Zachry Construction Leverages Planera Precision Planning for Smarter Scheduling
In a bold stride toward digital transformation, Zachry Construction Corporation has partnered with Planera to revamp how it manages resources across its expansive infrastructure portfolio. Known for its deep-rooted history in heavy civil construction, Zachry’s adoption of Planera’s visual Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling platform signals a shift in how major players are rethinking the nuts and bolts of project delivery.
Based in San Antonio, Texas, Zachry is no newcomer to big builds or complex infrastructure. With more than a century of construction expertise under its belt, the privately owned company has left its mark on transportation systems, utility grids, and iconic structures across the globe. Ranked #222 in the ENR 400 and generating over $500 million in revenue in 2024, Zachry’s decision to modernise its project controls underscores its commitment to staying ahead of the curve.
Why Scheduling Still Matters
In an industry where time is money and margins are often razor-thin, efficient resource scheduling can mean the difference between profit and loss. With 25 simultaneous projects under management, Zachry’s challenge wasn’t just scale, but how to deploy its teams, machinery, and materials with optimal precision.
Enter Planera: a sleek, visual scheduling tool designed to breathe new life into what has traditionally been a clunky, spreadsheet-heavy process. Ranjeet Gadhoke, Zachry’s Vice President of Project Controls, put it bluntly: “We’ve modernised an old-school process and can now use resources from crews to cranes much more efficiently. Planera allows us to do this so effectively that we’re even able to tie employee bonuses to managing our resources well.”
Visualising a Better Way to Build
Planera’s software isn’t just another scheduling tool—it’s a visual rethink of the traditional CPM model. Rather than bury project leads in static Gantt charts or Excel grids, it allows teams to interact with timelines in real time, explore what-if scenarios, and course-correct on the fly.
That agility is especially critical in an era where supply chain disruptions, labour shortages and extreme weather can throw a spanner in the works. With Planera, Zachry’s teams can react faster, recalibrate more precisely, and ensure that construction stays on track, even when the unexpected hits.
Backed by Big Builders and Bigger Ideas
Zachry joins a roster of high-profile clients who’ve embraced Planera’s technology. The platform is already in use at Granite, Barton Malow, Big-D Construction, and Blach Construction—firms known for their forward-thinking project management approaches.
Behind the scenes, Planera is backed by a who’s-who of venture capital: Sierra Ventures, Sorenson, Brick & Mortar Ventures, Prudence, and Firebolt. That level of investor confidence has helped the company refine its offering and scale its presence across North America’s booming construction sector.
A Blueprint for Scalable Success
The partnership between Zachry and Planera isn’t just a tech upgrade—it’s a case study in how construction firms can future-proof operations. With data-driven scheduling that links efficiency to employee rewards, Zachry has taken a cultural leap forward. It’s no longer just about building roads or terminals; it’s about building smarter.
Looking ahead, the collaboration offers lessons for other firms wrestling with outdated scheduling methods. The days of disconnected spreadsheets and post-it notes are fading fast. As Zachry’s story shows, embracing the right tools can unlock new levels of profitability, team alignment, and project success.
Engineering a Smarter Future
Zachry’s adoption of Planera is more than just a software implementation. It’s a strategic evolution that aligns people, process, and platform. By breaking free from traditional bottlenecks and embracing visual, dynamic scheduling, Zachry is well-positioned to lead the charge into a more agile, efficient, and profitable construction future.
As industry pressures mount and the demand for infrastructure intensifies, others would do well to take note: resource scheduling is no longer just a back-office function. It’s now central to competitiveness, and those who invest in it—like Zachry—are setting the pace for what’s next.
