Improving Project Efficiency With Digital Workflows
In today’s rapidly evolving business climate, project timelines are becoming increasingly compressed, making streamlined communication between the office, field and shop more critical than ever before. Broken or lagging communication can lead to poor productivity, high costs and a constant state of reactivity. Fortunately, technological advancements can provide a solution.
The construction technology industry is booming, with an estimated $5.4 billion invested in 2022 alone. By leveraging cloud and mobile applications, the industry is transforming paper-based workflows into digital workflows that foster enhanced communication, accuracy and efficiency. However, to be impactful, this technology needs to be quickly adopted across the organization, including field and shop mechanics.
Getting data from estimators out to the field can be a challenge, and while sheet metal is sophisticated, it’s not always well-connected. Challenges in the industry include too many software applications, difficulty linking platforms and the disruption that implementation can cause. Troubleshooting is necessary to ensure that the right solution is chosen, and disconnected data linked. By improving digital workflows, organizations can enhance efficiency, labor productivity and decision-making capabilities. Technologies to digitize the workforce include mobile applications that act as a home base for managing documents, field tickets and orders. Paper forms can become lost, but digital input can be tracked to databases, and barcodes can be leveraged to track items such as fittings.
For example, the field can send items needed to the shop with all necessary information and dimensions, so that the shop can quickly fabricate them. Checklists can track testing and sign-off on items that are being commissioned. Project status information can be entered into a platform to track the full job, including issues, cost to complete and client billing, and can be viewed on a phone or tablet.
Other technological advancements include augmented and mixed reality, which allow models to be brought into a device but still use the real world to ensure a proper fit. Tablets and phones are preferable to goggles or headsets
that can only be used by one person. Layout and scan to BIM technology creates a 3D model of a job site and how ductwork will fit. Analytics can be used to check performance and monitor material flow.
A common data environment ensures teams have access to critical project information, making a more proactive approach possible.
To succeed, it’s important to partner with a company that can support and challenge you to use technology. They should also be able to grow with your organization and understand which solutions are best for your workflow.