The verdict in three sentences
A structural engineering firm of 22 engineers that only learns a project's profitability at close-out is flying blind: a project management tool costs SGD 60 to 130 per user per month as a package, or SGD 60,000 to 140,000 as custom software in Singapore in 2026. The real lever is time tracking by design stage, linked to the fee budget, which exposes overruns at 30 % progress instead of 100 %. Gaining 6 points of billable utilisation towards a 75 % target brings far more than the tool costs, whichever model you choose.
Why profitability shows up too late
The managing director of a structural consultancy in Singapore sells lump-sum fees split by stage. When a condominium project keeps changing at design development, or when BCA submission comments and construction-stage queries drag on, hours slip without anyone noticing before the final invoice.
| Design stage | Typical share of structural fees | Frequent overrun risk |
|---|---|---|
| Concept and schematic design | 10 to 15 % | Unpriced options requested by the architect |
| Design development | 15 to 20 % | Reworked load paths |
| Detailed design and BCA submission | 20 to 25 % | Programme changes without variation orders |
| Tender | 5 to 10 % | Longer tender evaluation than planned |
| Shop drawing review | 20 to 25 % | Back and forth with the main contractor |
| Site supervision and completion | 10 to 15 % | Site meetings beyond the lump sum |
Without time tracking by stage, you cannot know that detailed design has used 140 % of its budget while design development broke even. Yet this is exactly the information that supports a fee variation with the client.
Package or custom: compare over 3 years
Several international packages cover project management for engineering and architecture, some of them listed for Productivity Solutions Grant support. Custom work makes sense when your workflows, design tools or multi-office set-up fall outside the standard frame, and the Enterprise Development Grant can co-fund qualifying projects.
| Option | Upfront cost | Annual cost (25 users) | 3-year cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared spreadsheet | SGD 0 | SGD 10,000 of consolidation time | SGD 30,000 | Immediate |
| Entry package (SGD 60 per user per month) | SGD 3,000 to 6,000 | SGD 18,000 | SGD 57,000 to 60,000 | 1 to 2 months |
| Full package (SGD 130 per user per month) | SGD 10,000 to 20,000 | SGD 39,000 | SGD 127,000 to 137,000 | 2 to 4 months |
| Custom, core scope | SGD 60,000 to 90,000 | SGD 9,000 to 13,000 | SGD 87,000 to 129,000 | 3 to 5 months |
| Advanced custom (resourcing, multi-office, BI) | SGD 100,000 to 140,000 | SGD 13,000 to 20,000 | SGD 139,000 to 200,000 | 5 to 8 months |
These are 2026 estimates before any grant. A package wins on speed to start; custom becomes competitive over 3 years and fits specific processes better.
The features that change profitability
| Feature | Metric tracked | Expected effect |
|---|---|---|
| Time entry by project and stage | Actual hours against budget | Overrun visible at 30 % progress |
| Fee budget by stage | Remaining hours to complete | Evidence-based variation request |
| Progress billing | Unbilled work in progress | Cash brought forward by 20 to 40 days |
| Utilisation per engineer | Billable over paid hours | 75 % target, against 62 to 68 % often observed |
| Resource plan | 8-week load per team | Less emergency subcontracting |
| Director dashboard | Margin by project and client | Better decisions on which tenders to bid |
Progress billing deserves particular attention: a monthly claim by stage, approved in two clicks by the project lead, removes the usual end-of-quarter billing backlog.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Wei Ling, managing director of a 22-engineer structural firm in Singapore, measures 66 % utilisation. On a base of 1,900 annual hours per engineer, the team has 41,800 hours. Moving to 72 %, 6 points better thanks to tighter tracking and fee variations obtained, adds 2,508 billed hours. At SGD 130 an hour, that is about SGD 326,000 of extra revenue a year.
On the cost side, a full package for 25 users costs SGD 39,000 a year, custom software SGD 110,000 plus SGD 15,000 a year. Either way, the tool pays for itself in under 6 months if the utilisation gain holds, even at half.
FAQ
Will engineers really log their time?
Yes, if entry takes under 5 minutes a day and the data visibly drives decisions. A weekly timesheet pre-filled from the calendar usually lifts completion from 60 % to over 95 %.
Track by stage or by task?
The design stage is enough in 80 % of cases. Going down to task level adds friction for a marginal gain, except on large projects above SGD 250,000 in fees.
Can the tool connect to accounting?
Yes, through invoice and journal exports to the firm's accounting software, for example Xero. Building this bridge costs SGD 5,000 to 14,000 in custom work.
What utilisation should we target in 2026?
For a structural engineer, 75 % is realistic; a senior project lead usually runs at 60 to 65 % because of business development and management.
How long before figures are reliable?
Count one full quarter of time entry. Budgets for live projects must be loaded at go-live, 2 to 4 days of work for 60 active projects.
Let's scope your project. Share your headcount, number of active projects and current tools: we compare package and custom over 3 years, with a scope, an indicative budget and a timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
