their futuristic city was filled with flying cars, fantastical buildings and people speaking through video screens. What seemed far-fetched then has in many ways, become a reality for us now – including of course the recent, and rapid, rise in using Zoom video for meetings, seminars and conferences.

We may not have flying cars (well… not quite yet), but we are using video screens to talk to one another and many of the buildings being constructed today are using technology in a manner that is far more advanced than we may have thought possible just a few short years ago. Paul Doherty, one of the best-known influencers currently sharing his view on Smart Cities, says that buildings of the future will contain “technologies (that) are not only transparent but invisibly integrated into the fabric of life,” perhaps resembling what was only dreamed of when The Jetsons first aired in 1962.

The future is indeed now and smart contractors will embrace the technology required to build them. We can help.

What is a Smart City?

According to Doherty, smart cities arise as a direct result of an effort to integrate technology into every aspect of building design and indeed, the design of a city as a whole. It considers how every aspect of a city works together to create a cohesive whole that seamlessly integrates efforts to improve “it’s inhabitants’ quality of life,” with the principles of smart design construction and smart use of technology. These cities require forward thinking contractors to consider all the elements that constitute a well-functioning city such as:

  • Energy
  • Water
  • Waste
  • Infrastructure
  • Public Safety
  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Green / Sustainable Buildings
  • Transportation
  • Citizen Services

In making these considerations a part of the design process, Architecture, Engineering and Construction firms that embrace smart city design, build, and implementation strategies, will succeed now and in the future as they both contribute to, and benefit from, the technology that will allow such a city – and its inhabitants – to prosper.

How Can YOU Play A Role In Smart Cities Of The Future?

Plexxis Software understands the role that innovative technology can play in the success of your company. We offer solutions for the construction industry that integrates cloud, mobile and on-premise software to improve and enhance your teams’ performance. We help you work smarter and more cohesively by utilizing software as a tool:

  • To unite operations, estimating, accounting and field apps
  • Enable live feedback and more on our single, unified platform.

In other words, we assist builders build the buildings of the future in a way that is cost-efficient, timely AND smart!

If it’s true, as Doherty implies, that we are at the intersection of building architecture and information technology working together to create smart cities, Plexxis is excited to become integral to your business model.

The Jetsons, it turns out, was a prescient vision of the future where we could sometimes work from home, use screens to communicate with one another and where the city outside the window looked pretty darn futuristic. More and more it seems, that future is now. Be plugged in at all times, and from anywhere, with Plexxis cloud construction management software. We help smart contractors who know, understand and value the important role of technology in the construction industry and want to be a part of this exciting, changing world.

* Brought to you by Plexxis Software: Offering software solutions for the construction industry that integrates cloud, mobile and on-premise software to improve and enhance team performance.

Financial Management In Plexxis Software For Subcontractors

Financial Management

Subcontractors using separate accounting and operations systems tend to perform more like accounting firms who do construction. In comparison, those who unite accounting and operations perform as builders with strong financial management. We at Plexxis enable that level of team cohesion through our live connection between the bidding, field and finance.

An important note about the financial reporting in Plexxis is that it is entirely inside of Plexxis. It is not a constellation of products that have been band-aided together through mergers and acquisitions. We grew our product by building everything ourselves.

Since everybody is on one system, the live WIP (Work-In-Progress) analysis is highly effective and efficient. You can create the WIP analysis at any time.


summary tab in Plexxis

On the summary tab, you can see it at a very high level. The WIP looks like a spreadsheet, but because everybody is on the same system, you can drill in and see everything that hits your GL and go even further to investigate any anomalies.

The WIP analysis is automatically populated with the best data set at the time of the query.

If the project managers completed their cost projection, you would see a “P” in the column indicating where the data originates. You’ll know at a glance, which project managers have completed their cost projections, and which have not. If they have not, it’ll roll down to a less accurate data set. So, you’ll always have a WIP, but you’ll also have this accountability management tool in place to help improve the performance of your entire team.

