Contract Communicator Systems has consistently evolved its C-COM construction contract management platform to ensure a seamless and professional experience for users on medium to mega construction projects.
The company released Version 5 of its cloud-based C-COM platform earlier this year, a significant release which sees C-COM completely rebuilt utilizing the latest technology and introducing a fresh, intuitive user interface. Key enhancements include improved delay avoidance, better compliance with contractual requirements, and real-time access to commercial information for superior decision-making.
Through automating and standardising administration of contracts, C-COM contract management software offers medium-sized to large project owners, EPCM’s and EPC contractors the means to digitalise contract administration leading to significantly improved project delivery.
Clients across 15 African countries have realised cost savings owing to quicker awareness of delays (actual and potential) and avoidance of disagreements escalating to arbitration – which is often the case with contracts in the construction industry.
In addition to the cost-saving opportunities associated with improved risk mitigation, there is also the tangible saving brought about through time-saving.
Contract Communicator Systems MD Leon Cilliers says some clients have recorded a 75% time-saving in contract administration activities by using C-COM, often, such activities are being carried out by professionals at a high hourly rate.
Cilliers points out that all too often contracts are being managed by persons lacking the necessary experience relying on spreadsheets, emails and intranet folders to track time bars, assess claims, maintain registers and communicate in accordance with the contract. This means the quality of contract administration is almost entirely dependent on the abilities of the individuals involved and can vary greatly from one contract to another.
C-COM introduces a strongly process-driven approach empowering project teams to administer contracts consistently, professionally and efficiently regardless of their training and experience.
The C-COM platform has been designed to support international standard forms of contract, including support for FIDIC contract management and NEC contract management, and can be customised for bespoke conditions of contract.
Project owners specify the use of C-COM in their contracts, project managers and contractors then utilize the platform for various communications, including: Instructions; Early Warnings; Claims; Variations; Compensation Events and Daily Diaries.
The system is different to a document management system in that rather than expecting all documents as inputs it produces contractual communications as outputs based on simple forms users complete and contractually appropriate templates.
C-COM employs the use of configurable workflows to facilitate delegation of authority or to enforce company policy which may call for HOD’s or committees to authorise actions of project managers which have cost or time impact.
The platform is able to administer contracts across complex operations, among those being the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has more than 350 active users.
With a ten-year track record of successful contract management digitalisation and automation in Africa, Contract Communicator Systems effectively assists with the cultural change required to successfully digitalise contract administration on projects.
“We look at our clients’ current approach to contract management, understand existing processes and governance requirements, and then introduce our technology to simplify, standardise and automate contract management,” Cilliers states.
He adds “Digitalisation can be difficult to begin with, it requires a change from ‘the way we’ve always done things’ and co-operation from many different stakeholders. We work closely with our clients and the parties they contract with to drive the implementation of C-COM and achieve the benefits it promises as quickly as possible”.
The company offers its services direct and also via implementation partners -established consulting firms well trained on C-COM and its implementation who can provide project professionals already well versed with C-COM.
The latest version of C-COM will continue seeing new features added quicker than ever before and is highly configurable to meet clients’ unique requirements due to its new architecture.
In addition to instructor-led group training sessions, Contract Communicator Systems operates a helpdesk backed by product specialists available via live chat, email and phone. Step-by-step guides and video explainers are accessible via a help centre for self-learning.
Contract Communicator Systems aims to further increase adoption of its system across Africa and internationally, especially as scrutiny of the mining industry by many stakeholders increases and more construction activity occurs in the energy space.
By harnessing the latest technology, C-COM is able to handle complex and time-consuming problems, allowing project teams to spend more time making impactful decisions, meeting budgets and keeping to timelines.
