Construction loves acronyms, especially when it comes to out-of-contract work. Out of all the options, why did we at Clearstory choose to call our tracking documents a “Change Order Request” and a “Time & Material Tag?"
So why Change Order Request and Time and Material Tag? It wasn’t as easy as you think. There are as many different names for CORs and T&M Tags as there are Subcontractors. Just as an example, we sampled one major construction project with 44 Subcontractors in San Jose, CA. Of the dozens of T&M Tags and Change Order Requests that were submitted, Subcontractors called them close to 40 different names.
Here are the different names Subcontractors put on their documents submitted on the project:
Wow! As the General Contractor or end customer in this situation, you can imagine the confusion reviewing 44 differently named documents and logs from each of these Subcontractors.
So why can’t we all just call them the same thing? The short answer is: we aren’t all using the same software or process. Everyone has different vendors where they purchased their software or their paper T&M Tags (à la Dunder Mifflin). Everyone has their own documentation system, cumbersome as it may be.
How did we choose “Time & Material Tag,” instead of, say, one of the examples listed above? We followed one of our company mottos and we KEPT IT SIMPLE. While many Subcontractors call T&M Tags something different, they all instantly recognize the term: “Time & Material Tag.” It is commonly recognized industry jargon.
From a technical standpoint, a Time & Material Tag serves three primary functions:
Choosing “Change Order Request” was an even easier decision. It’s already a universally used term in the construction industry. Many Subcontractors use some form of that term in their documents.
Technically, the Change Order Request (COR) process follows these steps:
Using Clearstory, we finally have the ability to achieve unanimity and simplicity in terminology...for all parties. With Clearstory, everyone’s on the same page: General Contractors and Subcontractors can easily communicate with one another on the job when tracking their T&M Tags and CORs.
Clearstory was built to bridge the existing Change Order Gap in the construction industry. Our automated workflow easily and clearly organizes these two documents for your team and makes it quick and easy for your customer to understand and ultimately approve them!
With Clearstory, you won’t just be using the same terms for these very important forms, you’ll actually be sharing them instantly, keeping everyone in the loop.
A Change Order Request (COR) is a written ask to adjust the contract price, schedule, or scope after work has started. It tells your customer what changed, why it changed, and how much it will cost or delay the job.
A Change Order Request is your proposal. A Change Order is the signed agreement that comes back after the owner or GC approves the request. Think of the COR as the ask, and the Change Order as the final, binding answer.
Send it as soon as you know the work is outside the original contract—ideally before the extra work starts or, at the latest, with your next billing cycle. Early notice keeps cash flow steady and avoids disputes.
No. A Time & Material Tag only proves the work happened and the hours are correct. You still need to submit a formal Change Order Request so the office team can price the work and adjust the contract.
Clearstory lets you create, track, and share CORs and Time & Material Tags in one cloud workspace. Everyone—field crews, office staff, GCs, and owners—sees the same document, so approvals move faster and nothing gets lost in email chains.