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Building WKMGMT - How I Digitized My Father-in-Law's Construction Business

the problem

My father-in-law runs a construction business, and like many contractors, he was drowning in paperwork. Handwritten timecards, scattered receipts, manual calculations, and constant phone calls to track down missing expense reports. It was 2025, but his business was still running like it was 1995. ↆ


the lightbulb moment

After watching him spend hours every weekend sorting through paper timecards and calculating payroll manually, I realized this was a perfect opportunity to build something meaningful. Not just another side project, but a real solution for a real problem affecting real people.

That's how WKMGMT was born - a digital construction management platform designed specifically for small to medium construction businesses.


what WKMGMT does

WKMGMT (Work Management) is a comprehensive digital platform that transforms paper-based construction workflows into streamlined digital processes:

WKMGMT Landing Page Professional landing page highlighting the three core features that construction businesses need most

Core Features:

  • Digital Timecards: Contractors submit hours via mobile-friendly interface
  • Expense Management: Track materials, fuel, and equipment costs with receipt uploads
  • Contractor Management: Assign jobs, manage rates, and control access permissions
  • Real-time Reporting: Instant visibility into project costs and labor hours
  • Approval Workflows: Streamlined review process for timecards and expenses

the mobile-first approach

Construction workers aren't sitting at desks - they're on job sites. WKMGMT was built mobile-first, allowing contractors to submit timecards and expenses from anywhere.

The app provides contractors with:

  • Digital timecard submission with project details and work descriptions
  • Expense tracking with receipt photo uploads (as shown above)
  • Real-time status updates on approvals and payments
  • Simple, intuitive interface that works on any device

solving real pain points

Before WKMGMT:

  • Paper timecards got lost or damaged on job sites
  • Manual calculations led to payroll errors
  • Expense tracking was chaotic and incomplete
  • No visibility into project profitability
  • Hours spent on administrative tasks every week

After WKMGMT:

  • Digital timecards are automatically saved and backed up
  • Instant calculations eliminate payroll errors
  • Every expense is tracked with photos and receipts
  • Real-time project cost visibility
  • Administrative time cut by 80%

the expense management game-changer

One of the biggest wins was digitizing expense tracking. Construction projects involve hundreds of small purchases - materials, fuel, tools, equipment rentals. Tracking these manually was a nightmare.

Expense Submission Form Clean, intuitive expense submission form with category selection, vendor tracking, and receipt photo uploads

WKMGMT automatically categorizes expenses, tracks them by project, and provides instant reporting. My father-in-law can now see exactly where every dollar goes on each project.


built with modern tech, designed for real users

Technology Stack:

  • Progressive Web App (PWA) for mobile-first experience
  • Real-time synchronization for immediate updates
  • Offline capability for job sites with poor connectivity
  • Cloud-based with automatic backups
  • Role-based security for different user types

User Experience Priorities:

  • Simple, intuitive interface for non-tech-savvy users
  • Large buttons and clear navigation for mobile use
  • Minimal training required - if you can use a smartphone, you can use WKMGMT

the family impact

Six months after launching WKMGMT for my father-in-law's business, the results speak for themselves:

  • 80% reduction in administrative time
  • Zero lost timecards (previously 2-3 per month)
  • 100% accuracy in payroll calculations
  • Complete expense visibility for the first time ever
  • Faster contractor payments improving worker satisfaction

But the biggest win? My father-in-law actually looks forward to managing his business now instead of dreading the paperwork.

Built with Claude Code's assistance and a lot of love for family ❤️