Invoicing
Context
One of the largest general contractors in the United States approached us to pilot a $1.25 billion project. Historically, their teams relied heavily on Excel spreadsheets to manage Schedule of Values (SOVs), invoices, and lien waivers. This manual process required endless back-and-forth emails, version control issues, and significant administrative overhead.The challenge was clear: build a centralized digital platform that could replace manual file management, streamline invoicing workflows, and adapt to the diverse needs of large-scale projects.
Design Challenge
How might we create a platform that:
- Eliminates the need for spreadsheets and email chains.
- Scales for billion-dollar projects while remaining intuitive for users.
- Supports flexible layouts based on contractor or project-specific requirements.
Solution Overview
We designed and delivered a modular invoicing platform with three core pillars:
- Schedule of Values (SOVs): Create, edit, and manage detailed SOVs within the platform. Ensure transparency and alignment between contractors and subcontractors.
- Invoices: Submit, review, and approve invoices directly within the system.
Reduce manual errors by linking invoices to the SOV. - Lien Waivers: Digitally generate and sign lien waivers tied to each invoice. Provide a clear audit trail for compliance and trust.
Layout Innovation
To balance complexity and usability, we introduced a two-column modular layout. This dual-panel approach ensures that users can stay focused on their core task while having supporting information readily available.
- Left Column (Primary Functionality): Houses the main workflows — such as SOV creation, invoice submission, or waiver signing.
- Right Column (Secondary Functionality): Displays context-sensitive tools, summaries, or project-specific modules. This adaptive design allows general contractors to customize the experience depending on project requirements.
Impact
- Eliminated Excel Dependency: No more juggling files and emails.
- Faster Review Cycles: Invoices and SOVs could be submitted, reviewed, and approved directly in-platform.
- Scalable Design: The modular two-column layout can flex across multiple projects and contractor needs.
Reflection
This project demonstrates how thoughtful product design can modernize legacy workflows in the construction industry. By replacing spreadsheets with a flexible digital platform, we enabled one of America’s largest general contractors to successfully pilot a $1.25 billion project—while setting a new standard for how complex financial documentation is managed at scale.
