Construction companies and contractors can avoid failure costs through communication

Failure costs hang over the construction industry like a dark cloud. Both construction companies and contractors have to deal with these margin killers.

But where do they come from? According to the developers, it is the designers. The designers see the contractors as the source. On their turn, contractors are quick to blame the problem on the subcontractors. Everyone points at the other; and all are wrong. Miscommunication is the main source of failure costs. And we can do something about it, together.

Whodunnit?

If the first floor drain is not aligned with the ground floor drain, is that the fault of the builders? Should the plumber just have brought extra fittings? Was it the architect who should have communicated his changes more clearly? Or shall we just hold the project manager directly liable? The costs of a mistake are high. The search for the person who should pick up the bill is not cheap either. That is a pity. It is wasted money at the expense of already tight margins, for both contractors and construction companies.

Prevent communication problems

It is also unnecessary. With construction management software, you avoid these (and similar) problems. In a construction management environment, as a construction or contracting company, you keep all the files and communications associated with a project up to date. From here, you assign tasks, keep an overview of the communication and you can view the blueprints. With the version management from such an environment, in the example above, you immediately would have had the certainty that everyone involved was working with the latest version of the blueprint.

Read all about document management here.

You want the right people to always have access to their data, not just anyone and everything.

Always have your data at hand

You might think that all those files in one environment are not always available to everyone. That is a mistake. A construction management environment ensures that all files, including large files, are always available via the Internet. If you step out of reception for a moment, the software ensures that your files remain available offline. If you step back into range, your data is synchronised. Only if you are not entitled to view a file, you cannot access it. As a building company or contractor, you want the right people to always have access to their data, not just anyone and everything.  

Internet on the building site?

You could ask yourself whether everyone has access to the Internet when they are at work. Judging by the stream of WhatsApp messages from the average building site, you can safely assume that the Internet is in every pocket. Of course, for some applications you need a tablet or laptop. Aren’t they vulnerable? Yes, but with the right protective case, these devices survive the desert, factories and offshore installations. A construction site should not be a problem.

Digital support is not only there for good communication, it also speeds up the work.

Is there time for construction companies and contractors to go digital?

But why bother to work digitally? Wasn’t there already a shortage of time? Digital support is not only there for good communication, it also speeds up the work. For example, record information via standard forms, then you will (almost) never have to ask for clarification again. Or what about the possibility of reporting anomalies with a photo? The broken toilet on Project 415-712 can be replaced a lot faster if the type number of the bowl is given as well, and that it is in flat 904, on the 9th floor. Make it even easier: put a pictogram (Snag) on the blueprint, then you don’t even have to read to see where work is. The plumber can solve the problem with one trip up the stairs.

Solve anomalies easily

Equally useful: if the fitter finishes with a photo of the new toilet, you have instant quality confirmation. This way you finish tasks and collect data for your reports in a simple way. Progress is easier to track and you can keep a close eye on your budgets. With a construction management system, you can also store all quality data properly.

Carrying out tasks

But who will carry out the tasks? And will they be carried out? In a construction management system, you not only keep track of files, budgets and agreements, you can also link people to tasks. They receive a message with what they have to do (and where they have to do it). They can send a message back when the task has been completed. You can make it compulsory to take a picture of the work done and to provide proof of use of the correct materials. You can be sure that people are aware, see that they take care of the task, and tighten up your legal obligations as a building or contracting firm.

You then simply take the handy setup to the next job. That way, you turn a practical solution into your practical solution.

Delivering projects

With such support, you will eventually deliver your projects on time. If not, you can see exactly where it went wrong and take that into account for the next time. What’s more, if all goes well, your software will learn from your projects. You can then simply take the handy  setup with you to the next job. In this way, you turn a practical solution into your practical solution.

Good communication prevents failure costs

Miscommunication leads to failure costs. Failure costs lead to loss-making projects. You want to prevent that. By switching to construction management software, you streamline communication and prevent errors. Everyone has access to important data. Doubts about who should carry out a task are eliminated and you can see what has been carried out. This provides an overview of what is in progress and what has not (yet) been set in motion. If things go wrong unexpectedly, it is easier to see where they went wrong. Then we no longer have to point the finger at each other.