Every single time an adjustment is made, it is tracked in the back end. When you have division managers at different locations submitting their WIP, you’ll know all the adjustments that are made.

You can also print this sheet, and this will give you a standard WIP by job. If you are sitting in your monthly or weekly WIP meetings and have different perspectives that you want to see, no problem. Let’s say you want to see the report by ‘job type’ and by ‘project manager’; you do not have to leave the report. You can customize it on the fly to fit any scenario that you are investigating at that time.

What’s significant here is there are two types of Excel exports that can be generated from anywhere in the system, any screen in any report. If you print the standard WIP by job and would like to play around with hypothetical scenarios, you can export this to Excel, retaining the formatting. So, it’s usable right from the exports from a formatting perspective.

If you are on the WIP screen and hit the Excel export, it will export the data and the screen to Excel, but in a raw data format, with no formatting. So, if you’re using a third-party BI tool, you can use this information right from the export without having to do anything except delete or alter the columns in any way that you want. Even better, if you’re using a robotic process automation tool like brick, you can automate this export and extract the data from the front end into any milestone or scenario tools you have in the robotic process automation tool.  Next up, GL, as you can see through the menu above, accurate enterprise-level accounting.

Regarding accounts receivable, between the simple access to reports and the collections tools, we are confident that your day will be better in Plexxis.

In accounts payable, two excellent tools are the automated PO matching and workflow routing system.

Automated PO Matching

Where the system will automatically read PDF invoices, that command looks for the job number, the PO number, the taxes, the totals, and automatically match the corresponding purchase orders within a certain threshold. That way, you only have to deal with the list of discrepancies.


Bill Review in Plexxis

Workflow Routing System

Our automated routing system will notify the project managers and manage that collaboration back and forth.

Bringing accounting and operations together on the same system enables accounting to have that live financial pulse of the entire company, anytime they want. You can achieve this while simultaneously injecting the controls and having the visibility that accounting has always needed in construction but hasn’t been able to achieve because you’re always chasing data, entering data twice, and continuously validating data because it has existed in so many different systems and spreadsheets. With all of that gone, now, accounting can utilize their time analyzing, which is what they should be doing to help the owners build a better company.

Financial Management

Yet these are merely exterior [semi]-mortal manifestations. When you dig a bit deeper, there is of course so much more that comprises their character, strength, and magnetic appeal.

At Plexxis, the superpowers of our amazing super people present not on the surface nor in the striking manner of our dress. They manifest deep under the skin.

We call it the soul of Plexxis. It is a belief system – a rare character and a commonality of inner strengths that propel our company forward.

It’s what fuels us and makes our people unmistakably unique, larger-than-life and instantly recognizable from lesser beings you may encounter elsewhere.

So, what truly lurks in the soul of Plexxis? Let’s explore!

  1. Self awareness

No man—or woman– is an island. Truth is, not everyone is good at absolutely everything.

Being successful at Plexxis requires a realistic understanding of who you really are – where your strengths and weaknesses lie, and how that can ultimately impact and enable your team of “avengers”.

Even the greatest superheroes have their “kryptonite” – limits and vulnerabilities to their talents that can block their powers and prevent them from saving the day.

The challenge many of us face is really knowing where we truly excel, and where we require a little extra work – or a little help from coworkers.

“The most important part is self-awareness — being open and honest about where you’re strong and where you’re weak. You can achieve that vision of both protecting and serving the team by doubling down on your strengths, protecting the team, but making sure that your weaknesses don’t impact the mission,” says Chris Loranger, CEO

  1. Truth

At Plexxis we uphold the moniker of “Build Truth”. It is more than a statement. It’s something that guides our actions, fires our heart and drives our ethics on a daily basis.

Sales Director Chad Pearson explains, “Build Truth” began as a movement within the construction software industry. Now, it’s taken on a life of its own and evolved as an internal tool to keep us accountable and honest every day”.

Building truth, he adds, is a mission everyone at Plexxis embraces in order to make the industry a better, safer place.

