Briq announces acquisition of Swipez, bringing automation to billing and accounts receivable
Learn More
In the rapidly evolving construction industry, where margins are tight and project complexity continues to increase, forward-thinking companies are discovering that digital transformation isn't just about technology—it's about fundamentally reimagining how work gets done. Metro Walls, a leading drywall and specialty contractor in New England, exemplifies this strategic evolution.
Metro Walls has experienced remarkable expansion in recent years, growing from a $10M company with 25 employees to a $100M+ operation with 250 employees across four branches in New Hampshire, Maine, Southern Massachusetts, and New York City. This growth brought both opportunity and complexity.
Mark Makmann, CFO at Metro Walls, found himself facing a classic scaling challenge: the company's financial processes hadn't evolved at the same pace as its operations.
"My month-end was a very, very manual process," Makmann explains. "I would manually update the spreadsheet, then copy and paste into accounting software, then do the manual entries."
With eight project managers handling nearly 175 active projects simultaneously, this approach proved unsustainable. "It wasn't an expedient close. I got to the point where I couldn't do this every month—it had to be quarterly, and by then, the data was stale."
When faced with operational bottlenecks, organizations typically consider two paths: add headcount or transform processes. Metro Walls explored both options.
"The alternative to Briq was hiring a full-time FP&A person—or two part-time people," notes Makmann. "Instead, Briq handles it all, at a fraction of the cost."
By implementing Briq's construction financial automation platform, Metro Walls didn't simply digitize existing workflows—they fundamentally reimagined them. The company now leverages several integrated capabilities:
The transformation has been profound, particularly in terms of time savings and work quality.
"This has bought me back a week of my time every month. That's invaluable," Makmann shares. "What used to take me over a week now takes a fraction of the time."
The ripple effects extend throughout the organization. Project managers no longer need lengthy monthly financial review meetings, saving two to three days per cycle. More importantly, the accelerated financial close process means decisions are based on current information rather than outdated data.
"My financials used to be delayed—I'd still be working on them by the 20th of the month. Now, the process is significantly faster and more accurate."
Perhaps the most transformative aspect has been the consolidation of information.
"Before Briq, all historical data was scattered across spreadsheets from eight different project managers," Makmann explains. "Now, everything is in one spot. If I want to know what a job did, I just click in Briq and all the data is there."
This centralization has enhanced Metro Walls' ability to make data-driven decisions. "Briq has improved our revenue projections, WIP tracking, and financial reporting. It even rolls up into our projected profit and loss statements."
While the technical implementation was straightforward, the human side of change management presented its own challenges. Not every team member embraces new technology with equal enthusiasm.
"It was a challenge getting project managers to adopt it at first," Makmann acknowledges. "Some still use spreadsheets, but once I explained the value—like not having to sit with me for two hours every month—they got on board."
This highlights an important aspect of digital transformation often overlooked: understanding the diverse motivations and working styles within a team. By focusing on the concrete benefits for each stakeholder, Metro Walls achieved meaningful adoption.
"Project managers aren't accountants. They care about getting the job done," Makmann notes. "With Briq, we're empowering them to think more about the financials without making their job harder."
The implementation process revealed another critical factor in successful digital transformation: collaborative vendor relationships. Technology providers who understand industry-specific challenges can become valuable partners in innovation.
"The engineers at Briq have been incredible," Makmann shares. "I've thrown things at them that I thought couldn't be done, and they've always found a way to make it happen."
Metro Walls' experience demonstrates that effective technology implementation isn't about replacing humans with automation—it's about enhancing human capabilities by removing tedious, low-value tasks.
For construction financial professionals, this means shifting from data processing to data analysis and strategic planning. For project managers, it means spending less time on administrative reporting and more time optimizing project delivery.
As the construction industry continues to evolve, companies that successfully integrate human expertise with technological capabilities will be best positioned to thrive. Metro Walls' transformation provides a blueprint for how intelligent automation can create competitive advantage while improving work quality and employee satisfaction.
By focusing on augmentation rather than replacement, Metro Walls has created a foundation for sustainable growth where technology amplifies human potential rather than diminishing it.
