The construction industry is prone to delays. And these delays, whether inclement weather or document mismanagement, can have significant time or cost implications. As a result, you need to get the right tools and equipment to manage all the roadblocks that make it hard to get things done, risks that make the job site less safe, insufficient efforts to be environmentally friendly, and a lack of interest from younger people.
No doubt, the construction industry has been slow to adapt to technology. However, the last years have shown that many contractors and project managers are utilizing construction technology to take advantage of its features and improve how they manage and deliver projects. Construction technology can help make building sites worldwide more productive and efficient, ensuring that everything goes smoothly as possible. It can also help plot a crew schedule, provide safety training, and prevent accidents.
Technologies like construction software, artificial intelligence, material learning, or building information modeling systems can change the game in the construction industry by fixing its most significant challenges. With the massive potential that it offers, many contractors have switched from the traditional way of managing construction to using technologies to keep their projects on schedule and within budget.
In this article, let us look at some of the construction industry’s joint projects and how construction software can help you solve them.
Top Challenges Contractors Face in Today’s Industry
Over the years, the demand for construction services has been at an all-time high. Even though the industry is thriving, it must deal with old and new problems as it moves forward.
Many, many things could go wrong with a construction project. A project manager’s responsible for ensuring that every activity is on track while managing construction crews, assigning resources, and dispatching equipment.
Materials and labor costs steadily increase, resulting in stiff competition and smaller profit margins. It would help if you kept up with many rules and regulations, new tax laws, and compliances. In this section, let us look at contractors’ top challenges in today’s industry.
Inadequate Risk Management
As stated earlier, the construction industry is highly volatile, and taking on a project comes with risks. Project managers often put in place measures to protect against long-term risks. However, short-term risks must also be considered, as they can quickly go out of hand if not managed properly. It could be something as simple as unreliable subcontractors, schedule problems, or the changing tastes of stakeholders. So, having contingency plans is essential to keep your project on track.
Using construction software can give you a clear idea of everything happening with your project. Access to updated information allows you to spot any potential problem and plan to solve it before it can hurt your bottom line.
Disorganized Activities and Tasks
Getting things done quickly and well is easier when you have clear goals. If there is no clear goal to hit, it is easy for a construction job to go astray and go over budget. Construction software can help you better manage your activities and tasks by splitting up larger, project-wide goals into smaller, daily goals that each person can work on. Monitoring each task assigned to a crew member can help you see which ones are on track and which ones may need assistance to finish the job.
Project Scheduling
Scheduling is probably one of the most frustrating problems that have come up in the building so far. A construction team often comprises a general contractor and subcontractors working simultaneously. One activity may not be able to proceed to the next one if the subcontractor is unavailable or is delayed with the other precedent tasks. So it is essential to note your critical path and ensure it is on time. However, even if everyone agrees on a date and time in advance, someone will always have a problem or call to say they can not make it.
Construction scheduling software allows you to schedule and manage tasks more efficiently and effectively. A clear overview of when each project should start and finish, when specific materials or equipment are needed, and how many workers should be assigned to the tasks lets the project run as seamlessly as possible.
Poor Communication and Collaboration
Communication is essential in any job. Without clear and engaging communication and collaboration, important tasks can fall through the cracks, and the team might only know about a problem once it is too late to fix it. Using software lets your team access real-time information with just a few simple clicks.
Skilled Labor Shortage
Another pressing issue in the industry is the lack of skilled workers. When there are gaps in the team’s skills, it could slow things down. The answer is to know about these gaps in skills and quickly and easily fill them. You can schedule training and skill development or take the time to teach them new things.
Document Mismanagement
Material orders, receipts, contracts, building drawings, insurance confirmations, and more are some files that most construction company managers have on their desks. It is a lot to keep track of, and if it needs to be done right, it can cause serious building problems.
With construction software, you can easily find important documents through the cloud. There is no need to rummage through file cabinets to look for a single piece of paper. You can manage documents more efficiently, reducing the time needed to route documents for signatories.
Resource, Material, and Equipment Control
During the building process, keeping track of where equipment is and how it works is essential. Even though tracking the movement of tools is essential, many companies still use spreadsheets or pen and paper. This takes a lot of time, and because current construction tools are so complicated, it always leads to mistakes in the movement logs.
Construction dispatching and scheduling software can help you assign your resources whenever and wherever you need them. You can use your resources more effectively, reducing delays and wastage. Through digitalization, the building industry can also automate the control of its equipment through tagging, data analysis, and preventive maintenance.
Safety
The construction business still needs help with worker safety. Construction has had the most worker accidents of any industry for a long time, and the number of accidents and illnesses at work has stayed the same for years. The most important thing for a business owner or project manager is to keep their workers safe and protect them from accidents and injuries while maintaining a healthy workplace.
The best way to keep people safe on the job site is to train them. Safety training should be something other than something that only happens once. Throughout a worker’s job, they need to keep getting training to remind them of how important safe work practices are and to help them remember what they have learned. You can only learn a little about safety.
Accidents are easy to avoid when risks have been reduced and safe work practices are followed closely and carefully. Safety starts at the top, and businesses with essential safety programs are more productive. By caring about the health and safety of its workers, a construction company can improve its image and attract the best workers.
Clients and Homeowners
You might think that you only need to communicate and collaborate with your subcontractors and trade partners regarding the progress of your construction project. However, you also need to update your clients and homeowners. There are also times that you will need to talk to your client and get their approval. Like the type of interior finishes they want or its alternative if the one they want is unavailable. Some building companies can have trouble with clients and homeowners that seems impossible to solve for two reasons: They have to remember to give feedback or answers when the deadline says to, and they often have to change their minds. Having to deal with these two problems daily can be stressful and cost your business money if you must be more careful.
Using construction software lets you update your client without them needing to go to the site. They can also have peace of mind as they know what is happening with the project, ensuring a seamless delivery and an enjoyable experience.
Key Takeaway
The construction business could move faster by using new technologies, such as construction schedule software. Over the years, many studies, polls, and testimonials have shown that construction owners can benefit greatly from technology. They need to invest in these construction technologies to avoid tedious, repetitive tasks and focus on the more essential parts of the project.
In today’s present age, the industry is approaching a time when technology will be essential to all building projects. Companies that adopt new technology early and use it in their processes and job sites will have a clear advantage over those that still stick to traditional construction management methods. Construction software like Pro Crew Schedule offers simple yet powerful features that help you keep your project on schedule, within budget, and of the highest quality possible.
