SubBase: Construction Supply Streamlined

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The SubBase Show is where construction gets real about productivity, technology, and the bottom line. Hosted by industry veterans and forward-thinking builders, each episode unpacks the hidden costs dragging subcontractors down from broken field-to-office communication to manual procurement and outdated AP workflows.  Through candid conversations with leaders like Marcus Spiegelberg of Douglas Orr Plumbing, and insights from tech experts like Brian Kian of Foundation Software, we explore how smart contractors are buying back time, cutting waste, and turning chaos into control. Whether you're a project manager, foreman, or owner looking to run leaner and scale smarter, this show gives you the strategies, tools, and real-world examples to get it done. Because in construction, time really is money, and we're here to help you stop losing both.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Meeting Owner Expectations | Procurement Reporting That Builds Trust

    Host Eric Helitzer walks through the side of procurement and reporting that many people don’t talk about: what owners actually expect from you. He highlights the importance of clear communication and how your project benefits when owners are consistently updated in real-time. Eric outlines the three things owners look for in procurement reports and explains how delivering on them builds trust and stronger working relationships with them. Eric shows how the most important aspect of all of this is to have clear, open communication with the owners. When everyone is in the loop throughout the project timeline, expectations stay aligned and projects run more smoothly for everyone.  Chapters [Start] What Owners Actually Expect: Eric begins by sharing the importance of including owners in your procurement process. 00:56 Three Things Owners Look For: Three important things owners want to see in reports. 03:00 Transparency and Real-Time Data: Why being transparent and sharing real-time data makes all the difference. 03:36 The Importance of Cost Tracking and Visibility: How cost tracking and visibility improves your relationship with owners. 05:08 Clear Communication is Key: The most important part of everything in your processes: communication and collaboration. Links and ResourcesSubBase WebsiteEric Helitzer on LinkedInWhat Owners Expect from Procurement and Reporting Want a demo? Book here.

    7 min

  2. 20 JAN

    Maximizing Procurement Processes | How to Get the Best Value for Your Procurement Needs

    (00:00:00) Procurement As a Strategic Advantage: Reframing procurement as value creation in unpredictable markets. (00:01:08) Knowing the Market: How monitoring rates and prices leads to smarter purchasing decisions. (00:01:50) Building Strong Supplier Relationships: Why communication, reliability, and trust matter with your vendors. (00:02:46) Comparing Quotes and RFQs: The importance of comparing requests and quotes to get the best value. (00:03:36) Using Technology to Centralize Data: The benefits of using procurement software to keep track of your company’s importan (00:04:20) Being Proactive vs Reactive: How to plan proactively in your budgets and timelines. Eric Helitzer focuses on building a procurement strategy that consistently delivers real, long-term value. He positions procurement as a strategic advantage that protects budgets, improves timelines, and strengthens project outcomes, especially when material prices and availability fluctuate rapidly. Eric walks through five foundational principles to help teams move from reactive purchasing to proactive planning. From understanding market trends to using technology for cleaner decision-making, he emphasizes how clarity and consistency create leverage. He shows that procurement processes reduce manual work, improve accountability, and position teams to scale with confidence instead of chaos. Chapters [Start] Procurement As a Strategic Advantage: Reframing procurement as value creation in unpredictable markets. 01:08 Knowing the Market: How monitoring rates and prices leads to smarter purchasing decisions. 01:50 Building Strong Supplier Relationships: Why communication, reliability, and trust matter with your vendors. 02:46 Comparing Quotes and RFQs: The importance of comparing requests and quotes to get the best value. 03:36 Using Technology to Centralize Data: The benefits of using procurement software to keep track of your company’s important data. 04:20 Being Proactive vs Reactive: How to plan proactively in your budgets and timelines. Links and Resources SubBase WebsiteEric Helitzer on LinkedIn Book Your Demo with SubBase

    6 min

  3. 13 JAN

    Streamlining Order Management | Creating High-Growth Efficiency with Automated Systems

    Eric Helitzer talks about a critical operational function that often determines whether construction growth feels manageable or chaotic: order management. As projects scale, teams face an increasing number of variables that can strain outdated systems. This episode reframes order management as a strategic lever that directly impacts efficiency, accuracy, and project outcomes. Eric explores how workflow automation and order management software help construction teams regain control. By replacing manual processes with standardized workflows, firms can reduce delays, minimize errors, and free teams to focus on higher-value work. He emphasizes that growth doesn’t have to introduce chaos; with the right systems in place, it can be both scalable and sustainable. Chapters [Start] Why Order Management Matters: Introducing order management as a strategic function tied to growth and efficiency. 00:55 The Cost of Fragmented Processes: How manual processes create delays, errors, and scaling challenges. 02:01 How Workflow Automation Improves Efficiency: Breaking down how automated workflows reduce errors and save hours of manual work. 02:40 Order Management for Subcontractors: How subcontractors benefit from using centralized systems. 03:43 Key Features to Look For: The things that matter most when looking for automation software to use. Links and ResourcesSubBase WebsiteEric Helitzer on LinkedIn Want a demo? Book here.

