Technology adoption in the construction industry has been accelerating over the past few years, due in part to other trends such as the skilled labor shortage, increasing cost of materials and the need for speed. Software Advice reports that 32% of construction managers surveyed are adopting new technologies to increase the efficiency of their workers.
Yet, often, these critical technologies are disconnected and unable to communicate with each other — and that can lead to problems. According to 2018 Construction Technology Report, 54.2% of project management workflows are being handled with dedicated software — and it’s even lower for practices like takeoff (38.7%), bid management (31.5%) and client relationship management (25.7%) — which to this day remain largely manual.
Data is often siloed and has to be transferred manually between software platforms, which not only slows things down but also leads to miscommunication and errors. Research shows that more than half of rework that causes project delays is the result of inaccurate project data and miscommunication.
For example, 52% of construction firms report they still use pen and paper to conduct estimating, takeoff, bid management and other processes. All of this information must be transferred into project management software before being actionable. And that costs time and money.
Three Ways Software Integrations Improve Jobsite Efficiency
Software integrations simplify logistics, documentation and collaboration, to help firms keep costs under control and avoid project delays:
-
- Logistics: By integrating point products with leading construction management platforms such as Procore, Autodesk BIM and Plangrid, firms benefit from more synergy between solutions. Rekeying data becomes unnecessary; there are fewer errors, and no time is wasted transferring information that’s been collected in the field. Additionally, making information available immediately to all stakeholders — local or remote — via a web browser speeds decision-making, helping projects stay on schedule.
- Documentation: Thorough and timely documentation on the jobsite helps to keep project managers informed on the work progress and issues that arise, and providing evidence for scope changes, security issues and compliance disputes. But historically, documentation has been a challenge — 52% of rework is caused by poor project data and miscommunication, which equate to $31 billion in the U.S. alone.When construction cameras can connect to project management software via software integration, photos and video footage can be transferred instantly, providing photo documentation of everything that goes on at the jobsite. For example, TrueLook cameras enable project managers to view live camera on the home screen of their Procore, Autodesk BIM, PlanGrid or CMiC software, and send photos directly to contacts stored within the system. This capability helps firms avoid costly delays and rework by keeping everyone in the loop and enabling faster decision-making. Plus, all video footage and photos are accessible in the project management platform, providing a visual record of everything that happened on the jobsite from start to finish.
- Collaboration: As projects become increasingly complex and teams more distributed, technology integrations enable more effective collaboration throughout the project lifecycle. Theoretically, every piece of data collected on the jobsite — from information entered on handheld mobile devices, to data collected by equipment sensors, to video footage and still photos from construction cameras — can be transferred instantly to project management software, providing all team members immediate visibility into project status and updates. Anyone logged in would be able to access up to the minute photos, field notes, sensor alerts on failing equipment, alerts to possible theft, and other information that might impact the project.For instance, with access to live footage from the jobsite streamed from TrueLook’s cameras into the project management platform, teams always have up-to-date visuals of the work in progress. They can simply log into the platform wherever they are and see weather conditions, know what workers are on-site, and observe real-time jobsite activities. With this information on-hand, it’s much easier for disparate teams to collaborate with each other and decide quickly on the best plan of action.
- Logistics: By integrating point products with leading construction management platforms such as Procore, Autodesk BIM and Plangrid, firms benefit from more synergy between solutions. Rekeying data becomes unnecessary; there are fewer errors, and no time is wasted transferring information that’s been collected in the field. Additionally, making information available immediately to all stakeholders — local or remote — via a web browser speeds decision-making, helping projects stay on schedule.
The potential for software integrations to improve jobsite efficiencies and productivity are endless, as new solutions are introduced to the industry every year. Firms should look to integrate solutions that offer the best and most immediate benefits and ROI. Click here to learn more about how TrueLook’s integrations can help you optimize logistics, documentation and collaboration on your construction projects.
