From Outgrown Systems to a Scalable Operating Model — and a 40% Software Savings
The engagement concluded with a comprehensive Operations Manual, 11 new workflows, 22 integrated job descriptions, and a negotiated 40% reduction on ERP implementation costs — giving a growing municipal contractor the structure and systems to scale with confidence.
CLIENT
G.S. Construction Inc. is one of Georgia’s most highly regarded municipal contracting companies, based in Lawrenceville, GA, with over 30 years of experience in utility infrastructure including storm drains, water lines, sewers, concrete curbs, gutters, and sidewalks. Annual revenue exceeds $20M.
CHALLENGE
GS Construction’s rapid growth had outpaced their processes. Without formal policies, protocols, or job descriptions, organizing projects for higher profitability was difficult. The company had also outgrown QuickBooks and needed new accounting software — plus the organizational structure to support continued expansion.
RESULTS
Ascent delivered a full Operational Design with 11 new processes, 22 integrated job descriptions, a comprehensive Operations Manual, and guided GS through ERP software selection and implementation — including negotiating a 40% cost reduction when a vendor delayed implementation.
Has your company outgrown its processes and technology?
The Ascent Difference
We transformed a rapidly growing municipal contractor from informal processes and outgrown software into a structured, scalable operating model — and saved them 40% on their ERP implementation in the process.
GS Construction had built a reputation as one of Georgia’s premier municipal contractors over three decades. Their work quality was never in question — but their internal systems hadn’t kept pace with their growth. Without formal policies, documented processes, or clearly defined roles, the company was relying on institutional knowledge rather than repeatable systems to deliver projects profitably.
Leadership recognized the company was at an inflection point. They needed an organizational structure that could absorb growth, accounting software that matched their complexity, and a partner who understood how all those pieces connect in a construction environment.
Ascent engaged through discovery workshops, process mapping, software selection, and implementation support. Our engagement included:
- Discovery workshops and comprehensive operational assessment
- ERP software needs assessment, vendor demonstrations, and selection facilitation
- ERP implementation coaching and data migration support
- Vendor contract renegotiation — saving 40% when implementation was delayed
- Process mapping workshops producing 11 new digital workflows with hyperlinked instructions
- Deliverable: Comprehensive Operations Manual with 22 integrated job descriptions and role definitions
“Thank you, Ascent, for supporting and guiding us during this key business transition.”
— James Claflin
Controller, GS Construction
GS Construction now has a customized Operations Manual that serves as the foundation for how the company operates. Roles are clearly defined and fully integrated into new processes, and digital process maps include hyperlinked instructions for completing tasks in the new software platform.
Perhaps most notably, when a vendor delayed the ERP implementation, Ascent championed GS Construction in renegotiating the contract — reducing the cost from $91K to $57K. That kind of advocacy is what happens when your consultant has been through hundreds of software implementations and knows how to protect your interests.
For growing contractors, the gap between ‘we know how to do this’ and ‘our systems know how to do this’ is where profitability leaks. Institutional knowledge is valuable until the person who holds it is unavailable. The companies that scale predictably are the ones that document their methodology, define their roles, and invest in technology that supports — not complicates — how they operate.
Ready to build systems that match your growth?
If your construction company has outgrown its processes and technology, let’s talk about how Ascent can design an operating model that scales with you — and protect your interests through every vendor negotiation along the way.