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£2Bn wasted annually in the construction industry!

Really? £2 Billion for construction rework! You’re having me on?! Nope, unfortunately this is not a practical joke. Every year an estimated £2 Billion is wasted in the UK due to construction rework. These are tough times economocially, and budgets in construction as in most areas of society are being squeezed. There are far better […]

10 Best Construction Simulator Games

What are the top construction simulator games? Construction Simulator Pro 2017 SimCity BuildIt Megapolis Bridge Construction Simulator Heavy Excavator Simulator City Builder 17 Federal Prison Village City – Island Sim Farm Skyscraper Construction Sim 3D Space City Construction Sim 3D Big Machines Simulator 3D Bringing construction to everyone Have you ever felt the need to […]

10 best entry-level construction jobs

Everyone needs to start somewhere within the construction field, but no one should ever think that they can walk onto a job site as a manager without putting in their dues.  Construction is a tough job and the more you learn from experience, and working your way up, the better you will be when you […]

10 Common Misconceptions About Lean Construction

Despite the complicated, academic name, Lean Construction isn’t complicated. To us builders it will be fairly simple to implement. The ones who will find it difficult are the ones we would expect to find it easy; architects. They will have to ensure that their design concept incorporates both economic buildability plus functionality from the end […]

10 construction jobs with high demand – Infographic

Ever thought of working in construction? Well, now it’s probably a good time to start thinking about it. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a significant growth in new job openings in construction is expected during the next years. More specifically, it is estimated that only in the United States by 2024 there […]

10 construction management strategies that work

The term construction management, in its most common use, refers to the act of managing the construction process. The construction manager, who may be a contractor, project manager, superintendent, or one of their representatives, manages the basic resources of the construction project. These resources include workers and subcontractors, equipment and construction plant, materials, money, and […]

10 construction safety tips to improve your HSE performance

In our continuous effort to advocate for construction site safety on site, we have gathered timeless advice as imparted by a panel of safety experts from old EHS Today (formerly Occupational Hazards) interviews and articles conducted and written in 2003, 2009, 2013 and 2014. It is no secret that the highest incidence of non-fatal accidents […]

10 Emerging Trends Good for the Construction Industry in 2016

Year 2016 has been started and the construction industry is seeking lot of stuffs in this year to groom in the business of design buildings and complete construction. GenieBelt sharing the expected list of trends that we can follow in year 2016 for construction. Let’s have a look on it. More and more contractors in […]

10 essential benefits of wind power construction

We have already done a lot of damage to our planet, with extensive usage of fossil fuels like the petrol and coal. Deforestation and rapid unplanned urbanization is making things worse. The good thing is that many countries have woken up to the need of curbing pollution, climate change, water scarcity, deforestation, and global warming. […]

10 fastest growing careers in the construction industry

The construction industry The construction industry has high employment projections and is expected to see substantial growth over the next few years — double the growth rate of the overall economy. Forecasts for job opportunities range from 500,000 to 700,000 new jobs in the industry by 2024. With double-digit growth expected in residential and institutional […]

10 futuristic technologies that are changing construction

It’s no secret that technology is revolutionising literally every aspect of modern day life. The construction industry, continually being updated and upgraded with the latest technology, is one such example of this. Technology in construction comes with devising innovative new ways of constructing and whilst the changing future of construction is largely unknown, there are […]

10 helpful tips for construction managers

Managing a construction site is never easy. Here is a detailed list of some helpful tips on how you can deliver successful projects faster and cheaper.

10 house building strategies that actually work

Managing a range of construction projects at one time is incredibly challenging, don’t delude yourself into thinking otherwise. Keeping multiple balls in the air without proper strategies and tools is impossible, it’s likely to lead to projects falling behind the timeline which can directly impact your bottom line and cause further issues to pile up. […]

10 innovative construction materials that could revolutionise the industry – Infographic

What are the latest modern construction materials? Translucent wood The cooling system in bricks Cigarette butts to make bricks Martian concrete Light-generating cement The CABKOMA strand rod Biologically produced furniture Floating piers Pollution absorbing bricks Self-healing concrete The much awaited and anticipated revolution in construction is gaining momentum. We now have drones, virtual reality, augmented […]

10 Instagram tips for marketing construction

I know that many of you may think right now that Instagram has nothing to do with the construction field and that it’s more of a fun app. But think again! Instagram is day by day growing stronger and it has already developed to an efficient business marketing tool. Based on the prediction of eMarketer, […]

10 key responsibilities of a construction project manager

Developing the following key responsibilities will allow project managers in construction to connect their teams and monitor their multiple projects better.

10 quick tips about SMSTS

SMSTS stands for Site Management Safety Training Scheme and it is a significant certificate for anyone who wants to pursue a career as site supervisor/manager or project manager  in construction. It can also be a great asset for construction clients and company owners. Especially in the United Kingdom, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to claim […]

10 reasons construction companies go out of business – Infographic

10 Reasons Construction Companies Go Out of Business Starting a company within the construction industry is certainly a huge challenge. There will always be a number of obstacles and issues to overcome. In some cases you can do this successfully, while in others this won’t be possible. Unfortunately, countless construction companies went eventually out of […]

10 Reasons to Leverage Construction Management Software

In this context “Leverage” isn’t using crowbars and wrecking bars: it is making the best use of MONEY! “Construction Management Software” (CMS) isn’t a new idea! We have seen MS Excel used by the QS’s, MS Project by the Planners and e-mails instead of hard copy letters in the post by everyone! All great time-savers […]

10 Reasons Why Mobile Apps are Unavoidable In Construction Project Management

Us lot at GenieBelt think it’s about time to wake up and smell the coffee in the Construction industry about why construction mobile apps are unavoidable in a building project. So, we went ahead and sourced the best blend of coffee we could find, we’ve grinded the beans and now all that’s left for you to […]

10 serious pains that housebuilding software can solve

Housebuilding projects can be very challenging. There is a vast number of parameters that should be taken into serious consideration in order for this type of projects to run smoothly. It goes without saying, that effective communication is key. That’s why optimizing your supply chain information flow is crucial. Otherwise, costly misunderstandings and harmful delays […]

10 tips for delivering construction projects on time and on budget – Infographic

Construction projects are known for their perplexity, as they involve a vast number of tasks and stakeholders. The various project parties come together with the ultimate goal of delivering results both on time and on budget. It goes without saying that the more agents involved the tougher it gets for everybody to stay on the […]

10 Tips for Effective Construction Project Management

Want to hear about effective Construction Project Management eh?! Well, you have come to the right place. Here’s my top 10 tips: As I keep telling everyone, get that Detailed Programme to Completion (DPC) properly compiled after discussion with the sub-contractors for their input. “Swan around the site, wearing a suit and ties and looking […]

10 Tips To Prevent Construction Site Theft

Protecting your construction site can be harder than you think. For that reason, you should always keep an extra eye out for your equipment. However, this is not always as easy and straightforward as it sounds. At the moment, the construction industry appears to bleed money due to construction equipment theft. The example of the […]

10 ways to get your field teams to use construction software

Kickstarting the digital journey of your business is never easy. Heavy resource management, bold initiatives and continuous effort are required in order to convince everyone in your organisation to go digital. Both field teams and people in the office can sometimes be resistant to change as a result of their unwillingness to alter the way […]

10 Ways to Make Your Construction Project More Memorable

Step 1 – The first step in making a memorable construction project has to start off with the Client. Words of economic wisdom: “The Customer is King”. Those involved in the early stages of any construction project – Architects, designers, etc. – have to encourage the Client to actually want to go for something “memorable”! […]

12 construction worker skills you need to succeed

Essential skills every construction worker needs to be successful A construction worker’s job may seem pretty straightforward, especially to someone who knows how to swing a hammer.  However, there are plenty of other skills that construction workers need in order to be successful with their job and to earn promotions and work their way up […]

13 Things About Construction Planning Your Boss Wants To Know

Well, the first thing your Boss wants to know about Construction Planning is something a lot of them seem to be totally ignorant of! That is the importance of a Detailed Programme to Completion (DPC) if they want a project to finish on time, to standards and to budget! We’ll assume your Boss is Main […]

15 construction documentaries and TV series you have to watch

Construction documentaries and TV series Extreme Engineering (2003-2011) Modern Marvels (1995-2015) How It’s Made (2001-present) How Do They Do It (2006-present) MythBusters (2003-2016) Megastructures (2004-Present) Treehouse Masters (2013-present) Egypt: Engineering an Empire (2006) e2 (2006-2008) Precise Poetry: Lina Bo Bardi’s Architecture (2014) So for some reason you have to spend the day at home. But […]

20 unique construction marketing ideas

Construction is an industry that provides ample opportunities for advertising your business. But you have to do it smart. A thing that you always want to take into consideration is keeping a balance between the online and offline promotion of your company. In that way, you will be able to expand your audience and reach […]

20 Years on after Latham report

It may come as a shock, but it is now over 20 years since Sir Michael Latham published his influential report ‘Constructing the Team’. The report was commissioned by the UK government to investigate the perceived problems within the UK Construction industry. And boy, did Sir Michael not half report on the problems: The report […]

2017 Web Marketing Trends for Construction and Trades

With construction being a hands-on type of industry, it’s not always easy for hardhat types to wrap our heads around issues such as marketing. We’re usually too busy doing actual work to bother about following the latest trends, but that’s not to our advantage. Heading into this new year there are several web marketing trends […]

25 epic construction fails

Working on a construction site requires high levels of concentration and careful handling of the equipment. But that’s not always the case! There are countless examples of smaller or… bigger mistakes. Those failures lead many times to hilarious moments. Thankfully, many of them have been caught on camera and have eventually travelled around the internet. […]

25 Habits of Successful CPMs and Construction Company Owners – Infographics

25 habits of successful construction company owners you can adopt too Whether we’re talking about work or private life, there are a few things every construction company owner – or construction project manager for that matter – knows are key to success. We put together a list of 25 good habits you might want to […]

25 ways labor market loses money on productivity – Infographic

The construction industry suffers some serious problems and money loss due to low productivity levels, and high levels of waste or non-value added activities. The numbers range from 12% of productive time wasted in manufacturing to a much larger 47% in construction. Potential labor productivity in the construction industry in the UK is lowered by: […]

3 benefits of location-based planning in construction

Learn how location-based planning and scheduling in construction can give you more control over your projects and help you build better, faster.

3 construction industry trends in 2023

Learn about the top construction industry trends that will change how your company operates in 2023 and what you can do to stay ahead of the game this year!

3 good practices for efficient wind farm construction projects

Wind farm construction projects present some unique challenges. Follow these three practices to enhance on-site and off-site quality, safety, and efficiency.

3 Important Reasons Why Some Say Construction Management Software (Sometimes) Doesn’t Work

You have the opportunity to be around many managers of your calibre and you’ve definitely heard them say that they tried a certain construction management software and that it doesn’t work. I have heard them, too. These are just some of those things: The software blew things up between the team… It failed to keep track on […]

3 keys to align your team around project milestones

In a construction project, the key to your project success is keeping everyone aligned around your project milestones. Learn about the three secrets of achieving that.

3 Reasons Why Mobile Apps Should Be Part of Your Construction Project Management

Do you know what’s been the hottest topic in this industry for the past few years? Let me help you with the answer. It’s mobile technology for construction. If you’re still on the verge of accepting it in your business, let me give you the crucial reasons why you need to use mobile app technology in […]

3 Reasons Why You Need a vPMO

If you have a traditional project management office (PMO), you are pretty much sold on the idea of having a department that takes care of the project management environment in your company. If not, you should read this until the end and discover why you need one. I want to talk with you today about […]

3 Tips – How to ensure your warehouse safety

The warehouse safety is important for your employees and your property. There are many safety hazards that warehouse workers face and with the appropriate preventative measures you can ensure that nothing and no one comes to any harm while under your care. Here are 3 tips. The facility and the equipment meet the warehouse safety standards The […]

3 Unbeatable Benefits of Using a Construction Project Management Software

I was in an elevator yesterday, going to a meeting with a potential client. One lady came in on the third floor and we started talking about the building and the company’s interior that we both noticed on the way in. Suddenly she asked what am I selling/representing and I told her that I am pitching Aproplan […]

3 ways to avoid defects in construction

Defects in construction are a common reason for cost overruns, rework, claims, and more—implement these three strategies to avoid defects in your projects.

35 construction industry stats and facts

The fact that the construction industry represents 14% of the worldwide GDP is quite unsettling. Undoubtedly it is one most profitable important sectors in the world. However, in the last decades, some of the world powers have faced financial crisis, slowing down economic growth and experiencing setbacks in the development of the industry. Unprecedented challenges […]

35 modern buildings that changed construction (video)

Top 35 modern buildings in the world! The first commercial building with modern AC, the first solar building ever build, the tallest constructions, remarkable sports stadiums, some architectural masterpieces and many more. This is a list with 35 modern buildings that were groundbreaking for the construction industry and made ways for new opportunities. We go […]

3D-Printed Synthetic Spider Webs: New Building Material?

Spider’s webs to be used as a building material? The first thing that comes to my mind is that, years ago, when I was doing O-Levels Biology, we were told that spider’s webs had a tensile strength of 40,000 tons per square inch. Mild steel was only about 7 tons. That has changed for some […]

4 construction management ideas that will definitely work

Construction management is not an easy task. It is a field where uncertainties can crop up at any time and managers have to be prompt decision-makers to ensure that nothing hinders the achievement of the end goals. Construction management aims at optimizing the time, cost, and quality of the outcome in a construction project. As […]

4 Key Areas Your Competitors Can Teach You About Construction Project Management

Construction project management is the cornerstone of the success of any of your construction project. Hence, the key person responsible for any outcome would be your construction project manager. Effective construction project management is what determines a successful completion of a job. Delivering a quality project within time and budget schedules while ultimately making a […]

4 Tactics That Will Help You Do Better Work Estimation

Estimation can be a really serious and difficult task. Not to mention that it is essential for an efficient performance and revenue/profitability. Since we are in the software business with APROPLAN, few of the customers raised the question: “Can the software help me with the estimation phase?” Well, yes. The worst thing is that it […]

4 tips in choosing the perfect construction management software for your team

A construction management software is a specific project management application with capabilities to plan, organise, and manage resource tools for all types of construction projects. Depending on the brand and developer, the software can do a combination of things from budget management and planning, scheduling, cost control, collaboration and communication, quality management, documentation and reporting, […]

4 tips to get your team to adopt a new construction management tool

Change is rarely greeted with open arms, and the introduction of a new construction management tool for your team will prove no different. Implementing a new tool on your team has the potential to speed up and eliminate redundant processes, so making the change may seem like an obvious decision to you. Decision-makers involved in […]

4 Tools That Can Help You Replace Email

How many emails do you get per day? Probably more than 50… The worst-case scenario happens when you are responsible for 2 or more projects. Then…I believe there is madness happening in your inbox. The real problem here is that, when you need something it is freaking hard to find it. If you are facing […]

4 ways to prevent major bottlenecks in construction projects

Bottlenecks in construction lead to wasted time, money, and labour. Learn about the best ways to prevent the most common bottlenecks in your construction projects.

4D BIM: Five ways it can transform your project

What is 4D BIM (construction sequencing)? A while ago, we talked in detail about the significant benefits of 5D BIM for the construction industry. Today, it is time to dig deeper into how 4D BIM can revolutionise the building process. 4D BIM, also known as construction sequencing, could be described as the process of adding […]

5 Best boom boxes for construction sites

What are great boom boxes for a construction site? Bosch PB360S Radio & Charger Milwaukee M18 Job Site Radio & Charger Milwaukee 2790-20 Dewalt DCR015 Heavy Duty Radio Makita LXRM03B Radio Working at the construction site can be hard and quite monotonic. Music is one of the things that makes the time fly by and […]

5 Best Technologies That Could Change the Construction Industry

Life must have been wonderfully simple for the Cave Man! They had already learnt to make flint tools and to light fires! That was all they needed to get on with more important things in life! We poor inhabitants of the 21st. Century have to keep up with a constantly changing technological world and that […]

5 Common problems between contractors and subcontractors and how to avoid them

Collaboration between contractors and subcontractors lays the foundation for project success. However, this partnership isn’t without its challenges. Navigating problems between contractors and subcontractors requires a balance of effective communication, meticulous planning, and fostering strong relationships.  We’ll discuss the most common problems between contractors and subcontractors and propose proactive measures to cultivate better collaboration to […]

5 construction trends you want to look out for in 2021

As 2020 is now history, it’s time to look ahead. Here are some of the most eye-catching construction trends in 2021.

5 Different Types of Screws in Construction

A couple hundred years ago, when people were constructing their homes and buildings, they had one screw to choose from.  Nowadays, there are dozens of different types of screws used within the construction industry and using the wrong one can mean the difference between a job well done and a job that doesn’t meet the […]

5 effective ways to simplify complicated construction project management tasks

Construction project management is challenging, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. These five strategies can simplify complicated construction management tasks!

5 elements of a good incident report

Incident reports are part of risk management tools employed to describe and evaluate the circumstances led to an event that potentially endangered the wellbeing of employees or actives of the company. The documentation is used in both construction works and office activities with the goal of preventing similar cases to happen in the future. Besides […]

5 essential tools in construction work

Tools have for eons been part and parcel of humanity’s daily activities. Early man devised simple cutting implements from stone, bone and other crude materials. In this age of technology and cutting edge advances in science, tools play a central role in various aspects of construction. Tools are an essential component in increasing the efficiency […]

5 initiatives companies can take to improve construction efficiency

Delivering a construction project on time and within budget is a challenge all project managers face. They must work within budget limitations and deadlines for the project to succeed. The simplest solution to this issue is to carry out construction projects as efficiently as possible. But this is easier said than done. In reality, the […]

5 key benefits from augmented reality for the construction industry

Augmented reality is unlike virtual reality that can only replace the real world through a simulated environment. Instead, it creates and enhances exact replicas of the real world for a better view of the entire project through virtual reality models. AR benefits local service providers, businesses, engineering, design, architecture, project management – and the entire […]

5 Lean construction benefits (and how to get them)

Learn about five notable lean construction benefits and how to implement lean principles to minimize project waste and maximize value in your organization.

5 Major Time-Wasters That Construction Managers Should Know and Avoid

Construction site managers are central figures in executing construction projects. Their role is highly critical in influencing the project outcome. However with piling workload, construction project managers constantly face the challenge of meeting their project’s ever growing quality requirements. Routine work like keeping construction daily logs, documenting non-conformities on the site, and other construction time-wasting […]

5 Modern Professional Communication Routines You Should Start Using In Your Project Management

When someone says communication skill, you probably think about the “soft skills” theme. Nowadays, the digital era requires from us to have a good mechanical/technical process or routine when it comes to sharing our message. Let me explain. Soft skills are great when you have an in-person meeting with someone. When it comes to digital communication we should be more […]

5 practical tips for good communication between project teams

Having a live, shareable view of your construction site can play a significant role in your effort to improve communication in your project.

5 questions all Project Managers should ask themselves before they start a project

Asking the right questions is only the beginning of your effort to regain control over site progress and establish reliable and value-adding workflows. If you are ready to take the next step and place planning at the center of your projects, we invite you to download our new free ebook just by clicking here!

5 reasons construction software reviews are important

The construction software or construction management software is a project management tool that will be used by the construction professionals. It is a collection that includes the programs, information, processes that are usually used to perform various tasks while building a structure or while assembling an infrastructure. This software helps in increasing the efficiency, productivity […]

5 reasons project managers don’t want to digitalise. And why they are wrong.

Project managers who work in construction projects with a lot of repetition are under a lot of time pressure. However, there is always time for improvement. Download our latest free ebook and find out how you can see everything on site without getting buried under a mountain of admin work.

5 reasons why construction managers should use cloud solutions

It’s been more than a decade now since the introduction of smart devices and their market is still growing. But that’s not the point. Those devices brought interconnectivity and mobility to unprecedented levels when it comes to project management as their sizes are still shrinking, but their functionalities are exponentially growing. For some reason, however, […]

5 Reasons Why You Need Construction Field Software

Because you are living in the second decade of the 21st Century! Technology is a part of our lives so come into today’s world. If an old-timer like me can cope with it, so can you! Don’t, and you’ll get left behind! Construction field software makes all relevant project information available to all parties – […]

5 Reasons why you need construction management software

With construction management software, you can say goodbye to all of the hassle and confusion, trading it in for one easy-to-use app.

5 revolutionary essentials of construction safety gear

Working in construction exposes men and women to dangerous conditions. In fact, some hazards are so prevalent that OSHA has nicknamed them “Fatal Four.” These include falls, struck-bys, electrocution, and caught in/betweens. Safety should be a priority on any job site, but often, workers fail to wear PPE because it is uncomfortable, thought to be […]

5 Rules for Smooth Construction Project Management

As a manager, organiser or contractor of construction projects, there are a lot of roles that you have to fulfil, sometimes multiple roles per day. This can be a lot of information to absorb and it can be stressful and sometimes dangerous and counterproductive if you’re not on the ball and let certain considerations slip […]

5 solar energy trends in construction

Solar energy is the fastest growing alternative energy industry on Earth. Numerous countries are adapting solar panels; it’s revolutionizing the way construction works around the globe, and the changes aren’t far out on the horizon—they’re already in motion. Construction trends are rapidly adapting to solar energy, becoming infused with the industry instead of looking at […]

5 steps to effectively run a construction site as a foreman

As a site manager, you always need to maintain a seamless communication flow with your project manager to ensure that all problems are recorded and addressed as soon as they occur.

5 steps to ensure your housebuilding projects stay on track

New home construction has many unknowns and can give you hiccups. It will take three months to over a year to have your dream house built. Expect problems and there’s many along the way that includes manpower issues, money matters, adverse weather conditions, price increases are just some of them. Building a home will make […]

5 steps to overcome remote work challenges in construction

Being able to increase visibility across the supply chain, even when you are working remotely, is a tough but certainly crucial mission in every construction project.

5 steps to prevent common construction schedule delays

In an effort to help you cut down on administrative work and improve project communication, we have compiled a detailed guide that explains how you can deliver on time and on budget without compromising quality.

5 TED Talks About Construction

Here at LetsBuild, we live and breathe construction. We like to have our fingers on the pulse for the latest trends, technologies and the overall landscape of the construction industry. For that reason and also because we like watching Youtube clips as well, we have decided to share 5 TED Talks about this very subject. […]

5 tested tips on how you can maintain a productive construction site

Before I start giving you 5 tips that I’ve tested in practice that helped me maintaining a productive construction site, let me first sum up again why it’s important that anyone on the construction site can work at the best of their abilities. More effectiveness leads to higher profit margins It’s a proven fact that […]

5 things you can’t do using a spreadsheet in construction

It is no secret that a spreadsheet still plays a substantial role in a good number of construction projects. People love its simplicity and they use it for many different purposes, such as diagram creation and data analysis. And more importantly, a spreadsheet is cheap and in many cases free to use. At a first […]

5 Tips for a LinkedIn Strategy for Commercial Construction Professionals

Here I’m going to be starting out by being pedantic. The title includes “strategy” and this word is often confused with “tactics”. The difference is that “strategy” is deciding what you need to be accomplished; “tactics” is deciding how you are going to achieve those ends. That means we are going to look at why […]

5 tips that every site foreman should know about

Construction projects might vary, depending on their size or scope, but what really matters at the end of the day is how we record and communicate critical issues. As a site foreman, you are always the major line of defense.

5 tips to improve construction workforce management

Improving your construction workforce management processes is crucial to running efficient, profitable projects. Implement these five tips to improve yours.

5 ways 3D modeling benefits the construction industry

It’s no surprise that many people have started to incorporate 3D technology even within their homes in the form of 3D televisions. 3D printers are becoming more common by the day and we have some companies that are even trying to make it an everyday household item. Since this technology holds great promise, it’s worthy […]

5 ways construction can build on the advent of digital technologies

The advent of digital technologies has taken every aspect of our personal and professional life by storm. From social media platforms to e-commerce giants, new technologies are transforming the field both from a customer and a corporate perspective. Productivity and sustainability rates are getting higher, while the user online experience is improving. Construction is no […]

5 Ways To Become A Modern and Trustworthy Leader of Your Team

How many times have you been in a situation to face 15 people staring at you and with their eyes saying: “Please tell us where we go from here?”. It can be a great moment if the project is going well, but it can be a devastating feeling if there is a crisis and you […]

5 ways to improve your construction company’s profitability

Many construction companies struggle to stay profitable. One major reason behind this is the way the industry works. A lot of business leaders focus on bidding on contracts and winning jobs rather than making a profit in order to keep up. Many clients, especially in the public sector, tend to award contracts to the lowest […]

5 ways to increase profit margins by improving productivity in your construction project

The contractors surrounding it is very hard these days. They are pressed to limits to develop a new method that would benefit them with a competitive advantage in the market and increase the profit margins. The section which is most optimal for providing these elements in the construction work it is the productivity on the […]

5 ways to make sure that your project will finish on time and within budget

That machinery that you’ve created for the project must work like a “clock work”, or the client won’t be happy. In the last post, I’ve done some profiling on what a construction project manager should be like – when it comes to results and client satisfaction. Now, I want to zoom in on one particular element […]

5% growth for German construction in 2017!

In an industry where lack of productivity and efficiency is globally the number one problem, the 5% revenue growth rate that the German construction has achieved in 2017 is truly spectacular. This number is even more valuable if we take into account that construction is an integral part of the German economy. It’s indicative that […]

5D BIM: How it will help the construction industry

What is 5D BIM and how is it used in the construction industry? Some time ago we explored BIM, Building Information Modeling, and explained what it stands for. We took a deeper look into 5D and the new revelations for this industry changing information sharing system. 5D is a five-dimensional way of showing the physical […]

6 Crucial Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Construction Management Software

Hey, how’s it going? I’ve heard your construction management software is getting old. Don’t worry. We’ve all been there. The software world is like that. When this “trouble” comes around you have 2 choices:      Try to fix the software      Replace it with something better Let me paraphrase this. There are many project managers and companies that don’t want to […]

6 Hacks For Smarter Construction Project Scheduling

Do you like shortcuts? As in every other area in our life, getting things done faster and smarter is always a good deal. Today, I want to share with you 6 hacks on how to make your project scheduling faster and smarter. Working with clients in the past period, I’ve noticed a pattern. When project teams are […]

6 stages of a project in construction

What are the main stages of construction projects? The concept of a project Design Pre-construction stage Procurement stage Construction stage Post-construction stage For every stage of a construction project, from the simplest to the most complex, there are certain steps and processes that need to be followed to ensure a successful outcome. Projects in construction […]

6 Tactics for Solving Your Skilled Worker Shortage

Finding highly skilled workers in construction can be quite tricky sometimes. You have to be really careful, when you are conducting your research otherwise you may end up with people that can be dangerous for the conduction of your construction project per se. However, there’s no reason to worry about it! Thanks to our years […]

6 tips for coordinating subcontractors and suppliers for short-term planning success

Also known as a look-ahead schedule, a short-term plan is essential in construction to break down the project into specific periods and detailed, executable plans. It allows for a simple interpretation of the project schedule and eliminates uncertainties over the project lifecycle. At the core of the entire process is coordination, an essential component to […]

6 Types of Tools for a Construction Professional’s Toolbox

With more than 1 million monthly visitors, G2 Crowd has collected over 250,000 verified, user reviews to date. Not only do our B2B reviews help buyers make educated decisions every day, but the data collected from these user reviews offers insight into the specific tools buyers use. According to G2 Crowd’s user reviews, construction professionals […]

6 Ways the COVID-19 crisis will reshape the construction industry

Continuing your business “as usual” is impossible after COVID-19.