But truth at Plexxis goes farther than sales transparency and ethics. It’s a mantra Plexxis people live by which guides their conduct and colours their every interaction.

“Building truth is being brutally honest about expectations. even when you’re providing, say, bad news to a customer in a constructive way, says Ali Abbas, lead programmer, ERP.

“Where I have made a mistake and I have had the courage to call the client at like 12 in the night saying look, this is what happened. I’m sorry. I know this happened, but I can’t go to bed till you know about it,” says Farrah Merchant, programming coordinator. She continues:

The same holds true in daily interactions with colleagues… it’s about building open and honest relationships. Being able to tell someone I need help or, how you’re explaining it to me isn’t helping me to understand better. Maybe we can approach it at a different angle? 

It takes true strength of character to convey less favourable news and truly honest feedback. But Plexxis people possess this in abundance.”

Plexxis CEO Chris Loranger personally embodies this commitment to truth that has become central to Plexxis’ core values. Originally a small-town Ontario dairy farmer, he imbues those wholesome country values and champions truthfulness in his organization.

“I’m a pretty straight shooter. I really don’t hold back. I always found (it’s best) if you tell people where they stand and expect the same from them.

I find that when people tell you what you need to hear, you have an opportunity to change… adapt. You can do something with that.  

But if somebody is just ‘blowing smoke’, at the end of the day, you’re literally going to believe your own BS. So, surround yourself with people who tell you not what you want but what you NEED to hear.” Chris Loranger CEO

  1. Passion

Dull, drab or average don’t live at Plexxis. Nope.  No such address!  Some say there is no such thing as boredom – just boring people. Plexxis people would concur with that! Inner drive, engagement, and passion are qualities that rage in the heart and soul of every individual at Plexxis.

“It’s one of the most driven organizations that I’ve ever experienced or been a part of. I feel pretty blessed about it every single day. It’s definitely a treat to come to work and deal with the challenges that come up knowing I have the right team behind me. It’s awesome,” says Ali Abbas, lead programmer ERP.

That passionate, hardworking ethic at Plexxis is fueled by another quality: A positive attitude. Positivity is the spark that ignites our projects, teams and daily work experience.

“I would definitely say, positivity, again, I encourage it in people, and I get a lot of it back. I see that a lot in our team: positive achievements, positive growth, hard work. It’s huge,” says Fiona Locke, resource manager.

“We’re able to crush our goals, really. When everyone is giving us 110%, they make it look so natural. It really is a superpower… as if anything less would not be enough.”

Speaking of positivity and unstoppable momentum, you’d be hard pressed to find a better example than Sales Director, Chad Pearson.

On the subjects of drive, embracing change and that passionate pursuit of excellence:

“If you maintain that mentality of always pursuing, like relentlessly pursuing excellence, when times get tough, that’s when you can start to really shine. The other one that I personally love is embracing change. The reason why I personally love that one is because again, going back to the second wind behind me. With this level of volatility in the world, it’s almost a bare minimum to survive,” says Pearson.

  1. Connectedness

Devote quality time getting to know Plexxis and you will find a unique group of talented people who realize this: Together they are stronger than they are apart.

The Plexxis belief system flies in the face of the status quo. That pervasive trend of ‘remote working’ that is transforming the world of work right now. It’s simply not for us.

At Plexxis, we believe a transition to a remote working model would drive us farther apart, rather than bring us together. It would not serve the greater good.

As Chad explains, Plexxis is driven to do quite the opposite of what the run-of-the-mill software company is doing:

“High collisions, embracing conflict, staying together, and living and working under a strict code… as opposed to a more flexible code: that’s the soul of Plexxis,” he says.

“We are literally zagging when the whole world is zigging. While everyone else is going in more of an accommodative, flexible, remote working direction, we actually feel quite firmly that not only is it wrong, but in the future, it will lead to high levels of depression and anxiety. That’s how passionate we are about sticking to the attributes of sharing the same space and maintaining that family type culture.” 

