The Importance of Mobile Applications in the Construction Industry

Mobile technology that enables the collection and transmission of real-time data is transforming the construction business.

FREMONT, CA: The construction business is in a perpetual state of change, but one constant is that building projects involve extensive coordination of people and resources on the job site. Construction managers must maintain track of their teams, subcontractors, daily progress, schedules, equipment, quotes and invoices, bylaws, hours, and a long list of other responsibilities. With most construction professionals now possessing smartphones or tablets, there is a significant opportunity to increase productivity, cut costs, and accelerate project schedules by implementing mobile solutions.

Document projects more properly: Using mobile applications to collect data on the job site enhances precision and decreases problems caused by illegible handwriting, inconsistent data, and information gaps. Photos, GPS, time stamps, and signatures collected on-site create a precise and incontestable audit trail for the project, delivering responsibility to clients or evidence in the event of legal challenges.

Enhanced back-office productivity: By eliminating paper and spreadsheets, construction companies can save hundreds of hours on data input, compiling information for reporting, and searching for misplaced or misfiled documents. BI dashboards can use to visualize and act on the day's vital information rapidly. Increasing back-office efficiency permits leaner project management and completion on time and under budget.

Reduction of construction delays: Real-time data collection on the job site, such as the presence of trades or contractors, progress, deficiencies, and incidents, helps reduce total project delays.