By Michelle Turner, Procore
Technology Today
Construction technology has long been a key factor in businesses becoming more efficient, safer, and profitable. Instead of manually updating information with pen and paper, which can take days, construction technology enables teams to communicate in real time. It allows teams to easily collaborate from anywhere, helping ensure continuity of work between the field and office.
But today’s construction teams also have another new, unexpected challenge facing them. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the industry had to confront a new reality—one in which remote work was not just a nice-to-have but a necessity. The reality is, implementing technology is no longer simply about faster turnaround times or protecting the bottom line. Today, it’s also about keeping employees safe while continuing to ensure projects are able to move forward.
Construction has always been an industry accustomed to frequent changes. But with the pandemic, many teams are now dealing with new, never-before-seen changes that require them to pivot quickly, sometimes within the hour. Relying on slow, manual processes often results in delayed responses, or worse, details slipping through the cracks. Digital solutions, on the other hand, keep employees more accountable, ensure faster resolutions, and help teams maintain quality throughout the project.
What’s more, construction technology also helps keep job sites safe and ethical. With a centralized, streamlined solution, teams can easily communicate, share and update information, and better understand risks. Plus, this can all happen in real time to ensure resolutions are timely.
Construction is an industry built on trust—and maintaining that trust when it comes to ethical and safety standards is vital to business success.
Technology and Ethics
Here are three tips on how to leverage construction technology to promote ethics and safety.
Tip 1: Ensure better documentation and accountability.
Leading construction technology solutions enable teams to easily document project information and assign accountability. Better yet, when teams leverage a platform (as opposed to single point solutions), they are able to consolidate all project information into one centralized solution. Namely, change management tools, field reporting tools, and safety programs are all easily accessible from one place.
Tip 2: Ensure clarity with real-time communication.
The other benefit of digital solutions, and more specifically platforms, is that they provide a single source of truth for all collaborators. Long gone are the days of outdated drawings on site or wondering where someone placed a hand-written note. Everyone—from the field to the office—has one shared system for the most up-to-date information.
Tip 3: Prevent future incidents with greater visibility and insights.
With powerful analytics and reporting tools, teams have greater insight into risks and areas of improvement. This enables them to course-correct before it turns into costly rework. Unlike manual solutions, digital solutions provide greater visibility into project performance across teams and projects, enabling them to better forecast and avoid future missteps.
Build an Ethics-Based Culture
Ethics and safety go hand in hand. That’s why creating a safer workplace starts with building a culture focused on ethics. To do this, construction leaders must transform the way their teams value safety on the jobsite. Providing teams with the tools they need to easily document work, communicate, and predict future outcomes will not only boost your bottom line—it will also lead to a safer, more ethical workplace.
About the Author
Michelle Turner is the product marketing manager for Specialty Contractors at Procore. Over the past two years, Michelle has worked with the Preconstruction product team at Procore but recently pivoted her focus to launch Procore solutions aimed to drive success for Specialty Contractors. Procore is a leading provider of construction management software with a platform that connects every project stakeholder to solutions built specifically for the construction industry. To learn more about Procore and how you can help create a safer, more ethical job site, visit procore.com/asa.
