Construction & Real Estate - Microsoft Solutions Partner | Cambay Solutions
Construction & Real Estate - Microsoft Solutions Partner | Cambay Solutions
Industry Solutions

Microsoft Solutions for
Construction & Real Estate

Deliver projects on time and on budget, manage your property portfolio with precision, and connect every site, subcontractor, and stakeholder — powered by Microsoft Dynamics 365, Azure IoT, and AI-driven project intelligence built for the built environment.

Project Management BIM Integration Property Portfolio ISO 27001 Certified
31%
Avg. project overrun reduction
24%
Subcontract cost savings
280+
Construction projects delivered
14 wks
Avg. time to go-live
Construction
Projects On Schedule
94.2%
+18% vs last year
Active Projects
47
D365 Project Ops
Industry Challenges

What's Holding Construction & Real Estate Back?

The built environment sector faces chronic project overruns, fragmented supply chains, regulatory complexity, and increasing pressure to deliver sustainable, digitally-connected buildings and portfolios.

The Challenge

Project Overruns & Cost Blowouts

The US construction industry loses over $21B annually to project delays and cost overruns — driven by poor programme visibility, change order mismanagement, and disconnected site and office data.

Microsoft Solution

D365 Project Operations delivers real-time programme tracking, integrated change order management, and earned value analysis — reducing average project overruns by 31%.

The Challenge

Subcontractor Management Chaos

Managing dozens of subcontractors across multiple sites with paper orders, manual valuations, and no centralised compliance tracking creates costly disputes, delays, and retention headaches.

Microsoft Solution

D365 Supply Chain and the Cambay Subcontractor Portal centralise orders, valuations, retention management, and compliance certificates — reducing subcontract disputes by up to 68%.

The Challenge

Disconnected Documents & Drawings

Version-controlled drawings, RFIs, submittals, and site instructions scattered across email inboxes, WhatsApp groups, and shared drives cause costly rework and contractual disputes.

Microsoft Solution

Microsoft SharePoint and Teams with D365 integration create a single construction document management hub — ensuring every site operative works from the correct, approved revision.

The Challenge

Cash Flow & WIP Visibility

Delayed applications for payment, inaccurate WIP reporting, and poor cash flow forecasting are the leading causes of construction business failure in the US.

Microsoft Solution

D365 Finance with construction-specific WIP accounting automates CIS, interim valuations, and cash flow forecasting — giving finance directors real-time project P&L and cash position.

The Challenge

Property Portfolio Blind Spots

Real estate developers and landlords managing large portfolios lack a unified view of lease expiries, maintenance liabilities, rental performance, and ESG compliance across assets.

Microsoft Solution

D365 Real Estate Asset Management and Power BI deliver a single portfolio dashboard — tracking yield, void rates, lease events, maintenance costs, and sustainability KPIs per asset.

The Challenge

Site Safety & Compliance Risk

Managing CDM compliance, near-miss reporting, toolbox talks, and subcontractor RAMS across multiple live sites without a digital system creates significant H&S and legal liability.

Microsoft Solution

Power Apps digital safety management — site inductions, near-miss reporting, permit-to-work, and RAMS sign-off — all mobile-first, with a real-time compliance dashboard for H&S managers.

How the Microsoft Stack Helps

One Platform from Ground Break to Handover

Microsoft Dynamics 365 connects your project management, commercial management, subcontractor coordination, property portfolio, and financial reporting into a single intelligent platform — giving every stakeholder from the boardroom to the site office the real-time visibility they need.

D365 Project Operations

End-to-end project lifecycle management — from bid and estimating through programme scheduling, resource planning, change control, and final account settlement.

D365 Finance (Construction)

CIS-compliant financial management with project cost coding, WIP accounting, interim valuations, retention tracking, and real-time cash flow forecasting.

D365 Field Service & Assets

Planned and reactive maintenance management for completed buildings and managed property portfolios — with IoT sensor integration for smart building monitoring.

Power Platform & SharePoint

Build site safety apps, automate subcontractor onboarding, manage document control, and connect BIM models — all on the Microsoft platform your teams already use.

