In construction, one oversight can trigger million-dollar liabilities. That moment you discover a subcontractor's insurance expired right before a devastating accident isn't just a scenario—it's a reality that plays out regularly on job sites across the country.
As a general contractor overseeing dozens of subcontractors across multiple sites, the risks compound rapidly.
The construction industry faces among the highest third-party liability risks, with nearly one in five workplace deaths occurring in construction in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
When incidents happen, the paper trail leads back to one critical vulnerability: your certificate of insurance tracking process.
Traditional spreadsheet-based COI tracking creates dangerous protection gaps you simply can't afford:
Automated COI tracking software, on the other hand, removes these terrifying levels of risk that keep you up at night.
As you decide which subcontractor insurance tracking solution best suits your situation, let's compare how other industry leaders (myCOI, GetJones, and TrustLayer) perform against bcs.
The speed of insurance verification directly impacts your operational efficiency and risk exposure. And while each of these leading subcontractor insurance tracking solutions is better than its manual forebears, they are not without their shortcomings.
You want to make sure you get things right, which means you need an effective audit step. Some general contractors report processing delays with myCOI, especially during busy periods. Audit times range from two days to two weeks, creating a dangerous lag time for high-risk relationships.
One operations manager described it as "time-consuming and mind-numbing," while a project assistant specifically mentioned "the length of review times" needs improvement.
TrustLayer positions itself as an AI-driven solution, but implementation often falls short of expectations. Despite marketing claims, many construction companies report still needing to perform manual reviews.
According to user feedback, optical character recognition (OCR) technology has limitations that lead to accuracy issues, nullifying the entire point of automated subcontractor insurance tracking software.
Its human review option ("TrustLayer+ with Outsourced Risk Management") reportedly requires additional fees beyond the base service cost.
Review time is where GetJones shines, delivering assessment reviews within 24 hours. Yes, this is faster than myCOI, but it still creates a full-day delay, which may be a big enough window to turn more exacting general contractors into stress cases.
GetJones’ renewal tracking sends automated notices at 30, 14, 7, and 0 days before expiration, giving your subcontractors a flurry of reminders to update their certification of insurance information.
bcs provides instant, color-coded feedback during document upload.
Vendors immediately see what information needs correction, eliminating waiting periods and administrative back-and-forth, speeding up your processes while easing your mind.
The system's OCR engine extracts data within seconds, instantly cross-referencing against your requirements. Automated renewal tracking starts 60 days before expiration with continued reminders throughout the renewal period.
As one Davidson Communities controller noted: "We were spending a lot of time chasing down COIs and didn't know if they were compliant. With bcs, we get all that and more."
The usability of your COI tracking solution directly impacts adoption rates for both your team and subcontractors.
After all, if they’re not comfortable using an automated COI tracking platform, you might as well not have it.
Construction companies have reported onboarding challenges with myCOI. One risk management director explained: "It takes a while for a new user to become acclimated to the software. We have additional training documents to help."
Adding friction, myCOI requires subcontractors to create accounts and log in for document uploads—a hurdle that reduces compliance rates. Document management creates further difficulties, with "no standard COI naming protocol" and bulk downloading described as taking "days" for 50 COIs, according to another review.
TrustLayer offers a contemporary design, but former users report that it sometimes requests documentation exceeding agreed-upon requirements, straining subcontractor relationships.
GetJones offers 30,000+ pre-vetted vendor profiles, but geographic coverage limitations affect rural projects where vendor coverage is limited compared to urban centers.
bcs provides intuitive navigation with color-coded indicators that help users master core functions within hours.
Plus, vendors don't need logins to submit documents, removing a key friction point with other subcontractor insurance tracking solutions.
With 78,000+ active vendors, there's a high probability that your subcontractors are already in the system with verified information, accelerating vendor insurance compliance.
A Gilbane Senior VP noted: "The bcs team does their very best to respond to our needs accurately and in a timely manner. We're impressed with the web-based software's functionality to review documents, see updated notes, and monitor correspondence status."
Technology alone isn't sufficient—expert support is crucial for complex compliance scenarios, even when a COI tracking platform is largely automated.
myCOI offers decent support, but as a generalist serving multiple industries, its team may lack specialized knowledge for complex construction scenarios.
TrustLayer relies on automation, with human review available only as a paid add-on, creating potential budget concerns. So if you need that extra peace of mind, it’s going to demand more from your pocketbook.
GetJones provides construction-tailored support, but its structure has limited scope and availability compared to established providers.
bcs employs certified risk managers and licensed insurance professionals specialized in construction requirements. Its multilingual, US-based team provides service in four languages, ensuring clear communication with diverse subcontractor networks.
A Risk Management VP stated: "The bcs team is super responsive to our needs at both corporate and plant level. All compliance data is easily accessible via the bcs app."
Different contractors have varying needs based on team size and operational complexity.
So, the right subcontractor insurance tracking solution will depend on whether you need a self-service, full-service, or something in between.
When navigating subcontractor insurance requirements and evaluating tracking solutions, focus on what will help you overcome your particular pain points.
bcs distinguishes itself through:
In construction, proper COI tracking is about protecting your business while optimizing operations. Each day with manual tracking or inadequate systems increases your risk exposure. Simply: it goes against best COI practices for construction.
bcs outperforms competitors with construction-specific features, comprehensive management capabilities, and subcontractor-friendly design, transforming insurance tracking from a burden into a strategic advantage.
Don't let compliance gaps threaten your projects. Contact bcs today to see how our certificate of insurance tracking software can transform your risk management approach.