How Contractors Fix Preconstruction Chaos to Replace Excel and Boost Margins with Don Tiefenbrunn — The ConTechCrew

In this episode of The ConTech Crew, the host Jeff Sample talks with Don Tiefenbrunn and Steve Botz from RMOne about why current ERPs overlook pre-construction needs and how RMOne was born out of real-world challenges faced by construction professionals. They explore the fundamental shift in how construction companies approach technology, starting with pre-construction.

Don Tiefenbrunn is a seasoned architect turned construction leader who co-founded RMOne after decades in the industry. His firsthand frustrations with fragmented data systems led him to build a unified ERP that starts at the very beginning: pre-construction. Steve Botz brings a tech-centric perspective, having worked in real estate and construction tech. He joined RMOne to help scale the solution and bring its grounded, craftsman-built approach to more companies.

Key Takeaways

Why pre-construction is the most overlooked yet critical phase in project planning.
How RMOne was built from scratch to solve real construction pain points.
What "eating your own dog food" looks like in construction tech.
The role of change management in rolling out new systems organization-wide.
How small to mid-sized contractors can benefit from affordable, scalable ERP solutions.

Timestamps

[00:15] - Episode Kickoff & Guest Introductions

[02:49] - Don’s Journey: From Architect to ERP Innovator

[08:21] - Steve’s Background and Career Journey

[10:25] - Iterating the Product: Feedback, Testing, and Rollouts

[13:08] - Building Software from Real Construction Experience

[15:53] - Going Commercial: Why RMOne Was Taken to Market

[20:17] - Philosophy Behind RMOne: No VC Money, Just Mission

[26:01] - Why Pre-Con Matters: Real-Life Scenarios & ROI

[32:09] - Final Thoughts & How to Learn More About RMOne

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