Improving Field and Office Communication in Construction

Just imagine if the subcontractor didn’t update the superintendent or project manager on a modified start project time. Or, if the foreman doesn’t receive the updated project specs. Or, if the accounting manager misses an approval authorization for a work order.

Communication can make or break any company’s success, regardless of industry. But, in the busy world of construction, communication failures can produce costly – and often business ending – mistakes. When project team members and stakeholders face barriers in communication regarding project delays, materials, project status or equipment usage, they hinder their own work schedules and risk tension and conflict.

Ineffective communication doesn’t need to be the norm in construction. Rather, companies must invest in technology and build off digitization of processes. There are solutions available that improve communication and documentation between the field and office., These solutions mitigate risk in the field, empower teams to complete projects on time and under budget, and creating clear engagement among workers.

Luckily, there are plenty of solutions designed for the field that improve communication:

Subcontract Management: A subcontractor management software provides project managers with easy scheduling and dispatching, instant communication, document management, time tracking, project assigning and invoicing. Find a cloud-based construction management software for subcontractors to avoid delays, rework and errors.

Construction Equipment Management: An integrated equipment management software should combine usage with vendor invoices, jobsite data, and project scheduling for more strategic insights into projects. Whether you are charging the cost of equipment usage in projects or managing external rented equipment or company-owned equipment, you want a construction equipment tracking that improves profitability.

Concrete Management Software: With concrete management solutions, there’s no need to delay your project due to mismanaged or insufficient resources. Concrete management solutions make estimations easy by communicating scope of work and viewing all factors of concrete procurement, delivery, usage, and payment.

Worker Housing Management: When last minute projects come up, scheduling accommodations for contractors and off-site workers is easy with a construction worker housing management software that simplifies managing project boarding & lodging, agreements & expense details.

Daily Log and Attendance: Instantly connect the field to the office with user-friendly time tracking and field reporting solutions that assist you with managing the field site. Whether that’s generating simple construction daily reports, eliminating paper timesheets or securely publishing, sharing, and modifying construction drawings and documents in cloud-based platforms – you want a daily log app that makes it easier.

Here are the three best features for construction solutions for the field:

Communicate in the cloud

If looking to invest in new collaboration technologies, the cloud is critical for your next construction management software upgrade. A construction management software for builders and contractors needs to include tools in the cloud to enable speed and accuracy within projects. Cloud computing allows field workers to work with real-time information regardless of device and location. In order for organizations to work fast and keep up with demand, they need tools that increase productivity for employees exactly where they are. Utilizing the cloud also addresses safety concerns as workers can communicate critical issues or last-minute changes directly from the site in a timely manner. The cloud also has nearly limitless storage capacity for all the photos, files, digital renderings and other documents that are constantly sent to and from job sites.

Build a sense of community

While companies are struggling to replace in-person connectively for remote workers, the construction industry has always dealt with disconnected workers and specialty contractors. But that doesn’t mean the constructions industry is exempt by the era that’s been dubbed the “Great Attrition”.  While a good recruitment software is important, it’s also crucial to encourage connectivity and cater to your talent by using an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) software that utilizes tools to connect construction teams and support communication.

Hassle free technology

When contractors are operating a crane or pouring concrete, the last thing you want is for them to be frustrated with the technology. Make sure your construction management software utilizes user friendly technology that is easy and simple to use for the CEO, the accountant, the project manager and the contractor. In order to make data accurate and workflows sync, the technology needs to be totally connected and have information readily available to anyone.