How project managers are using technology to ensure on-budget and on-time construction

The success of any construction project hinges on multiple factors, including budgeting and scheduling, which impact the project’s completion. In fact, most contractors usually add a 10% margin error into their budgets and timelines as a contingency.

Expectedly, not all aspects of a project go according to plan; several setbacks usually affect your cost and timelines. Manual processes and tasks in designing, estimating, bidding and project management are primarily responsible for such lapses.

Project managers are invested in changing this; they’ve turned to technology to streamline processes, ensure efficiency, and improve on-site and off-site coordination. They’re also shifting from design-bid-build to design-build, which helps to complete projects 102% faster.

This post will explore how project managers use technology to ensure on-budget and on-time construction.

Table of Contents

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Connecting the project site to the office

Good communication and a seamless flow of information are essential to the success of any project. Note that 63% of projects fail due to poor communication. Your back office and on-site teams must work fluidly to approve designs, review reports, and ensure an undisrupted flow of updates.

Contractors have been relying on pen-and-paper legacy systems to manage projects for years. Unfortunately, these systems are prone to errors and confusion, and losing a vital document during a project is even easy.

In response, construction companies are adopting a digital culture to boost productivity and minimise admin work. With apps and software solutions, project managers can now connect their project sites to the office for efficient collaboration and effective communication.

Given that 80% of all construction processes are always the same, digitisation helps eliminate repetition in your operations. It supports real-time field-to-office communications, and on-site teams can instantly capture and analyse data, eliminating the unreliability of paper trails.

A digital tool that supports real-time updates provides a single source of truth for all teams to be on the same page while enabling seamless monitoring and management. It optimises efforts across your portfolios and provides access to updates with just a click of a button.

Deriving value from past project data

Using digital tools has allowed construction companies to collect lots of data with the completion of each project. When analysed, the data provides actionable insights for data-driven decision-making and sustainable business growth.

The growth of cloud computing, mobile applications, and integrated software platforms has enabled project managers to use new technologies to exploit business data. For example, past data allows teams to identify safety issues and high-risk patterns to avoid costly mistakes.

Technology allows project managers to aggregate all data sources, including regulatory submittals, designs, project management, financial, BIM, and construction documentation. This provides a single source of truth to drive your construction engine.

With a standard data environment, teams can access diverse data inputs for reduced risks, faster decision-making, and improved project performance. Additionally, it provides a clear view of the entire project, allowing teams to monitor every process and implement feedback.

You might also like: How construction companies can leverage the power of data

Harnessing the power of digital tools

As noted before, digitisation is vital to ensuring efficiency in your projects. Up to 87% of construction executives believe digital transformation is essential to gain a competitive edge. But, the process can only be effective if you invest in the right digital tool.

The right tool should provide a central platform for collaboration and communication, allowing teams to connect in real-time and share updates on the go. The solution should offer all the features you need to get complete control and oversight of the entire project.

For example, project managers use project management features like scheduling to set priorities, assign tasks, and keep track of the project’s progress. They also use digital tools to centralise their Request for Information (RFIs) to ensure a seamless flow of internal and external communications.

More importantly, features like cost control, dashboards, and estimating are essential in delivering projects on budget. For instance, the estimating feature allows managers to eliminate manual calculations and get proper margins for every task using construction software.

Deliver on-budget and on-time projects

Delivering construction projects on time and within budget is quite a challenge. Changes and setbacks resulting in delays and budget adjustments are sometimes unavoidable. As a result, most project managers focus on limiting the typical schedule and cost overruns.

Digitisation helps to reduce the risks in project execution and management, thus allowing you to control your costs and improve delivery times. Paper-based or siloed systems have traditionally curtailed the flexibility and efficiency required in proper project management.

Digital tools, on the other hand, create formal, standardised processes and controls, improving cost reporting, incident tracking, bidding compliance, and safety management. With reporting and dashboards, project managers get a single pane of glass for monitoring the entire project.

At LetsBuild, we offer cutting-edge construction site technology for improved communication, on-site and off-site management, and effortless team transitions. We offer different products uniquely created to address various aspects of construction.

Book a demo or free trial and discover how our products can help you ensure lean coordination, proper communication, seamless reporting, and safety control.

Written by LetsBuild

Last updated September 19, 2023