6 ways to reduce waste on site

If you could cut off or even just minimise the amount of time being wasted on non-value-added activities, imagine the time and focus you would be able to give to critical tasks.

7 Common Electrical Safety Hazards in the Workplace

Keeping your employees safe is a must, especially if you want to be successful, both now and in the future.  While there are so many different types of hazards, the ones that are considered the most deadly are electrical.  Any type of electrical hazard can cause an electric shock, which is bad enough, but some […]

7 construction equipment sharing services

A 2015 study in the United States revealed that as many as around 70% of government’s heavy construction equipment remains unused. In fact, the government equipment that’s sitting inactive for years in one state is, in a huge demand in another. Many departments responsible for managing the equipment are trying their best to renting out […]

7 construction trends that will propel the industry in 2022

Construction trends are helping to revive the industry after a turbulent previous two years. But what trends will revolutionize the sector in 2022?

7 essential ingredients of a quality management plan

What is the main goal in one project? I am sure that you have a few answers and they are all true. I say this because they lead to only one answer and that is client happiness. In other words, the happier the client is, the more successful your project will be. But, how do we […]

7 ideas to make implementing lean more successful for your construction projects

Implementing lean principles into your construction projects doesn’t have to be confusing and frustrating—follow these seven tips for success.

7 key benefits of Lean construction for wind farms

Lean construction for wind farms can increase profitability, accelerate project timelines, and minimize waste—at a time when these are all vital goals.

7 Questions to Discover If You Need More CSCS Revision

Answer 7 questions to find out if you need some more CSCS revision!

7 reasons that cause construction project delays

Regardless of your role in construction, you’ll have noticed that almost all the construction projects don’t finish in their contractual finish date. In fact, a delayed project has become a very normal thing to witness and at a certain point, it almost feels like it’s an unavoidable outcome. However, delays in most construction projects delay could […]

7 tips for managing health and safety in construction efficiently

Protect your workers and your bottom line by implementing these 7 tips for managing health and safety in construction more efficiently.

7 ways to improve your construction schedule

Inefficient planning and scheduling practices lead to cost and time overruns. Implement these five strategies to improve your construction scheduling.

8 common construction mistakes

The 8 most common construction mistakes Mistakes can happen in any business, and the construction industry is no exception.  In fact, there can be many more mistakes within this industry than any others, simply because there are more intricate details included with each individual project.  This is most likely because no construction project is like […]

8 personality traits of a great construction project manager

Being a Construction Project Manager is an extremely rewarding career. If you are considering a career in construction project management, then you will need some qualifications and you’ll need to demonstrate some experience. But even though qualifications and experience can give you the extra edge when it comes to applying for Construction Project Management positions, […]

8 types of infrastructure on construction projects

Infrastructure is what keeps everything and everyone moving and living everywhere in the world, because without these no one would be able to do anything.  After all, it is this infrastructure that allows electricity and water to flow to homes and businesses and gives people ways to travel via car or another vehicle. Here are […]

95% of contractors have trouble finding skilled workers

A detailed report published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the USG Corporation showed that 95% of contractors have serious problems finding skilled workforce for their projects. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! According to Reuters, the construction worker shortage is at its highest since 2007, when the global financial crisis began. […]

A breakdown of the Middle East construction market

The Middle East construction market is under a very encouraging paradigm shift. According to the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED), the sector can anticipate a slow but steady recovery soon. This, of course, doesn’t mean that construction companies have left the tough days behind once and for all. Nevertheless, a very positive change is observed […]

A complete guide to France’s fire legislation

The Code of Housing and Construction, the Labour Code, and specific laws are the basis for the Fire regulation in France. Fire safety regulation is a set of both local and European standards and decrees as EU directives are gradually getting integrated at the national and local levels. Fire prevention competencies are centralised in different […]

A construction health and safety plan from the site!

Construction health and safety plan you ask? Well, us lot! We wander round construction sites all day without batting an eyelid. However, H.S.E. reckon a construction site is a dangerous place. They put it on an extreme level – like trawling in the North Atlantic, or mining. Suppose I have actually to be fair to […]

A Crash Course In Construction Law

Now here is a challenge for me! To condense a 3-year degree course about construction law or a crash course in construction law, plus goodness knows how many years of construction experience, into a Crash Course! I’ll start with a bit of encouragement to aspirants. If you fancy going for it, it this is the […]

A discussion of the benefits following HSE digitalisation

The construction and facility management industries are increasingly adopting the digitisation of construction and facility management processes, and the digitalisation of their workflow systems. Construction companies are slowly increasing their use of digital technology across the entire value chain. Included in this value chain is how digitalisation affects quality, health, safety and the environment (QHSE). […]

A history of BIM

Lately, building information modelling (BIM) has been making waves in the construction industry. For the last two years, everyone’s gushing about BIM in building and construction expos. It has been the buzzword and may seem new to many but in actuality, the ideas and technologies behind BIM have been evolving for more than fifty years […]

A project management checklist for construction

So the contract has been awarded! Great! That’s a headache over for the client-side Project Manager, and one just starting for the main contractor’s Project Manager! Hopefully, they’ll both be on the same side and intent on getting the project successfully completed. They’ll both have a checklist that they will concentrate on, but the more […]

A Project Manager’s Communication Do’s and Don’ts

To be recognised as an effective project manager, you have to have a highly developed set of communication skills. And I am talking both written and verbal. This doesn’t refer to the formal conversations you have with your family and friends. In my experience, I’ve been working with project managers who know how to handle a […]

A Real Life “Bob The Builder”

Alex enjoying Bob the Builder by gordon.milligan is licensed under CC BY 2.0. A while ago Gari Nickson, CEO of GenieBelt, told me I was a real life Bob the Builder. I asked him to explain; he did and that left me looking at myself completely differently! Now I’m fully aware that I’m a clapped out old guffer […]

Accounting for Construction 101 Basics

Basics of accounting for construction You may think that you know everything that there is about accounting, but we are fairly sure that you do not realize that the accounting that is done for construction is completely different than any other type.  Therefore, it is necessary for you to learn how to do the accounting […]

Achieving excellence in construction

“Achieving Excellence in Construction” was launched in 1999 to improve the performance of public sector bodies as construction clients. The key thrust of Achieving Excellence is the delivery of best value for money. This is not the lowest cost but the best balance of quality and whole life cost to meet the user requirements. Sustainability and business […]

Advertising in Construction For Free – eBook

We’ve spent nearly 40+ hours collecting the best advice from many different construction companies and contractors to bring you an incredible guide to getting free advertising in the construction industry. Our 30 page guide is consisted of 5 chapters and many useful tips that can help you boost your online and offline presence. Building new […]

After The Fact Reporting is Not Data, It’s Project Suicide

In the first office job I ever had, one of the tasks I was given was to compile a list of what we had sold, how much we’d sold it for, what we paid for it and the profit made. This had to be done on bits of paper and all calculations done manually! It […]

Agile construction management

Discover what is agile construction management and what are the benefits of agile for your construction projects

AI and machine learning: What’s in it for the construction industry?

AI or artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept that fits the best in science fiction novels or films. The technology is evolving faster than what most of us had imagined earlier. AI algorithms and software solutions are being deployed in a lot of sectors like hospitality, healthcare, food, entertainment and many more. A […]

All Construction Project Sites in France Must Now Be Asbestos-Free

Earlier this year in May, the French Labor Code was amended by a decree that provides for conditions and procedures compliance for pre-asbestos tracking. The decree immediately came into force with the latest implementation by October 1st, 2018. The amendment specifies for the collective and individual protections of workers and the concerned public from asbestos […]

All you need to know about SMSTS

Well, the first and most important thing you need to know about the SMSTS is this:- If you want a site management job in the UK you have to get that Certificate! The next thing is that it will cost around £600 for a 5-day full-time course. If your employer is paying, no probs! A […]

Amazon bound to transform construction by investing in prefab startup

Amazon announced its decision to invest in Plant Prefab, an innovative startup with a focus on in-factory construction, smart technology, and sustainable building. Plant Prefab is located in California and is originated from LivingHomes, a leader in designing and developing prefabricated homes. The announcement of this game-changing deal comes at a very interesting point for […]

An introductory guide to as-built drawings

You always hear contractors casually mention as-built drawings all the time. You are familiar with the idea of revised drawings but do we really know the essence of as-builts? In this article, we will discuss the basic concept of as-built drawings and why they are essential to your construction projects. What do as-built drawings actually […]

Applying Construction Technology Solutions for a Safer Worksite

Construction is an inherently dangerous and high-risk industry, and construction safety compliance involves copious amounts of complex information to adhere to. In 2015, 4,836 members ended up dead on the job, and 21.4% of those deaths were in construction (Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration – OSHA). Most frequently, accidental death and injury in construction […]

Applying lean construction to residential projects

Lean construction for residential projects can help minimize waste and avoid rework—learn about the four keys to successful implementation.

APROPLAN 2018: This Year's Winning Highlights

It has been an amazing year of growth at APROPLAN. Team morale is on an all-time high following multiple successes thanks to great collaboration among all the teams. We would like to take this opportunity to share to our users and audience the highlights of our 2018. Almost Scale-Up of the Year This year, we got […]

APROPLAN and GenieBelt merge to create a new force in construction technology

We are extremely proud to announce that GenieBelt and APROPLAN have agreed to enter into a merger agreement that will give customers an end-to-end digital solution covering the construction phase with on-site planning, progress communication, and on-site follow-up communication. LetsBuild will be our new name, upon the completion of the merger. We believe that this […]

APROPLAN Closes €5 Million in Series A Round Funding

APROPLAN just closed its series A round of venture capital financing in Brussels this week with €5 million of investments. The funding event attracted some big name investors including Fortino Capital founder, Duco Sickinghe and Showpad founder, Pieterjan Bouten. The investment will allow APROPLAN to develop new features that will further improve on-site user experience. […]

APROPLAN Joins Vision 2017!

BOOK YOUR DEMO NOW APROPLAN Joins Vision 2017 Vision 2017 is the UK’s premier international-focused built environment event for architects, designers, specifiers and their clients. It provides intelligent leads on products, materials, trends and technology across the building industry and market, and features the leading brands and figures across Western Europe. Vision 2017’s theme is […]

APROPLAN Nominated as Scale Up of the Year at Tech Startup Day

APROPLAN is a nominee for this year’s Tech Startup Day in the Scale Up of the Year category. The Scale Up of the Year Award recognises the company that has seen an outstanding growth in the previous year and is further looking into expanding their market share. Nominees for this award have a three week […]

Are 3D-printed buildings the future of sustainable construction?

3D-printed buildings bring many benefits to the industry but still face some significant challenges. Learn why they might be the future of sustainable construction.

Are industrial robots good for the construction industry?

Robotics are steadily transforming the construction industry with self driving vehicles, drones and automated technology. And, it is not just in construction – even when we are out and about in society, we are surrounded by robotics that are slowly replacing jobs such as bank ATMs, automated petrol pumps and self-service checkout lanes. Whilst construction […]

Are manufacturing and construction too slow in adopting new technology?

Even though both construction and manufacturing industry consist of manual work for producing something, generally used for commercial purposes, they are different business processes. Construction involves financing, planning, and design in order to create physical structures like roadways, bridges or buildings. All those part of a construction project, whether we are talking about the construction […]

Are You Building a House Or a Cathedral? Whichever, Take Pride In It

Me, I’ve built everything from houses to high-rise apartments and retail parks. I’ve never built a cathedral, though. The nearest I’ve come to that was a life-time ago and only by association. I was going through basic flying training for the military and my Wing Commander was the guy who flew the helicopter that put […]

Artificial intelligence and the future of construction

The potential of artificial intelligence seems to be of important discussion among the manual labourers and the tech circles. Everyone, it seems, from your neighborhood tradesmen to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to Tesla product architect Elon Musk has an opinion on how AI can and will impact our everyday lives. For the construction industry, the […]

Artificial intelligence: The future of construction

According to McKinsey, AI is the next frontier for construction technology. Without a doubt, the construction industry has still a long way to go before we can claim with confidence that artificial intelligence solutions have been properly implemented in the sector. The good news is that construction is an industry with tremendous potential. The total […]

As-built documentation is valuable to your construction project

We have learned from previous as-built articles that as-built drawings provide very important and critical information needed during and after the construction of a project. During construction, as-built documentation serve as basis for all changes, modifications, and all related adjustments made so information is easily retrieved for any design or plan changes. After construction, as-builts […]

As-Built Drawings 101: What you should keep in mind

What are as-built drawings? “As-built drawings are revised sets of drawings submitted by a contractor upon the completion of a particular job. They reflect all the changes made during the construction process.” As-built drawings are a very important component of a construction project. They serve as copies or recreations of how the project is constructed, […]

Asbestos removal cost – The Truth Part 1

I’ve never been involved in asbestos removal. It is a specialist field and, us “normal” builders are kicked out while it is going on! Actually, being an honest sort of bloke, I have to admit that I have. If we came across asbestos when we were refurbishing houses in the 1970’s, the stuff just went into […]

Asbestos Removal Cost – The Truth Part 2

Last week we talked direct costs. In case you missed it: click here. This week we talk indirect Asbestos Removal Cost! I was working on an office refurbishment for two floors of a 5-storey office block, the work place for about 700 people. We got dead lucky. We had effectively finished and were in the process […]

Asbestos Removal Cost – The Truth Part 3

There is also another indirect Asbestos removal cost, which is the one that dictates its removal; human health! We all know it is bad for us but until I made my phone calls I didn’t actually understand how that works! Seems the guys who originally fitted it, the laggers and so on, from the 1920’s […]

Avoiding the pitfalls: Common mistakes in construction quality assurance and how to prevent them

In fast-paced industries like ours, the margin for error is slim. Project and quality assurance managers face the daunting task of ensuring every aspect of a project adheres to stringent quality standards. Effective construction quality assurance (QA) mitigates risks, saves costs, and ensures projects meet both regulatory standards and client expectations. However, common mistakes in […]

Believe it or not, these were found on a construction site!

Can’t speak for everyone, but I’ve found some strange things on construction sites! The one thing that most of them share in common, though, is that they tend to hold up production and cost someone time and money! The first time I had a major alert was back in the early-1980’s, working in Kendal, Cumbria. […]

Benefits of Upgrading Your Construction Equipment

Some “construction equipment” doesn’t actually need up-grading! Plasterers are really proud when their finishing trowels are well worn down! They do a better job than a posh new one, too! However, we’re talking, again, about “plant” rather than just “tools”.The first, obvious benefit of upgrading is site safety. If you’ve a clapped out old dumper […]

Best cheap tablets for use in the construction industry

When it comes to working on the go, android tablets have since stolen the show from laptop PCs and notebooks, and have become the device of choice for many. Apart from serving as invaluable tools for communication and entertainment, the best cheap tablets have proven useful for professionals to handle virtually any kind of task. […]

Best construction software of 2017

Get an overview of the best construction software to use in 2017 Working on building projects can easily involve a lot of problems such as communication problems, getting an overview of the progress or just understanding all the data coming in. To make it easier for construction managers or the like, we have made a […]

Best Hacks to Improve Team Meetings

How much time do you spend on meetings? If the answer is “a lot”, then in the next four minutes of reading, I am going to share some of the tips that the most effective teams are using in order to improve their work. It is not a mission impossible to make the meetings short, […]

Best of 2020: Product highlights for LetsBuild’s progress and planning app (GenieBelt)

As 2020 is coming to an end, we present to you below everything you need to know about LetsBuild’s GenieBelt app.

Best of 2021: Product highlights for LetsBuild Aproplan app for QHSE & Snagging

Yes, it is that time of the year again to share with you our roundup of LetsBuild’s Aproplan 2021 product highlights! Over the past twelve months, our teams have been working on new exciting features that further allow you to digitise and support your most rigorous quality and safety processes. Here is everything you need […]

Best of 2021: Product highlights for LetsBuild GenieBelt live progress app

Yes, it is that time of the year again to share with you our roundup of LetsBuild’s GenieBelt 2021 product highlights! Over the past twelve months, our teams have been working on new exciting features that further allow you to facilitate progress tracking and team communication around your project schedule. Why? Our key focus remains to […]

Best Tools to Use in Heavy Construction

What heavy equipment is used in construction? Excavators Loaders Bulldozers Graders Construction vehicles Cranes Conveyors Hoists Forklift and others. Heavy construction, or as it is also called, heavy and civil engineering construction, is the part of industry in charge of the infrastructure. Its main area of expertise and responsibility is the essential infrastructure of cities, […]

Best Way to Design Your Building for Fire Safety

Fire safety must be a core element of building design to minimise risks from fire, heat, and smoke. The goal is to protect occupants, prevent injuries, and safeguard both contents and the building itself. Effective design also limits damage to neighbouring properties and reduces environmental impact. Designers must manage two major sources of fuel: the […]

Beyond Our Promise: Your New Company Reports and Form Functions

In the past couple of months, we have been focusing on improving and developing how you can fully utilise our company reports feature. Today, we bring you what we have promised and more! Standardise Your Task Reports Within Your Company You can now create templates sets to standardise the look, feel and order of your chosen […]

Biggest construction companies in Europe

Biggest construction companies in Europe – 2017

What are the biggest construction companies in Europe? Vinci ACS Bouygues Hochtief Skanska Eiffage Strabag TechnipFMC Biggest companies in Europe – Infographic When it comes to massive construction companies, it is no joke that the European continent is well represented. With our Biggest construction companies in Europe blog post, we set out to gather the […]

Biggest construction companies in the US

What are the biggest construction companies in the USA? Bechtel Group Inc. Fluor Corporation Chicago Bridge & Iron Company Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. Kiewit Corporation Turner Construction Skanska Construction PCL Construction Big, bigger, biggest In the US there are a lot of construction companies doing different work within areas like commercial, institutional, industrial, and civil construction […]

BIM and VDC for construction: What you should know

What is BIM and VDC? Technology is having a huge impact on the construction industry, primarily bringing about positive changes. The use of software, hardware, and various digital tools is making the sector more efficient, although there is still a lot of work to be done on bringing everybody on the journey. As the saying […]

BIM certification guide

BIM has become a must in the construction industry. Technology has always been a driving factor for business innovation, improved results, and increased profits. All serious construction firms that work on larger projects need to implement BIM technology to stay competitive. This is why more and more companies are rushing to get the necessary BIM […]

BIM execution plans – guide

For the coordination phase in construction to be successful, everyone involved in the project should be well aware of their responsibilities. Every construction project, especially the big, international ones, are collaborative in nature. And without a specific plan of action, nothing would be possible. These plans in the construction industry are called Business Information Modeling […]

BIM expert Matthew Jackson: Welcome to data ecosystem revolution!

The data ecosystem revolution ‘Welcome to Ecosystem revolution. Welcome to Total Cost of Ownership. Welcome to the Single Source of Truth!’ This is how Matthew Jackson, Global Manager of the Hercules Platform at BIMobject, concluded his talk during the European ConTech Summit 2018. The Summit took place in London on January 30th and attracted some […]

BIM for Facility Managers – Main Benefits

In the digital era, the most advanced technologies like business information modeling (BIM) are shaping many industries, namely construction, engineering, and architecture. BIM has such a potential that it’s being used across numerous industries for its ability to provide relevant, timely, and accurate data during the design, development, and construction phases. Additionally, BIM can also […]

BIM implementation and management: Changing construction from the bottom up

Construction is an industry that still runs on tradition and relies heavily on pen and paper for many of the processes on the site and the office. The good news is that a digital wave is rapidly approaching the sector. More and more stakeholders seem to understand the need for a data-driven and agile construction […]

BIM in Real Time: GenieBelt and Synchro join forces

GenieBelt and Synchro Software, join forces in order to bring real time BIM in construction. We are delighted to form this strategic technical partnership with Synchro to provide an integrated data platform for construction projects. Thanks to the agreed Proof of Concept (PoC), between Synchro Software Limited and GenieBelt ApS, the integration of Synchro’s top-performing […]

BIM Loket: The Dutch BIM Gateway

The Netherlands believes that open BIM standards are essential to the successful implementation of BIM within the Dutch construction industry. In 2014, a study was conducted to determine the best practices and the best way to ensure maintenance standards. The study resulted to Foundation Plan, a business plan commissioned by the Council for the BIM […]

BIM manager: Role, duties and responsibilities

What is the role of a BIM manager? In short, the role of BIM manager is to implement all the procedures in BIM and Digital Construction during the design, construction, and handover of a project. A BIM manager leads and supports the use of digital technology to create BIMs in the AEC sector. Technology is […]

BIM maturity, best practices and trends in the Netherlands

Holland is one of the leading places in the world where enormous efforts are being done to put BIM methodologies into effect in their construction sector. In fact, a two-year study was launched in May 2014 by the University of Twente as commissioned by the Dutch Building Information Council and the Dutch Association for Purchasing […]

BIM software guide: Information is the key to success

What is BIM software? That’s a question that lately is attracting more and more attention within the construction industry. Interestingly enough, there are many different answers to it. The truth is that Building Information Modeling is much more than a software solution, as it touches upon the way you organise your workflows, collaborate and interact […]

BIM Standards – Overview

An Overview of BIM standards The definition of a BIM standard states that building information modeling is: “a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. A BIM is a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle; defined as existing from earliest conception […]

BIM: Challenges and potential

Adoption of technology in construction has been slow but the industry is increasingly becoming aware of BIM’s potential in the field. BIM promises better decision making throughout the lifecycle of a project. As BIM addresses age-old problems in a more cost-effective manner with better problem solving, more effective communication and faster project building, a few […]

BIM: Making construction greener

The past decade the construction industry has seen the growth of two important trends that have been revolutionising the world’s approach to design and construction — BIM tools and green building. In most European countries, Northern America, Australia, and some parts of Asia, the green building movement has grown a lot within the construction industry. […]

Breaking down the 6 principles of Lean construction

Learn about the lean methodology as we break down the six core lean construction principles and explore how to implement them in your organization.

Bridging Culture in Construction

INTRODUCTION: In today’s shrinking world this bridging of cultures is something we are having to do more and more and it does bring with it some strange situations we have to find the imagination to deal with. One funny example of this I had was in Paris as site-based Planner. The fit-out of a new […]

Bridging the Gap of Communication in Construction

Across Europe, the construction sector plays a key role in the economy but often struggles with outdated communication methods. These shortcomings impact project success and also hinder the industry’s overall growth. This blog post will explore the critical importance of communication in construction, highlighting its direct influence on project outcomes and industry development. We’ll uncover […]

Bridging the gap: 3 steps to improving communication in construction

Improving communication in your construction project goes through your schedule. If you want to learn more about how you can start seeing everything on site without getting lost in an ocean of disconnected data, download our free ebook below.

Bring the benefits of BIM-based collaboration to your construction project!

Construction productivity is a long-standing issue in the industry and has become a huge field of research opportunity. Decades of expansive studies have produced well-documented models and methods for identifying the many factors and reasons that influence construction productivity. In the process, building information modeling (BIM) has emerged as a disruptive innovation with great potential […]

Bringing your programme to the site: How to know everything and build better

If you also want to build better and connect your teams under a live schedule using a single source of truth, it’s time to say goodbye to tools that are holding you behind like WhatsApp, MS Project, and Excel.

Build a more efficient workforce with this labour planning strategy

Labour planning is a pivotal cornerstone of workforce management. Your labour planning strategy is what guides each project towards success by assigning the right tasks to the right workers and anticipating your future labour needs. An effective labour planning strategy ensures efficient resource usage and safeguards project budgets, timelines, and quality standards. We’ll delve into […]

Builder profile – duties and job description

Builders can work in many areas of the construction industry, and while some of those areas may require specific classes or certification, the main requirements for degrees are the same.  In years past, it was common for builders to get their education right on the job, but that has changed. Nowadays, almost all builders are […]

Building award 2018

Do you love beautiful architecture and design? Then take a look at the winners of the Building Of The Year Award 2018. ArchDaily decided to ask their readers to pick out the buildings that represent the best architecture of the year. With beauty, creativity and intelligence in mind. It was narrowed down to the 15 […]

Building Better with GenieBelt

What does “building better” actually mean? Well, in practical terms that construction contractors can do something about, it means three things:- 1.The work is all done to high standards so there is little or even no, post hand-over de-snagging to be done. The whole project is completed within the budget so that it shows a […]

Building in binary: Big data and construction waste

Human beings have a problem with the following concept: out of sight, out of mind. It can be applied to a number of things, but we’re looking at it in the form of waste. When we throw something in the garbage and trudge the can to the end of the driveway once per week, it […]

Building Information Modeling: The future of construction

What is Building Information Modeling? Check our infographic to know more: What is BIM? Building Information Modeling (BIM) can be a valuable tool in the hands of anyone who works in construction. There’s no doubt that the concept of collaborative working is becoming more and more popular over the years. That’s why it’s critical for […]

Building the ancient Egypt pyramids

Now this is something about which there has been a lot of academic argument, most of which is baloney! I know how they built the Great Pyramid of Giza because, in a previous life, I was a Site Supervisor on the job! 😉 We liked doing it, too! Over 15 year’s continuous employment, starting around […]

Carillion collapse: The key takeaways from the MPs’ report

Carillion collapse in detail Carillion collapse last January was one of one of the biggest shocks in Britain’s corporate history. Approximately 20,000 job positions were in danger not only in the UK but in Ireland, as well. On top of that, thousands of people in Carillion’s supply chain were also put at risk. Carillion was […]

Carillion enters into compulsory liquidation and this is what you need to know

The UK construction giant Carillion enters into compulsory liquidation after the refusal of its lenders to provide further fiscal support. A vast number of jobs and major government contracts are in danger. Carillion was one of the most important suppliers for the UK government, and it is the second biggest UK construction player in terms […]

Carlo Jansen: Every great project starts with good contract management

Carlo Jansen is a construction management expert based in Antwerp, Belgium. He has 10 years of experience in contract management including the 8 years he spent managing the construction and refurbishment of 170 buildings while working as the Manager of Infrastructure for the Antwerp Port Authority. He currently works with freelance contracts consulting on construction […]

Carpentry software

Carpentry is a type of work that contractors do, and while it is specialized and smaller in scope that what a large contractor does, they are still quite busy.  Many carpenters do not realize that they could save some time by using some of the same construction software that contractors use to complete their daily […]

Cash Flow Management, A Key Driver of Contractor Success

The first thing we need to do here is decide what we mean by “contractor success”. I could get all academic and ramble on with various definitions, but I’ll keep it simple for this blog:- Contractor success means not going bankrupt! Now how to avoid going bust varies from country to country with their different […]

Change Management in Construction

Changes occur everywhere, but those changes are even more prominent within the construction industry.  While construction companies cannot do anything about any of those changes, they can do something about the way that they handle them all. The basic purpose of change management in construction is to ensure that all involved parties always receive clear […]

Change Orders in Construction – 101 Guide

Standardising your change order handling process will enable your team to keep your project on time and budget despite unforeseen alterations that could normally be the source of unspeakable delays and costly disputes.