CEO Chris Loranger expands on the importance of closeness to the belief system of Plexxis:

“We believe when people hang around each other, they can build loyalties and become a true family. It’s In those loyalties and connections that you get a lot of life satisfaction, and it’s not always, driven from a financial perspective…”

Tristan Boyd, a Full Stack JS Developer at Plexxis, weighs in on the positive impact of “connectedness” on innovation:

  1. Integrity

The final defining element in the soul of Plexxis is perhaps the most important of all. It has nothing to do with scintillating intellect or superpower skillsets. It pertains to the ‘character’ of the person itself.

“Being a girl from India in North America, I wouldn’t have been this confident had I not been working for Plexxis, says Farrah Merchant, programming coordinator.

“Pretty much it’s all about being a good human here. Plexxis is where it is because we are a collection of good people. It’s goodness or diversity… and everything else.”

For Chris Loranger, integrity strikes a special chord.

“Integrity – that is literally my favorite word in the world, says Loranger. 

“Integrity. Authenticity and genuineness – you will fail without them. When you ask what we brought from the farm, my dad had always told me, I have one thing and that is my word. When we said we’re going to do something, we did it because at the end of the day, if you came back to see that person having not kept your word, they’re never going to believe you again,”

When you think of Marvel superheroes you usually think of their special strengths. Their web shooters, magic shields and invisibility cloaks.

At Plexxis, we believe our superpowers — our ability to defy client expectations, or to deliver on a new release, all come from these rare qualities within: Self awareness, truth, passion, connectedness and integrity. Ultimately, it is these attributes that allow us to embark on an extremely exciting mission:

“We will chase perfection… and chase it, relentlessly knowing all that all the while we can never attain it, but along way along the way, we’ll catch excellence.” says Ali Abbas.

Do you possess the soul of a superhero– and feel you would be a great fit at Plexxis?

We would love to hear from you.

Submit your resume and let the adventure begin.

See our current career opportunities.

Learn how 3D Technology is modernizing the Construction Industry!

Not too long ago, Plexxis released a blog about AR/VR Technology and its impact on the construction industry. In that article, we also referenced 3D Technology and wrote then, “significant growth has already taken place and is predicted to continue at a rapid pace.” It’s probably safe to say this was a bit of an understatement as we watch the impact of 3D technology revolutionizing the way we build buildings, modernizing the construction industry along the way. As a leading software solutions provider to the construction industry, we can’t help but comment on what’s happening and what that might mean for your business. 3D might not be the only path forward to the future, but it’s a step in the right direction!

Implementing 3D technology has a number of implications for business, but perhaps one of the biggest arises from the saving of time. As the expression goes, “time is money,” and utilizing 3D technology to its fullest capacity is a time saver – therefore, it’s also a money saver! Here are just a couple of examples:

  • Using even the most basic of cameras (even an iPhone), you can capture photos of the inside and outside of a construction project, upload the data and create 3D virtual walkthroughs for clients, buyers or project managers. Give prospective home-buyers a “real-life” view of their new home or sell real estate such as office space in a condo development by showing business owners exactly what their new offices will look like. Using this technology means you don’t have to wait for construction to be complete in order to sell a building or to sell from plans. You can sell-out a development before a shovel ever hits the ground!
  • Reduce site visits by key personnel by capturing data on an ongoing basis, frequently updating your files and allowing for important measurements to be captured remotely or even visual inspections to take place from offsite locations. Fewer people on construction sites mean less potential for accidents, and fewer site visits also mean less time spent on a project overall. Both add up to saving time and savings on costs for your business.

The global impact of 3D technology is about more than just money and time however. It’s also about the future of construction, about helping to provide affordable housing options, education, and so much more. Here’s how:

Around the world, and in particular in developing nations where building materials are in scarce supply and costs can be significant, 3D technology is coming to the rescue. Utilizing 3D printing, specialized inks, cement / concrete and a team of professionals that includes architects, engineers and materials specialists, sustainable and low-carbon housing and schools are now being built in countries like Malawi. Utilizing the technology in this way significantly reduces construction time, reliance on traditional building materials that may be hard to access and helps to reduce waste.