    6 min

  4. 6 JAN

    Streamlining Invoice Management | Fixing Hidden Bottlenecks in Invoice Procurement

    Eric Helitzer breaks down one of the most overlooked parts of construction operations: invoice management. Rather than viewing invoices as office paperwork, he reframes them as a central driver of efficiency across the entire procurement lifecycle. Eric explains how common invoicing challenges can erode productivity and create downstream financial strain. He also explores how automated invoice management shifts procurement from a reactive process to a strategic advantage. By reducing manual entry, teams gain clearer insight into spending, budgets, and cash flow. Eric emphasizes that effective invoice management is not just about paying bills faster—it’s about building reliable systems that support healthier and more profitable projects overall. Chapters [Start] Why Invoice Management Matters: An overview of how invoicing directly impacts all areas of a project. 01:31 Invoice Management Challenges: Why manual processes create risks and avoidable errors. 02:21 How Automation Can Benefit: A breakdown of standardized workflows, faster approvals, and reduced human error. 02:56 Cash Flow, Vendors, and Expense Tracking: How real-time expense visibility and strong supplier relationships work together. 04:44 Turning Invoice Management Into a Competitive Advantage: Why automated systems support better decisions, healthier finances, and more predictable projects. Links and ResourcesSubBase WebsiteEric Helitzer on LinkedIn Want a demo? Book here.

    6 min

  5. 30/12/2025

    Clean Data, Faster Decisions | The Procurement Fix Most Teams Overlook

    Host Eric Helitzer tackles a common challenge contractors regularly face: fragmented and unreliable reporting and procurement. When information lives across spreadsheets, inboxes, text threads, and disconnected systems, teams are forced to make decisions without clear visibility into costs, orders, or progress, resulting in delays, extra work, and inaccurate reporting. Eric looks at the root causes of these issues, explaining why and how they are deeply connected. He walks through how centralized procurement data, real-time updates, and integrated communication can eliminate guesswork, reduce human error, and give every stakeholder the same version of the truth. For subcontractors looking to run leaner, more predictable projects, Eric offers a clear blueprint for cutting through chaos and building scalable workflows. If your team is tired of chasing information, reconciling spreadsheets, or working off outdated reports, it may be time for a better approach. Contact SubBase to schedule a personalized demo and see how centralized procurement, real-time visibility, and connected communication can transform the way your projects run. Chapters [Start] Reporting and Procurement Chaos: Eric introduces why disconnected data and communication create hidden costs and unreliable reporting. 02:05 Fragmented Reporting and Multiple Versions of the Truth: How spreadsheets, emails, and manual updates undermine confidence in your numbers. 06:10 The Visibility Problem: Why teams struggle to track order status, deliveries, and costs, and how real-time access changes everything. 10:40 Communication That Slows Projects Down: How scattered messages create delays and disconnect reporting from reality. 14:55 What a Streamlined Process Really Looks Like: Centralized data, live visibility, and connected communication working together. 18:30 From Chaos to Control: How fixing reporting and procurement hurdles keeps projects on schedule and teams aligned. Links and ResourcesHow to overcome reporting and procurement hurdles | SubBaseSubBase WebsiteEric Helitzer on LinkedIn

    5 min

  6. 23/12/2025

    Forecasting with Confidence | How to Transform Your Budgeting and Forecasting with Integrated Systems

    Forecasting with Confidence | How to Transform Your Budgeting and Forecasting with Integrated SystemsIn this episode, Eric talks about one of the most critical pillars of successful construction projects: budgeting and financial forecasting. This episode reframes forecasting as a living system that supports smarter planning, stronger risk management, and more confident decision-making. Eric talks through why early, accurate budgeting creates clarity, prevents costly surprises, and keeps teams aligned from start to finish.He also addresses the reality of manual budgeting processes: they are time-consuming, error-prone, and disconnected from field operations. By highlighting common pain points and contrasting them with the benefits of integrated systems, Eric makes a compelling case for modernizing financial workflows. This episode encourages teams to adopt tools that bring visibility, control, and predictability to every project. Chapters [Start] Why Budgeting and Forecasting Matter: An overview of how financial planning supports project success, risk management, and efficiency. 01:34 The Hidden Costs of Manual Budgeting: A breakdown of common challenges with manual budgeting systems. 02:30 Improvements with Integrated Systems: A look at the benefits of using an integrated system that meets your needs in every area. 03:25 Best Practices for Better Forecasting: Actionable guidance on starting your journey to a better forecasting system. 04:31 What This Means: How improved forecasting reduces errors and gives you profitability for your projects.Links and Resources A Guide to Budget Management | SubBaseSubBase WebsiteEric Helitzer on LinkedIn Want a demo? Book here. This episode includes AI-generated content.