ChatGPT for construction companies: A deep dive into its benefits

Does ChatGPT have a use in the construction industry? We think so. Learn about four key benefits of ChatGPT for construction companies.

Checklist for transporting construction equipment

Construction equipment does a great job of doing everything we need it to do without the help of any other equipment. When it comes to digging holes, grading land, moving massive material and prepping the earth for a giant project, they are the lone wolves. However, there’s one thing that construction equipment can’t do on […]

Checklists in construction – guide

Checklists can be helpful to anyone, no matter what type of job they have.  However, in the construction industry, a checklist can help keep a contractor sane, keep the work moving along, and ensure that nothing gets forgotten during the busyness of the project.  Of course, one massive checklist is not feasible when it comes […]

Civil engineer in construction – an overview

A civil engineer is trained to work with the design, construction, and even the maintenance of different types of buildings, roads, bridges, pipelines, railroads, and more.  However, many civil engineers specialize in one area over all the others, and it is becoming more common for many of them to focus on the construction industry. A […]

Civil engineering projects – 5 main types

Projects that involve both the construction or renovation of a structure or an alteration of part of the environment are considered part of civil engineering. These projects are quite diverse and can be done anywhere in the world, which is why there are so many disciplines that each civil engineer can focus on during their […]

Cladding for Buildings – Everything You Need to Know

Applying a material over another, essentially providing a skin, on the exterior of a home is called cladding.  This provides not only extra insulation to buildings, but additional weather resistance and an improved appearance.  You can use any number of materials for cladding, but the more popular ones include wood, metal, vinyl, and a large […]

Collaborative planning in construction: Get your teams to work seamlessly together 

To succeed in your collaborative planning you need to combine three crucial elements: people, processes, and tools. By bringing these three together, you will be able to resolve critical issues up to seven times faster.

Coming up with the new normal: How construction can turn the COVID-19 crisis into a transformative force

“The pandemic is creating an unprecedented impact on our built environment not just here in the UK but also globally. But I think there are positive things, as well. It’s forcing us to strive for more innovation and much more rapid solutions.”

Commercial Construction Projects – 6 Rules You Need to Follow

Rule 1 – Before you even start on the project, spend some money! Pay for a competent, experienced Planner to come up with a Detailed Programme to Completion (DPC)! Doesn’t matter whether they are permanent staff or a freelancer taken on for the project – as long as they are competent and experienced. Remember that […]

Common challenges in construction quality control and how to overcome them

Learn about construction quality control best practices and how to overcome the 3 most common quality issues construction professionals face.

Common challenges of residential construction projects

Homebuilders are facing more residential construction challenges than ever. Learn about these challenges and how construction management software is solving them.

Common hazards and dangers in the construction industry workplace

Accidents are called accidents because, well, they’re accidents. They are unfortunate incidents that happen unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury (Merriam-Webster, 2017). Although they happen by chance, this chance probability is always high in the construction sector. In fact, of all the industries, construction industry accidents has the highest of fatality rates […]

Common Pen-and-Paper Frustrations in Construction QHSE Workflows

QHSE (quality, health, safety and environment) inspectors and managers have a crucial role in your construction company. They are responsible for ensuring that your construction projects are adhering to the prescribed quality, health, safety, and environment standards. In order to do so, they maintain a checklist to safeguard the consistency of your company’s services and […]

Concrete homes – a new trend in construction?

For years now, homes have been constructed out of wood, but there is a new trend that is gaining in popularity.  Concrete is becoming the new material of choice when it comes to building homes and it doesn’t look like that will be changing due to the benefits that it offers.  After all, homes made […]

Construction Apps for Android

The Best Construction Apps for Android Technology has advanced so much in the last couple of decades and that advancement is helping employees everywhere perform their jobs better than ever before.  This is especially true in the field of construction, where the workers are going from their office to one job site to another job […]

Construction automation: What does it mean for the future of the industry?

For the past 200 years, humans have been constructing buildings in the same way – until now. Technology, which experts say is developing at an astounding pace, is bringing the possibility of an unprecedented change to how we make our cities and the places we live in. This would, however, necessitate a major shift in […]

Construction blueprints 101: What you need to know

Construction blueprints (or construction plans) may vary from project to project but they hold a prominent place in the building process.

Construction Budgeting Software Guide

7 Reasons You Need to Utilize Construction Budgeting Software The days of creating budgets by hand within the construction industry are long gone, especially since construction budgeting software has rapidly improved since it was created.  Making changes to handwritten budgets usually involved illegible numbers and numerous mistakes.  When you utilize construction budgeting software, you will […]

Construction checklists – Ultimate guide

What are common construction checklists? General safety checklists Equipment checklists Emergency tools checklists Quality and Certification Pre-Work checklists Quality checklists Safety checklists Checklists are a great tool to use to optimize how you organize your construction project in a number of ways. To effectively manage a construction project, it is imperative that you track and […]

Construction Communication = Fag & Tea Breaks

Let’s start with the Fag Breaks. Generally speaking they are actually an unexpected benefit resulting from the politically-correct anti-smoking pogrom for construction productivity! In days gone by everyone who smoked just smoked as they worked. Times changed and construction workers started having to do the same as office workers – go outside to have a […]

Construction contracts 101

Every construction project that a company takes on is a job that needs to be completed for their client.  While this may seem fairly straightforward, there are numerous details that need to be ironed out before the work begins, so that everyone is on the same page and knows what the results are supposed to […]

Construction cost estimating 101: Learning the basics

Basics of construction cost estimating In the construction industry, one of the main challenges is managing building projects that have unique features and requirements. However, all projects have elements things in common: a scope of work, a time schedule, and a budget. Construction cost estimation is a fundamental skill for engineering firms and contractors since […]

Construction Culture

Us lot? Everyone knows we’re a bunch of mucky, uncaring hard-cases! All of us have dirty finger nails and some of us even suffer from “builders’ bum” Somehow or other, that is the public perception of construction workers, at least in Britain! Actually, it couldn’t be much further from the reality! If you want confirmation, […]

Construction daily logs 101: What you need to know

What is a daily log in construction? A construction daily log or daily report is a necessary tool that compiles information from each day that there is work done at every job site. Basically, it is used to record the everyday progress of construction projects. Putting together a construction daily log may appear like a […]

Construction daily reports: A big pain for superintendents and foremen

It’s no secret that construction daily reports are one of the biggest struggles for foremen and superintendents. There is no doubt that keeping close track of your project’s daily progress is fundamental. Nevertheless, there has to be a better way to do it than having to spend, at least, an hour after the end of […]

Construction dashboards – guide

A construction dashboard allows a company to see all their data in one location, so they can see if they are finding success or failing within the industry. The information on the construction dashboard is available in real-time, so there is never a question on how old any of the data truly is. These dashboards […]

Construction Digital Maturity Ladder (CDML): Measuring construction’s digital future

How often do you report updates from site to office? A simple but crucial question for the outcome of every project in construction. As shown by LetsBuild’s Construction Digital Maturity Ladder (CDML), just 35% of all respondents report progress from the field in real-time or daily. The rest 65% connects with the boardroom weekly (39%) […]

Construction disputes: How software can protect your projects

The resolution of construction disputes can be a painful process. Learn how you can avoid it in the first place.

Construction draw schedule – What you need to know?

A construction draw schedule is basically what is used by contractors to identify specific completion points of a job.  This financial tool allows banks to see the progress and then release funds to keep the project moving forward.  If a construction draw schedule is not used, money will not be dispersed, and a contractor could […]

Construction Engineering with Project Engineering

Not everyone is aware of the differences between construction engineering and project engineering, and while some of those differences are subtle, a few of them are what causes a person to choose to specialize in one over the other.  Construction engineering includes the designing, planning, construction, and management of projects like roads, bridges, airports, tunnels, […]

Construction equipment rental – guide

Construction companies come in all sizes, and while some of them own all sorts of construction equipment, many of them will only own some of what they use for each project that they do.  The main reason for this is that construction equipment is expensive, but another reason is that this same equipment is also […]

Construction Estimating Software – Guide

At Least 5 Reasons Why You Need to Utilize Construction Estimating Software and Apps We are now in quite the technological world, which means that everyone can do their work in a shorter amount of time. It also means that while you may have been one of a handful of people placing bids on projects […]

Construction estimating spreadsheet

There are so many programs out there for construction companies, but sometimes the answer to a person’s problems can all be resolved with a simple construction estimating spreadsheet.  There are many different types of spreadsheets available, but the one used the most is Excel spreadsheets.  Those spreadsheets are simple to learn how to use and […]

Construction Events and Conferences 2017

List Of Construction Events in 2017 Updated 24/07-17 With a lot of changes coming so fast, it’s vital for everyone involved in construction and the allied industries to stay up to date with the latest news. Whether you are trying to improve your brand’s image, build a stronger construction network, introduce a product with a […]

Construction expert Mark Farmer analyses the unholy trinity of structural change

At the end of January, GenieBelt, in collaboration with BIMobject and Construction News had the honour to host the European ConTech Summit 2019. The discussion took place in London where some of the greatest minds in the construction industry came together in order to exchange ideas and insights about the digital journey of the sector. […]

Construction expert Matt Ghinn: The programme is king!

A few weeks ago LetsBuild had the honour of being nominated at Digital Construction Week Awards 2018 with VolkerFitzpatrick Ltd in the “Best Application of Technology” category. Currently, VolkerFitzpatrick is using LetsBuild in the West Anglia Main Line (WAML) Capacity Improvement Project. The WAML is part of Network Rail’s Lee Valley Rail Programme to deliver £170m […]

Construction Expert Roundup: How To Plan Now For A Successful Future

It’s no secret that, the construction industry has a big impact on the global economy growth. By 2020, estimations indicate that construction will be a 10.3 trillion industry. Nevertheless, it still is struggling with severe productivity issues as a result of the ineffective way of working. Therefore, asking the right questions to the right people […]

Construction expert Thomas Goubau: No project monitoring without standardisation!

Standardisation before using technology ‘There is one thing that construction companies absolutely need to do. They have to start standardising even before using technology. Otherwise, they just throw whatever technology they have out the window!’ Thomas Goubau, Aproplan CEO and founder, opened his speech at European ConTech Summit 2018 with this powerful remark. The Summit […]

Construction fraud – How to prevent it?

Construction Fraud – is it possible to prevent it? Unfortunately, construction fraud is happening more and more, as people are trying to get more for their money without providing anything for the money that they are earning.  This is bad news for construction companies, as it means that they are losing profits that could take […]

Construction HVAC – Understanding the Basics

Understanding the Basics of Construction HVAC Almost everyone in the construction world, and many outside of it, knows that HVAC stands for the heating, cooling, and ventilation system within a building.  The goal of any HVAC system is to make sure that the temperature inside any building is comfortable for those who are in it.  […]

Construction innovation: How we can help the industry get back in the tech race

The discussion around innovation in construction is gradually becoming more and more intense. Nevertheless, we have to admit that things still move slowly compared to other sectors, such as transportation, finance and media. According to McKinsey & Company, the construction industry is one of the least digitised sectors (IT spend doesn’t exceed 1%). Only agriculture […]

Construction Inspection – Guide

A Guide to Construction Inspection Construction inspections are a necessary part of the building process in the construction industry because it is the only way to know for sure that all the work was completed properly during the building process.  For this reason, construction companies cannot perform their own inspections, however, they can go through […]

Construction inspection: the pillar to your construction quality management

Other than looking out for the progress of your project and sending their updates to your stakeholders, the role of inspection also includes the careful examination of your construction works against quality and industry standards. How you conduct your quality inspections becomes the pillar of your construction quality management. And your company’s quality management can […]

Construction Lien Waivers 101

The Basics of Construction Lien Waivers Construction lien waivers are always present on construction projects, which is why everyone needs to be aware of what they are and how they work.  Of course, there are different types of lien waivers and each one is unique in their own way.  Construction companies must be aware of […]

Construction management 101: The ultimate guide

Construction Management Tool: Pre-Construction Meeting

Success starts at the pre-construction meeting. A strong beginning carries a momentum all the way through the project. The smart construction management team will have a meeting, as soon as possible to handle the paperwork, set up schedules & discuss work modes, establish communication protocols, and discuss contingency strategies. The architect will furnish the contractor […]

Construction Management Tools for Appliances and Equipment

With the electronic age in full swing, house design reflects the owner’s desire to have the latest in electronic equipment as much as the budget will allow. These latest tools and gadgets make it easier to go over checklists for safety and performance standards. Safety and performance standards Testing controls and features is a construction […]

Construction Management Tools: Cabinetry and Stair Precision

Cabinetry and stair precision can be specified in all materials, colors and sizes. They can be ready-made, special order, shop-built and job-built. Be ready to handle the speed bumps in some cases. Remain aware of the owner’s enthusiasm tools: eyes on details. The home owner will be particularly interested in cabinets and stairs. They impact […]

Construction Management Tools: Cabinetry and Stair Precision (Part 2)

In some instances, it makes sense to have the cabinetry or stairs job built in quality. For a bath that has the only cabinet work on the job, or a simple design that doesn’t require a lot of special mouldings, etc. — the simplest of the three and most easily scheduled, it makes for the […]

Construction Management Tools: Final Punch List

Final punch list and owner walk through is when all of the glitches have been handled and the contractor is ready for a final review. With punch list in hand, the architect and contractor review the punch list and this time both should feel confident that all is in place and all is well. The […]

Construction Management Tools: Project Closeout

During project closeout, the architect will send the owner and contractor an agenda regarding closeout procedures and requirements.  They may bring a real estate attorney.  Always prepare additional copies for the meeting. Interior design Many architects prefer to do their own interior design. However, on occasion, owners will hire an interior designer on a separate […]

Construction Management: A Beginner’s Guide to Change Order Management

Something the construction management is not very glad to see, but it happens. Often. Before everything, there is a construction contract signed by both parties. This is a legal form that contains all the details. Cost, performance and schedule of all work that will be performed. It’s a way for minimising the risk of miscommunication […]

Construction manager is the industry’s uncrowned king!

”I can feed pigs with fancy titles, but I am having trouble finding a proper construction manager,” says Niels. “Give me that person, who is proud of being a construction manager and who have had enough hands-on experience to know the workmanship, employees and profession.” The reason for this outbreak was that Niels and I […]

Construction needs to become data-driven for future success

Nicholas Klokholm, Director of Channel – Volume Builders at LetsBuild, shares with us his thoughts on why construction should become more data-driven in order to ensure future success: Are we focussing on the right things in our industry at the moment or have we fallen for the “nice and shiny” instead of looking at what […]

Construction planning and scheduling – A guide

Construction planning and scheduling: a quick intro Construction planning and scheduling are key aspects in integrating all your construction activities and phases needed to complete a given construction project at a given budget and time frame. Although having individual functions, planning and scheduling are inseparable when it comes to successful project management. Construction planning essentially […]

Construction problems in Apple campus 2?

Back in June 2012 Steve Jobs presented the details of the Apple Campus 2. Coined the “spaceship campus” by the media, the new Apple HQ designed by world renowned architect Sir Norman Foster, was expected to break ground in 2013 and open in 2015. However, an environmental review delayed the start on site now planned […]

Construction productivity in Europe: Our 2018 forecast

Productivity growth in the construction industry has increased the rate of employment and has greatly contributed to Europe’s economy. Providing more than 18 million jobs with a value amounting to 8.6% of the EU’s total GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in 2016, the construction sector is highly important in the European Union. Additionally, the sector also […]

Construction profit and loss: The Impact of Admin Costs

Have you ever thought about the cost of Paperwork in Construction? Many would expect that it won’t be that high today, given the technological progress. But guess again! Admin costs have still a great impact on construction profit and loss. Recently I cast my mind back to the time spent dealing with paperwork on site. […]

Construction programme: How to see everything without getting buried in admin work

Many stakeholders in construction rely on WhatsApp, Excel, and emails to communicate with each other and manage their projects. Good as they are, these tools aren’t tailored for construction and, therefore, can’t support all the time and data-sensitive processes around tasks in construction.

Construction progress tracking: See more, finish faster

Finding the right tools can transform your construction progress tracking. Because when you see more, you finish faster.

Construction progress: Inspecting and reporting your project status

Now that you have finished all inspections for the contract review, pre-contract meetings, and client onboardings, the project is ready for execution…and of course, more inspections! Here is an example of a construction execution plan checklist just to see if you really are ready for the execution phase. Remember, as a contractor or project manager, […]

Construction project management 101 – Checklist

To help you stay in control and manage your construction projects better, we have compiled an exhaustive library of construction checklist templates. You can use them to organise your site workflows and inspections and promote a safer and better construction site.

Construction project management processes: Everything you need to know

Introduction Project management is the basis on which every construction project is founded. A construction project manager has to obtain a variety of skills and competencies in order to navigate through the project and to establish a functional connection with the numerous teams. Construction projects have a continuous need for alterations and in that sense […]

Construction project manager infographic

This construction project manager infographic shows, that construction projects vary, depending on whether they’re commercial, residential, institutional, agricultural, industrial or heavy civil projects. However, all great CM’s the same important qualities. The construction project manager infographic CMs can be responsible for as many as 120 tasks, ranging from planning, to execution, to monitoring, to control and closure. […]

Construction quality management 101: Everything you should know

Successful construction projects require effective quality control and assurance. Read on to learn more on construction quality management.

Construction quality management: Everything you need to know

Construction quality management planning should be the cornerstone of any successful development, bringing it in on time and on budget.

Construction reports and reporting: An in-depth guide

A guide to construction reports and reporting The most successful construction companies choose to generate different reports that share all crucial information needed so construction work can continue on schedule and on budget. These reports used to be handed out in paper forms and then emailed to everyone involved. However in recent years, as technology […]

Construction resource management – 101 guide

Benefits of Construction Resource Management Construction is a tough business, due to all the variables that occur from the inception of the project all the way to the end when the last payment is received.  Trying to keep track of it all can be overwhelming, which is why many companies choose to have construction resource […]

Construction resume 101

Every resume is basically set up the same, but each one will need a few unique aspects for the job that a person is applying for.  Therefore, a resume for a construction worker is going to be different than one for a bank teller or a daycare worker. Here is everything that should be on […]

Construction risk management: Regain control when your project goes wrong

Managing a construction project is always challenging and there is a thin line between success and costly penalties or claims. This is also why risk management is so important.

Construction sector AI revolution in 2019

Artificial Intelligence increases its power in different sectors. Furthermore, that kind of technologies is more reachable. The manufacturing sector is using AI technologies in the core of production for quality control, shortening design time, reducing materials waste, improving production reuse and performing predictive maintenance. What about the construction sector? In the construction sector, the technology […]

Construction services: Here is what you should know

The term construction services covers a wide spectrum of tasks and responsibilities in the course of the building process. From design to completion, there is a plethora of services and parameters that should be taken care of. Even after the completion of a project, monitoring the building’s life-cycle is fundamental for its quality and well-being […]

Construction site diary: Everything you need to know

What is a construction site diary? Also referred to as the construction log or site journal, the site diary is your construction project’s record of all its worksite progress including all events and activities that could affect your construction progress and quality of your completed work. In saying so, it is important that you fill […]

Construction site inspection: Why it’s important to your construction project and business

Routine inspection is critical in each and every part of your construction project. Inspections guarantee that works within a project go forward as planned and are according to requirements, standards and regulations. Running a construction site requires the coordination of people, materials and equipment hence, construction inspections are executed for a great number of purposes […]

Construction site inspections – 10 pros and cons

Construction inspections are an essential part of the construction process. If done correctly, they can have tremendous advantages for anyone working in the industry. They can provide the certainty that everything proceeds as it should and in a safe way. It is clear that inspectors have a crucial job. They have to check everything and […]

Construction site management 101: Top tips for a well-managed job site

Managing a construction site is complex and challenging. Use these 5 construction site management strategies to ensure better outcomes for your projects!

Construction software buyers willingness to move to cloud solutions

While there are many challenges that can face the construction industry when it comes to adopting new technology, that does not appear to be the case when it comes to construction companies and cloud software. Multiple studies have been done that show that not only is the cloud becoming more of an everyday reality for […]

Construction software companies – 2017

Much like any other industry, the construction industry is also benefitting massively from a wide variety of software tools and apps. With our previous blog post, the Best Construction Software Companies of 2017, we tried to compile a list of the most valuable construction software tools and break it up categories. Below we have created a graphic that […]

Construction Software Trends of 2016: A Retrospective

Towards the end of 2016, our friends over at Software Advice, a homebuilding software consultancy, analysed small and midsize businesses (SMBs) and their needs when it comes to construction software. For three consecutive years now, Software Advice has been conducting an annual analysis of their construction software buyer consultations with the aim of studying buyer trends […]

Construction specifications 101

What Everyone Needs to Know about Construction Specifications? Construction specifications are more commonly known as specs to those who work in the field of construction.  They detail the work and the workmanship that is needed to complete the construction project and they are so important that no job can be done without them. The construction […]

Construction takeoff software – why do you need it?

Construction takeoff software helps with the process of creating construction material takeoff.  That means that everyone must understand what construction takeoff is, so that they can effectively and efficiently use the software. Construction takeoff is the details of the materials that are needed for any construction project.  Once these details are in place, a cost […]

Construction Tech Trends to Keep Your Eye On this 2019

As the global construction industry is forecasted to improve by 3.7% between 2019 and 2020, the global construction output is expected to rise to US$12.9 trillion by 2022. In the last year, investment in construction technology has grown by 30%, which equals to US$1 billion. As investments in construction and its technology continue to rise, […]

Construction technology startups set to transform the industry

Global construction is expected to reach a total value of $10 trillion in 2020. This number shows the great potential that the sector holds. It is no coincidence that construction technology startups and venture capitalists are lately investing heavily in the industry. The new report on the state of construction technology, published by JLL, proves […]

Construction unions – what are the top ones?

Construction unions have been around for quite some time, although they were over in Europe long before they became extremely popular in the United States.  However, that changed in 1935, when the Federal Labor Relations Act allowed workers in the U.S. to have collective bargaining rights.  The number of unions quickly grew after that and […]

ConTech – What you should know

What is ConTech? ConTech is the revolutionary technology that is used for all the construction work that is done within the construction industry. The industry is changing, just like so many others, and in order to keep up, every construction employee needs to up their game when it comes to technology. Thankfully, technology is easy […]

ConTech expert Niels Falk: Construction needs to stop running on tradition

“It’s a choice to run on tradition, not a fact. We need to stop running on tradition and start running on data!” This is one of the main points made by Niels Falk, Partner and CEO at HD Lab, during his keynote speech at European ConTech Summit 2019. The discussion took place in London at […]

Content Marketing for Your Construction Company

Getting Started Guide: Content Marketing for Your Construction Company Create Content: Why you should content for your construction company Blogs: If you’re good enough at your job, you can still give it away some the secrets for free and people will see you as the expert (not as someone that’s just there to make a buck). […]

Contract award playbook: What to do when you have just been awarded a contract

Congratulations! After a long and demanding process, you have finally been awarded a contract by a client. As soon as you receive the letter of award, confirming your selection for a particular contract, you need to move fast and plan ahead. In some cases, a “standstill period” might be required. This gap between letting all […]

Contractor vs subcontractor: What is the difference?

Contractor vs subcontractor Both contractors and subcontractors are indispensable for the development and completion of a construction project. Despite their integral role, though, there are still many who don’t really understand the key differences between them. In an effort to clear away confusion, we have prepared a useful guide which describes in detail what unites […]

Contractor: The role and duties

Who is a Contractor (definition)? In construction, a contractor is an organisation (or sometimes a person), hired by the client to carry out the work that is required for the completion of a project. Nevertheless, contractors don’t always have the expertise or the trades that are needed for completing all construction work by themselves. For […]

Coolest offices around the world

We all know the boring offices that are plain, simple and doesn’t try to lift the spirits of the workers at all. At GenieBelt, we have done some research on interesting and cool offices around the world that you can take a look at, and maybe get inspired for your own office. All of these […]

Cost Performance Index (CPI) in construction

What You Need to Know About the Cost Performance Index (CPI) in Construction The cost performance index in construction is also known as the CPI.  It is a project metric that will calculate the ratio of the earned value on the project to the actual cost of the project. Therefore, the formula that you will […]

Costs Management, Quality Control, Overall Monitoring of Construction Projects: APROPLAN for Engineers

The role of the engineer in a construction project is multiple, it intervenes from design to project’s delivery. As a central actor in a construction site, the engineer must be able to master and solve construction problems in a multidisciplinary environment. A project manager, a team manager, a budget negotiator and sometimes a salesman, the […]

Creating Customer Case Studies for Your Business

Case studies are a great way to highlight how much your customers enjoy your business or product. These articles are meant to give the reader an understanding of how you’ve solved their problem and made a positive change. These case studies are great for social media or just a helpful sales tool for you to […]

Critical Path Method for construction: What you need to know

The Critical Path Method (CPM) was developed by the DuPont and Remington Rand Companies as a way for planning and scheduling plant maintenance and construction projects utilising computers. The successful application of CPM methodologies by its developers led to the extensive use of CPM on government and industry projects. CPM uses a network diagram to […]

CSCS Card Board Shelves Plans to Simplify With Single “Smart” Card

It seems that ten schemes already carry the CSCS logo and, to get them all in line would be too complicated a struggle to win in the short term. So, with an application of bureaucratic procrastination, the decision is being put off until sometime in the future. But why do they want to change it? […]

CSCS Card to be scrapped in favour of one universal card

This is a surprise! No more pretty coloured CSCS Cards? I think the only logic that can be applied to this proposed change is that old saying from Management Theory:- “Anything managers decide makes sense – to them!” We’ve seen one bloomer like this from Cadbury’s with this Easter approaching! They changed the chocolate on […]

CSCS card: How to get It?