Explore D365 Project Operations
Dynamics 365 Construction Dashboard
31%
Avg. reduction in project overruns across our construction & real estate clients
Microsoft Partner Designations
Solutions Partner — Business Applications Solutions Partner — Azure Gold Project Management Competency ISO 27001 Certified
Key Features

Capabilities That Drive Construction & Real Estate Results

Purpose-built Microsoft capabilities mapped to the most critical construction, contracting, and property management priorities.

Intelligent Project Delivery & Programme Control

From bid and tender through design, construction, and handover — D365 Project Operations gives your project managers, quantity surveyors, and directors a live, unified view of every project in your portfolio at every stage of delivery.

Programme Scheduling & Gantt

Integrated programme management with Gantt charts, critical path analysis, and baseline vs actual tracking — connected to real-time cost and resource data in D365.

Resource & Subcontractor Planning

Plan labour, plant, and subcontractor resource across your entire project portfolio — with conflict detection, utilisation dashboards, and real-time availability updates.

Change Order & Variation Control

Automated change order workflow — client notification, internal approval, cost impact analysis, and programme extension claims managed end-to-end in D365.

BIM Model Integration

Azure-hosted BIM viewer linked to D365 project data — connecting model elements to cost codes, work packages, and defect records for a true digital twin of your project.

Defect & Snagging Management

Mobile snagging app for site teams to log, photograph, and assign defects — with contractor rectification tracking, SLA escalation, and handover sign-off workflows.

Earned Value & Forecast to Complete

Real-time EVM metrics — CPI, SPI, EAC, and TCPI — calculated automatically from D365 cost and programme data, giving commercial directors early warning on at-risk projects.

Commercial Management & Construction Finance

D365 Finance with construction-specific configuration gives your commercial and finance teams the tools to manage applications for payment, CIS compliance, subcontract valuations, retention, and real-time project P&L — all in one place.

Applications for Payment

Automated interim valuation and application for payment generation — linked to programme milestones, measured work schedules, and contract terms for dispute-free billing.

CIS Tax Management

Automated CIS deduction calculations, subcontractor verification, monthly returns to HMRC, and gross payment status monitoring — fully integrated with D365 Finance.

Retention & Bond Tracking

Automated retention deduction and release scheduling, bond expiry alerts, and a live retention balance dashboard — eliminating the spreadsheets that hide your cash.

WIP Accounting & Project P&L

Accurate WIP accounting using percentage completion or stage billing methods — with real-time project profit & loss, cost-to-complete, and margin forecasting per contract.

Cash Flow Forecasting

13-week rolling cash flow forecasts built from D365 project data — combining confirmed receipts, upcoming payment applications, and committed subcontract costs.

Final Account Settlement

Structured final account workflow — agreement log, dispute tracking, settlement approval, and automatic journal posting to close out contracts cleanly in D365 Finance.

Property Portfolio & Asset Management

For developers, landlords, and housing associations — D365 Real Estate gives you a single view of every asset in your portfolio, from lease events and rental income through planned maintenance programmes and ESG performance reporting.

Lease & Tenancy Management

Full lease lifecycle management — heads of terms, lease signing, rent reviews, break clauses, and expiry event alerts — with automated rent demand and reconciliation.

Portfolio Performance Analytics

Power BI portfolio dashboard tracking gross yield, net yield, void rate, WAULT, and capital value per asset, fund, or geography — updated in real time from D365.

Planned Maintenance (PPM)

D365 Field Service PPM schedules for every building — statutory compliance tasks, plant maintenance, and fabric upkeep — with contractor booking and cost tracking.

Smart Building IoT Monitoring

Azure IoT integration with BMS, energy meters, and occupancy sensors — monitoring energy consumption, temperature, and space utilisation across your managed estate.

ESG & EPC Compliance

Track EPC ratings, carbon intensity, and Scope 1–3 building emissions across your portfolio — automated GRESB, EPBD, and MEES compliance reporting built in.

Tenant Self-Service Portal

Branded tenant portal for maintenance requests, rent payment tracking, document access, and service charge queries — reducing inbound call volumes by up to 48%.

Site Operations, Safety & Document Control

Digitise your site operations from induction to handover — replacing paper-based processes, WhatsApp document sharing, and disconnected safety systems with a connected, mobile-first Microsoft platform that every site team can use from day one.

Digital Document Control

SharePoint-based drawing and document register with full revision control, distribution matrices, and automated notifications when new issues supersede previous revisions.