  • Some companies are even using 3D printing technology to create wind turbines as the ultimate in renewable, sustainable energy sources, and you might also take the time to see this; currently featured at the Biennale, in Venice Italy, is the first of its kind 3D printed concrete bridge, on display as an example of what the future holds when it comes to 3D print technology. Other bridges already in existence include the longest 3D printed bridge in the world (in China) and a pedestrian bridge in the Netherlands that can sustain the weight of 40 heavy trucks.

Other advantages to 3D print technology include:

  • Less potential for human error: Machines are fully automated and only need monitoring during the printing phase.
  • Environmentally friendly: The machines themselves produce almost zero waste AND they are capable of using recycled materials. As mentioned above, they can even be run under some circumstances with either wind and/or solar power.
  • Reduction in labour costs, materials costs and costs associated with waste, errors or damages.
  • The potential for building affordable housing for the homeless, rebuilding after natural disasters and more, are all made possible through the use of 3D print technology.
  • Materials such as plastic, steel or concrete can all be used in 3D printing, expanding your construction options as well as your creativity!

As a technological breakthrough, 3D printing is a game-changer. Offering speed, reduced waste, using recycled materials and a degree of creativity not previously available due to traditional building constraints, 3D printing gives greater flexibility to designers and architects, reduces labour costs for the construction industry, and it offers a viable, affordable option for developing countries to build homes and schools and for towns and cities to explore options for reducing homelessness.

Of course, the technology does come at a cost, and right now, it’s not inexpensive! Durability might be a factor as while the technology is not new, not much is known about how it will last and under what conditions. Weather, for example, may impact longevity. The industry will also have to adapt to regulations and how it monitors construction, construction sites and the safety of structures of their lifetime, meaning that while it’s a game-changer and no doubt changing the way we build the future – modernization doesn’t come without costs. It remains to be seen if 3D printing technology will truly change the way we build buildings.

* Brought to you by Plexxis Software: Offering software solutions for the construction industry that integrates cloud, mobile and on-premise software to improve and enhance team performance.

As unique and characteristic as their individual powers may be, every superhero – from Wolverine to Green Lantern — shares a certain attitude, a credo that focuses and fires their desire to achieve three things:

  1. To make the world a better place, now and in the future
  2. To use ingenious thinking to create new bold new solutions for the industry.
  3. To persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles in pursuit of something extraordinary!

At Plexxis, this is our attitude too: We are future focused. We are innovative. And we are relentless in our pursuit of the extraordinary.

Our people may not leap off buildings or breathe under water, but they do possess what we call that “superhero attitude. It underscores everything we are and manifests everywhere across our organization… from the vision of our leaders to the passion and fortitude of our newest interns.

For us, a superhero attitude impacts how we develop our employees, how we grow our business, how we serve clients, and a great deal more. Spidey senses tingling – we see the future — and lead onwards and upwards to create a better, more exciting, and prosperous tomorrow for all.

  1. Future-focused

Making the world a better place for our people, clients, and industry.

In the Marvel universe, Cyclops emits powerful beams of energy from his eyes, and can only control the beams with the aid of special eyewear. This optic power makes him one of the superheroes with the strongest, clearest vision of what he wants to achieve.

Seeing into the future — and creating it — is a superpower Plexxis also possesses.

“Ultimately when you start a company, you realize, well, wait a minute, I’m devoting a lot of my time into this new baby. “What you’re really doing is you’re trying to create a future for yourself and others,” says Chris Loranger Plexxis president and CEO.
“We take a long-term view to ensure not just an exciting present, but a great future for our people.

When we hire individuals to join our team, a salary with benefits is just the tip of the iceberg of all we provide. We help them grow, professionally and personally. We take care of their families. We take care of their education. We take care of their future.”