CSCS card – if you are working in construction in the UK, you have probably heard about it. But what is it exactly? The acronym CSCS stands for Construction Skills Certification Scheme, and the whole concept was invented about 25 years ago. It is a card that provides proof that an individual has the required […]

CSCS Revision. Again? Really?

Must admit though, I wasn’t too impressed when the CSCS card were introduced! I was working freelance in the Midlands and the Agency I was with told me I had to have one. They stuck me in for a Site Supervisor’s card. I protested and they changed it to a Site Manager’s card – my usual […]

Customer service skills that are useful for project management

The customer service industry is one that is often misunderstood by those in other professions. Not much is known about the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in these types of roles, which is why so few professionals realize why expanding the types of training they receive could greatly improve their efficiency in their job […]

Cutting 35% of Non-Productive Time: The Impact of Efficient Reporting in Construction

Once upon a time in a bustling city, a construction project promised to reshape the skyline. The project manager, armed with ambition and a blueprint for success, faced an unexpected adversary: inefficient reporting. Like a slow-acting poison, it crept into the project’s veins, muddying communication and clouding judgement. This story, unfortunately, isn’t unique in the […]

Daily progress reports in construction: Cutting down on the admin work

Keeping your teams connected and getting them to instantly flag critical issues and follow your processes are some of the most essential components of success for all construction projects.

Dashboards, Access Rights and Better Support

APROPLAN 2.3 has been released and offers you: A quick look at your productivity through the dashboard Easier access to technical support Better access rights management

Data culture: The missing link to bring construction together

We have many times referred to the importance of capturing and analysing data in construction. What about the introduction and development of a healthy data culture, though? McKinsey and Company published recently an enlightening research on the importance of a proactive organisational culture in the effort to accelerate and empower the application of data to […]

De Snag As You Go

In days gone by I got myself a contract as a lowly site supervisor on a tin shed job. It was quite a big tin shed; 27 acres of it with a single floor and roof! The first job I was given was to roam around the whole place, inside and out, and come up […]

Debunking the 10 most common BIM myths

With the whole disruption in the construction sector that is currently revolutionising how collaboration works in the industry the past decade, a lot of disinformation has been spread about building information modelling (BIM). A few of these myths have been keeping people hesitant in implementing BIM in their systems. In this article, we will discuss […]

Denmark Shows The Way For European Construction

It’s no secret that, the construction industry is struggling with efficiency. We recently referred to the UK market which at the moment faces the huge challenge of automatization. Of course, this isn’t just a British problem. It’s a significant issue that construction agents are battling against all over Europe. Denmark is a very representative example. […]

Did you know that 80% of the people who deliver on time stick to their budget?

Download our free ebook and find out how you can deliver successful projects sooner without relying on tools that are not tailored for construction!

Difference Between Building Project Management & Normal Project Management?

First thing we need to do before we even start to think of any differences, is what “project management” actually means! It is “the management of change”! So now we know that, let’s have a look at something where we can make simple comparisons between construction project management and normal project managment: a new wing […]

Digitalisation in construction: Getting your company on board with new technology

The construction industry is changing at a rapid pace thanks to the advent of digital solutions. A data-driven construction process is now seen as a significant competitive advantage for all stakeholders in the sector. In that sense, more and more construction companies try to leverage digital tools to improve their operational efficiency and keep their […]

Digitise Your QHSE Processes for Better Construction Quality and a Safer Construction Site

Construction site safety and compliance is a global industry issue. When construction companies fail to carry out safe and compliant workplace practices, it’s the employees who are at risk. It is only through effective internal inspection programs and processes that companies can keep their workers safe and ensure good quality, health, safety, and environment (QHSE) […]

Digitise your site diary for better site communication

Your construction site diary is a record of all your construction activities on site. This construction archive allows you and everyone involved in your project to stay up to date with your construction progress. Your site diary is highly important to the construction project and all construction companies and subcontractors concerned because it mostly functions […]

Digitising the Dutch construction sector

In April 2016, the Wet Kwaliteitsborging voor het Bouwen (WKB) or the Building Quality Law (also known as the Quality Assurance Act for Constructions or the Quality Assurance Act for Building – depending on the translator you’re using) was sent to the Lower House of the Netherlands. The WKB is an amending law which will […]

Disrupting project delivery: A new future for construction

Ever since discussing construction’s poor delivery practice in a previous article, disruption has been a buzzword that is no longer new to the industry. In fact, with the millennial generation making up the largest of today’s labor force and redefining the work landscape, it looks like the construction industry has reached a turning point that, […]

Do We Really Need a Construction Phase Plan?

Now here’s an interesting thing to Blog on about – I’m not even sure what it means! Suppose, then, the starting point is to sort that out! Most – well some anyway – of the professional bodies have their 7-point little list of stages for a construction project. That includes about 18 months from someone […]

Do you know Construction's dirty secret?

The last few years have been a period of huge transformation for the construction industry. The transition to a more efficient and highly digitised era has begun. Nevertheless, there are still many things that need to be done before we can confidently say that the building sector has changed for good. One of those revolves […]

Do’s and Don’ts to negotiating with insurance on construction projects

As a construction lawyer, I deal with payment issues for my clients on a day-to-day basis. There are many tools, tips, and best practices that I wish my clients would use before the problem hits my desk. These negative situations would go a lot smoother or possibly not happen at all if these “Do’s and […]

Don’t Pay the Price of Outdated Drawings

“The price of outdated drawings. What’s that?” you may ask. Well, let’s have a look at the subject. The worst instance of it that I have come across was when I had a freelance site manager’s contract for a new Distribution Depot for one of the Big 4 Supermarkets. I was told the job was […]

Driving construction productivity with mobile construction apps

How are you ensuring project success in 2024? As construction professionals seek innovative solutions to boost efficiency on job sites, mobile apps have emerged as a game-changer. We’ll explore how mobile construction apps are revolutionising the industry by enhancing productivity, improving communication, and streamlining project management processes.  Free eBook: Unveiling the Path to Digital Transformation in Construction The […]

Dutch Construction Expects 40% Higher Productivity, 50% Cut in CO2 Emissions with Smart Logistics

Construction activities in the Netherlands have been growing, especially the past year. Currently, 30% of the commercial traffic in Dutch cities comes from the construction sites as 50% of Dutch construction turnover is happening in the major cities. And that is predicted to grow to 80% in the next ten years. The increasing housing shortage […]

Dutch materials scientist makes self-healing roads

Last month’s The Verge article on pothole cure has refocused attention on Erik Schlangen and his self-healing asphalt. If you haven’t heard of Erik Schlangen yet, let this article introduce you to him. Erik Schlangen is a Civil Engineering professor at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. He’s the pioneer and chair of Experimental […]

Effective cost estimating strategy in construction project management

What does it take to have accurate estimates when it comes to construction project management? To have a successful project, you have to start from the cost management. Let’s put it like this. You won’t get the final picture of the project until you accurately calculate the whole cost. What would construction managers do? They tend to find a […]

Electrician’s license 101

Becoming an electrician is not easy, as the process is time-consuming and challenging.  Yet, once a person achieves their goal of obtaining their license for this profession, they will find that they have a skilled job that will last them a lifetime. Before a person can begin their electrician training, they must be at least […]

Elon Musk’s tunnel shows the way to construction innovation

It all began when in December 2016 Elon Musk complained through his twitter account about the unbearable traffic in Los Angeles. This tweet surprised the building sector, as nobody was entirely sure what the next step would be. One month later, Musk had already started digging the first test segment of his ambitious tunnel. This […]

Embracing new ideas could solve construction’s poor delivery practice

With technology being integrated more and more in various industries, it ‘s the construction industry that’s falling behind regarding handling complex projects. Multiple studies and surveys have established this. Some of our previous articles discussed reports concerning construction productivity. Said reports showed how cost overruns and schedule delays are inherent risks in large projects in […]

Ensure the Highest Level of Safety with a Digitised HSE Round

An HSE round is a mapping of the physical working environment. Digitising this important part of your HSE (health, safety and environment) system allows you and your company to effectively map the physical, chemical, and particular ergonomic conditions in all aspects of all your construction sites. A digitised HSE round checklist allows you to easily […]

Environmental laws in the construction site

Many countries across the globe consider the construction sector to be of strategic importance. It is the industry that delivers the building and infrastructure needs of a society and its economy. In the European Union, the construction industry generates about 9% of gross domestic product and provides 18 million direct jobs. The European Union’s internal […]

Escaping the blame game: Enable onsite teams to make decisions quicker and deliver sooner

Being able to reduce delays and instantly flag critical problems in your projects can make a big difference in the effort to bring trust back in contractual relationships.

Escaping the labyrinth: How to stay in control of the supply chain

Supply chain management in construction Construction can be a tough business at the best of times. One of the biggest challenges, particularly for the larger contractors, is dealing with their supply chain. With the tier 1 system in a state of flux as suppliers gain more power, managing relationships with subbies are becoming ever more […]

Estimate, Quote, Bid, Proposal – what’s the difference?

Estimate vs. Quote vs. Bid vs. Proposal – What’s The Difference & Why It Is Important? Working as a professional in the construction industry, you know that a big part of continually being successful is understanding how big of a numbers game it often is. Every penny in every part of the job counts and […]

EU Releases BIM Handbook: Promising Future for EU Construction?

The EU BIM TASK Group recently released the EU BIM handbook during the European Commission’s construction conference in Brussels last July 6, 2017. The handbook entitled “Handbook for the Introduction of Building Information Modelling by the European Public Sector”, is a collection of recommendations from experiences of public policy makers, public estate owners and infrastructure […]

Europe construction events in 2018

What will the construction industry bring in 2018? There are bunch of upcoming events that will seek to answer that question for you. It’s a great place for you to get updated on what is happening in the industry, such as new materials, technologies, new way of building etc. Going to events can be valuable, […]

Ever heard a construction story like this before?

People who work in construction deal with change every day, it’s what they do. Managing change requires knowledge, experience and a problem solving spirit. Not enough is heard of these everyday site heroes. Here is an attempt to recount an inspiring story we heard the other day. For us the story illustrates the resourcefulness of […]

Everyone’s Pocket Guide to Modern Construction Management

Construction project management is a complex multidisciplinary field that demands knowledge in areas like construction, engineering, finance, business, law, software, and more. Construction project management covers a myriad of tasks that can swiftly change, depending on the work at hand, and entails strong communication skills, thorough working knowledge of the construction process, and analytical thinking […]

Everything You Need to Know About Gateway 3 and Building Safety Act

The Building Safety Act 2022 represents a monumental shift in the approach to constructing, maintaining, and ensuring the safety of higher-risk residential buildings in the UK. Born out of the urgent need for reform highlighted by the Hackitt Report and subsequent inquiries following the Grenfell Tower fire, this legislation acknowledges a fundamental truth: the UK’s […]

Excel spreadsheets in construction: It’s time to let them go

Excel isn’t a tool that you can use to get your project teams to collaborate seamlessly and exchange crucial updates in real time. The data becomes static and outdated the moment it is added to a spreadsheet.

Excel spreadsheets in construction: It’s time to let them go

Great as it is, Excel is not enough for effectively managing your construction projects. Download our free guide today and learn how you can deliver successful projects sooner.

Exciting construction tech to look out for in 2020 and beyond

Over the last twenty years, technology has led the way for major transformations in almost every industry. Some of the most notable examples of this include Uber’s use of technology to transform the taxi industry and Netflix’s continuous innovations in the movie rental industry. One of the few industries that are yet to see many […]

Experience vs CV: Do You Stack Up For Commercial Construction?

I suppose everyone these days knows they have to have a CV if they are after a job? It was back in about 1985 that I was out of work and had to trot along weekly to the Job Centre to sign on if I wanted to see any money. After six weeks they told […]

Expert talk: Digital innovation is the number one priority in the industry!

“Digital innovation is the number one priority in construction.” That point, as expressed by Jason Ruddle UK MD at GenieBelt, was one of the most vital conclusions of the European ConTech Summit 2019 that took place in London at the end of January. LetsBuild was extremely proud to host this great discussion in collaboration with BIMobject […]

Expert talk: New normal calls for more collaboration and strong leadership

“When you know what’s coming don’t wait for it to hit you like a brick. Look at it, prepare for it and be ahead of the game!”

Falling, Slipping, and Tripping: Your Guide to Preventing the Most Common Workplace Injuries

If you’re the owner or manager of a given workplace, you’re likely concerned with preventing as much on-site injury as possible. However, keeping your employees safe is only part of the equation. You also want customers, service people and other outside visitors to your facility to be safe as well. Falling, slipping and tripping are […]

Famous Building Structures – Top 10

What are the Top 10 Most Famous Building Structures? Construction is always evolving, which means that buildings are being constructed and look like no other buildings in the past.  While there are more and more of these spectacular buildings popping up, there are ten famous building structures that stand out from all the rest. Here […]

Field claim preparation

Developing construction claims after they have occurred is difficult, and in many instances results in inaccurate and incomplete presentations. It is almost impossible to recreate all of the various nuances that may have generated delays, additional work, or additional circumstances that were not anticipated at bid time after they have already been experienced in the […]

Five benefits of inspection reporting software

There are many reasons to adopt inspection reporting software in the fight against obsolete or incomplete information, especially considering how much time is typically invested in ongoing assessments and results tracking.

Five of The World’s Coolest Modern Libraries

“The World’s Coolest Libraries” show off some of the most breath-taking design concepts that Architects come up with. They are great additions to the visual amenities of their local areas! They are also the avant-garde of the future along with their recording of our past history! The first of these to be listed here is […]

Five Reasons Mobile Apps Are Transforming The Construction Industry

By Bob Drainville, President, Timesheet Mobile One of the biggest issues that continue to plague the construction industry is productivity – or rather, the lack of it. A World Economic Forum study found that the sector’s productivity advancements have been “meager” compared to other industries over the last five decades, while a report from McKinsey […]

Five Safety Tips Every Construction Worker Should Know

Construction workers work on construction sites – and they are notorious for the accident, and even death, rates which occur on them. Here are some tips to keep you safe and sound! Be aware of how those around you are performing. Even the best and most safety conscious of us can have our off days. […]

Five ways to foster greater teamwork in your mobile workforce

Fostering collaboration and teamwork between your mobile workforce is equal parts art and science. With 72 percent of construction workers using a smartphone for work purposes, and the majority of day often spent at projects offsite, it can be challenging to manage your employees. Here are five tips on how you can unite, motivate and […]

Force majeure in construction: Protecting your projects from unforeseen events by investing on preparation

Force majeure refers to extraordinary, unusual, unforeseen events that surpass the practical control of an individual or a group to a contract that prevents a party from fulfilling an obligation or obligations under that contract.

Form Tool: Product news turning up the heat this November

We completely understand and empathise with your concerns on worksite health and safety. That’s why we want to create a new work culture with you—one that’s centred around better standards and compliance to eliminate accidents, disputes and all other risks that could jeopardise your project’s progress. In recent weeks, our teams have been working hard […]

Formalise your meetings with a checklist and ensure that everyone receives the information they need

In a perfect world, you have everything you need to know before you attend a meeting at work. You have all your meeting materials before you step into the conference room, with everything tagged and accessible once the meeting starts. In a perfect world, it’s the same for all the other participants and the administrators. […]

Four Steps to Awesome Service in Construction

“Service” is what businesses give their customers. We all have shops, restaurants and other businesses we like going into and spending our money with, because they are nice to us and give us good service. Others we avoid, because their service simply isn’t very good, and only use them in desperation. Now for Construction the […]

Free as a bird: The Top 8 reasons to become an independent contractor?

Ask around, and you’re sure to find those who can come up with reasons NOT to be an independent contractor. It’s important to know that this is to be expected, as anywhere from 30 to 40 percent of the workforce works for themselves. This is forecasted to increase to nearly half in the next decade. […]

Gantt Charts in construction: Gain back control of your projects

What is a Gantt Chart? A Gantt chart is an essential element of most major construction projects these days. Named after the American engineer, Henry L. Gantt, who came up with the idea in the early part of the 20th century, in simple terms it is a bar chart used to display the details of […]

GDPR in construction: Are you prepared?

GDPR and the construction industry The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is expected to come into force both in European Union and the United Kingdom on May 25, 2018. The law will apply to any company that collects personal data in relation to EU citizens. The UK is also supporting the new regulations regardless of […]

General conditions and general requirements for construction projects

There are certain items that every company uses for every construction project that they do, and they all fall under the general conditions category.  However, in this field of work, those same items can also be delegated into a general requirements category. It doesn’t really matter what a person calls these items, as they are […]

General contractor – 10 important questions to ask (infographic)

Before we jump into it Finding the right general contractor for your project isn’t easy. To the contrary, it’s a long and demanding process and there are a plethora of parameters that should be taken into consideration. Nevertheless, if you ask the right people the right questions you can make things much simpler both for […]

General Contractor Salaries in 2022

Whether you’re hiring a general contractor for your next construction project or working as one and wondering how your general contractor salary matches up to others in the field, we have the answers—here’s everything you need to know about general contractor salaries in 2022.

Genie Report 2016

It was an amazing year both for ConTech (Construction Technology) and the GenieBelt family. So, check out our first ever end-of-year report!  – Geniebelt received new funding (biggest “ConTech” funding round in Europe!) and was featured in TechCrunch  – More than doubled its staff and grown in nationalities  – We moved to new office in […]

GenieBelt – Document Storage for Construction

Some of us, mefor example, came into Construction through the back door! In an earlier life, believe it or not, I worked in Cost Offices, as an Accounts Clerk, for the motor manufacturing industry. This isn’t the time or place to run through the rest of my working life, but I eventually became a Site […]

GenieBelt and APROPLAN merge to create a new force in construction technology

We are extremely proud to announce that GenieBelt and APROPLAN have agreed to enter into a merger agreement that will give customers an end-to-end digital solution covering the construction phase with on-site planning, progress communication, and on-site follow-up communication. LetsBuild will be our new name, upon the completion of the merger. We believe that this […]

GenieBelt and Procore come together!

We are happy to announce that GenieBelt is finally in an integrated relationship with Procore. GenieBelt and Procore can take your construction project performance to a whole new level! To show how well we work together, here is a video about the GenieBelt and Procore integration.  What do you think? Are we not a […]

GenieBelt and REHAU are taking on construction together

GenieBelt and polymer specialist, REHAU, join forces to solve two of the biggest challenges that the construction industry faces on a constant basis: Money and time. REHAU will introduce to its customers an innovative project management portal powered by GenieBelt. The new REHAU portal is the result of a fruitful collaboration between GenieBelt and Unlimited […]

GenieBelt Cloud Based Construction Software

So what are you paying out for now? Larger than necessary site office container to put filing cabinets and drawing table in? Perhaps even a second one for the site-based QS because no space in the manager’s office? Archive space in Head office to store records for 6 years? A Server room in Head Office? […]

GenieBelt New Features: Our Platform Develops and so Do We

Better is the enemy of good and here at GenieBelt we know that well. It’s not so long ago that we announced the launching of various new features such as project overview and advanced dependencies. But guess what? We are back with a new update that will make the GenieBelt experience even more straightforward and exciting. […]

GenieBelt raises new funding round

GenieBelt, the collaboration platform specifically designed for construction, today announced a new Angel round led by European Angel investor and former CEO of Just Eat, Klaus Nyengaard. Ditlev Bredahl, CEO of OnApp, also contributed to the €700,000 funding round. Based in Copenhagen, GenieBelt’s construction collaboration platform helps the industry to finish on time and to […]

GenieBelt Report 2017: The year's highlights

And the year 2017 finally comes to an end. GenieBelt had an amazing year in terms of growth and spirit. In order to share the joy of our year with our audience, we decided to summarize the main highlights of the year as GenieBelt Report 2017. First and foremost, we did a short trip to […]

GenieBelt Report 2018

2018 has been an exciting year for GenieBelt! We had an incredible journey in terms of growth and spirit. As 2018 comes to an end, we decided to put together a short Genie report including some of the most memorable moments of the year that we are about to leave behind! First of all, we […]

Geniebelt secures growth, via €2M investment from Danish Solar

GenieBelt – the Project management and communication platform to the global construction industry, has announced today a €2 million investment from Danish Solar A/S and Co-founder and Chairman Klaus Nyengaard. Solar is a leading European sourcing- and services company, and the 3000 employee company shares GenieBelt’s vision on changing the way the construction industry operates. […]

GenieBelt to streamline large scale energy renovation project

It’s official! GenieBelt and SustainSolutions join forces in order to empower collaboration and optimise communications during the ambitious large-scale energy renovation project in DGI-Byen. The 30,000 m2 leisure and business centre is located in central Copenhagen and it is about to undergo an extensive energy renovation. The project is expected to cost a total of […]

GenieBelt Update: New Exciting Features and A Proud Announcement

We are back with some great news for all of you! GenieBelt has just launched some exciting new features which are expected to optimize even more your user experience. As always, we should say a big thank you to all of you who made this new update possible through your insightful and challenging feedback. In […]

GenieBelt Wins FinancesOnline 2016 Construction Management Software Awards

And the winner is… GenieBelt! Ever since Geniebelt began its journey, we’ve been trying our best to meet our customers’ expectations and to constantly raise the quality of the services that we provide. That’s something FinancesOnline, one of the most popular business review directories and a great source of SaaS marketing ideas, find notably inspiring […]

GenieBelt: New & Improved, Thanks to You

We got a new office! We got new investment! The staff has grown by 90%… but Autumn has come. The clouds have consumed the sun, the wind beats and blusters down on cyclists and pedestrians alike here in Copenhagen. Yet here at GenieBelt we trudge on in spite of it all. So worry not, we […]

GenieBelt: Updated and Ready for the Next Challenge

We are back with some exciting news for all of you who are part of GenieBelt’s journey. New features! During the last months, we worked hard and today we are happy to announce the launching of a new update that will change the way you are using GenieBelt for the better. Once again, we have […]

German Construction Continues to Boom: Things You Should Know to Get Ahead

By the end of 2016, new residential building permits issued in Germany resulted in more than a 20% increase compared to the previous year. More than 380,000 residential building permits were issued by the end of 2016, a huge increase from the 313,000 issued in 2015. According to Housing Minister Barabara Hendricks, this is the […]

German construction: What’s next for the industry?

Solid growth Germany is the financial powerhouse of Europe and construction is probably its most significant driver of growth. During 2017, the German building sector experienced a calendar-adjusted expansion of 2.5%. This is the highest rate since 2011 and it is expected to increase even more in 2018. According to the Ifo Institute for Economic […]

German infrastructure projects over US $129 billion of investment

Germany has been continually investing in quality infrastructure since the country reunified in 1990. As the water industry invested more than US$122.2 billion in water infrastructure projects, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure launched the “Gigabit Germany Initiative for the Future”. The aim of which is to draw over US$111.1 billion of investment […]

Get your construction company listed everywhere for free

Getting started guide: Advertising your construction company for free Getting found: How to build links to your construction company website If you don’t have a website, social media, or tracking. Go back to our first checklist on how to start out marketing your business online. In this guide, you will learn about some of the […]

Get Your Employees Involved in Your QHSE Initiatives Today

This is the most common question you get from QHSE managers or companies initiating a change on their QHSE system: how do we get everyone in the company involved in the quality and HSE (health, safety and environment) programs? Obviously, there is no single answer. We set out a guideline here for the digitalisation of […]

Getting Design Criteria Right

Before I start on about Design Criteria, let’s get something cleared up and out of the way! “Buildability” doesn’t mean “Can it be built?” Us builders, like, we’ll stick anything up as long as it is designed to be structurally stable and technologically possible! No: “buildability” means does the project work actually fall within the […]

Getting rid of the old habits: How to succeed in the digital transformation of your company

Standardisation is one of the biggest bets for construction moving forward. Many think that construction projects vary both in terms of purpose and size so standardisation isn’t always an option. But the truth is way different.

Getting Started Guide: Advertising Your Construction Company for Free

Getting Started Guide: Advertising Your Construction Company for Free Building the basics for free or nearly free When you’re trying to get your business noticed online you need to use the right tools. Whether you’re selling construction services, software, or golf clubs you need to know how to get in front of your customers. In […]

Give Your Construction Field Management System a Facelift

Okay, construction is a global industry but some of us aren’t as “multi-lingual” as others so, for them, some information. “Field” to the Americans means “Site” to us British! So the construction field management system:- I’ve actually written a published paper arguing that this is a matter of wearing a suit and tie then swanning […]

GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price) in Construction – a Quick Guide

In the field of construction, GMP stands for the guaranteed maximum price.  This is usually part of a contract that states what the maximum price can be for a project and it means that a person will never pay more than that to get the work completed. You are responsible for knowing what this amount […]

Go Mobile, Go Cloud. But Keep the Data!

The talk about the importance of data in the construction industry is lately getting louder. The digitization of the construction process should be seen as a necessity rather than a luxury. During their presence in the Unlimited X Future Forum, Klaus Nyengaard and Ulrik Branner, Chairman and CEO of GenieBelt respectively, acknowledged the need for […]

Good communication on the job site: Connect your teams and see everything

Download our free ebook and see for yourself how LetsBuild can help you get full visibility, complete control, and unique on-site insight over your repetitive processes.

