The construction industry has long relied on tried-and-true methods to maneuver equipment, survey terrains, train personnel, etc. However, in the last few years, a wave of digital innovations has transformed the construction into a high-tech hub.
So, if you’re thinking about investing in new technologies, here are six ways it can improve your construction business efficiency.
1. Communicate and Collaborate More Effectively
Contractors can connect and work with owners, engineers, architects, and members of their team more easily when they use technology on the job site. They can gather data on the job site and share it with others, as well as ask questions and receive feedback in real-time reducing downtime and errors.
Online and mobile apps are useful tools for everything from document sharing and reporting, to data collection, construction management, and auto-archiving. BIM (building information modeling), mobile devices with automated notifications, bid management software, GPS tracking, virtual conference platforms, and online plan rooms are all examples of popular applications.
2. Get New Clients with Ease
As you might already know, a good construction proposal is the best way to highlight your services and convince potential clients that you are the finest in the industry. Now, you have the option to use a ready-made construction proposal template to save time, ensure that your proposals are presented in a professional manner, and grow the number of clients fast.
While putting together your proposal, you’ll be able to establish the project’s feasibility and whether your client’s expectations are realistic and doable. If this is not the case, your construction proposal will enable you to present a more feasible option. Your proposal will serve as an effective marketing tool for your firm, but it can also aid in the avoidance of conflicts during the building process. If the project owner, for example, requests you to complete additional work that was not agreed upon at the outset, you can refer to the proposal, which details exactly what you were hired to do.
3. Access Real-Time Project Data
Mobile technologies, such as smartphones and tablets, combined with management systems and cloud-based data storage, aid in improving job site workflow efficiency.
Contractors can access designs, contracts, paperwork, and other crucial information in real-time from the project site, reducing wait time and allowing them to prevent costly mistakes. Additionally, with the use of technology, contractors can check Concrete Maturity, accurately monitor the curing process, and check the strength of the concrete while working remotely.
4. Make Sure You’re Meeting Compliance Regulations
Construction teams can better meet compliance and documentation regulations by using technology on the job site to complete required documents more precisely and in a timely manner.
Electronic document management solutions, for example, can store digital photos, videos, and webcam documents. These systems can then be accessible from any mobile device via a secure online document portal. This saves a lot of time while also lowering the risk of penalties, which may be very costly.
5. Automate the Information Capturing Process
Supervisors can record employee hours on a mobile device and wirelessly communicate the information to the field office. This system eliminates the need for hard copy documentation and streamlines the approval procedure for timesheets.
This data is then effortlessly linked into the company’s core system, reducing the inaccuracies and inefficiencies that come with storing records on paper. Companies can enhance accuracy and cut processing costs by using a mobile software solution to track employee time data.
6. Make More Informed Decisions Based on Data
Users can make real-time revisions to the building model with intelligent modeling to evaluate how changes will affect labor and cost. This allows contractors and designers to see how different design scenarios affect the building’s appearance while also taking into account timeline and budget limitations.
7. Create a positive work environment for employees
Certain types of technology can alleviate challenges in tasks that workers would previously have had to complete manually, such as moving heavy objects. Artificial intelligence can also help to improve worker productivity, like in the form of wearables, that are able to monitor the posture and vitals of workers and detect if an accident has occurred. Technology can even be used to create a social atmosphere during work hours – purchasing a robust speaker designed for construction sites, like a portable Milwaukee radio, can help workers feel more motivated during working hours.
Finally, this technology aids project teams in making more timely and informed decisions. It also raises the likelihood of the project staying on schedule and on budget.
Final Thoughts
Technology enables operators to conduct more precise surveys, plan the elements of a construction project more efficiently, establish and manage a key database of construction fleet data, and perform various construction jobs. Whether it’s proposal templates, mobile software solutions to track employee time data, construction software for data analytics or intelligent modeling, these technologies will bring a return on investment in the form of more streamlined project deployment, enhanced fleet maintenance, fewer field errors, and more.