Plexxis may not have super optic power, but its leaders are far-sighted in their approach to hiring people. As Loranger says:

“I think gone are the days where you can simply rely on an education or job history. What means more to us is finding individuals who are able to stick out a job for four or five years demonstrating true social loyalty to the people in that company. We find the best people are the ones not looking to jump jobs. They’re looking to find a home where they can find long-term happiness working with really good people.”

  1. Innovative

Using ingenious thinking in pursuit of a holistic new solution. 

Like Iron Man who breathes innovation, creativity, and ingenuity, Plexxis constantly pushes the limits of technology for the greater good of all.

Seeing the future for the construction software industry – and seizing it — is another way we manifest our inner superhero.

Plexxis is busy blazing a trail to that future with a beautiful new west coast facility. It will be a collaboration hub – an open concept and inspirational working space designed to function as an incubator for red hot innovation. No virtual or hybrid working model. The Plexxis attitude is to keep people collaborating together in person to foster outstanding outcomes, along with personal and career growth.

BC facility: a new second innovation hub

This new BC coastal center is designed to help foster positivity, health and happiness within our exceptional culture of performance.   It’s central location is an easy a 5–10-minute commute from home for most employees.  Less time in traffic, more time and energy for innovation.

“Most modern companies look at quarterly profits. They want to keep growing the companies that have venture capitalists investing into them. Those that short-term quarterly growth targets in our opinion, is what destroys companies so growth and how we see it is we want to be a 100-hundred-year company that is growing in a manner that builds better people and better lives within Plexxis.” says Chad Pearson, Director, Business Development 

There are many shortcuts to failure, it has been famously said, but there are no shortcuts to true success.

For this reason, Plexxis takes a long-term view and strives to build the right software product, not the fastest one.  Our vision is to go the extra length to create one holistic solution that can encompass the whole industry.

Everything is interconnected.

Another secret to our supersonic innovation? A unified and coordinated team effort where everyone works in synchronicity. As a result of our collaboration model, we are on target to deliver something unique in the marketplace: an all-in-one solution.

“Everything is interconnected, maybe in other companies, you wouldn’t talk to the mobile team or the development team or the other little products, but every change you make in our system goes across to every platform that we have. Every team is involved across the board, says Jonathan Locke, manager of client services.

As a result, there’s really no main one competitor for our company. it’s multiple companies working together to do what we’re doing. We take care of everything for clients… and that’s a pretty unique thing.”

  1. Extraordinary

Overcoming obstacles in pursuit of the exceptional

The Green Lantern’s ring endows its bearer with the power to materialize anything he can imagine. So too, Plexxis is ready to create the extraordinary, no matter what obstacles may lay in its path. To achieve this, we’re continuing to build the most basic of superhero requirements: The right culture to grow, excel, overcome… and constantly surprise.

Spoiler Alert! the Plexxis culture is not for everyone. It is high octane and laced with fierce challenges along the way. But opportunity awaits those with the fire in their belly to overcome them.

“I love to work here. Plexxis is home — it’s family for me now — but that does not mean it’s not challenging working here. This is a place where, when times are challenging, we all come together, says Farrah Merchant, programming coordinator.

“It’s all hands-on deck and it’s not forced. It’s where people want to get things done because there’s a need and we have to be there to meet it.

I have given Plexxis so much and when I look back, I have received so much back from them.”

Plexxis’ culture of “extraordinary” includes an uber-personalized approach to the needs of each and every client that we serve. The Spiderman dexterity to adapt in a flash to client demands presents valuable growth opportunities.

“Every new client that we bring on presents its own challenges — different ways for us to improve ourselves and expand our knowledge of the system and software itself,” says resource manager Fiona Locke.

“It’s a learning opportunity… and what you do for one person doesn’t always work as a solution for the other. It doesn’t mean that what you learned before doesn’t apply. Rather, everything that we do helps us with the next client.”

Ultimately, Plexxis tests the true mettle of its people – and allows them a special opportunity to stretch and shine. It coaxes out the superhero in everyone.

Do you possess a super-hero attitude that would be a great fit at Plexxis?

We would love to hear from you.

Submit your resume and let the adventure begin.

See our current career opportunities.