Green building techniques: How you can make your construction projects more environmentally friendly

The building and construction industry is a prominent consumer of natural resources, taking up to 50% of the resources. It also contributes heavily to environmental pollution, accounting for 39% of CO2 emissions, 50% of landfill wastes, and 40% of water pollution. Recently, sustainable construction has been gaining attention. Both environmentalists and governments have been pushing […]

Green construction adds value at every scale

Author: Alyson Laura, Sustainability Maven for GBES.com. Where to look for value in green construction? Everywhere! First, look at the fewer sick days occupants take because the indoor air quality promotes fresh air exchanges. That dollar keeps on giving long after the initial investment into safer material choices. Next, look at those solar panels covering their […]

Greenlighting Green Lighting: Incorporating Sustainability into Your Building Plans

It’s no secret that we’re in the midst of a major energy crisis. Not only are electric bills too high, but the environment around us is suffering. We have a responsibility to ourselves, our planet, and our wallets to make changes; even ones as small as a light bulb. Here are a few small ways […]

Half a Million Dollars to make a big dent in construction

We just secured half a million dollars in funding to start building the future of construction! Excited? Yep, so are we!!! Let’s face it, construction projects are inherently difficult to manage, you know it, we know it. One of the reasons for this, is because the intensity of the information flow and the decision making […]

Hard Hat Challenge: Break the Monotony on the Site

You think that working on a construction site has only tough and monotonous moments? Well…think again! When you a have a hard hat and a spade next to you, then something fun can always pop up. The new craze that is taking over the internet and the construction sites around the world is called “The […]

Have You Sustained a Construction Site Injury? Here’s How to Protect Your Rights

In 2016, there were almost a million separate workplace accidents that caused the victims to miss at least one full work day. Such injuries are especially common at construction sites, where bosses often cut corners to boost profit margins and dangerous conditions are everywhere. Nearly two-thirds of these incidents involve falls, electrocutions, being struck by […]

Health & Safety In Construction

It doesn’t matter who you are, at some point in your construction industry life, you are going to have sneered at something to do with healthy and safety. But, another sad fact of life is that every single person in the building game is going to have had at least one near miss – and […]

Health, Safety and Quality in UK Construction Jobsites

Health and safety obviously make up a huge part of a good quality construction project. In the UK, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (or the CDM as people casually refer to) is currently the basis for protecting construction professionals while working in the construction sites. The CDM 2015 came into force on April […]

Help, I Need Project Management Software For the Construction Industry

It’s no secret that the most important element for a successful construction project is a Detailed Programme to Completion (DPC). In order to come up with one, though, you need to have MS Project on your computer. It is certainly a great improvement in comparison to the old days! Back then we had to find a […]

Hilarious construction signs

Walking around a construction site is no joke: Loose equipment, sharp objects, Falls… But sometimes explaining those hazards or other matters to the public can be just hilarious. Take a look at our top construction site signs. This contractor commits to a really fast handover: Wait… is this actually a construction sign? Aussie humour? Sign […]

House Remodeling Software Guide

House Remodeling Software and How It Can Help You Creating basic drawings and blueprints for a house remodel will only allow you to see a 2D version of what your home will look like.  This is not going to be too helpful, because it will not show you exactly how your home will look after […]

Housebuilder Profile – duties and responsibilities

While builders can focus on so many different areas within the construction industry, many will choose one as their specialty.  The most common field is house building, which is no surprise since new homes are popping up everywhere. Anyone who wants to work as a house builder will need to obtain their associate’s degree.  A […]

Housebuilding guide: Gaining control over multiple projects and developments – Infographic

The construction industry is vast and complex with different sectors and players working to bring more structure to human society. Multiple parties take up projects to create something new, renovate the old, or improve on something to perform better. All carry a sole focus – to improve society for us to live in. Housebuilders, in […]

How 4D Scheduling Works Like a Charm in LetsBuild

Just to clarify, “4D” means “4 dimensions”, the 4th., in building terms, being “time” – and, no, we aren’t going time-travelling! Now, in order to do any scheduling you need to know who has to do what, where and when. That means you have to have a pretty detail Programme of Works and LetsBuild happily […]

How a contractor’s payment history affects your communication strategy on the job

Communicating is one of the hardest – but most critical – parts of managing a successful construction project. Figuring out who to share information with, and when and how to share it, can be frustrating. The bigger a project is, the more important it becomes to communicate with the right people in a clear, consistent, […]

How a large residential contractor reduced building time 5x by moving their schedule to the cloud

Grupo Provivienda reduced building time 5x by digitising key processes and gathering all team communication in a live, shareable place.

How APROPLAN Enables Success Factors for Your Company

We are close to the finish line of 2015. The summer is already behind us and now we need to switch in the fast gear and end 2015 with success. We discuss success often here at the APROPLAN Headquarters (I am sure you are doing the same with your team). Last week, one of our colleagues […]

How asset tracking software solves major construction management challenges

The role of asset tracking software in the construction industry The construction industry is a burgeoning sector, hammering out the very foundations of modern society as we know it. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of people working in this sector was close to ten million as far back as 2014. However, […]

How Automation in Construction is Reshaping the Industry?

How Automation in Construction Continues to Reshape the Industry Many humans are finding themselves out of certain jobs, as robots and other forms of automation move into the workplace.  While many people are against this technology taking over, mostly due to the number of jobs that will be lost, there are a few good things […]

How Big Data is transforming the construction industry

The reason big data has garnered so much attention in recent years is that it not only is relevant across all industries but its value in terms of application in the digital age is almost limitless. Take the construction industry, for example. In this sector, as in others, useful data comes from everywhere—from previous construction […]

How BIM can become the most powerful ally for MEP contractors?

Those following our blog surely have to be convinced by now that the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the construction industry has grown significantly in recent years. For those joining us here for the first time, perhaps it’s good to start with a usable definition of BIM. We believe that BIM is a […]

How BIM is empowering safety on site

In most cases, the discussion around Building Information Modeling (BIM) tends to focus on the potential efficiency and financial benefits that it may entail for the construction industry. Nevertheless, BIM can significantly contribute to the prevention of severe accidents on site, as well. Construction is one of the most hazardous industries to work in and […]

How Brexit Will Affect The Construction Industry – Infographics

[clickToTweet tweet=”Take a look at this great infographic about the impact of #Brexit on the #construction industry ?️” quote=”Take a look at this great infographic about the impact of #Brexit on the #construction industry ?️”] The UK remains uncertain of the full impact the EU referendum will have and how Brexit will actually affect the […]

How CAD/CAM technology is influencing the construction industry

Software development has simplified work in the construction and designing industry, allowing to work collaboratively with on-site and remote teams across the world. Although the earliest CAD/CAM and BIM models data from the ’80s, it was only 10 years ago when engineers and construction professionals widely embraced the design modeling technology. It is indeed more […]

How can a digital site diary improve on-site quality control?

Learn how switching from handwritten daily construction logs to a digital construction site diary can help improve your on-site quality control and efficiency.

How can Logistics and Warehousing Go Green?

Green Technology is the wave of the future. Whether it be taking a more eco-friendly or environmental approach or featuring the latest improvements in logistics, supply chain, or warehousing interfaces, there are an abundance of benefits to adopting and adapting a green approach. Are you looking for ways to integrate these practices into your material […]

How can we increase construction efficiency with BIM and data-driven design ?

The construction industry is facing a lot of challenges, as building projects are growing in size and complexity. At the same time, emerging innovations and advancements in technology are disrupting the industry. Virtual and augmented reality, Artificial intelligence (AI), IoT technologies, information management systems, and cloud-based platforms are a few game-changing technologies. All these tools […]

How Commercial Construction Has Changed Since Your Dad’s Time

Casting my mind back to my first commercial construction new build takes me back to 1991. It was an office block come call-center for a bank in the North East. We built well and we built to last! Now, it is a British social expectation that a building is something permanent. The last time I […]

How Conscious Choices Are Driving the Development of New Building Materials and Methods

Over the past decade, we have seen the overall shift of people’s consumption towards what’s more morally and ethically sound. When it comes to the construction sector, consumers value what is more environmentally-friendly and what is more energy-efficient. Aside from its impact on the environment, people have seen that green choices are correlated to better […]

How construction companies can leverage the power of data

Embrace digitalisation or fall behind: Learn how to use data analytics in your construction company to improve on-site and off-site efficiency.

How construction companies use mobile field reporting to beat competition

Effective mobile field reporting is of paramount importance not just for the success but in the long run even for the survival of your construction company.

How Construction Document Management Software Can Save You Thousands

We all know that construction generates a lot of paperwork. This is necessary, mainly, because of the complexity of construction. Oh, okay! We don’t think it is complex, but the rest of the world does! So let’s have a look at what handling the paperwork involves and, for that, I’ll start with what happens on […]

How Construction IT compares to other industries

Box.com recently made a study of five industries using their services. If you are in Construction then this is a really interesting read. To make it easy though, we have summarised it for you. The areas of economic activity looked at were: Software Media and Entertainment Construction Manufacturing, and Financial Services. Essentially, Box offers Cloud […]

How Construction Management Has Changed Since Your Dad’s Time

The first thing here is to decide whose Dad we are talking about: mine or yours! In my Dad’s time it was the Post-War regeneration period and all I saw of it was houses being chucked up at a rate we hadn’t seen in Britain since the Victorian population explosion! I never actually saw much […]

How construction management software saves time and money

A construction project is consisted of a huge number of different processes. On top of that, there are many different agents who are responsible for different aspects of it. Things can get pretty messy in a lot of cases due to inefficient coordination or lack of communication. From my personal experience as a freelance turnaround […]

How Construction Robotics Will Affect the Industry

Construction robotics is one solution that some firms are adopting to combat construction labour shortage and COVID19 challenges, so let’s break down how it’s affecting the industry.

How construction technology saves time, money and jobs!

There is a bit, a very small bit, of a plus-side to all the site paperwork we are so used to. In times of no “construction technology“, if there were youngsters on site we could foist off onto them the job of distributing all the bits of paper around the site to whoever needed them. […]

How digital technology is changing the construction industry

Since its emergence, digital technology has affected a great number of industries across the globe. While it’s more visible in certain areas, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and retail, it’s the construction industry that’s taking the biggest advantage of it now. The era of digitalisation has finally reached contractors and their businesses, and it’s about time. […]

How email communication hurts your project delivery

Many people in construction are addicted to emails. They can’t even imagine how they could communicate with their teams in a different way. But by now it is evident that this shouldn’t be the case.

How GenieBelt Audit Trail Will Protect You

Construction is a complicated old business and contractual disagreements can be a major headache, particularly at the end of the project when all bills will hopefully be settled. Historically there are often serious argumentsthat need to be resolved. These usually involve Delay and the threat of LAD charges, which can be horrendous, they can often […]

How Has Covid Affected the Construction Industry?

How has COVID affected the construction industry? Although it escaped relatively unscathed compared to some sectors, there’s still been plenty of impact.

How HSE managers can share their expertise to stay ahead of the competition

This article is based on the third edition of the Health and Safety Guide 65’s Managing for Health and Safety published by the Health and Safety Executive in 2013 and is a general guidance to complying with the law. This guide will help any company or HSE manager to address specific HSE (health, safety and […]

How I built that: The hell and heaven of housebuilders

Housebuilding projects are tough. The distance between hell and heaven in a project like that can be extremely short. This statement comes as no surprise to anyone who has some experience in the building sector. Housebuilders have to take into account a plethora of parameters in order to successfully design, develop and eventually complete a […]

How long to build St Paul’s Cathedral today?

“If they built St Paul’s Cathedral today it would only take 2 years instead of 200.” Now isn’t that a fascinating hypothesis? Before we go much further, we’d better have a look at the factors involved and, for now, we’ll ignore the question of land. We’ll just assume there is an available plot and that […]

How Mobile Apps Improved Communication to Owners and Project Stakeholders in Construction Industry

The 1990’s This Blog takes me back in time! In the early 1990’s all we had for communication in the construction industry was, if we were lucky, a phone in the site office. Any communication had to be done with that and it was a pretty time consuming performance so not much communication took place. […]

How mobile project management can improve jobsite efficiency

Construction sites are infinitely complicated places that require multiple projects working at once to deliver the project on time and under budget. Teams used to organize those projects on paper, then spreadsheets, but now the most organized and easy-to-use solution for any construction project comes in the form of mobile project management software. Mobile project […]

How Pre-Cast Concrete Changed Commercial Construction?

How Precast Concrete Changed Construction, You can read here at GenieBelt’s Blog. The first time I was aware of pre-cast concrete being used was as a kid in the early 1950’s. In my home town up in the North West, whole housing estates were banged up in no time using pre-cast concrete panels. These were […]

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

Every construction project must have challenges that beset progress. Here is how project managers use technology to ensure on-budget and on-time construction.

How Smart Project Managers Build Schedules When There is Lack Of Information

As project manager, have the right, opportunity and responsibility to build a winning efficient project management plan. Within this responsibility, comes the challenge with not having the right information when it comes to proposing a time frame for the execution. In other cases, you will be in a situation where you are not an expert […]

How Successful Construction Companies Handle Documentation for Big Projects

What is your bigger pain when it comes to leading big projects? The answer always comes down to document management. Is this true for you? If yes then please carry on reading. We will go in-depth of the document management subject. Keeping it simple, document management is all about managing how you structure, organize, update and […]

How technology can help you maintain your profit margins at residential projects

Residential construction profit margins are down due to multiple setbacks in the EU — we explore three ways that digital construction technology can help.

How technology can help you mitigate the construction labour shortage

To combat the labour shortage in the long term, you’ll need to figure out ways to get more work done with fewer labourers. And new construction technologies can help you do that.

How Technology Improves Operational Efficiency in Construction

Efficiency has never been a popular word on construction job sites, because there is so much do be completed and there have been times that no one knew what anyone else was doing.  However, as technology advances, the construction industry is beginning to embrace efficiency and the positive results that it brings at the end […]

How Technology in Construction is Changing Things

As I cast my mind back, a couple of historical construction technological changes made a terrific difference in construction! I say “historical” because I’m pretty certain many readers have been used to them all their working lives! The two came about in the same era; AutoCAD and the mobile phone! AutoCAD made drawing production a […]

How the Golden Thread Shields Construction Companies from Liability

The construction industry is undergoing a significant transformation, with the Golden Thread emerging as a central framework for enhancing safety, transparency, and accountability. For construction companies, the adoption of the Golden Thread is not just about compliance; it is a strategic tool that can help shield them from liability while building long-term trust with stakeholders. […]

How They Built the Channel Tunnel

This is something I’m not at all sure of because they didn’t have the advantage of me to sort it out for them. I was free-lancing and this was a nice long-running project, but nobody ever offered me a job on it! Still, I wasn’t that upset really; didn’t fancy being stuck underground under the […]

How They Built the Eiffel Tower

Well, as usual, they talked about it for far longer than they actually took to build it! Started blethering and arguing in 1884 but didn’t start actually building until January 1887. It was ready for the World’s Fair in 1889. First thing to realise is that it probably couldn’t have been built in an earlier […]

How they built the Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge was, until 1964, the world’s longest single span suspension bridge. Build started in 1934 and it was opened up in 1937! Just three years! The pre-start blethering about it went on much longer than usual! That started in 1916! Much of it was about the money to finance building the bridge. […]

How They Built The Great Wall of China

Doing the research to write a Blog about how they built the Great Wall of China reallt surprised me! Great Wall of China – Wonder of the World, can be seen from space, built about 14th Century, blah, blah, blah! It is far more interesting than all these bits we all know! For a start, it […]

How they built the Hoover Dam

From the point of view of we construction people the most interesting thing about the Hoover Dam is that it was a “first”! Never before had concrete been poured in such quantities! So here goes, how they built the hoover dam. Now we are all vaguely aware that concrete heats and contracts as it cures, […]

How they built the Houses of Parliament

Ah, yes! The Houses of Parliament, more correctly known as the Palace of Westminster and “Westminster” started out as “West Minster”. So how were they built? Basically they were cobbled together and it took 1,000 years to come up with what is stood there now! It is called the “Palace” because it was thought to […]

How they built the Panama canal

The first thing to say about the building of the Panama Canal is that, started by the French in 1881 and given up as a bad job in 1894, it wasn’t as cleverly done as our British canals. They didn’t have the benefit of our Irish “Paddies” on the job! The first suggestion that it […]

How They Built the Statue of Liberty

There it is, sat on Liberty Island off Manhattan, New York, New York, towering 93 metres above the ground and the icon for The United States of America since 1886 when it was dedicated!    Well, it actually comes in three parts, each of which are essential components, but which are completely different to each […]

How They Built the Sydney Opera House

I really have to get this out of my system! When the Sydney Opera House first went up it was described as being like “a sailing ship running before the wind with all sails hoisted”. I never could see that and have, more recently, noticed that they have stopped giving it that description! It is […]

How They Built Venice

These days Venice is a huge tourist attraction and a World Heritage Site, but how did this come about? How this one of the greatest construction projects was realized? Well, the reason for it goes back to even Pre-Roman days. There were some nasty people around, intent on committing mayhem and murder of the locals. […]

How to Advertise on Your Construction Site

Getting Started Guide: How to Advertise on Your Construction Site Advertising your construction company offline: Construction sites and other places to advertise There are countless reasons you need to advertise on and around construction sites. Every flat surface facing the street and other businesses should be viewed as opportunity. Consider trying out these construction advertising […]

How to avoid construction rework and build cheaper

Avoiding rework in your construction projects depends on a number of factors. We have put together a detailed guide that will help you find out how you can see more in your projects, deliver sooner, and avoid claims.

How to avoid failure in construction project management?

Everyone wants to learn more about success and how to minimise the failure rate, especially when it comes to project management which plays such an important role in any industry. The steps that we share in this article would bring you closer to your goal. But before we start, let’s have a quick peek at […]

How To Avoid Major Construction Project Management Blunders

Construction project management is full of blunders. It’s a long and tough process during which many times there will be the need for reorganizing some tasks or shifting approach in order to achieve the desired result. No matter how many problems will pop up along your way, though, there will always be a solution, if […]

How to Avoid Pitfalls in Construction Project Estimation

Now that would be a very good question! To try and answer it, though, is a different matter! The whole of construction is one big “Pitfall” after another. Most people would label these as “problems” or “challenges” or something like that. We must be an odd bunch because we tend to just refer to them […]

How To Be Construction Badass Using Construction Management Software

One of of main jobs at GenieBelt is to make our users become Construction Badasses. Slightly American term so for us Brtis out there: Badass = Expert. We carry this ethos so that we give our customers the best construction management software around! This is how we design at GenieBelt, so much so that we […]

How to become a certified construction manager?

The process of becoming a certified construction manager As people enter the field of construction, they normally know what they want their job to be.  That isn’t to say that they will have that job immediately, as it sometimes takes time to work through the ranks and get the necessary on the job training to […]

How to become construction superintendent

The Process for Becoming a Construction Superintendent A construction superintendent is also known as a construction manager, and their jobs are to supervise the construction of residential homes, commercial buildings, roads, schools, bridges, hospitals, and other structures.  As they are doing that, they need to keep track of their employees, while keeping everything and everyone […]

How to boost productivity of your construction crew through automation

When you run a construction business, you understand how even the smallest hiccups in planning, team management, and execution can result in major setbacks on a project. Finding ways to see challenges before they arise is a crucial part of leading a construction company; a responsibility that can take up most of your time. Unless, […]

How to bring your construction schedule straight to the site

Your journey for construction with fewer delays and more visibility has just begun. To help you succeed, we have put together a detailed guide on how you can segment your various communication workflows while maintaining full visibility over your multiple tasks and projects.

How to build trust in construction through relationships

In the industry of commercial construction, maintaining relationships is vital for business. Transparency, trust, and communication create an effective work environment and on-going business transactions with well-maintained relationships in all aspects of the business. Whether it is clients and developers who are looking for someone to complement their vision, professional partners like architects or engineers […]

How to calculate and improve labour productivity in construction

Calculating labour productivity in construction is challenging, and improving it is even more difficult. Here’s how to make it easier.

How to Choose a Construction Mobile Solution

The place to start, when this decision is to be made, is by asking what, exactly, you want from your future mobile solution. If it is simply that today’s world is turning all “techyfied” and you feel you need to fit in, showing your outfit to be a cutting-edge construction company, it is a simple […]

How to compare contractors’ proposals to find the best one

As a project manager or owner, a lot goes into ensuring successful construction projects. Every stakeholder, from the designer to the supplier, plays a crucial role in ensuring a seamless project lifecycle, quality deliverables, and reduced risk. As a result, it’s imperative to compare contractors’ proposals to get a reliable contractor for a job and […]

How to connect site to office without any struggle

The key factor in getting any construction job done is good communication. Everyone working on a project has to know exactly how they fit in, precisely what their role is and what is expected of them – that includes the project manager.

How to connect your project schedules and align better?

What if you and your teams could synchronise all your different project schedules and never lose sight of critical information again?

How to connect your Snagging & QHSE processes to avoid claims and regain control

Get rid of unnecessary admin work and constant stress by having everyone working on the same wavelength.

How To Convince Your Boss to Adopt a Project Management Software

One of the main questions that I get lately is: “How can I convince my managers that we need a good PM software?” If you have the same question, then, read on. I am pretty sure that your boss will agree with the fact that, practical project management processes provide great value for the company. Even if […]

How To Create A Construction Daily Report Using GenieBelt

A Daily Report? Don’t be ridiculous, you say! Having to do weekly ones is already bad enough. Conducting daily reports for construction may seem as an endless project. If done right, though, it can save you lots of time. Especially when you are using a top performing software, like GenieBelt. Yeah, but what about its […]

How to create a Construction Plan to save your project

How does one successfully turn a project around? Construction plans so often begin to run behind schedule! This costs the main contractor, and all their sub-contractors, money and erodes their original very small (in the UK, at least) profit margin. A less obvious, but far more personal problem this can cause is to the tradesmen on the […]

How to Create a Fire Safety Plan for Your Building

What Is a Fire Safety Plan? A fire safety plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the procedures, responsibilities, and measures needed to prevent, respond to, and manage fire-related emergencies in a building. It serves as a guide for building owners, occupants, and emergency responders to ensure that, in the event of a fire, everyone […]

How to Deal With 3 Major Problems You Face in Construction Always

Having to get up at some unearthly hour to open up the site. Getting all muddy and dirty all day. Kicking everyone off site so you can eat of an evening. Well they are major problems I always used to face but perhaps something a little more general from me might be appropriate? So, okay, […]

How to drive your project with the steady heartbeat of repetitive project scheduling

In construction, repetitive projects include tunnels, bridges, highways, railways, housing developments, high-rise commercial buildings, and the likes. These projects necessitate construction crews and teams to repeat similar works in various areas of the project, proceeding from one location to the next.

How to effectively manage a remote construction team

The modern construction workplace is moving towards a more remote workforce. The traditional arrangement involves project managers moving from one construction site to another to check how each project is doing. Because this system was time-consuming, labor-intensive, and more importantly, expensive, construction businesses have leveraged new technologies to manage the workforce without being on location. […]

How To Efficiently Decrease Your Accident Rate

Construction is one of the most dangerous industries in the world. In 2015, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 937 workers lost their lives on construction sites, only in United States . The Fatal Four (falls, electrocutions, struck by object, caught in/between) represent between 65% of the causes of deaths. “Eliminating the […]

How to efficiently manage and resolve project constraints

If your project data and communication are not made available to everyone in real-time, valuable project information gets fragmented and “trapped” in different tools and formats, which causes misunderstandings, work interruptions, and construction disputes.

How to ensure that your 3-6 week planning will be delivered faster

Ensuring that your 3-6 week lookahead will be delivered faster without affecting the development of the master schedule is no child’s play. A “construction-specific” tool will connect your teams and drive digital adoption.

How to ensure your construction project doesn’t blow your budget

Project cost overruns can even happen to the best of the best. However, this doesn’t mean that you should take this as an excuse and let your next construction endeavor blow your budget. Instead, you should make sure to invest in quality project management, devise a sound plan, calculate all the costs and be prepared […]

How to find good subcontractors for construction jobs? – Infographic

How to find good subcontractors? Ask around Ask friends in the construction industry Local social media groups, community bulletins, or message boards Drive-by Current or past subs Specialty suppliers Online search Most large construction companies tend to seek the help of various types of subcontractors for doing a significant part of the project’s work. In […]

How to find talented employees for your construction company

It’s no secret that the skills shortage continues to impact the construction industry. If you’re struggling to fill open positions at your company, here are several strategies that can boost the results of your construction recruitment efforts. Where to look Where you find construction talent significantly impacts the quality of your recruits. Try implementing these […]

How to flag interruptions quickly avoiding delays and cost overruns

Download our detailed ebook and learn how you can reduce interruptions and deliver successful projects without increasing your budget.

How to Get it right first time in Construction

“Get it right first time” is just a bit of common sense, but something often forgotten about both in our professional and private lives. It always saves time and it often saves money. As far as construction is concerned, it is a principle which should dominate the thinking of everyone concerned in any project. That […]

How to get paid: 4 cash flow solutions for construction companies

Have you ever dipped into your own savings or passed up paying yourself to cover payroll? If you answered yes, you’re certainly not alone. Unfortunately, in the construction industry, cash flow is a common pain point. One in 5 construction companies notes that cash flow problems are a frequent issue, according to a 2019 survey […]

How to get success in the customer-centric construction equipment industry

As the economy continues to improve and exceeds consumer’s demand, the improvement in the construction industry has seen development and growth as well. Creating a brand that reflects your construction-equipment industry plays an important role in how people will perceive your company and what your company aspires to be. Having a brand that targets potential […]

How to Go Digital with Your QHSE

Going digital with QHSE means one thing for organisations: process digitisation. Process digitisation, put simply, is the moving away from the pen-and-paper method of doing things towards an online, real-time way of sharing information to ensure transparent collaboration, timely updated progress and risk assessment, quality control, and ultimately, more reliable outcomes. Implementing this to quality, […]

How to grow a long lasting contractor business

The construction industry is always growing and expanding. It’s followed by a great growth prospect and the revenue numbers related to the construction industry businesses in the U.S. alone are somewhere around trillions of dollars. With all this in mind, it may seem lucrative and smart to try and expand your construction business, and it […]

How to handle uncertainty in construction

In an effort to help you handle uncertainty better and reduce frustration around your projects, we have built a detailed guide on how you can massively improve team communication and ensure higher returns on your projects in a few simple steps.

How to implement construction software in your business

In 2004 Loughborough University conducted a study entitled Technology Implementation Strategies for Construction Organisations. The conclusion was, effectively, that it was very difficult! But much has changed in the intervening 13 years. However, the need for a change within construction remains acute. That’s why it’s critical to start endorsing the use of construction software as […]

How to improve cost management in construction projects

During the implementation of a project, procedures and record keeping become essentials tools for the manager and the rest of the participants in the process. These tools achieve the dual purpose of recording the financial transactions that appear in every project, as well as providing an indication of the progress and problems that affect the […]

How to improve teamwork and team building in the construction site

When it comes to construction projects, the one thing that is of highest importance is the good collaboration between the people working on the job site… or in other words, quality teamwork. There are few groups that are always included in the work groups for the construction project: designers, architects, engineers, investors and contractors. The […]

How To Improve Your Communication With Sub Contractors

Well the first step in this direction is to do it by face-to-face contact with them, one and all. That way any other interaction is better because you “know” each other. I remember from years ago when I worked in an office, for about two years I was in regular phone contact with a lady. Our […]

How to improve your construction skills

In this article, we present the concepts that construction professionals should focus on in 2022 and discuss how to learn the construction skills necessary to be successful in the changing industry.

How to Increase Construction Profits and Productivity

The first way to increase Construction Profits and Productivity relates to the standard belief that “Acceleration costs money”! Chuck that idea out of the window! Acceleration is usually a great money saver! For one thing it saves site overhead costs; for another it removes the threat of LAD! The next big thing that needs to […]

How to increase the speed of response in your construction sites

Using industry-specific tools in your projects could help you increase the speed of response in your construction sites.