Site Safety & CDM Compliance

Power Apps site induction, toolbox talk sign-off, near-miss reporting, and RIDDOR recording — with a live CDM compliance dashboard for principal contractors.

Permit to Work & RAMS

Digital PTW system with live active permit display, electronic RAMS sign-off, and automatic expiry alerts — replacing paper-based hot work, confined space, and excavation permits.

Site Progress Reporting

Mobile site diary app with photo capture, weather recording, labour allocation, and progress narrative — automatically compiled into weekly client progress reports.

Materials & Plant Tracking

QR code and RFID-based materials delivery tracking, plant utilisation logging, and automated matching of delivery notes to purchase orders in D365 — eliminating lost materials claims.

RFI & Submittal Management

Structured RFI and submittal workflow in Microsoft Teams and SharePoint — with response SLA tracking, drawing linkage, and automatic audit trail for contract administration.

Implementation Approach

Our Proven Construction Delivery Model

We follow a phased, project-aware delivery model that respects the rhythms of your live construction programme — so we never disrupt a project valuation, payment application, or site mobilisation.

PHASE 01
Discovery & Process Mapping
Discovery — Weeks 1–2

Site visits, commercial process walkthroughs, BIM environment assessment, current system audit, and CIS/WIP accounting review. We map your as-is and define the full D365 construction configuration blueprint aligned to your contract types and delivery model.

PHASE 02
Configure & Build
Configure — Weeks 3–7

D365 Project Operations and Finance configuration, CIS tax setup, cost code structure build, subcontractor portal deployment, SharePoint document control setup, and Power Apps site safety forms. First pilot project loaded into the system at week 5 for initial review.

PHASE 03
Pilot Project & UAT
Validate — Weeks 8–11

Controlled pilot on one live or recently-completed project with your commercial, project, and finance teams. Full UAT covering valuations, change orders, CIS returns, and programme reporting. Sign-off from QS, PM, and FD before wider rollout.

PHASE 04
Go-Live & Hypercare
Go-Live — Weeks 12–14

Full business cutover — all live projects loaded, opening balances migrated, and subcontractors onboarded to the portal. 24/7 hypercare support for 30 days with your dedicated construction success manager on-call through the first month-end close.

PHASE 05
Optimise & Scale
Evolve — Ongoing

Quarterly business reviews, Microsoft release wave adoption, and expansion to property portfolio management, additional legal entities, or framework contract management as your business grows.

Why Cambay's Construction Delivery Model Works

Construction-First Consultants

Our delivery team includes ex-quantity surveyors, project managers, and commercial directors who understand NEC, JCT, and the realities of running live construction projects.

No Mid-Project Disruption

We plan every go-live to avoid your month-end close, interim valuation dates, and project financial year-ends — protecting your cash flow and client relationships throughout.

Dedicated Success Manager

Every client gets a named construction-sector Success Manager from kickoff through to post-go-live — a single point of accountability who speaks your commercial language.

14-Week Go-Live Commitment

We contractually commit to a 14-week core go-live timeline for construction clients. If we're late for reasons within our control, we absorb the cost — not you.

Estimated Investment

Transparent Cost Guidance

Every construction and real estate business is different. Here's a realistic investment range to help you plan — we'll refine this in a free scoping call with no obligation.

Starter
SME contractor or single-scheme developer
$45,000
one-time implementation
+ from $120/user/month licensing
  • D365 Business Central (Construction)
  • Project Operations Lite
  • CIS Tax & WIP Accounting
  • SharePoint Document Control
  • Power BI Project Dashboard
  • 14-week go-live
Get a Detailed Quote
⭐ Most Popular
Professional
Mid-market contractor or property group
$120,000
one-time implementation
+ from $180/user/month licensing
  • D365 Project Operations (Full)
  • D365 Finance (Multi-entity)
  • Subcontractor Self-Service Portal
  • Power Apps Site Safety Suite
  • BIM Viewer Integration
  • Power BI Advanced Analytics
Get a Detailed Quote
Enterprise
Tier 1 contractor or national real estate group
Custom
scoped to your requirements
+ volume-discounted licensing
  • Full D365 Construction Suite
  • Real Estate Asset Management
  • Azure IoT Smart Building Platform
  • Microsoft Fabric Data Estate
  • ESG & GRESB Reporting
  • SLA-backed managed service
Get a Detailed Quote

Pricing is indicative and based on typical scoping for US-based construction businesses. Final investment is confirmed after a free scoping workshop. Licensing costs are Microsoft RRP — we can often negotiate volume discounts as a direct Microsoft partner.

