By Jessica Meno, Raken
On the jobsite, making sure your teams have the right tools and equipment ensures your workflows are constantly improving to make the job safer and more efficient. But when it comes to admin work, many supers and foremen shy away from change.
Here are five ways the right tech can help empower your teams and boost their morale.
1. They’ll do their jobs better (and faster)
Field management comes down to reporting, scheduling, and tracking manpower and materials. With so much to manage, it often becomes a resource drain to properly document everything. And when you add more jobsites into the mix, pen and paper—or a clunky, complex software—just won’t cut it.
Save your crews time and stress by giving them a tool they can use on the go. A tool that’s user-friendly, simple to onboard, and practical. That way, they can quickly compile reports, send them back to the office, and get home faster. No more scribbling after dark.
By giving your teams a way to be more efficient in their daily tasks, they’ll likely be more productive and able to focus on the job at hand—while still providing all the necessary documentation and updates the office requires.
2. They’ll feel like their opinions matter
It’s no secret that many workers think construction management software is complex. That’s because a lot of them are. Think of all-in-one solutions: They sound nice at first, but they usually have a whole host of extra features your field teams won’t even look at, meaning you won’t get all the data you need.
Collecting data is essential to your project and bottom line, so it needs to be easy to do for the right people. But most software is designed with the office in mind—and field reporting almost feels like an afterthought.
Equipping your crews with a product built for the field will do more than make their lives easier. Bringing them into the buying process for your field software ensures their voice is heard (and that they’ll actually use the tools you purchase). When they feel reassured that you’re looking out for their best interests, they’ll be more likely—even happy—to adopt new ways of working.
3. Communication will skyrocket
One of the main causes of delays? Poor communication. Without a direct line of communication to the field, the office is left chasing down missing reports, missing project updates, etc. With the right tech, employees out on the jobsite can instantly send updates to the office.
Making it easy for the field to document all the crucial information in a timely manner can help keep projects on track. Your crews will feel empowered to share everything that goes on at the jobsite—especially if it’s as simple as snapping a photo, adding notes, and sending it in with their dailies. This means better project visibility and internal collaboration.
Reports are more accurate, crews finish work sooner. Everyone’s happy.
4. They’ll be motivated to raise the quality bar
By making communication to the office easier, those in the field can focus on doing their best work. They can finish paperwork and documentation faster, while making sure projects are on schedule and productive.
When it’s easier to see who does what (and when), it’s also easier to recognize employees for their hard work. Small tokens of appreciation for people can make a huge difference in morale and motivation. Your teams will see that their contributions matter—and be encouraged to meet or exceed standards for every project.
5. They can help focus on the bigger picture
Less paperwork means more time to think about the future. At the end of the day—whether in the field or the office—everyone is working toward the same goal.
By giving employees a space to express concerns and make suggestions, they can continue working with a sense of purpose. Encouraging those in the field to use their voices (and giving them a place to make notes or suggestions) makes them feel included. They’ll likely be more willing to offer feedback on how to improve, too. You’ll not only build trust throughout the company—you’ll also build leaders.
Where does Raken fit in?
Raken’s goal is simple: to help construction companies run more efficient projects. And that starts with better communication. Our field app makes it easy for field teams to complete daily reports, attach photos, and send them back to the office. No training (or paperwork) required. That way you’ll know what’s happening on every site, all from one place. More project visibility means you can make better, faster decisions to increase profits. Choosing a tool like Raken that’s easy to use helps empower your employees and encourage them to continue to grow, both professionally and personally.
About the Author
Jessica Meno is a writer for Raken, the cloud-based software that was built to connect the field to the office. Raken helps boost productivity and safety by streamlining workflow processes such as daily reporting, time cards, production tracking, and safety management. Try Raken free for 15 days.
