8 MIN READ
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
If you're in an operations role that requires managing external contractors on a daily basis, there's a strong chance you will consider implementing a contractor management portal at some point.
In some industries, there are dozens of contractor management or tracking apps to choose from–construction, or in digital freelance work, for example. But these solutions are usually hard to fit around more specialized processes. So if you’re looking for something that is adapted to the particular needs of your business, you might consider building a custom solution, either from scratch, or using a no-code tool.
What's a no-code contractor portal?
Before the rise of no-code solutions, companies had to either use off-the-shelf solutions, or hire engineers or agencies to build entirely new software from scratch. With no-code SaaS platforms like Stacker, businesses can build custom applications and portals to support their business needs faster and at a much lower cost, and with no coding skills required.
In the case of contractor tracking portals, for example, no-code operations platforms can be used to build an external-facing space where contractors can log in, update their personal information, find project details, or download documents.
For example, a restaurant chain could use Stacker to create a custom portal where contractors can find details on upcoming repair or maintenance jobs, without needing to request the details on the phone or via email.
Similarly, a landscaping business could build a portal for gardeners to track hours worked or submit unusual customer requests for approval through a standardized process.
Should you build your own contractor management system with a No-Code tool?
This decision mostly comes down to two things: how specialized your needs are, and how much you expect your business will evolve in the future.
Here’s how we break it down to our customers.
When to build your own
You have a unique business process
No-code platforms like Stacker offer a high degree of customization, which is often necessary for unique workflows. For example, a plug-and-play contractor platform might cover the usual project approval and payment workflows for designers or content writers in a web agency.
However, it may not be ideal if you want to manage contractors that specialize in artificial lake cleaning or golf course maintenance. For specialized industries with specific processes, where businesses look for tools that will adapt to their way of working—rather than the other way around—a no-code option is often a better fit.
Your use case and needs are likely to evolve
Your needs may change in the future. For instance, currently, your contractors may only handle lawn mowing, but you have plans to start installing decoration features in your clients’ gardens, or you’d like to start leasing lawn mowing equipment to these contractors. This would require you to adapt your existing tracking portal to offer browsing options for leasing plans, for example, or even create separate portals for separate types of contractors.
You want to expand the use of No-Code apps beyond contractor portals
No-code platforms can be used for more than contractor management or contractor tracking software, as they are essentially operations platforms that can standardize any process. With the right integrations, they can centralize all your data into a single source of truth, making it much easier to build dashboards, share internal information, or enhance the user experience for your internal stakeholders.
Stacker, for example, is used by some of our customers as a CRM, a suite of task management applications, and a self-serve portal for partners, customers, or clients. Even within contractor management applications, you’ll find that a no-code option like Stacker gives you broader applications beyond login in and sharing information. You can use it as a contractor CRM to approach and onboard new providers on your team, or as a training tool or compliance tracker to ensure all your contractors are properly trained for every job they take with you.
When to buy off-the-shelf
You operate in an industry with standardized contractor processes
If you operate with standardized workflows, and your contractor management needs align closely with common industry practices, an out-of-the-box solution might be your best bet.
This is especially true in industries where working with large volumes of external contractors is standard, such as delivery logistics or events management, for example. You'll probably be able to find more than one SaaS tool that covers your specifications and then some. Also worth noting, the deployment and set-up will be much faster, as you won't have to build anything.
2. You are looking for a bundle of products, not just a contractor portal
If you’re looking for a solution beyond database management and self-serve access, the no-code route might not be optimal.
For example, an HR contractor management tool like Deel or TalentDesk isn't the best fit for a team looking to connect their contractor management portal with a fleet of vehicles, or an inventory of spare parts. However, products like these offer a comprehensive collection of products around HR, payments, compliance, and tracking, on top of CRM and portal functionalities.
You're looking to adopt established methodologies
If you want contractor management software that comes with a proven methodology for freelancer management. and you are willing to adjust your processes to fit a new approach, then you can hit two birds with one stone by buying off-the-shelf.
Stacker offers templates and a degree of solution design support for many use cases, including contractor portals, but you would still need to have a sense of how you want to manage the workflows related to your portal before implementing it. With a pre-built tool, there is usually less configuration work to do.
Cost considerations
Two things to keep in mind when it comes to the relative costs of buying or building your own contractor portal:
Off-the-shelf solutions may have higher costs, especially for advanced features or per-user fees, while no-code platforms often have more generic pricing for internal teams.
No-code requires a higher upfront investment in building the system but can be more cost-effective over time as it allows for continuous adaptation and growth.
Get started with building your own contractor management portal
If you are curious to see what a contractor app built on top of your internal databases could look like, Stacker has a few case studies for you to explore. Our team is also always happy to help users define their specifications and design the right solution for their operational processes. Simply sign up to request a demo here, and we'll get you started right away.
