Construction projects have become more complicated, with tighter scheduling, quality, and financial constraints. To meet the project’s demands while delivering it on time and under budget, plumbing contractors must be able to streamline their workflows, seamlessly collaborate, and ensure smooth and efficient project delivery.
As a result, plumbing contractors need to step up their game more than ever. With many competent and high-quality contractors in the industry, market competition and customer expectations are at an all-time high. Even if your business can provide the best possible construction services, you can still lose loyal customers if you will not be able to stand out against the competition through your field operations and customer experience.
This article explains why plumbing contractors should invest and harness construction technology to increase profitability, improve quality, and ensure project success. But first, let us establish the critical role of plumbing contractors in a construction project.
What is the Role of Plumbing Contractors in the Industry?
A plumbing contractor’s job is installing, fixing, and caring for plumbing systems. However, the role is varied and not just limited to plumbing systems. They must use tools to measure, thread, and drill holes. They also have to be able to explain what they do to customers and keep an eye on how plumbing equipment is put in.
As a result, plumbers are considered essential members of the construction team. But because construction projects are getting more complicated, plumbing contractors must streamline their work and increase to be successful. Project owners not only expect a certain level of efficiency, but any productivity gains made by plumbing contractors on their own can lead to a direct profit. Utilizing project management software for the construction industry allows plumbing contractors to do better work, communicate and collaborate efficiently, and deliver on time.
What Are the Common Challenges That Plumbing Contractors Face Daily?
Plumbing contractors face many problems during the preconstruction and construction phases. Challenges at every project stage make it hard for plumbing and pipe fitting contractors of all sizes and specialties to take full advantage of market opportunities. In this section, let us look at five of the most common daily challenges plumbers face.
Lack of Communication and Collaboration
It is often challenging for plumbing and pipe fitting contractors with multiple offices and departments to communicate well as a team, especially during preconstruction. Plumbing contractors are in charge of plumbing lines, critical to ensuring their tenants’ cleanliness and health safety. One small mistake or even the slightest miscommunication can result in severe delays and damages.
Employee Retention and Safety
Pipefitters and plumbers do some of the most dangerous work on a construction site. The most important things to focus on are proper safety procedures, tools, and training. When choosing a plumbing contractor, general contractors will look at safety records and how healthy and happy the workers are.
Labor Shortages
Plumbing contractors rely heavily on skilled labor, so keeping employees safe and happy is very important. They suffer the most when there is a labor shortage. Finding and attracting the right people is hard, and keeping employees is even more challenging. There are not enough skilled workers, and competition between businesses costs a lot to hire new ones.
Managing Documentation
Contractors who do plumbing must ensure that all team members have the most up-to-date plans, changes, and news about multiple projects at different job sites. One of the challenges as a contractor is keeping all your stakeholders on the same page. So, managing plans and documentation in an efficient and organized way, such as utilizing construction management software for subcontractors, can ensure your project’s success.
Increasing Profitability and Managing Cash Flow
Another common problem for pipe fitters and plumbers is paying for materials up front and then sending in an invoice to get paid back. To keep track of cash flow, you need to be able to bill right away and get paid quickly, so it is essential to keep good records. You need a single way to keep track of the materials to buy, your progress, and billing dates.
Adapting To New Technology
Many apps and software are available in the marketplace to help address these challenges, but you might be intimidated to figure out how to implement such an enormous change. Getting new technology can be a significant investment, so you must get the best value for your money and figure out which software will help improve your processes – the way you want.
Why You Should Invest in Harnessing the Power of Construction Technology
Most construction companies have finally moved on from ledgers and scraps of paper to using software, like inventory management software. It’s essential for trustworthiness and accountability. Construction technologies can help improve your company’s efficiency, accuracy, and profits and give you a competitive edge. In this section, let us look at the following benefits you can realize when utilizing construction technologies.
Ensure Constant Communication, Collaboration, and Efficiency
When contractors use technology on the job site, it is easier for them to talk to architects, owners, and their teams and work together. They can gather information on the job site and share it with others, ask questions and get answers in real-time. You and your stakeholders can communicate and work together in real-time, reducing downtime and mistakes by consistently having access to the same, updated information.
Gain Access to Valuable Insights Based on Real-Time Information
When there are unforeseen delays and roadblocks with the project, you need to be able to think fast and provide a contingency plan to prevent it from becoming a bigger problem. It also lets them think about costs and time limits. This technology ultimately helps project teams make decisions faster and with more information.
Access Critical Data from The Office or The Field
Cloud-based data storage and management systems and mobile technology like tablets and smartphones help make workflows on the job site more efficient. This cuts down on waiting time, which can cause significant delays, and helps contractors avoid making mistakes that cost a lot of money.
Keep A Close Eye on Your Company’s Operations
Supervisors can record employee hours on a mobile device and send this information wirelessly to the field office. These technologies, like construction time tracking software, eliminate the need to fill out paperwork and makes it easier to approve time sheets. This information is then quickly added to the company’s central system, which cuts down on mistakes and wastes time keeping records on paper.
Efficient Document and Resource Management
Using technology on the job site helps construction teams meet documentation and compliance rules by making filling out the required paperwork easier and faster. Electronic document management systems, for example, can store digital photos, videos, and documents. As a result, all information about the project is accessible at just the tip of your fingertips.
What Construction Software Can Do for Your Company
There is a way to solve the problems that pipe fitters’ and plumbers’ daily problems: using technology. It cannot be stressed out enough, but choosing the right software could be an essential part of this plan. If plumbing contractors can find the right software for the construction industry, they can significantly improve efficiency, profit, and customer satisfaction.
Keep Everyone on the Same Page
Construction software quickly accesses essential files like quotes, accounting information, and vital records. With desktop and mobile solutions, you can easily coordinate between working in the office and the field. You do not have to call back to the office and wait for someone to get you the information you need. You can also limit confidential information by editing permissions so that only the right people can see the correct information.
Unify Your System Across Your Organization
Construction businesses must consider a lot of inventory, labor, scheduling, financial, accounting, and customer information. When these essential data are not correctly linked to the rest of your business, you may end up accepting a project for which you do not have the right resources. By putting everything into one system, you can improve the quality of the information you can see at a glance and make things run more smoothly overall.
Increase Employee Engagement and Accountability
A good construction employee scheduling software can make employees happier by ensuring they are not overworked and burned out. If you give your employees or contractors access to the information about the tasks they need to accomplish, they can act more quickly and be more motivated to finish the tasks at hand.
Better Resource Management
All the status of materials, tools, equipment and other resources on site can be kept in your construction software. Your team can take a quick look at all the inventory information, including warranty dates, serial numbers, planned maintenance, parts needed, revenue and costs for each piece of equipment, and more. On the other hand, you can take a look at your resource levels and check if it is time to order or replenish your stocks.
Efficient Sales and Marketing
A good software solution can also help you get a better idea of how your business is doing at any given time by helping you predict sales revenue and project timelines. You can also improve customer communications, lead nurturing, and build a good, long-lasting relationship with your stakeholders by keeping them in the loop.