How to Introduce a New Project Management Software and Get Your Team Excited

Today I want to talk about one of the reasons why the adoption of new practices (especially new software solutions) often fails and how to avoid that failure. Plus, I will share 4 reasons why the approach for avoiding failure holds water. Let’s go. When it comes to WHY we are reluctant when, for example, […]

How To Know That Construction Management Software is Right for Your Company?

A good question and who is to decide? The old guffers in construction are, like me, not exactly experts with software. On the other hand, as I am repeatedly telling them, the young ones who are all “with it” regarding software don’t know much about construction. Sooooo, what I have done to come up with […]

How to know when you need real-time project management software

Staying up to date with what’s happening on your project at any moment is fundamental in construction. During the construction process, various problems may emerge. In such cases, immediate action is considered to be more than necessary. For that reason, the ability of communicating these hiccups in real-time is fundamental. A trustworthy project management software […]

How to layout a building?

When you begin to talk about the building layout, you are basically beginning the process of using all the architectural proposals and drawings and transferring them all to the ground where the construction will take place.  This ensures that you can mark out where the specific location points will be for boundaries, foundations, walls, columns, […]

How to make sure your construction security guards are doing their Job

A quality construction security guard is always alert and always ready to respond to identified risks. You like to think that your security guard provides the level of service needed to protect your materials and keep your construction site secure, but how can you know? The performance metrics you use to evaluate traditional contractors rarely guarantee […]

How to manage claims in construction more efficiently

Construction projects might vary, depending on their size or scope, but what really matters at the end of the day is how we record and communicate critical issues.

How to Manage Hard Projects (Without Irritating Your Team)

Yup, another one. And you know it is going to be a long ride. What can you do differently now? The last one was a really draining experience. Maybe few of the people in your team still hold grudges about that time when you pushed them too hard. You are a good project manager if […]

How to manage late payments and non-payments for contractors

Let’s face it. Builders seldom get the payment for their work at the right time with the exact amount. The harsh reality is that contractors seem like at the bottom of the payment pile. Late payments and unpaid invoices are huge headaches for numerous small construction businesses and even for most independent contractors in many […]

How to manage your construction sites during and after COVID-19

Despite the disruption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, you can still be able to manage your construction site and multiple projects even from a distance.

How to Network in Construction  – Offline and Online

Getting Started Guide: Advertising Your Construction Company for Free How to Network in Construction  – Offline and Online. You need to network in the construction industry. Networking takes MANY different forms. Networking Offline: The construction industry is “old school,” meaning a lot of business still gets done without use of the internet much less computers. […]

How to place planning at the centre of your projects to protect your margins and deliver faster

Every construction project is a small universe where numerous stakeholders should be perfectly aligned so that value-adding tasks can proceed and close according to the commitments made each week. Regardless of the size, budget, or time frame of a project, one thing is always sure. Everything starts from a strong culture around planning.

How to Prepare Construction Graduates for The Construction Site

Now this is a tricky one to come up with an answer for! I’ve had new construction graduates on site and they tend to be young horrors that upset the skilled tradesmen! They don’t seem to be of much use when asked to deal with the daily paperwork and getting it filed away, either.Construction graduates […]

How to read construction plans?

Anyone that works in construction needs to know how to read construction site plans, because it is a crucial part of their job.  In fact, reading construction plans is one of the first things that anyone within the construction industry learns.  Those who have difficulty reading these plans may want to question whether or not […]

How to reduce admin work and endless meetings in construction

As an industry, it’s crucial to understand that less admin work equals less time wasted and by extension fewer schedule delays.

How to reduce the high costs in your construction business

Running a business comes with many costs. But you know that. Sometimes I get the feeling someone will come with a check for the air I’ve been breathing throughout the day. There are many expected and unwanted costs you need to take care of. I haven’t met a construction business with low costs. It’s impossible. Take […]

How to Save Yourself from Project Documentation Nightmare

I am pretty sure that you’ve been in a situation where a project generates a lot of documentation. Often, this leads to wrong conclusions, chaos, lower quality of the results and customer disappointment. Also, one of the modern challenges is to store the documentation in a secure place. I can speak a lot on how […]

How to Self Build in 6 Weeks, NOT in 1 Year!

First things first:, self-build could either me be doing it or seeing other people doing it! Let’s start with me doing it, should we. My background and experience It was my Grandad who insisted that when I had a house, if any work needed doing, I bought the tools and learnt to use them. That’s […]

How to simplify your daily construction reports

Tired of spending long hours in the office working on daily construction reports instead of being on site with your crews? Simplify your processes with LetsBuild!

How To Solve The Biggest Problems With Construction Delay Analysis

What is it? I suppose there are a couple of ways of looking at what a Construction Delay Analysis is. Either is an expensive nightmare for the contractor to have to go through, or a super money-spinner for the expert retained to do it! FDA The necessity for a Forensic Delay Analysis (FDA) comes about […]

How to start your construction company in under 10 days

Starting up a construction company is no easy task, much less one that is completed in a mere 10 days. However, it is possible to go from concept to construction company in less than two weeks if you do things in the right order. The first question is why you want to create your construction […]

How to stay connected with your teams as Coronavirus hits construction

The Coronavirus outbreak will mean a lot of readjustments to your planning. LetsBuild can help you keep your teams connected while working remotely.

How to Stick Up a House in 6 Weeks

Before we “stick up a house” there does need to be some preliminary work done. We need something to stick it up on! That means foundations and footings or slabs, along with service ducts and any other infrastructure required, but that isn’t being counted in our “6 weeks” for the present discussion. Way back in […]

How to streamline the construction project handover process

Struggling with project handover? Learn how to overcome common construction handover challenges to streamline the process for better project delivery.

How to survive and overcome inflation and rising construction costs

Is your profit margin shrinking due to rising construction costs? Learn seven strategies to minimise the negative impacts of construction inflation.

How to track progress and communicate problems from the field

Download for free our latest ebook and learn how you can increase site visibility and ensure that your programme reflects reality at all times.

How to upgrade your construction document management with software

As construction projects generate vast amounts of documentation, it’s imperative for professionals to streamline processes and leverage technology for efficient document handling. We’ll explore the critical role of construction software in revolutionising document management within the construction industry. Free eBook: Unveiling the Path to Digital Transformation in Construction The document management challenge in construction In our industry, the […]

How to use BIM to drive productivity and profitability in construction projects?

According to a Zion Market Research report, the market for Building Information Modeling was around USD 3.52 billion in 2016 and is expected to reach approximately USD 10.36 billion by 2022, growing at a CAGR of slightly above 19.45% between 2017 and 2022. The rapid adoption of BIM in the construction industry comes as no […]

How to use mobile technology in the construction industry the right way

Mobile technology has moved on at a breath-taking pace in the course of the last few years. Smartphones, tablets and PC’s have become the norm! The only problem these days is keeping up with what they have to offer and taking full advantage of it all. It comes as no surprise, then, that mobile technology […]

How Virtual Reality is Changing Construction

This sounds like a bit of an odd assertion when we all know that construction is done, in the final analysis, by the skilled trades with their bricks and bits of wood. What are we looking at here; living and working in “virtual” buildings? But to ask that question would be jumping the gun a […]

HSE statistics and practices in European construction

The construction sector employs about 18 million people in the workforce contributing to 9% of the total GDP of the European Union. Even though it is the largest industry employer in the EU, not much has been done and the sector remains haunted by many of its historical issues and problems especially when it comes […]

HusCompagniet to use GenieBelt on all European projects!

Northern Europe’s leading home provider, HusCompagniet, will soon be able to increase efficiency by 10-15% for every home they build thanks to the use of GenieBelt. By using the GenieBelt app, HusCompagniet wants to connect digitally the contractors working on their projects. “We eliminate the chain reaction of delays that occurs when contractors drive to […]

Hyperloop transportation technologies in France

Earlier this year, the first full-scale passenger Hyperloop capsule started its construction in Toulouse, France. The Hyperloop can transport passengers in pods at speeds faster than 700 mph. This capsule is the high point of over three years of study, design and analysis. The ongoing construction reports an official reveal in early 2018, which will […]

I use MS Project. Why would I want to use something else?

MS Project is a tool that many project managers and site foremen use. Useful as it may be, it can’t give you the visibility you need to stay on top of everything that is happening on site. Download our free ebook and see how you will be able to see everything without relying on outdated MS Project schedules.

I’ve graduated with a Construction Management degree, what to do now?!

Well, the first thing is to decide is if you want to carry on being academic and do a Master’s! However, I’d argue strongly against the idea! And that is based on more subtle reasoning than you not getting lumbered with even more student debt! What became evident, as I did my Master’s, was that […]

Impact of Material Delivery Methods on the Profitability of Commercial Construction

Well, we builders do like, in a very self-effacing, modest way to pose! I must have been very important because, on one project, a major distribution depot for one of the Catalogue companies, we had materials delivered by helicopter. Now that would have been an expensive method of delivery which would, I’m sure, have impacted […]

Implementing lean construction for infrastructure projects

Lean construction for infrastructure projects can improve productivity and profitability—learn how to implement lean principles in your projects.

Important 2018 Construction Trends to Proceed with in 2019

As we move forward to 2019, it’s time to look back what 2018 had to offer in terms of industry trends that have greatly shaped the sector in the past twelve months. Understanding emerging trends not only keeps you updated but it helps you ahead of your competition and ready for the future! 2018 has […]

Important construction contract clauses to review before you sign

Construction contracts include many documents other than the signed piece of contract including contract drawings, specifications and prevailing conditions of the contract. These are long documents which most parties to the contract ignore going through in detail. Although a consultant party pays more attention to prepare the right contract document, the contractor or subcontractor neglect […]

Improve brand experience with a professional looking website

The construction industry has a tendency of having bad looking websites, which is not a good thing because it has an impact on the brand experience. So it makes sense to have a good looking website. Let me tell you why. A good brand experience is important in order to make sales. And part of […]

Improve construction collaboration by leveraging construction analytics

Learn how to leverage construction analytics to boost collaboration and productivity both on and off site – start minimising costly rework and avoidable delays today.

Improve Your Projects’ Energy Efficiency

Renewable energy, sustainable green design features and incorporating energy efficiency into construction projects has become a top priority to designers, project managers and every other person who is in the construction industry. Why energy efficiency is so important? Because construction projects like buildings are responsible for 40% of energy consumption and 35% of CO2 emissions […]

Improve your team management skills

The technology should be our servant. I am saying this because I see more and more managers expecting the technology to do the thinking part. Robots will come in the future for sure. But until then, we should use the technology to empower our everyday work and communication. In other words, the better usage of […]

Increase Project Productivity by 15% by Integrating Digital Tools

Imagine a construction site, buzzing with activity, where every piece of machinery, every worker, and every phase of the project is in perfect harmony. This is not a distant dream but a tangible reality made possible through the integration of digital tools like Power BI, Teams, and MS Project. In this connected ecosystem, project managers […]

Industry experts talk AI: Benjamin Dyer on the new age of Artificial Intelligence in construction

Data explosion has already changed the way we design, collaborate, and build in the sector. Both construction software and hardware become smarter and contribute to the creation of a more automated building process. This outburst of smart technologies has empowered the emergence of Artificial Intelligence in construction. With that thought in mind, we present to […]

Industry experts talk AI: Colin Smith on why construction should care about AI

Some weeks ago we talked with Benjamin Dyer, CEO and co-founder of Powered Now, about the crucial role of Artificial Intelligence on the new age of construction. Today we are back with the third part of our interview series ‘Industry experts talk AI’. We have a quick chat on the reasons why construction should care about […]

Industry experts talk AI: Oliver Hughes on the potential of Artificial Intelligence in construction

Some weeks ago we hosted on our blog Colin Smith, Chairman at Cyclr Systems and had a very interesting chat with him on the advent of Artificial Intelligence in construction. This month we meet Oliver Hughes, co-Founder and Director of Digital Construction Week (17-18 October in London). He shares with us his thoughts on the […]

Industry experts talk AI: Rene Morkos on the uptake of AI in construction

We recently hosted on our blog Oliver Hughes, co-Founder and Director of Digital Construction Week,  who referred to the great potential of Artificial Intelligence in construction. This time we meet Rene Morkos, CEO at Alice Technologies. Rene was very kind to answer our questions and share his thoughts on the uptake of AI in the […]

Industry experts talk AI: Rob Charlton on the future of Artificial Intelligence in construction

According to McKinsey & Company, artificial intelligence is the next frontier for construction technology. Nevertheless, it seems that the building sector is still behind the curve when it comes to the implementation of AI solutions. In an effort to understand why this is happening, we introduce today our fresh AI interview series with title Industry […]

Infographic – Top 8 Skills for Successful Project Managers

Project management is a scientific process through which you manage a wide range of projects from its initial design to planning and ultimately to the successful completion of the project. In other words, project management could be defined as the use of techniques, tools and other skills sets to successfully meet the project requirements. When […]

Infographic: Construction accidents – ultimate statistics

Safety on construction sites should be a priority at all times. With that in mind, we prepared the following infographic of the most common construction accidents – divided into five main categories: How many? Who? When? Where? How? Read also: How to decrease accident rate on a construction site?

Infrastructure project management in construction: The path to success

Infrastructure projects are vital for every country around the world. It’s what allows us to commute on a daily basis or to have power in the buildings we are living and working. Schools, motorways, new metro stations are only a few examples of why infrastructure construction projects are so important for a nation. Entering the […]

Internet of Things for the Built Environment

“The Internet of Things”, for those who don’t know, refers to the vast amount of data available on the internet these days, and the huge number of devices around which are able to get onto the internet. The figures are a bit vague but there are probably over 4 billion “gadgets” today, going up to […]

Invest in Health and Safety Inspections to Improve Your Safety Performance

Construction health and safety inspections are the most valuable in avoiding accidents, conflicts, errors, bad habits and hazards. Project managers and safety officers inspect the worksite on a daily basis to observe works and tasks in progress. They document and report non-conformities and potential risks and enforce necessary corrective actions to prevent accidents or injuries […]

Investment expert Colin Smith: We enter a period of great opportunity in construction technology

The current state of the industry ‘We are not on the crest of a wave right now but we are actually entering a period of great opportunity for investment in construction technology!’ This is what Colin Smith, Software Entrepreneur, Angel Investor & NXD, highlighted during his talk at European ConTech Summit. The conference took place […]

Is a Black CSCS card worth £2,000?

The question on every construction/site manager’s lips at the moment seems to be: should I shed around £2,000 of my hard earned cash and use my scarce time to get a black cscs card? A black cscs card is the construction skills certification scheme’s manager level. Many construction professionals are tempted to get a black […]

Is big data the most trending thing in construction? – Infographic

There has been much talk about big data in recent years. Various organizations have changed their business model in order to effectively utilize big data tech. Similarly, various new players have realized the advantages of big data and have created new business models that benefit from it. What is big data? So what is the […]

Is it Better to Lease or Buy Your Construction Equipment?

It all comes down to money, my boy! But first let’s clarify one thing; in this context “construction equipment” means what we usually refer to as “plant” – JCB’s, road rollers, fork-lifts, etc.. That means we can forget trotting along to the nearest Tool Hire place and leasing a panel saw from them! Today’s construction […]

Is the future of Australian construction already here?

Construction is a significant part of the Australian economy and the issue of efficiency is considered to be more than fundamental. The good news is that the Australian construction industry seems to be aware of this need. A great example is RESCON Builders who specializes in granny flats in New South Wales. Just a few […]

Is Virtual Reality shaping the future of AEC industry?

Finding it a bit hard to believe huh? Yeah, finally VR is here for the construction industry, too. These are not just ideas or possibilities, companies have begun implementing VR in construction and have been saving some real money and time.  Implementation of VR apart from being a cost-effective tool has proven to be effective […]

Is Your Construction Firm Using Modern Software?

Of course you are! MS Office and the internet! How could you possibly cope without Word, Outlook, Excel and Project? Bet most of your staff that are on site even have these modern smart phones that take photos so they don’t need a camera as well!Oh, come off it! That software came out 40 years-ago […]

Is your construction management app the perfect match? Or are you still swiping left?

Now that Valentine’s Day is over, I hope, other than finding a date, you also got to find The One (construction app). If you feel like you have been constantly swiping left when it comes to the various construction software you’ve been using, maybe it’s time to reconsider your standards and redefine the qualities you […]

It’s Never Okay to Be "Just Okay": Aim for Outstanding Construction and Facility Management

To stand out in a competitive industry, there are more than enough tools and technologies that you can use without suffering through a complete revamp of your system operations. In this article, learn why and how you should strive to be an outstanding construction management and facility maintenance company. “Just Okay” When something is described […]

Jason Ruddle joins LetsBuild

We are happy to welcome Jason Ruddle as Managing Director of LetsBuild’s new UK operation. Jason brings along 25+ years of experience in delivering key software solutions to our industry, which we are convinced will be a great asset to our company and customers. We asked our CEO what he believes Jason will add to […]

Job costing with process costing in construction

In construction, there are two different types of determining costs for a project.  While many people may think that the differences between the two are slight, they are different enough to make them into two unique accounting options. Job costing always refers to the costs that are incurred from manufacturing goods.  Those costs are recorded […]

Join APROPLAN on Building Holland 2017!

We are psyched for Building Holland 2017 and we are inviting you to join APROPLAN and see our exhibit in the expo! We are extending you a VIP invitation to see the three-day trade show with us. You will get a free VIP badge that gives VIP network access. You also get a chance to […]

KPMG Report: The value of Information Management in construction for VolkerWessels

A report commissioned by the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) and prepared by KPMG focused on the value of Information Management within construction and infrastructure sectors. Eleven organisations were invited to participate with two leading questions being asked: How are construction and infrastructure organisations creating, managing and making use of quality […]

Last Planner System in Construction

Project planning and execution play two equally important roles in the success of any project in construction. Whether the project is of small or large scope, production control is a necessity which ensures that people meet milestones according to the pre-set timeline. As you know, in construction projects, there are plenty of task dependencies, and […]

LB Aproplan 2.0 is in active development

We’re proud to welcome you to our new environment, where we’re making the future of LetsBuild a reality: LB Aproplan 2.0.

LB Aproplan gets a new look!

Your LB Aproplan application has recently undergone a significant visual change. We explain you the main changes, and the reasons behind!

LB Aproplan: Improving your everyday

This is the first article of our product series in which we deep dive into how our product is today and where it’s going next. Today’s guest is Erick Vasquez, our Product Manager for LB Aproplan.

LB Coordination: The LetsBuild of Tomorrow

Last article of our product series in which we deep dive into how our product is today and where it’s going next. Today’s guest is Peter Dreschler, our Product Manager for LB Coordination.

LB Geniebelt: Making Construction Digital

The second episode of our Product series in which we deep dive into how our product is today and where it’s going next. Today’s guest is Mark Wedel, our Product Manager for LB Geniebelt.

LB Site Diary: Building your perfect Site Diary

Third article of our product series in which we deep dive into how our product is today and where it’s going next. Today’s guest is Bob Leung, our Product Manager for LB Site Diary.

Lean Design in Construction: Processes, Techniques, and Tools

Learn about six processes, techniques, and tools that you can implement today to start seeing the benefits of lean design and construction in your organization.

Lean facility management with the Kanban system

The Kanban system offers a holistic overview of facilities management, enabling companies to perform efficiently and promptly.

Learning a Second Language in Construction is Always a Good Idea

Let’s start a bit different this time. Imagine that you own a prestigious international construction company. I bet that you’re already enjoying that thought, aren’t you? Now, imagine that you have to travel around the world to numerous construction sites and communicate with the local construction managers and workers in order to design and develop […]

LetsBuild and Trello integrate to manage large project

The Niels Bohr Building (NBB) is a laboratory and educational structure of approximately 52,000 m2 area owned by the University of Copenhagen. The project of this magnitude is now managed by the Danish Road Directorate. Numerous tools are being used to bring order to the chaos that traditionally comes with large-scale commercial projects. One of […]

LetsBuild Highlights of the Year

As 2023 draws to a close, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on a year marked by significant milestones for LetsBuild. From expanding our reach in the green industry to introducing innovative solutions at global events, our journey this year has been nothing short of remarkable.  February: Wind Farm Workshop The year kicked off with […]

LetsBuild in BIM World Munich: Our impressions!

BIM World Munich took place last week (26-27 November), and LetsBuild was very proud to be an active part of it. The event was held in ICM Munich and attracted a lot of attention from the BIM community. More specifically, it is estimated that more than 4000 people attended BIM World Munich. Elsa Triboul and […]

LetsBuild in DCW 2019: Digital transformation under the spotlight

Digital Construction Week is over for another year and we have been so proud to be a part of it. This year you could find us at Stand B40 where our LetsBuild UK team had the opportunity to meet with many thought leaders in construction, share good practices and exchange ideas for the future of the […]

LetsBuild partners with recognised construction experts to drive digital transformation

We are excited to announce our partnership with construction industry experts, René Christiansen, Leif Ølgaard and Michael Schierbeck in order to help our customers combine their digital transformation with outside assistance in driving, changing and anchoring their digital processes. Over the past 5 ½ years, we have grown from 5 to 125 people with customers […]

LetsBuild report 2019: A year to remember!

As 2019 comes to an end, we put together a short LetsBuild report including some of the most memorable moments of the year that we are about to leave behind: First things first, 2019 was the year that LetsBuild was born! What makes a Belgian and a Danish startup decide to join forces and become […]

LetsBuild sets out to solve the problems with on-site BIM adoption

LetsBuild, recently formed by the merger of Belgian APROPLAN and Danish GenieBelt, will soon be launching an ambitious BIM product. LetsBuild wants to seamlessly link on-site activities and checks to the project’s BIM model. Just as importantly, the company is focusing on ensuring easy adoption by site teams.  Most companies in the construction industry are […]

LetsBuild stands with Ukraine

Dear customers, partners and industry colleagues, Normally companies don’t get involved in politics, but what happens now in Ukraine is not normal politics, it is war. It is a war between a manipulative dictator on the one side and a free, sovereign nation on the other side. For Europeans and freedom-loving people everywhere, it feels […]

LetsBuild to participate in the NFB Annual Conference 2018

The NFB Annual Conference 2018 is opening its doors on Monday 26th of November and GenieBelt is extremely proud to be participating in it. Jason Ruddle, LetsBuild’s UK Managing Director, is going to shed light on digitisation in construction and its impact on small and medium construction companies in the United Kingdom. The event will […]

LetsBuild will join Digital Construction Week (DCW) 2022

Digital construction week (DCW), the major UK event is taking place on 18-19 May 2022 and LetsBuild will be there! DCW is the leading annual UK event dedicated to digital construction, engineering, design, innovation, manufacturing, and operation. Join thousands of the brightest minds in digital construction to learn, innovate and connect in person. On 18-19 May 2022 […]

Level up your QHSE balanced scorecard

In management systems, quality, health, safety and environment are highly important aspects and issues. For continuous improvement of quality, efficiency and systems, balanced scorecards have been used as a technique for benchmarking HSE performance. As there is no single measure of QHSE performance, a basket of measures is required. This basket of measures or a […]

Life at LetsBuild: Our 2022 team camp in Belgium

We had our first post-COVID team camp and it was a blast!

Life With & Without A Construction Management Software Solution

There must be others out there who remember the days when all we had on site were some foolscap (not even A4!) sheets of paper, a site diary, a slide-rule and blueprint drawings (Yes, blue!)! First we started to get phones, followed by white drawings and calculators then mobile phones. Eventually we got our computers […]

Liquidation in SME Construction

On some of the project turnaround roles I’ve walked into I’ve had such late nights that I’ve even missed my evening meal! My day was spent sorting out the “Lads” and getting their serious input as to how we could drastically accelerate the works. Once most of them had left site, I had to turn […]

List of construction templates

Construction projects are very complex by default, especially if we are talking about large-scale projects that take years, involve many workers, and a lot of complex building solutions to be set in place. Such projects can be extremely difficult, even for people who were trained to handle them. Construction projects involve a lot of different […]

List of sustainable materials in construction

In today’s world, new buildings and homes are popping up everywhere.  While many of those buildings are constructed out of regular materials, quite a few are made from sustainable materials.  In fact, more and more people are choosing to use sustainable materials during construction projects, because those materials are better for the environment and they […]

Live loads vs dead loads in structural design

What is the difference between Live Loads and Dead Loads in structural design? When it comes to structural design, there are a bunch of different loads that you need to be aware of.  Those loads include vertical loads, horizontal loads, and longitudinal loads and they all break down into even more load categories. Today, we […]

London to build 10,000 council homes by 2022

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, introduced a few days ago his plan to build 10,000 new council homes in the next four years. The project is expected to provide significant help to council authorities in their effort for affordable social housing. The rent benchmark for these houses is expected to be set between £150-£194 […]

Lookahead planning: Do you have the right tools to stay on track?

Being “good enough” should not be the desired state. The wrong tools can really impact your lookahead planning. Look for construction-specific solutions that can keep your teams connected at any time.

Lookahead planning: Do you have the right tools to stay on track?

In an attempt to shed some light on how project teams can keep their lookahead planning on track, we present below three crucial questions that all project managers need to take into consideration in order to ensure the success of their projects. 

Looking at the states of HSE digitalisation: France vs. Germany

With all the transformation brought about by the internet and digital technologies, the EU is aiming to curb its single market with the digital age. The Digital Single Market is, in fact, one of the European Commission’s top 10 priorities. By 2025, the EU envisions most work to be digitalised with regulatory walls destroyed and […]

Looming challenges: Will the labour crunch derail the construction industry?

Many construction industry analysts believe that these are “trying times,” despite nearly record-high demand for new housing, healthy new starts and future development plans in the commercial sector, and still-low financing rates. The best news is that a growing economy holds great promise for an industry that is clearly hoping to continue its recovery following […]

Main brick dimensions

Bricks were used all the time to construct homes and other buildings in the past, but over the years, they have been set aside by contractors who wanted to use other materials.  The good news is that bricks have weathered the storm and they are still being used on some of the most amazing buildings, […]

Main types of construction lifts

Within the construction industry, there are many different tools and pieces of equipment that are used every single day.  While you can use some of these things as a substitute for a job on occasion, nothing works better than the item that you should be using to do the job at hand.  However, sometimes the […]

Main Types of Flooring in Construction

Everyone seems to have their favorite types of flooring, which can make it easier to determine which type you must use during construction projects.  However, if you have ever come across anyone who doesn’t know what types of flooring they love, you must know which ones may work best for their needs.  Of course, this […]

Maintain Quality and Mitigate Risks to Sustain Your Construction Company’s Growth

A growth phase is an exciting time for any construction business. As your company gets valued by your clients and customers, you can afford to expand your business and invest in new initiatives. However, as you expand, your responsibilities grow, too—think increasing admin work and operations cost, more workers to train and manage. An increase […]

Maintenance contracts: Friend or foe?

