One of the biggest challenges on any infrastructure job is schedule management. Any delay will likely increase costs, could result in fines and sometimes legal action, and nearly always leads to strained client relations..

In this article, we cover how integrated field-focused applications can dramatically increase productivity, visibility, and efficiency on the job site.

The Importance of Schedule Management

Contractors are among the most optimistic people on the planet with an idealism that is foundational to constructing some of the world’s most amazing structures. That same optimism can lead to problems when it comes to timely project completion.

One of the biggest challenges on any infrastructure job is schedule management. Any delay will likely increase costs, could result in fines and sometimes legal action, and nearly always leads to strained client relations.

Tasks and scheduling with SYNCHRO

Technology can certainly help. In fact, a recent Dodge report noted virtually all horizontal contractors (98%) perceive that the use of field management and project management tools results in a decrease in schedule delays. As well, 46% of contractors’ surveyed said that the most important way that field management and project management tools help firms to reap the largest benefit from project data is through improved schedule performance.

It’s fairly common to have several individuals walking a jobsite collecting progress data, documenting issues and even taking pictures. Then, the data is brought back to the office where it is compiled into spreadsheets for a coordination meeting with crew chiefs—meetings that too often take 4-5 hours, as the team steps through all of the data (that is often three, four or five days old) to understand current status and areas of concern. That workflow is inherently risky and prone to lost productivity, inherent delays and lost revenue.

Monitor project and schedule in real-time

Where’s the technology-enabled value? All that’s been accomplished is making a traditionally hand written field-based documentation process electronic. There’s no real productivity gain. Further, that time spent gathering information on the job to maintain the schedule takes away from actual work. And back in the office? The risks of data entry and reentry have been well documented over the years.

Track progress and tasks from your schedule

Field Solutions Matter

Your field solutions should do more than gather data; these tools should streamline data gathering in the field as well as the consolidation and presentation of that data to drive quicker decision-making. The application should automatically compile data from the field and automatically sync to your model and represent task completed/in work status as well as issues. A field collaboration tool should have the embedded analytics to escalate issues ASAP. There should be no double data entry into a spreadsheet that then has to be checked for accuracy.

A truly integrated and effective field-focused application should be able to perform the analytics and even color code what’s done, what’s in work and the areas of concern.

Now consider, with an integrated application, that coordination meeting that required 4-5 hours, is cut to 1-2 hours of transparent, highly productive problem solving.

Ditch your spreadsheets and double data entry processes and put your field solutions to work.  

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