Technology in Construction: Most construction firms are not integrating mobile technology into their operations, construction firm personnel from temporary workers to project managers use smartphones to take pictures, send and receive SMS, emails e.t.c.
Be that as it may, construction firms are not exploiting the maximum capacity of mobile technology for two reasons:
1. Numerous mobile phones are not integrated with the back-office database contractors use to maintain their organizations, and
2. The business takes a conservative view on the selection of new technology.
In any case, with mobile technology getting simpler to coordinate and utilize, it boosts technology in construction. Hence, the first concern is beginning to fall away.
On the second point, the construction industry is under pressure to improve efficiency of individuals and resources in the face of increasing expenses. It also needs to enhance business procedures.
CONNECTING THE FIELD AND OFFICE
Today, there are mobile applications that connect the field and office, the applications are point solutions.
Project managers or site supervisors on the job site can use a mobile app to handle things like requesting materials, and the data would be fed automatically into the billing and finance systems in the office. Doing this also reduces human errors.
With this kind of on-site and office integration, managers can have a holistic view of what is happening with each project. It also gives room for everybody in the field and the office can make better decisions. They likewise have a solid review record of what occurred on the project and C-suite executives can get a holistic view of performance across multiple projects.
THE RIGHT MOBILE SOLUTION
Increasing the back-office integration with mobile solution also gives contractors more choices to choose the best requirements for a project.
The usage of a mobile solution depends on the type of job ranging from simple to complex project. Irrespective of the project size, it should collaborate with systems to make all the stakeholders such as owner, architect, engineer, workers and sub-contractors are in sync.
With back-office integration available for both of these scenarios, contractors can determine the level of project been carried out and such use mobile solution according to the project size.
In addition, mobile solutions also offer human resources division to assemble information to be utilized in optimizing the workforce efficiency and performance.
With an integrated business and human capital management solution fused in a mobile solution, construction firms can assemble and analyze more information about their workforce – from working hours, location, activity e.t.c
Wearables will bring another degree of sophistication that will positively impact their businesses. Smart vests with inserted GPS sensors and smart eyewear could, in future, be utilized to track workers’ biometrics, heart rates, location and more. This data could help shape a safer workforce just to accelerate decision-making and improve collaboration.
FROM EXPLAINING THE PAST TO PREDICTING THE FUTURE
Advances, such as these allowing construction businesses today to track and measure their workforce to a degree not previously possible. Utilizing Human Capital Management systems, managers can measure, process and interpret information gathered in real-time and provide feedback to executive decision-makers and people on the ground.
Organizations are beginning to move away from historical reporting towards having more predictive capabilities – With technology in constructionthey can begin to foresee how the workforce will perform in the future rather than explaining why productivity slumped in the last quarter or more workplace hazards.
SOURCE: Sage South Africa
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