We have all been there, you complete a project and then you are not really sure how to best implement a maintenance contract. What you should charge, what you should include, what should you exclude, how often should you make routine upkeep visits, etc. etc.This can be a very tricky thing to get right and […]

Major construction time wasters cost $177 billion per year!

In a survey study of the US construction industry, it was found out that time wasted on non-optimal activities—looking for data to fix mistakes, reworks, conflict resolution and related activities—account for an overspending of about $177 billion in labour costs per year in the US alone. The industry research report surveyed nearly 600 construction leaders […]

Make it or break it – Global Construction Survey

It’s not that long ago since Mark Farmer published his detailed review of the UK Construction Labour Model entitled ‘Modernise or Die’. A few months later, a new and extremely informative Global Construction Survey came in public. Its title is ‘Make it or Break it: Reimagining governance, people and technology in the construction industry’. It […]

Map of the biggest construction companies in US

We recently researched which companies are the biggest in construction. That lead to a list of the biggest construction companies in Europe, and a map to go with it. But one can’t talk about construction and big companies without talking about the US as well. Therefore we made a list of the biggest construction companies […]

Mastering the 5 Ps of planning in construction project management

The industry’s rapid evolution, underscored by escalating project complexities and the pressing demand for efficiency and sustainability, necessitates a better approach to project planning. This is where the foundational framework of the 5 Ps – Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance – comes into play, offering a strategic blueprint for construction professionals. We’ll explore the essence […]

Maximise Benefits of BIM in Your Construction Site Today

The use of BIM (building information modelling) in construction projects has seen positive returns on investments and great improvements in labor productivity. BIM has completely revolutionised design, crash avoidance and clash detection in building projects. But despite the technology’s potential, its use remains isolated in certain phases. However, with the correct implementation in the construction […]

Maximising ROI with construction project execution software

Growing a successful construction firm depends on the systems you use. Discover how construction project execution software can boost your ROI.

McKinsey & Company: There is an $1.6tn opportunity for construction

An amazing opportunity According to Jan Mischke, Senior Fellow at McKinsey & Company and one of the writers of the well-known McKinsey report ‘Reinventing Construction: A Route to Higher Productivity‘, the gap in productivity between average economy and construction is up to $1.6tn a year. This is a shocking statistic that highlights the potential that global […]

McKinsey and Company: Pushing the construction technology ecosystem to new limits

McKinsey & Company released a powerful research on the ways in which the construction technology ecosystem is changing. After many years of inertia in the sector, a substantial shift is noticed as the interest in digitisation is rapidly increasing. The McKinsey & Company research is based on three main pillars, all of them connected to […]

McKinsey and Company: Welcome to the new era of construction technology!

McKinsey & Company published recently a very informative report in regard to the new era that emerges both in engineering and construction technology. It is no secret that digital technologies are taking the building sector. We are on the verge of a substantial paradigm shift which is fueled by the appearance of innovative construction technology […]

Meet GenieBelt, The Best Project Management Software For Construction

It’s no secret that a construction project can become very chaotic. There are simply too many things that have to be taken into account in a really short time. Everything in the end comes down to efficient communication and proper coordination between the different agents of the project. This can happen much easier, of course, with […]

Mental health in construction: The ugly truth

Did you know that working in construction you are six times more likely to die from suicide than from a fall from a height? That is a statistic that “The Construction Industry Helpline”, an organization to help those in the construction industry on a variety of topics, CEO Bill Hill has discovered. A quick search […]

Millennials Are Reinventing and Expanding the HSE Market in the Midst of Digital Disruption

Much is written about the millennials, from being lazy to entitled, to having the need for constant validation, and to being flaky. The generation born at the cusp of a millenium between the early 80s to 2000, however, has bred a generation comfortable with technology. Although the millennials are popularly known for their love of […]

Millennials can be the catalyst for change in construction if you let them!

Let me start off this post by letting you know that I am a millennial.  I know I am not the easiest person to work with, in fact, I can be challenging to some of my colleagues.  The thing is, I don’t accept the status quo and I will always strive to do better. I […]

MIPIM 2017: Our Impressions Of The World's Leading Property Market

Taking part in an international conference always offers a lot both in terms of experience and networking. Especially when we are talking about MIPIM, which is considered to be one of the world’s leading property markets. Dominic Rebello and Arron Adam traveled to Cannes in order to represent GenieBelt in MIPIM 2017 (14-17 March). They were kind […]

Mobility is Not a Luxury in Construction–It’s a Necessity

I used to work on new houses in the next town along – a 15 minute drive each way. Intention was to stick up 350 of them on the one site with more land, a bigger site, bought across the other side of the main road. Great time of it! Short, comparatively, working day and […]

Modern methods of construction: The future is now!

It’s already been two years since the publication of Mark Farmer’s review of the construction labour model in the UK, entitled “Modernise or Die”, and some encouraging steps in the right direction have started to become visible. The construction industry, and especially the housebuilding sector, seem to take on the challenge and gradually transform the […]

Modernise or die: The need for change in construction

Just a few days ago the UK government officially presented its thoughts about Mark Farmer’s remarks concerning the need for modernization in the construction industry. As David Whysall smartly points out, the kind and embracing words towards Mark Farmer’s report don’t mean much if the government continues to avoid the discussion about actively assisting the […]

Modular Construction: Pros and Cons

Why are more companies building modular structures? Is modular construction cheaper than other methods? What advantages do modular construction techniques bring to the table?

Most common challenges in material management in construction

In the construction industry, one of the common challenges people face is issues with their material management. Poor material management can lead to issues with the timeline for your entire project. Here are some of the most common issues with material management and some tips for how to handle them. Bid procurement It is common […]

Most common construction problems and how construction management software can solve them

The slow transition to a digital practice has the construction industry underperforming in terms of quality and productivity versus investment growth. As investment in infrastructure is growing fast (predicted to double by the next 15 years), it is surprising to note that the methods and processes employed are still traditional. Work is still performed manually […]

Most common dangers on a construction site

A construction site is hazardous because of the nature of work that is performed on it, and the kind of equipment that is used there. There is a big probability of accidents at a construction site, and this industry has the highest rate of fatal accidents. Workers have to work at great heights, handle heavy […]

Navigating the challenges of regulatory compliance in construction

Navigating the maze of regulations, code, and standards is a challenging, yet crucial, aspect of any construction project. Understanding these challenges is essential for success. So, let’s delve into the complex world of regulatory compliance in the construction industry. Free eBook: Unveiling the Path to Digital Transformation in Construction The importance of regulatory compliance in construction Regulatory compliance […]

New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) Compliance Explained

The reputation of newly built homes in the UK is under scrutiny. A recent consumer survey, conducted by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) among 2,000 UK adults, reveals a significant perception problem. More than half (55%) of respondents believe that older homes are of superior quality compared to new builds. Alarmingly, nearly one-third (32%) […]

New Study: Why Construction Owners Want New Software

When it comes to the deployment of new software, I usually speak directly to the project managers. Today, I want to reveal some insights based on a new study that I’ve come across by Software Advice, a company that reviews construction software solutions. The facts and insights here are relevant and valuable for PM’s and any […]

New Trends in the Construction Industry, 2024 a year of Innovation.

The construction industry, a cornerstone of our global economy, is on the brink of a technological revolution. As we step into 2024, it’s crucial to recognise and adapt to the emerging trends that are reshaping this sector. From 3D concrete printing to exoskeletons, and the soaring use of drones, these innovations are practical solutions driving […]

New vs. Old Buildings: How the Golden Thread Can Restore Confidence in Modern Construction

In the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, public trust in modern construction has been severely shaken. Many residents have grown sceptical of new buildings, particularly high-rises, due to a perception that they are often unsafe, poorly constructed, or the product of cost-cutting compromises. This perception has led to a preference for older buildings, which […]

No more CSCS green card? Where do I go from here?

Ah, yes! Well? Actually, there still is a CSCS Green Card, but it has been down-graded from Construction Site Operative and is now only available for Labourers! Still cheap and cheerful, though! I just did an on-line check and on-line course is available for a modest £7, then just £12 more to take an on-line […]

Nvq construction management or SMSTS?

Like anything to do with SMSTS, this is another tricky question! Besides the time-scale differences, though, we also have pretty different course content between the two.  Things that the SMSTS Course covers, but which aren’t in a Degree Course about nvq construction management include:- • Risk assessments/method statements • Recent changes in accepted working practices […]

NVQ Construction Management Vs Degree – What Verdicts Say

Now me, like, I’m a bit of a certificated smart-ar*e. I have a degree in Construction Management as well as a Masters in Construction Project Management. I also have a CSCS Black Card Contracts Manager which, I’m told, is equivalent to an NVQ 7 – that’s to say another Masters! I’ve experience and knowledge of […]

Offshore construction: The main benefits and struggles

Construction is a continuously evolving field. Offshore construction is a representative example of that. The ability of the industry to expand its activities in the marine environment played a significant role in its financial growth. It goes without saying that offshore construction unlocked a completely new field with great opportunities and challenges. Of course, offshore […]

Online Certification in Construction Management Program – Is It Worth It?

Is a certification necessary to get into construction management? Well, it’s not, but its importance is steadily growing. Just like field experience isn’t considered a must have, but it can still make quite an impact when it comes to the job opportunities available to you. However, if the recent trends are anything to go by, […]

Onsite construction 101: How to deliver on time and budget

What is onsite construction? Onsite construction covers a wide spectrum of work in the field. As a rule, it lies in the centre of every project and refers to all activities that should be completed on the job site such as onsite construction, maintenance and property management. But working on a construction project is never […]

Optimizing safety through project management

Effective project management plays a critical role in the success of any venture. Without it, projects flounder, delays ensue, and most importantly, a company’s reputation can be at risk. But perhaps nowhere is project management more important than in the high-risk environment of a construction site. On a work-site, employees routinely face exposure to a […]

Overcoming the Skilled Labour Shortage

This isn’t something that is going to be a quick and easy fix! As I see it there are a couple of reasons for the current shortage. One of those was created in the1980’s and the second one in the 1990’s.Going back to the 1950’s, when I was a lad, my Grandad got it hammered […]

Paul Netscher: Contractors who don’t move with the times will be left behind by their competitors.

Paul Netscher is a construction management consultant and writer based in Perth, Australia. He has 3 decades of quality construction management experience that spans 120 projects in 6 countries that include industrial, concrete, building, earthworks and infrastructure. His specialties include securing projects, tendering, risk management, project planning, contract variations, project management, safety, training, construction management […]

Planning and building under German construction regulations

According to the 2016 European Innovation Scoreboard, Germany ranks as an innovation and compliance leader in the construction sector based on the country’s overall innovation and expenditure on research and development. Germany’s innovation performance peaked in 2012 and placed the country’s innovation performance 28% above the overall average in the EU. This figure dropped to […]

Poor communication, poor data management: Construction industry issues that technology adoption can solve

Continuing from the last blog post, we now move to discuss the still dominant construction industry issues that lead to wasted labor: poor communication and poor data management. Citing from the same study that we linked to in the previous article, 48% of all construction rework in US construction sites is due mainly to miscommunication […]

Portfolio Overview – the latest GenieBelt feature

In a nutshell For people who run more than one project at a time and who want to know what’s going on, our latest Portfolio Overview feature allows you to get a full overview of all your different projects in a single programme Gantt, like a “project of projects”. Get control of your project portfolio […]

Preconstruction phase in construction

There are numerous steps with the construction process, but the very first one is called the preconstruction phase.  This is when all the planning and coordination is completed prior to the start of the actual construction.  During this stage, the scope of the work will be determined, the budget will be set, and the materials […]

Project closeout – 7 steps to success

A project lifecycle is formed by 4 phases: the initiation, planning, execution and closing. In each one of them, managers find specific workflows to follow in order to carry on with the work effectively. The closing phase of the project can be overlapped with the execution, as long as the main activities are finished. The […]

Project cost estimation: A practical guide

There are as many resources on estimating project costs as there are on formulating estimates, quotes, bids and proposals. So many books, manuals, and articles have been published on this topic, and so many tools and software are now available for people to buy and download to address this issue. The goal of construction cost […]

Project deliverables in construction

What are the main types of project deliverables in construction? The engineering reports Product quality enhancement Proposals Design drawings Design documents A completed product A site investigation report Any design reviews The output that is completed during a construction project is considered a project deliverable.  It is the project manager’s job to define, track, and […]

Project management systems for managing construction project risks

None of the construction projects is simple. Leave what others say aside. Nothing comes easy. Even the smallest construction project comes with financial and reputational risks. Project managers know there are multiple team members. There is the owner, the contractor, the stakeholders and the architect. On top of that there are tons of laws, regulations, and codes you need […]

Project to 3-D Print Houses Begun

3D printing seems to be something which is catching on amongst researchers and academics. My only knowledge of it comes from watching “The Big Bang Theory” TV programme. During one episode they printed a whistle. Going for a whole house seems a big step forward from that! The material used for 3D printing is cellulose. […]

Promote Digitalisation in Construction: The Catalysts of Change and the Power of Innovation

The Financial Implications of Digital Transformation Digital transformation, while promising, comes with its set of financial considerations. Industry experts, like Tom Jaffray, emphasise the importance of a clear cost-benefit analysis. Investing in digital tools requires foresight, ensuring that the long-term benefits, from cost savings to enhanced productivity, outweigh the initial expenditure. Identifying and Nurturing Champions […]

Pros and Cons of Construction Arbitration

Well, before I go on about this, please allow me to boast a little. Of all the construction contracts for which I’ve been Project Manager, none have ever gone on to Dispute, either in the Law Courts or to Arbitration. More on that after we’ve had a look at the pros and cons of Arbitration. […]

Proven 5 Step Formula For Creating Useful and Comprehensive Task Lists

We see this problem all the time with our current clients. A team will have meeting after meeting and plan everything inside out. But, 5 days into the actual execution, things start falling apart. Yes! There are a lot of things that can cause this, but what I want us to talk about today is […]

Pull planning in construction – 101 guide

Pull planning in construction – the ultimate guide Pull planning is becoming more popular in construction management. In short, it’s a method to work with construction projects in reverse order. And with the much higher involvement of your team. Imagine rows of dominoes set up in strategic lines. Each domino standing by itself but part […]

Punch list 101 – Everything you need to know

A punch list (also sometimes referred to as a snag list, a deficiency list, or a punch-out list) is the document used to check that every single remaining task on a project has been done.

Punch list for construction: The ultimate guide

What is a punch list In most cases, a punch list is seen as a document or list of items which define in detail the work that doesn’t comply with the contract requirements, after a significant part of the project is completed. To some extent, this explanation is accurate. Nevertheless, it would be wrong to […]

Purchase orders in construction 101

A purchase order in construction is similar to a contract, as it is a request from one person to another about purchasing an item. While any purchase order can, and normally is, viewed as a contract, it should never be considered as a true contract. The reason for this is that a contract is more […]

QHSE in construction: A detailed guide

What does QHSE mean? QHSE stands for Quality, Health, Safety and Environment management as defined by the ISO14001, ISO9001 and OHSAS18001 standards. It has different names across the world such as SEHQ and QESH but the core concept is always the same. Simply put, QHSE is a detailed system that offers a concrete context within […]

Quality assurance with quality control in construction

Many people may already be thinking that quality assurance and quality control are the same thing, and while they do ensure the same results, there are slight differences between the two.  In fact, anyone within the construction industry that uses one over the other will find that their results, as well as their desired quality, […]

Quiz – Interesting construction facts

Take our random construction facts quiz Complete the 10 question quiz! [quiz-cat id=”4085″] Win a 2nd pair of work boots –  Share + Tag a friend! (Competition has ended) Take the quiz Put in your name and email at the end of the quiz Share your result, and tag someone to receive a second pair […]

Quiz – Prepare for the CSCS Card

So you want to prepare a bit for the test to get your CSCS Card? Normally you will have to take a CITB Health Safety and Environment Test, which is the one you can prepare for with this quiz. We have made a quiz of 30 different questions that you can use for your preparation. […]

Quiz – What Is Your Construction IQ?

Are you curious to see how much construction know-how-knowledge that you have? At GenieBelt, we have made a quiz of 24 different questions that will challenge your construction IQ. You will find questions about tools, construction terms, and general knowledge that is need to know in the field of construction. If you are working in […]

Rapid prototyping and its current and future uses in the construction industry

At not-quite-thirty-one years old, the rapid prototyping process is just beginning to integrate itself as a mainstream utility in today’s marketplace. It has many different uses in areas of manufacturing, there are research and development advantages which stem from RP machines, and even the construction industry is beginning to see a transformation. For those who […]

Real Estate Crisis in France: Saturation, Rental, and Innovation.

The real estate crisis in France is not an isolated phenomenon, but a reflection of a market in constant flux, pulled between the imperative for innovation and the preservation of French architectural identity. This dynamic creates a fertile ground for structural tensions. The focal point of this conflict is often the rapid adoption of new […]

Real-time information in the construction field: Why it matters

The importance of real-time information in construction For years, there has been a time lapse between the main office and the construction sites when it comes to data and communication. That gap created numerous delays that needed to be avoided to keep a project on time and on budget. While cell phones, and now smartphones, […]

Recognising BIM roles in a project cycle

The origins of BIM almost always associate BIM and its roles exclusively with the design team. However, upon close inspection of its history and evolution, the stories over the past fifty years would indicate that it is in the field of project management that BIM has its most long-term application (National Building Specification, 2015). Since […]

Reducing Construction Risks by 70% with Effective Daily Reporting

Imagine a construction site, bustling with activity, where each day brings new challenges and accomplishments. In the midst of this dynamic environment, there’s a subtle yet powerful tool at play – daily reporting. This tool, often overlooked, holds the key to maintaining safety, tracking progress, and providing tangible proof in the face of delays.  The […]

Reducing the admin burden for foremen: How construction apps can help save time

Foremen have to deal with time-consuming administrative tasks every day—learn how you can save time with a construction foreman app.

Requisition in construction

There are numerous different types of requisition forms, but within the construction industry there are only two that are commonly used.  One is a construction equipment order and the other is a construction order.  Most of the time construction companies use the construction orders, because they are looking to receive payments at different points during […]

Residential Construction

Residential construction is different than commercial construction, because these buildings are used for people to live in instead of working in. While many people think that single family homes are residential construction, the category also includes multi-family homes, apartments, condominiums, and even mobile homes. For each residential construction project, a piece of land is purchased, […]

Residential construction project management: 7 best practices for success

There are a lot of things that go into delivering successful residential construction projects, including planning, budgeting, inspections, safety measures, etc. It’s important to ensure every process and workflow goes according to plan and yields the expected outcomes. Navigating such complex terrain requires proper management and extensive experience to oversee every aspect of the project. […]

Residential home building companies

What are top residential home building companies in the world? There are millions of homes around the world, and new ones are being constructed every day.  That means that there needs to be businesses with multiple employees ready and willing to tackle this type of work.  Thankfully, there are plenty of people who love building […]

Residential projects: 5 mistakes project managers don’t know they are making

Today project managers keep critical information in multiple disconnected tools and formats (Excel, MS Project, Primavera P6, Powerproject, even whiteboards and paper notes), sent back and forth by email, SMS, and WhatsApp. This makes it very difficult to see the aggregate impact of problems and changes, which is necessary in order to make timely and well-informed decisions.

Resistance to HSE Digitalisation: Some Factors Identified

A construction company’s decision to go digital when it comes to its HSE or QHSE systems necessitates a whole lot of change management alongside the investment of a lot of time and energy. Even if it’s just Quality and HSE digitalisation, the changes would require an organization-wide tweak that would involve the entireness of your […]

Revealed: The importance of strategic planning in construction companies and projects

Strategic planning is a crucial aspect of higher management in any company across all industries. Strategic planning includes designing a company’s response and behavior in a competitive market, creating a market strategy, and adapting company resources to support the strategy. The continuous process of strategic planning defines a company’s future. A strategic plan is developed […]

Revolutions in construction – The Mobile Phone

Back in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s two particular projects stick in my mind as being, in some respects, nightmares! The first of these was what is still Europe’s second-largest single floor and roofed tin shed; 27 acres of it set in a 96 acre site. That is about 12 an 45 if you […]

Revolutions in Construction with Modern Building Methods

Modern buildings methods! Us lot in commercial construction, we’re all cutting edge and we’ve got to do it the modern way! That is the word out there! Trouble with that is I’ve been sat here for three days to try and fathom out what the modern building methods actually are! Timber frame construction for housing? […]

RFI in construction: An exhaustive guide

What is an RFI in construction? Depending on the industry, an RFI can involve different things, but RFI in construction is a request for information. Construction RFIs can be both time and money-consuming but they are considered as an integral aspect of the business. RFIs are used to gather information that is not included within […]

RFP in Construction: A comprehensive guide

When funding is available in the government’s infrastructure budget, they will make a press release with various resources or announce for a “call for bids.” Part of the process at the beginning of any project needing quality work conducted is the need for estimations or bids. Thus, “Buyers” or “Customers” will make a call to […]

RIBA Rounding Up Regional Winners for the 2017 RIBA National Awards

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has been very busy the last weeks of May announcing and celebrating the RIBA Regional Awards winners with a series of events across the UK. From May 15th to the 30th, RIBA has been picking winners for the various Regional Awards and Buildings of the Year — who […]

Risk assessment guide in construction

No job or workplace is entirely safe, and injuries, accidents, and even deaths can occur almost anywhere. There are, of course, workplaces where accidents are more common. Construction is one of them. Even those who’ve never worked in construction can make relatively accurate assumptions about all the possible things that could go wrong here. This […]

Risk management plan in construction: A practical guide

There is never a time when a construction company is not going to take at least a little risk with their projects. In that sense, it is no exaggeration to claim that an exhaustive risk management plan is a ‘must have’ in your construction operations. Nevertheless, putting together a functional risk management plan isn’t always […]

Robotics in construction: How technology is making waves in the industry

As one of the least technologically advanced industries, construction has taken a backseat to embracing the digital revolution for some time. Automation of processes and systems, increasing the use of technology in everyday tasks, and autonomous machinery seems like a far-fetched fantasy out of a sci-fi film for construction project managers and contractors. However, the […]

Robots on jobsites: The future of robotics in construction

Technology is step by step taking over construction and changes the way a project is carried out. It is expected that the need for manual labor will be significantly decreased in the near future, as a considerable amount of work will be conducted automatically. Robots can offer great help in tasks that require accuracy and […]

Role of cutting-edge tools and technologies in simplifying the construction process

Like every other industry in the world, the construction industry has also experienced ups and downs in the past. However, in the last couple of decades, the problems faced by architects, engineers, drafters and other building professionals have been largely addressed due to the implementation of high-end construction tools and technologies. Earlier they used to […]

Role of technology in large-scale construction projects

Technological juggernauts have completely transformed the stage of engineering and construction projects. From aerial drone mapping to digital blueprints to 3D imaging to managing every facet of the project without even laying a brick has transformed the whole new perspective of designing and construction. Here are the few innovations that have revolutionized the construction industry, […]

Roof safety – best practices

Roofs are high off the ground, which means that they are dangerous just from the height factor alone.  Once you add in the elements and other hazards, you and your employees are faced with more problems than you ever thought possible.  Thankfully, there are a few things that you can all do to stay safe […]

Roofing tips for large-scale construction projects

When you’re trying to carefully plan out all the facets of a roofing installation for a large-scale construction project, you’ll find that there are considerable challenges not only for the company who has ordered the work but for the roofing professionals who will be out physically tackling the roof installation on an active construction site. […]

Rugged Devices for Construction

The construction site can surely be a tough place for electronic for equipment, tools, and electronics. Construction workers have to deal with a combination of various environmental conditions that very few other jobs share. Specialized equipment is becoming necessary these days. The use of rugged technologies can significantly decrease the risk on the construction site […]

Rusty Hamilton to lead GenieBelt’s US launch

We are happy to welcome Rusty Hamilton as Country Manager of GenieBelt’s new US operation. Rusty brings along 28+ years of experience in the construction industry including a string of years as President of Catalyst USA, which is the leading distributor for Powerproject in the U.S., an Oracle Gold Partner and Premier Solution Provider for […]

Save Time With A Detailed Programme To Completion

When you start a construction project it is essential that you create a DPC (The Detailed Programme to Completion) in order to save time. Let me tell you more about that here. Starting the project What happens is that someone fairly high up in an organisation decides they want something “constructing”. This may only be […]

Saving time and money in the construction industry

The construction industry is buzzing with activity and has been growing at a rapid pace for the last few decades. Construction management professionals often face difficulty ensuring that projects are completed on time in an efficient and cost-effective manner. The advent of construction software is a real blessing for many small businesses and organizations in […]

Schedule of values in construction

What is a schedule of values in construction? There are so many documents that are part of construction projects, but one of the documents that most people are not aware of is the schedule of values.  However, general contractors are very familiar with this type of document, as it is the one that can determine […]

Schedule Performance Index in Construction 101

Everything You Need to Know About Schedule Performance Index in Construction If you work in the field of construction, you know that there are many terms and equations you can use that will allow you to determine how each project you are in charge of is going. One of those equations is what is called […]

Selecting a QHSE Digitalisation Tool Partner: The Right Approach

With technological disruption amidst the construction industry, an era of change is updating regulations and demanding more from the sector. QHSE compliance is definitely a difficult task and finding the right software to assist you is the harder part. Looking for the right QHSE tool requires a structured and very thorough process. This article focuses […]

Should I Go For an NVQ Construction Management?

Now this is a bit of a wide-ranging question because what it doesn’t address is what your ambitions are for your professional advancement. It also gets a bit complicated because so many qualifications aren’t “NVQ” but have an “NVQ Equivalence”! From where we are coming in construction, these “equivalencies” include Bachelor’s Degrees and CSCS Cards […]

Sign off your QHSE checklists digitally for very precise follow-ups

Meet your QHSE regulatory requirements with flying colors, minus the usual incomplete information, illegible handwriting, after-work data entry and extraneous transcription that goes with pen-and-paper inspections.

Silica Dust – What You Should Know?

What Everyone Needs to Know about Silica Dust? Silica dust comes from crystalline quartz or non-crystalline items, sand and quartz are the most common forms, and it is hazardous to those who breath the dust in on a regular basis.  Those who are affected the most are those who quarry the materials, construction workers, and […]

Site implementation and assessment of lean construction techniques

Learn about implementing the lean 5S methodology and laying the groundwork for the site implementation of any lean construction technique.

