Using ConCntric to execute some of the most complex and high-profile projects in the Upper Midwest, Micah Vainikka, Director of Preconstruction at Knutson, believes their success and ability to create the “Knutson Experience” rely on robust tools, processes, and technology they can trust. In a little over a year of using ConCntric to improve their preconstruction workflow, Knutson has been able to win more work and build trust with their clients.

The Problem

With over a century of experience, Knutson understands the importance of comprehensive tools and streamlined processes. Like many construction companies, they face the constant pressure of compressed timelines and project lifecycles, which include both build time and design time. Market conditions add further strain, with stricter budgets and often a scarcity of resources. In today’s world, everyone is busy and there is only so much time to dedicate to each project. Project timetables demand rapid estimates, setting high expectations that require exceptional tools and skilled individuals to meet these demands. Knutson’s dedication to building and maintaining strong relationships throughout projects ensures that they can continue to deliver outstanding results and meet client expectations.

Recognizing the need for a more integrated solution, Micah even considered developing Knutson’s own custom dashboard or system. Inevitably, deciding that developing software was not a core focus, they sought a comprehensive solution that would consolidate various aspects of the preconstruction process, ultimately leading them to discover ConCntric.

In the beginning stages of entering into preconstruction, Micah spent hours researching to find a solution that was right for their company. He discovered that the market offered limited options, revealing a significant gap. Before ConCntric, Knutson relied on Excel to create trend graphs and maintain change logs to convey Knutson’s confidence level and important project details to clients. Despite his best efforts, the tools available remained very limited, underscoring the need for a more dynamic and comprehensive solution that emphasized collaboration, proactive planning and early stakeholder involvement.

Estimating software is like accounting software. It’s not anything you want to show an Owner. It’s where the sausage is made. It’s organized and detailed, but it doesn’t have any life to it. There’s no way for people to look at it and know where we came from and where we are going.

From the outset, ConCntric seemed like exactly what Knutson was looking for. Discovering ConCntric’s solution in 2020, Micah reached out for a demo and continued to keep them top of mind until finally signing on in the summer of 2023.

ConCntric has helped Knutson stand out from the competition and present to Owners with a unique experience they haven’t seen before. Rather than just promising collaboration, Knutson is able to offer a tangible solution that clients can log in to and begin using immediately. This approach has made it easy for Knutson’s clients to know what to expect from the outset rather than merely discussing potential benefits.

Micah describes ConCntric as the cornerstone of Knutson’s preconstruction process, embodying their commitment to high-level transparency and collaboration. By showing stakeholders how ConCntric maximizes value and improves project outcomes, they use the platform as “proof” of their capabilities. Now that Knutson has many projects uploaded into ConCntric, they are able to show clients how ConCntric works, how they address issues, and provide evidence of successes via their Portfolio of past and current projects. They use ConCntric to show clients how projects are done, as well as “proof” of their overall effectiveness. Micah says that ConCntric’s Target Value Design and ForeSite features and their ability to bring fresh ideas to the table via a platform benefit both their team and their clients.

The Results

Since using ConCntric, Knutson Construction has established a single source of truth for their estimates, significantly enhancing their preconstruction process. With scheduling and task management capabilities and a risk register within the platform, ConCntric has become their hub for all project-related information. This centralization not only streamlines their workflow but provides real-time trending for their budgets, offering a much clearer view of financials and project progress.

Since starting to use the platform, Knutson has uploaded over $1.5B of construction costs. With the power of ConCntric’s platform, they have utilized these uploaded projects to demonstrate to owners and design teams a better way of making data-driven decisions and leveraging historical information. Since integrating ConCntric into the project pursuit process, Knutson has increased their win rate by 20%. 

A recent example of Knutson’s ability to win more work with ConCntric: An owner was looking for the best contractor for a collaborative and integrated preconstruction engagement with methodologies such as target value design. Knutson delivered a written RFP response, project presentation, and Q&A session using ConCntric as an ingredient for their success. Knutson presented to the Owner how ConCntric manages individual aspects of their preconstruction process and how they budget and organize client projects. And in the end, Knutson came out on top.

We were able to show how we budgeted a project, put it completely into ConCntric, and pull it up at an RFP interview to show them we were ready. That’s how we came out on top. Anyone who didn’t have a platform probably wouldn’t have even made it to the table. We were eager to show how experienced and prepared we were.

ConCntric serves Micah and the team at Knutson as much more than just a tool for improving estimates; it acts as the one-stop shop for managing all of their preconstruction projects. By referring to ConCntric as their single source of truth in sales calls and internal discussions, they reinforce its importance, have improved their win rate on new projects, and continue to drive adoption across their entire team. By using the platform strategically, they have facilitated the consistent addition of new team members into the platform, ensuring that everyone involved in their projects benefits from the clarity and efficiency it provides. As ConCntric continues to support their needs, Knutson remains confident in their ability to win more work and stand as an essential asset in the contracting space.