Construction projects are multifaceted endeavors that often come with time and budget constraints. To help complex projects run smoothly, organization and communication are critical. Fortunately, advances in technology have made construction project management easier than ever. There are apps on the market for tracking employee scheduling, procurement costs, progress reports, and blueprint adjustments. Below, we feature four top construction management apps to help you streamline your operations in 2021.
iNeoSyte
Field reporting is critical for keeping a construction project on track. With reporting apps like iNeoSyte, site managers and technicians can keep every stakeholder in the loop with professional-looking PDF reports.
The app also allows you to upload and mark-up photos, create inspection reports from your iPhone, and store site reports in the cloud. With cloud storage, you and your employees can access the data at any time and place.
Users can also establish project parameters and report formats in advance. Most importantly, you can add and track items on your snagging list. Each item on the list can also be documented with photographic evidence. This means that both project managers and site builders can keep track of structural defects and take necessary actions to correct them.
Hubstaff
One of the greatest challenges in construction management is keeping track of the engineers, technicians, and contractors on site.
According to Hubstaff’s 2020 State of Construction report, 56% of site managers spend about 11 hours per week traveling between job sites to check on their crews. Meanwhile, 38% of contractors spend more than five hours each week ironing out scheduling conflicts.
If you’re a contractor, scheduling apps like Hubstaff streamlines timesheet management using GPS time tracking software. This means that employee hours are automatically logged based on geolocation and pre-programmed scheduling data.
With Hubstaff, you can easily track on-site and on-the-go staff. Hubstaff’s GPS time clock app creates geofences and automatically clocks workers going in and out of job sites. Thus, time-tracking becomes an efficient, accurate, and seamless process. Most importantly, the app generates timesheets for all employee hours tracked.
PlanGrid
In the construction industry, even the best-laid plans can go awry. This is why it’s important to keep everyone updated about design changes in real-time. Apps like PlanGrid allow field teams to stay on task with access to the latest drawings, notes, RFIs, and punch lists.
Specifically, PlanGrid’s Autodesk construction cloud platform connects workflows at every stage of construction, so all stakeholders have access to the latest data.
Overlays are also available to compare changes between revisions. This ensures that design teams, on-site management, and workers are kept in the loop about all development changes. PlanGrid also has BIM capabilities, which allows project stakeholders to get 3D visualizations of the final work.
Custom Mobile and LOB Construction Management Apps
While a number of creative solutions have been developed to meet specific challenges in the construction industry, it can be difficult to find a product that provides all the support you need.
Rather than adapting established programs or creating workarounds to incorporate existing software, many construction companies turn to custom mobile apps and line-of-business (LOB) apps.
At Entrance Consulting, we specialize in the development of custom mobile and line-of-business (LOB) apps for various industries. We also help our customers identify the best project management apps to meet their unique operational needs.
Knowing when to deploy off-the-shelf software options or custom apps is critical. This is where Entrance comes in.
Choosing the Right Construction Management Apps Is Critical
When investing in software for your company, it’s important to conduct a thorough analysis of your organization’s processes to ensure that you’re investing in technology that will enhance your operational stability, efficiency, and overall organization.
It can be tempting to go with a simplified or cheaper option. However, you’ll save money in the long run by consulting with professionals who understand how disruptive technologies can enhance or compromise daily operations.
While consultation fees seem like an unnecessary expense, you’ll ultimately gain value by deploying the right software solutions. At Entrance, we can help you choose off-the-shelf solutions or develop custom software for your needs.
Instead of deploying cumbersome workarounds for operational challenges, get professional guidance. Contact our experts today to learn how we can help you streamline your construction management processes today.