Skilled Trades

Now me, these days, I’m a certificated smart-arse, like, what is very important and knows everything about construction! Wink Wink My background That isn’t the way it started out for me, though. I come from a ship-building town and all my family were skilled tradesmen in the ship-yard. It was my grand-father who accidentally started […]

Smart building and its construction project benefits

Smart building technology is predicted to grow by 34% annually over the next five years with a forecast of a $25 billion total market value by 2021. Construction technology has been evolving very rapidly today than any other point in history. In turn, investments in green construction have significantly increased as construction companies, and clients […]

SMSTS and CSCS Card? Why both?

Now that is a very good question! As best as I can remember it would be 1992 that the CSCS Card was introduced. I was freelancing at the time and we got lucky! The Agency I was working through put on a free 2-day course for us that left us holding our very first CSCS Cards! […]

Snagging in construction: A comprehensive guide

Snagging is a common term throughout construction but is essentially a slang expression and has slightly different meanings depending on the circumstances. The word will be used on a variety of projects so it’s always worth a contractor checking how the phrase is being applied. It can mean different things to different people. Snagging can […]

Snagging software and snagging apps

In the world of construction, there are numerous lists of things to accomplish, but none of them are as important as the one that involves snagging.  That list includes items that still need to be completed when a building has been finished.  While a construction company can simply use a sheet of paper to compile […]

Social Media and Your Construction Company

Getting Started Guide: Advertising Your Construction Company for Free Social Media and Your Construction Company Social media can be a money pit as well a time drain. These days everyone is on social media but very few posts actually get shared. Truthfully, with the exception of facebook ads, most business don’t really get much out […]

Some valuable tips on construction risk management

The construction work site is inherently risky and dangerous. However, when projects are compared with other industries such as software and engineering, construction is less technically complex. In order to produce a project within a specified timescale, the project just has to have specialists in design and construction. Historically, the risks associated with construction are […]

Spotlight on Digital Construction Week 2017: Innovation in Construction

The construction industry in UK is on the right track towards gaining digital maturity. There has been a lot of interest in various digital technologies and the proof of it was seen in Digital Construction Week 2017. The event has been considered the only event series in the UK that focuses on digital construction, engineering, […]

Spreadsheets are putting your construction projects at risk

[Image link: dilbertyellow.gif] For construction companies, most use spreadsheets to manage time, cost, resources, and quality of a project. Spreadsheets are great for data analysis. However, they’re not when it comes to managing projects because the processes surrounding construction project management are too complex to be nailed down in a few spreadsheet cells. When businesses […]

Stalled Construction Projects – Causes and Cures

This is quite an interesting subject. Two or three years ago I was approached by a guy doing his Doctorate and looking at “Waste in Construction” – the title of his thesis – who wanted to pick my brains and find out what my experience of waste was. Now, my initial responses to his questions […]

Standardise as you go: The key to better and admin-free processes

Standardising the way you design, communicate, and eventually build is a valid option. Under one condition: you have to use digital tools that are tailored to construction and can seamlessly connect the site back to the office.

Stay Ahead of Risk

Us muddy-boot brigade, like, we know of one major risk on a construction site that is never mentioned by academics or those writing articles on the subject. That is we look for “The bloke who is an accident looking for somewhere to happen” – and we get rid of him When inducting new arrivals on […]

Streamlining the construction process: 6 smart approaches

In 2013, the UK government published the Construction 2025 strategy – created to target a reduction in time, greenhouse gas emissions and whole life costs of a construction project by the year 2025. This, along with the knowledge that in 2017 17% of UK businesses were categorised as companies within the construction sector totalling over […]

Strengthen your construction compliance with a digital site diary

The traditional compliance checking processes are costly and time-consuming that leaves a lot of room for errors.

Stupidity Hall of Fame – The Construction Selection

We usually write about construction communication, the technical knowledge of construction tradesmen, delay analysis and a bunch of other interesting construction topics, but sometimes we are just lost for words because of the things we find on the web. Check out this Hall of Fame. To be honest we hardly believe it: How to do a […]

Subcontractor Agreement 101

There are always plenty of subcontractors working around job sites, because each specific job needs a qualified worker. While those subcontractors are doing the work, they are not paid the same way that those who work with the contractor’s company are. Instead, these subcontractors get paid as they finish different stages of their work. No […]

Suffering from Information Overload? Try This Different Approach to Project Management

Tell me if the following sounds familiar to you. Your wife or friend wanted to have breakfast with you and you don’t want to leave her/him hanging again…and you said yes. Or better… let’s say you’ve been to a business meeting in the morning and you came half an hour late. You stepped into the […]

Sustainable construction: What you need to know

The world is embracing greener buildings to protect the environment and climate. Here is what you need to know about sustainable construction.

SWOT and PESTEL analysis of Building Information Modeling

BIM Modeling since its emergence in the field of AEC Industry has bolstered the information management in the form of product or process throughout the life-cycle of a building. BIM is the digital representation of the building geometry in a 3D form that helps store information that can give access to updated information about any […]

Tallest buildings in the world

What are the tallest buildings in the world? There was a time when the Eiffel Tower or the World Trade Center twin towers were the tallest buildings in the world, but those records are being smashed as new buildings are being built taller than ever before.  It is not uncommon to see a news story […]

Target Value Delivery in lean construction

Target value delivery is an essential part of taking a lean approach to construction. Learn how it differs from traditional processes, its benefits, and more.

Technology in Construction is Changing Contractors Bottom Lines

Way back in the 1980’s I was “bungalow bashing”. Technology in construction was still more of a blurry concept. Somehow, somewhere, I heard about “Planning”. Being of an innovative and creative nature I decided to give it a go. Pinned bits of wallpaper on the office wall and drew pretty diagrams with a magic marker. […]

Technology in home design: A look inside the next generation smart home

The next generation of homes to be built by volume housebuilders need to take an array of different considerations into account in order to be truly cutting-edge – responding to today’s technological advances – and future-proof, by remaining responsible to the environment throughout construction and in their day-to-day energy usage. This post will aim to […]

Ten benefits of prefabricated construction

Prefabricated construction offers many benefits, from greater durability and guaranteed quality to lower costs and higher green credentials.

The 100 Biggest Influencers In Construction

Who are the influencers in the Construction Industry? At LetsBuild we have created a list of the biggest influencers in construction, but what is an influencer? According to Forbes, it’s someone who has a large base of followers and who is able to impact these. In the construction industry, we are seeing influencers from both […]

The 100 biggest UK construction clients

In many of our latest posts, we have referred extensively to the problems that the UK construction has to battle against. Despite its big struggle for momentum, there still are some remarkable deals in the UK market. With that in mind, we decided to conduct a thorough research and present to you the biggest UK […]

The 40 best construction podcasts

What are the construction industry podcasts you should be listening to? The ConTechTrio The Pro Construction Guide Podcast for Pros The Construction Leading Edge Podcast CONEXPO-CON/AGG Radio Construction Industry Podcast with Cesar Abeid The Contracting Coachcast [vc_row el_class=”blog-vc” css=”%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22background-color%22%3A%22%23ffffff%22%7D%7D”][vc_column][vc_column_text]What are podcasts? If you are reading this article, you probably know the answer to that question. […]

The 5 secrets to effective and admin free construction progress meetings

Seeing exactly what is happening on site is the first step for keeping everyone in the project on the same page. Only then, you will be able to change construction progress meetings for the better and transform them from a weekly chore into a space for collaboration and improvement.

The 50 construction blogs that will change how you see our industry

We hereby bring you our list of 50 biggest construction blogs and places to get updates about the construction industry. A great list for you to check out in order to find influential companies in the industry, that talks about the newest trends and pulse of the industry. The list is mainly based on the […]

The 55 best construction DIY Youtube Channels

[vc_row el_class=”blog-vc” css=”%7B%22default%22%3A%7B%22padding-top%22%3A%220px%22%7D%7D”][vc_column][vc_column_text] Are you an artist, DIY’er, creator, builder or just interested to becoming one? If the answer is yes, this article is for you. Finding the best or most well known influencers on youtube in the world of DIY (Do it yourself) puts you on the fast track to making your own stuff. […]

The 6 keys to customer success in construction

Addressing customer linked problems can be quite difficult for several construction companies. Just so you know, as a contractor or someone who has gained lots of experience working in the construction industry, it is an extremely wonderful idea to rectify the image since your success might be directly depending on it. One of the best […]

The 7 Must-See TED Talks for Architects

Until now I’ve covered different themes mainly through texts. Today, I want to share part of my personal VIDEO library with you. Below you can find seven must-see TED Talks which can be used as an inspiration or source of wisdom. When we are brainstorming about the new directions of the Aproplan journey, we often […]

The 7 samurais of construction

Many people associate construction only with building roads or houses. However, we tend to forget that the building sector is also about building history and shaping the world around us. We spend 95% of our lives within construction. We live, work and love while we are surrounded by the past and present of the industry. […]

The 8 best boots in construction

Safety, comfort and style Safety is the number one most important factor when you’re working in a construction site. Second most important is to feel comfortable with your gear and apparel. This is one of those jobs that construction boots or work boots are of great importance. No one likes to get hurt of course and […]

The benefits of 2D CAD drawings for site foremen: Why they still prefer them over 3D models

3D modelling offers a modern approach to creating designs, but 2D CAD is still preferred in some cases. Read on to learn why 2D makes a great alternative.

The benefits of real-time collaboration in the construction industry

Construction projects have a lot of fuss and they can easily get off track if the various parties aren’t working together efficiently. The importance of collaboration for more effective projects is increasingly recognized across the construction industry, demonstrated by the extensive research that was conducted by Dodge Data & Analytics in the last several years. […]

The Best Construction Management Apps for The Mobile Phone and Tablets

I found out, many years ago, that a very effective way to get construction projects finished on time, or even ahead of time, is to have a well thought out Build Programme. This needed to be in a GANNT Chart format and placed where everyone could see it. Then I walked onto one job and […]

The Best Construction Management Software

Looking for the best construction management software can be a pretty painful process. Once you find it, though, you can make your life much easier. You will be able to plan and carry through your construction project in the most efficient way. That’s why, we decided to give you a hand in this confusing process […]

The best strategies to greatly reduce worksite injuries

With all the heavy equipment, overhead loads, moving objects, and all the working at height, construction is definitely a risky worksite. Add in all the noise, airborne materials and exposed electricals, no doubt, construction work is risky by nature. Although it’s a whole lot safer these days as compared to the past decades, there is […]

The biggest construction companies in Germany

Germany is seeing solid growth in its construction industry. One of the reasons for this is the high demand for real estate and more investment in infrastructure and buildings. To put that in perspective, The German Construction Industry Federation (HDB), predicted a 4% sales growth for German construction firms in 2018, which equals £117.2 bn. […]

The biggest construction companies in the world

US, Europe and now the world! We brought you the biggest construction companies in Europe and the US, and now we give you the biggest in the world. We made an illustration below of the biggest companies in each continent. Check it out and see if you recognize any of them. With this, we give […]

The biggest construction companies using BIM

We often refer to Building Information Modeling (BIM) in our blog posts. We believe that BIM technology can have great benefits for the construction industry both in the long and short term. A vast number of construction companies are already using this technology. But what are the biggest construction firms that are using it? After […]

The biggest housebuilders in North America

Who are the top 50 housebuilders in the US, Canada & Mexico? D.R. Horton Lennar Homebuilding PulteGroup CalAtlantic Homes NVR Toll Brothers KB Home Taylor Morrison We recently brought you the list of the biggest housebuilders in the UK. Now we’ve taken a look overseas and researched the North American market. Here you’ll find the […]

The biggest housebuilders in the UK

What are the biggest UK housebuilders? Barratt Developments Kier Group Taylor Wimpey Persimmon Group Galliford Try Bellway Redrow Willmott Dixon For a full, more detailed list, scroll below. State of the UK housing market The UK market is experiencing a shortage of houses at the moment, which has led to a higher demand. A demand […]

The Concept of Waste in Lean Construction

The only reason I know about “Waste” in “Lean Construction” is because I was contacted by a PhD student who wanted to pick my brains for his research. That meant I had to put myself on a crash learning course! So let’s start with looking at “Construction”. That means, in the Lean Construction context, every […]

The definition of concrete and what you must know when using It

Concrete can be used for so many construction projects, but that doesn’t mean that everyone knows everything that they need to know about this material.  In fact, the most important thing that everyone must know is the definition of concrete. Concrete is a hard, strong building material that is made by mixing a cementing material, […]

The Digital Journey in Construction: From Pain Points to Progress

The Journey of Progress: Taking It Step by Step Every journey begins with a single step. In the construction industry, this means understanding the challenges at hand and selecting the right digital tools to address them. Just as one learns to drive a small car before handling a Ferrari, construction professionals must gradually integrate digital […]

The digital transformation of Dutch construction

The building cluster is a large and important industry in the Netherlands’ Twente region. Prior to the crisis, it provided 14% of local jobs in the eastern part of the Netherlands with about one in seven jobs in the building industry. During the crisis, the number of full-time jobs dropped by 70,000 nationwide. By 2014, […]

The entire supply chain needs to change but the potential is enormous

Suzannah Nichol, Chief Executive at Build UK, was also part of the European ConTech Summit 2019 that took place in London. Today we take a closer look at her inspiring keynote speech as we continue our coverage of the conference. Mrs. Nichol started her speech by reminding the audience that this has been a very […]

The European Construction Industry Manifesto for digitalisation: An insight into a smarter and cost-efficient sector

A few months ago the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) in collaboration with other leading European construction associations published the European Construction Industry Manifesto for digitalisation. The manifesto focuses on the numerous actions that EU could take in order to facilitate the digital transformation of the construction industry. The optimisation of the current data policy […]

The Evolution of Tall buildings

Back in the day there weren’t actually many tall buildings in the world! I actually saw a couple of them in January of 1948 when my mother and I were coming back home from Columbia. New York, New York with its Empire State Building and its Chrysler Building! The next one I saw was in 1950 […]

The experts have spoken: Now is the time to invest in construction!

Just a few days ago, GenieBelt hosted, in collaboration with Construction News, the European ConTech Summit in London. Some of the most noteworthy and inspiring ConTech companies in Europe took part in the event. Top construction experts provided their perspective on what is the current state of construction, what the future of the industry brings, […]

The experts have spoken: We can and should be optimistic despite COVID-19

“We have seen governments invest up to 25% of the GDP to save, let’s say, one million lives. Is it not then fair to believe that we will invest 2% of the GDP to save the environment and 50 million lives?”

The flexibility and reliability of building and construction careers

A career in building and construction is more than just an opportunity to work away from a desk (if that’s what you’re after)—you can also design the lifestyle you want around what’s most important to you, and choose a career trajectory that matches your ambitions. With the potential to work your own hours, on your […]

The four pillars of collaboration in the construction industry

Focusing on strategic collaboration in construction can be the first step for a sector without mistrust and costly claims. If you want to learn more about how you can deliver successful projects sooner without compromising quality, we invite you to download our free ebook just by clicking on the link below.

The future of Building Information Modeling

The BIM revolution started 17 years ago when Revit made its debut in the digital and construction markets, which then catalysed a change in how collaboration in the construction industry works. The past five years, we have seen the speed of app developments geared around the disruption of the construction sector. Multiple companies have been […]

The future of sustainable and affordable housing

Global warming is one of the main reasons why sustainable housing is ideal for future construction. Sustainable homes do not only help the environment by reducing the overall environmental impact during and after construction, but it contributes towards many social and economic benefits. Today in many countries there is a lack of housing while population […]

The Impact of Poor Communication in Construction Projects

Effective communication is crucial in construction project management. This blog post examines a key study by the Journal of Facilities Management. It highlights the critical consequences of poor communication in construction projects.  The study is not just academic theory; it’s backed by thorough research and expert insights. Our goal is to present these findings clearly.  […]

The importance of integrating construction software with existing construction processes

As the construction industry continues to embrace digital transformation, understanding how to seamlessly incorporate software tools into your workflow can significantly enhance efficiency, productivity, and project outcomes. So, let’s explore the importance and benefits of integrating construction software into your existing construction processes. Free eBook: Unveiling the Path to Digital Transformation in Construction Why do you need construction […]

The importance of keeping construction daily logs for every site activity

Construction daily logs are essential for keeping your project on track. Keep reading to learn about five reasons why you can’t ignore your daily log-keeping.

The importance of OKRs and KPIs in your HSE

At the heart of any successful business lies a strong safety and compliance culture. And a successful and smart company makes use of the data available to continuously work to drive up standards in quality, health, safety and environment. OKRs and KPIs Your Objective and Key Results (OKRs) tell you where to go and whether […]

The importance of photo documentation for construction and how to avoid the admin nightmare

Finding and implementing a construction-specific digital tool can do wonders in the way you store and retrieve photos in your projects.

The importance of software implementation in your construction company

In this modern world we are living in, companies are (and should be) always on the lookout for different ways to be more effective and efficient, or simply increase the profit margins. A great number of companies are on the verge of using software for enhancing certain processes, but they are not so informed about […]

The Last Planner System® vs. Scrum: Which is the right fit for you?

The Last Planner® System (LPS) and Scrum are two methodologies to improve scheduling practices on construction sites—learn about their differences and similarities.

The Last Planner® system: A brief but comprehensive overview

As suggested by its name, the Last Planner® System is a planning process centered around collaboration involving the last planners of a project. The last planners usually include the foremen, the project manager, or the design team leaders—the people left planning a project’s greater details towards its deadline. In the UK, it is sometimes referred […]

The main benefits of construction management software

Technology has transformed our lives in unimaginable ways. From sales management techniques to accounting software, we have digitized and automated our work to a level where we require very less man power. In India, around 75% of jobs are lost to automation. More developers are required for automation than manual processing. In a world, where […]

The miracle of skyscraper demolition: Making a building disappear

Demolitions always look fun but they are extremely challenging and costly projects. There is a vast number of different, yet indispensable, parameters that should be taken into account before a project like that begin. Safety and process efficiency, of course, are the top priorities. The Japanese construction industry seems to understand this really well, given […]

The modern QHSE manager’s role in today’s construction

Once upon a time, there was an H&S (health and safety) manager whose role expanded to an HSE (health, safety and environment) manager. At that same time, there was a quality manager whose roles were completely separate from the HSE supervisor. But as technology got more and more integrated into the workflow and as demand […]

The most important construction KPIs to improve profits and productivity

Is your organisation tracking the right construction KPIs? See how these 5 KPIs can improve your profits and productivity on site and off.

The Most Important Construction Tool on The Site: GenieBelt

On a construction site we see the lads wandering around with their tool belts full of their tools; hammers, screw-drivers, chisel, wire cutters and so on. Fair enough, the brickies and plasterers tend not to wander round with their tools on display. There is one group of construction site workers, though, who tend to have […]

The Nightmare Of Improving Efficiency In Construction

During the last years, the discussion around the need for increasing efficiency in construction has got more and more intense. We recently touched upon the issue of modernisation of the UK Industry, and the final remarks were a strong wake-up call for anyone who is interested in the future of construction. It goes without saying […]

The present and future of VR in construction management

Virtual reality is here with a bang And it’s influencing every sector in its wake. Early adopters like gaming and entertainment have been significantly transformed by the groundbreaking technology and are serving up immersive experiences like never before. As VR expands its reach beyond these industries, one sector that’s increasingly feeling the heat is construction. […]

The QHSE manager’s guide to coaching their employees

Businesses create jobs and contribute a lot to their communities — proper quality, health and safety, and environmental management in the workplace and construction site holds a major key. A quality, safe, environmentally responsible working environment is vital for quality services and products. There is an ongoing need to improve quality, health, safety and environment (QHSE) systems, […]

The Revision of Drawings Over the Ages

Bit of confusion here with “revision”, which better be cleared up before we go any further! As in today’s sense of changes to the design and drawings, my guess is that throughout history, the clients and their consultants have been the same as they are today; forever changing their minds just to make life complicated […]

The role of the architect in a construction project

Managing a construction site A to Z is, as every architect knows, a task not to be taken lightly and for good reason. The undertaking of a construction site usually extends over a full year. However, unforeseen events, a poor initial evaluation or lightly taken precautions can significantly lengthen the time between the choice of […]

The rules for the construction worker resume are changing

The role of the resume has been changing. Multiple industries have seen changes over the past several years as the market has climbed back from the recession and handed power back to candidates. Some of that power comes from the widespread labor shortage and resulting candidate-driven nature of today’s job market. In addition, studies are […]

The Safety Coordinator: An Indispensable Actor on a Construction Site

“The Royal Decree of January 25, 2001, published in the Moniteur – Belgian Official Gazette of February 7, 2001, made ​​applicable in the Belgian law the safety requirements imposed by the European Directive of June 24, 1992 relating to temporary or mobile construction sites.” This regulation requires, since May 1, 2001, three new categories of obligations […]

The state of women in construction

Society has progressed and evolved in many ways. One significant change has been the increasing presence of women in the business world. Women have progressed in leadership and taken up challenges that were once considered too difficult for them to perform. Companies that have seen growth over 2019 are 72% more likely to have high […]

The Technical Knowledge of the Construction Tradesmen

Now we Construction Professionals are very knowledgeable and we have Degrees, even Masters, to prove it. But what about the Construction Tradesmen? Well, it is pretty well known in today’s world, Britain in particular, that they are uneducable drop-outs who left school aged 16! Somehow they managed to get an apprenticeship in a construction trade, […]

The top 5 construction project management challenges and what to do about them

Learn how to solve the top construction project management challenges that cause projects to run over budget and past their deadlines.

The tree structure of a construction site

Managing a building site is not easy. The work of the various stakeholders and providers has to be coordinated, and the site has to be followed closely from both a logistical and budgetary point of view. As for the possible adaptations of the project, they must be managed and communicated to all stakeholders. In a […]

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet On Construction Phase Health And Safety Plan

Once upon a time, long, long ago I got a freelance contract I detested! It was in the early days of Health and Safety Plans. I had to compile one and, as best I can remember, ended up with about 230 pages of it! The only good part of it was that computers were available […]

The ultimate guide to becoming a successful contractor

This is a guest post from the Construction legend Paul Netscher. The following text can save you $$$ if you apply the principles to your business! What does it take to be a successful contractor? Many good tradespeople (plumbers, electricians, carpenters, bricklayers, etc) yearn to start their own business. Many do, but unfortunately, lots fail. Regrettably, this […]

The ultimate HSE conference guide in France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany

Lately, we have been helping a lot of European construction companies digitise their quality, health, safety and environment systems for high-quality inspections and thorough regulatory compliance. Through the whole digitalisation process that we went through with our clients, we further updated ourselves with QHSE and occupational safety and health news, such as recent publications, standards, […]

The Ultimate Revelation Of 3D Printed Homes

New developments in construction are coming forth regularly, mainly with the focus on sustainability. One of these innovations is the construction method through 3D printing which has the power to change the face of development tremendously when fully evolved. The name describes exactly how this building practice works, 3D Printing means basically to build a […]

The upside of job costing: More accurate estimates means more money in the bank

Whatever your reason for getting into the construction business, a love for job costing and puzzling out profitability likely wasn’t a contributing factor. Yet having at least some understanding of cost analysis isn’t just desirable—it’s necessary. In a recent study of self-identified business owners, accountants, bookkeepers, estimators, and finance managers within the construction industry, 1 […]

The very best scheduling practices in Construction

Why is scheduling important in construction? Scheduling is crucial to the success of a construction project. Proper scheduling guarantees the completion of the construction project on time and within budget through outlining how the tasks are executed, the pacing of the executed activities, as well as the methods and sequences in which the materials are […]

The work of concrete contractors

A concrete worker does much more than pour concrete onto the ground and hope for the best!  These workers have a difficult job that entails installing foundation, constructing buildings out of concrete, applying concrete finishes to a project, building retaining walls, and any other concrete project that comes their way.  Sometimes, the work is basic […]

The Worst Advice We Have Ever Heard About SMSTS Courses

SMSTS courses are, in theory, all about safety. In that sense, I suppose anything which makes work on construction sites safer is a good thing in principle. What we are faced with in UK construction, though, is too much of a good thing! I’ve noticed that recent adverts for site management are beginning to ask […]

There, I fixed it!

Do you know a person who likes to cut corners? Especially when it comes to fixing stuff around the house for instance. Because they are too proud to order professional help, and because they know they can fix it themselves. Maybe you got a dad, grandfather, or a friend who is always filled with ideas […]

Think You’re Cut Out For Doing Commercial Construction?

Let’s hope so because it is a great way to spend your working life! Er, er, er … well it is if you like that kind of thing! Some of us seem to always have had seasonal disadvantages to suffer. Stuck outside in the wind, rain and mud during the Winter. Stuck inside during the […]

This is the key to unlocking efficiency in construction

The construction industry is on a crucial path. Lack of transparency, fragmented communication and disappointingly high waste rates are only a few of the problems that construction is currently facing. Nevertheless, a significant change has started to be noticed. The reason behind this change is related to the use of digital tools and more specifically […]

This is why height safety equipment is important

When it comes to protecting your workmen/employees on site, it’s important to follow important height safety equipment care instructions in order to ensure the quality and maintenance of such equipment over a period of time. If not, you may end up having to replace your height safety equipment much faster than anticipated – possibly putting […]

Tier one contractors are trapped in the supply chain

The UK construction is in a continuous torment which can only get worse as time goes by and no bold decisions are taken. The situation where tier one contractors have come to is a strong indication toward that direction. According to Mark Farmer, the creator of the great ‘Modernise or die’ report about the future […]

Timber Skyscrapers Could Transform London’s Skyline

I’m all in favour of wooden buildings! It must be about 10 years-ago that my wife and I had fortnight in a log cabin up in the Lake District. The internal walls were simply that; logs! Now this is getting a bit on the esoteric side, but we found staying there to be “spiritually earthing”, […]

Time and cost overruns in large-scale German construction projects

Time and cost overruns are a common problem in the construction industry anywhere in the world especially when it comes to large-scale projects. Even projects that have been planned for optimum quality construction and delivery are not exempted from this. There are prominent examples thttps://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2946656/dba33af8-34d7-47f4-b478-25e0c4fa2c61hat clearly illustrate this problem within the German context. Berlin Brandenburg […]

Tips for Construction Claims and Risk Management

Claims and Risk – thoughts to put most people off their breakfast, lunch and dinner! But in construction, when we start on a project, we never do actually know what we are walking into. We tend not to think of it that way, but risks are an inevitable part of any construction project. Once they […]

Tips for optimizing project communication

How to avoid having painful delays killing a project is not an empty thought experiment – it’s a matter of choosing the right communication channel for the owner-architect-contractor triad. The China Central Television (CCTV) Headquarters in Beijing redefined the concept of a skyscraper: it is a 234-meter loop in an earthquake prone zone. The highly […]