In an environment where construction businesses are under increasing pressure to cut operational costs, whilst maintaining a high productivity level, adopting cloud technology is a great way for firms to become more agile and improve employee communication. A major project will often involve people from several disciplines with differing skill-sets – from engineers to admin teams, collaborating together. With the development of cloud technology, it is now easier than ever before for front facing operatives working at different locations, and without regular access to a desk, to stay in contact with colleagues from other sites. For instance, workers who have been tasked with updating a building’s interior can digitally record updates on the status of an individual job, and take photographs and videos to show progress. This data can then be uploaded to a platform hosted on the cloud and instantly accessed by head office; so, work can be actioned straight away, and results recorded and signed off quickly enabling speedier invoicing. Remaining competitive is an important focus for any construction firm, particularly given the current economic climate, so businesses need to keep their eyes open for opportunities that can help to drive the company forward. Adopting new technology, such as mobile devices, data capture services and cloud technology, clearly provides great cost-effective and efficiency benefits for construction companies and now is the time to take advantage and stay ahead of the competition.
Enhanced business intelligence Perhaps most importantly of all, digital data capture solutions allow businesses to collect and have access to much higher quality data quickly.
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By replacing traditional paper forms, field workers can easily collect, monitor and share data via their mobile device
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Improved communication between workers
Digital operations
Information is gathered more consistently, as all data captured in the forms or reports is then saved automatically. They can also help businesses to access data that it would otherwise be almost impossible to collect, allowing operatives, for example, to GPS tag and time stamp documents. Businesses should look for a front end data capture solution that can be connected to back end business intelligence tools, because this means that this high-quality data can be analysed quickly and easily, helping to identify patterns that will influence important business decisions. As a result, digital data capture can enable plant hire companies to be more agile, responding to customer needs in a more informed, intelligent and ultimately profitable way. With productivity likely to be a priority for all businesses operating in the construction sector in the coming years, a willingness to embrace digital technology could prove crucial. Offering a host of invaluable benefits, mobile data capture solutions should form a key part of any plant hire firm’s digital transformation plans. ■ Colin Yates www.workmobileforms.com Colin Yates is Chief Support Officer at WorkMobile, an award winning mobile data capture service that replaces paper forms. Using the API, data captured may be integrated into back-office or ERP systems and further extended into a bespoke workflow solution that includes a variety of management information reporting options. WorkMobile® was founded in 2001 as eSAY Solutions Ltd and rebranded as WorkMobile® in 2015.
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