    6 min

  7. 16/12/2025

    Automation as a Competitive Edge: How Smart Workflows Keep Your Jobs Moving

    In this episode of The SubBase Show, host Eric Helitzer breaks down why automation is no longer a “nice to have” in construction—it’s a competitive advantage. With labor shortages, rising project complexity, and data flowing from every direction, manual systems built on spreadsheets, emails, and phone calls simply can’t keep up. Eric walks through how automation removes friction from material procurement, invoicing, and approvals so teams can move faster and make better decisions with less effort. You’ll hear how real-time data, centralized systems, and automatic invoice reconciliation change the game for subcontractors, project managers, and finance teams alike. From tracking material histories and vendor pricing to tightening cashflow and improving forecasting, this episode shows how smart workflows align field, office, and vendors around one reliable source of truth—and why companies that embrace automation now will be the ones that stay ahead. Chapters [Start] Why Automation Matters Now More Than Ever 01:10 Fixing Procurement Bottlenecks with Real-Time Visibility 02:03 From Data Logs to Invoice Matching: What Automation Actually Does 02:56 The Future of Procurement: Data, Prediction, and Competitive Advantage 03:51 Four Steps to Start Automating Your Workflows Links and ResourcesSubBase WebsiteEric Helitzer on LinkedIn

    5 min

  8. 09/12/2025

    The Material Database Makeover | How Clean Data Transforms Costs, Forecasting, and Field-to-Office Flow

    In this episode of The SubBase Show, host Eric Helitzer uncovers one of the least glamorous, but most financially impactful parts of a subcontractor’s business: the material database. While often buried in spreadsheets, accounting software, or outdated internal systems, the material database sits at the center of nearly every major purchasing, forecasting, and cost-control decision. When it’s inconsistent, disorganized, or overloaded with duplicate item names, it  inflates budgets, slows down workflows, and makes accurate forecasting nearly impossible. Eric breaks down why construction teams struggle to keep this critical dataset clean, and what happens when the field, office, and vendors use different naming conventions and descriptions, or incomplete information. He shows how a modern, centralized, controlled database creates huge downstream benefits: faster quoting, clearer purchasing, better invoice reconciliation, more predictable budgeting, and standardized communication across every project. If this episode got you thinking about the health of your own material database, or if you’re ready to build one system your field, office, and vendors can actually trust, reach out to SubBase for a personalized demo. See exactly how a standardized, centralized database can eliminate errors, streamline purchasing, and bring real control to your job costs. Chapters [Start] Why Material Databases Matter: Eric opens by explaining how inconsistent item naming, scattered spreadsheets, and outdated accounting records silently distort budgets and forecasting. 00:58 The Hidden Cost of Inconsistency: A look at how supplier naming inconsistencies, duplicate items, and manual updates create confusion and inaccurate spend history. 01:12 How Traditional Systems Break Down: Eric outlines why spreadsheets and accounting tools fail as material databases, and how errors compound across projects. 01:58 The SubBase Approach: A walkthrough of SubBase’s flexible, standardized, visual material database and how it eliminates miscommunication between field, office, and vendors. 02:58 From Clean Data to Clean Workflows: How a centralized database improves forecasting, ordering accuracy, cost control, and invoice matching. 04:11 A Tale of Two Contractors: Eric compares a spreadsheet-driven workflow with a SubBase-driven one to show real-world differences in accuracy, clarity, and speed. Links and Resources How to manage your material database | SubBaseSubBase WebsiteEric Helitzer on LinkedIn

    7 min
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About

The SubBase Show is where construction gets real about productivity, technology, and the bottom line. Hosted by industry veterans and forward-thinking builders, each episode unpacks the hidden costs dragging subcontractors down from broken field-to-office communication to manual procurement and outdated AP workflows.  Through candid conversations with leaders like Marcus Spiegelberg of Douglas Orr Plumbing, and insights from tech experts like Brian Kian of Foundation Software, we explore how smart contractors are buying back time, cutting waste, and turning chaos into control. Whether you're a project manager, foreman, or owner looking to run leaner and scale smarter, this show gives you the strategies, tools, and real-world examples to get it done. Because in construction, time really is money, and we're here to help you stop losing both.

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