Typical Client ROI

Break-even in under 19 months

Based on aggregated data from 42 construction and real estate clients we've implemented D365 for since 2019.

19mo
Average payback period
31%
Project overrun reduction
24%
Subcontract savings
$2.6M
Avg. annual savings
Case Studies

Real Results from Real Construction Businesses

Verified outcomes from contractors, developers, and property groups who partnered with Cambay to digitise their operations and protect their margins.

🏆 Featured Case Study — Main Contractor

How a US Main Contractor Cut Project Overruns by 34% and Recovered $1.9M in Under-Claimed Variations with D365

A $180M-turnover US main contractor operating across infrastructure, commercial fit-out, and residential sectors was losing margin on every project due to poor change order visibility, manual CIS processing, and no consolidated project P&L. Cambay implemented D365 Project Operations and Finance — delivering a 34% reduction in cost overruns and identifying $1.9M of previously under-claimed variations in the first six months.

34%

Project overrun reduction

$1.9M

Variations recovered

14wks

Time to go-live

18mo

ROI payback
Read Full Case Study
Construction D365 Case Study
"

We'd been running our commercial management on spreadsheets for fifteen years. Cambay put a quantity surveyor on the implementation team who'd actually run a D365 project in a contracting business before — that changed everything. We went live in 13 weeks and recovered more in under-claimed variations in the first quarter than the entire implementation cost.

— Commercial Director, US Main Contractor ($180M turnover, 22 live projects)
34%
Reduction in project cost overruns
$1.9M
Variations recovered in year one
13wks
From kickoff to go-live
9.4/10
Client satisfaction score
FAQ

Common Questions from Construction & Real Estate Businesses

Can't find your answer? Talk to our team →

Yes. D365 Finance includes a fully HMRC-compliant CIS module that automates subcontractor verification, calculates the correct deduction rate (20%, 30%, or gross payment), generates monthly CIS300 returns, and produces subcontractor payment and deduction statements. It also tracks gross payment status thresholds and alerts you when subcontractors approach limits — something most legacy systems can't do.

Yes — D365 Project Operations with our construction-specific configuration can replace Coins, Causeway, Viewpoint, and most legacy construction ERP platforms. We have a proven data migration methodology for each of these systems. We also support a phased migration where you run both systems in parallel during a controlled transition period, so no live project is at risk during the cutover.

We host your IFC or Revit models in Azure Blob Storage and render them through an Azure-hosted BIM viewer linked to D365. This connects model elements — rooms, components, spaces — directly to D365 cost codes, work packages, and asset records. Site teams can access the model on a tablet, log snagging against a component, and the defect automatically creates a D365 work order linked to the correct element in the BIM model.

Yes. D365 supports both legal entities in a single instance — your contracting business using Project Operations and Finance for contract management, and your development entity using the Real Estate module for plot sales, shared ownership, and property management. The two entities share customer, supplier, and resource master data, but maintain separate financial ledgers and reporting hierarchies.

The Cambay Subcontractor Self-Service Portal allows subcontractors to submit and update their CSCS cards, insurance certificates, public liability policies, and RAMS documents directly — with automated expiry alerts triggered 30, 60, and 90 days before documents lapse. D365 will not generate a purchase order for a subcontractor with expired compliance documents — preventing unapproved contractors from being instructed on site.

Every construction client receives 30 days of included hypercare support post-go-live — critically, this includes your first month-end close and your first CIS300 return in the new system, with our construction finance consultants available on-call. After hypercare we offer flexible managed service options, including a dedicated construction-specialist support team with guaranteed response times aligned to your commercial calendar.

Ready to Protect Your Margins and Deliver Every Project on Time?

Book a free 60-minute consultation with one of our construction specialists. We'll review your current commercial and project management setup, identify where margin is leaking, and outline a realistic transformation roadmap — with no obligation.

✓ Free, no-obligation consultation ✓ Construction-specialist consultants ✓ Response within 2 business hours ✓ Microsoft Gold Partner

Your information is never shared. We'll only contact you about your enquiry.

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