3 min read
The Construction Management process is often defined as the overview of a project from early design stages through to the implementation and completion of the project, with the end goal of achieving customer satisfaction and build quality accumulated from effective management. A clear process helps organisations to successfully understand how work processes are linked to one another and how they can take advantage of higher levels of efficiency, achieved through an on-going learning process and identification of innovation opportunities within the management process.
So why is it so important ?
Every day business activity is based around repeated work, processes and habits. Processes are a key fundamental act within our daily business lives, however it is how we learn to adapt to the changes occurring in processes that will define the future of the business. Organisations that fail to identify key opportunities to innovate their internal processes pose great threats to their survival within a highly competitive and intuitive market.
Successful leaders within the market are continually looking for cost effective and stream lined processes that can be applied to their everyday construction management process. Implementation of the correct source of innovation can lead to a reduction in completion time, a greater connectivity between employees and a high impact on securing future projects as a result of high quality and customer satisfaction.
To improve the construction management process, it is crucial to understand and highlight the ongoing innovations within the market, especially that of technological advancements.
The use of technology within the construction industry has increased dramatically over the past two years due to the increasing issues surrounding collaboration and communication within construction projects. These issues are being tackled by technology which incorporates the tracking and storage of data as a result of communication between stakeholders of the project such as project managers and subcontractors.
The advantages of technology
Two key advantages of technological implementation within the construction industry are the ability of ongoing monitoring and the introduction of mobility to work processes. Project management is a continuous process that requires overview and control throughout, the ongoing developments in technology now allows project managers to successfully monitor and compare the performance of numerous variables within the project. With construction management solutions going mobile, there is clear communication with all stakeholders from the outset and throughout. Applications now allow mobile access to leaders and other staff in the field leading to a sharp increase in productivity and efficient work processes.
Site Diary
- Paper-based site journals replaced by digital site data for auditing
- Centralised assignment of tasks to co-workers
- 24/7 access to co-worker site reports, data and detail
- Professionally-produced reports via a button
- Reduced site reporting time
With a successful management software in place, accurate reports and analytics can be created to provide complete oversight, as with a strong construction management solution, this becomes a simple and cost-effective process.
However, despite the ongoing technological advancements, numerous construction firms have yet to adopt the new innovations within the market leading to a missed opportunity to improve competitiveness within the market. This reluctance to adopt mobile tech solutions prevents construction organisations from achieving their full potential causing constraints on communication between those working in the field and those within operational headquarters.
When could technology be implemented?
A crucial stage in any project is the execution phase whereby the construction management plan is put into action and plans are executed. The developments in applications allow real-time reporting and defect management to ensure that the vision of the project is implemented successfully with collaboration between stakeholders to ensure that the build quality is maintained throughout this phase. Recent research stated that a project manager spends most of their time monitoring and depending on information, with this in mind technology is surely the key to reducing this time wastage.
Site Snag
- Reporting is instant and can be accessed across multiple operating systems
- Health & Safety compliance is current and adhered to
- Association/Landlord/Tenant communication is fluid and transparent
- The accuracy of reporting is optimised
- Routine procedures are automated
- Duplication is reduced
- Paperless solution using a stylus
- Productivity is enhanced
Conclusion
In reality, the time of paper based construction management processes is dead, to ensure future efficiency and success we must innovate and take advantage of technological developments within the industry. In order to adapt to changes in the industry it is key to successfully adopt new applications and to put a stop to the current reluctance for change. Current construction management processes lead to an exhaustion of resources for the organisation, however with the support of technological tools, the future for project managers will be simpler and productive.
Before expecting results from our project managers, we must first provide them with the correct tools.
