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

“If your plans don't include MOBILE, your plans are not finished”

The construction industry is one of the most important industries in the world, and it relies heavily on mobile technology.

Here are three ways that mobile technology is changing the construction industry:

1. Construction workers are using mobile devices to access blueprints and other project documentation.

2. GPS tracking systems are being used to track construction equipment and vehicles.

3. Mobile devices are being used to inspect construction sites and collect data.

Mobile technology has moved on at a breath-taking pace in the course of the last few years. Smartphones, tablets, and PCs 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 is everywhere you look these days. And it is no different on construction sites. It could be workers clocking in with a mobile time card, a foreman compiling a report using his smartphone, or a project manager keeping a check that a scheme is on time and budget using a tablet.

There are many ways for you to be using technology to make jobs simpler and more efficient. The struggle is working out exactly which digital solution will work for you if you are not already using it. Across every aspect of a construction project, there are now mobile applications to help. Be it pre-construction or scheduling, to project management, field reporting, and back-office jobs. All of these things can run more smoothly and efficiently, helped by mobile technology.

Nevertheless, there is still a lot of confusion around the issue of digital adoption. Therefore, one of the main questions that trouble the industry is whether they are really making the most of mobile technology. Most construction firms recognize how important it is to embed mobile technology into their business to improve productivity, but many are not there yet in terms of fulfilling that potential.

As a result, despite the fact that smartphones, tablets, and other mobile tech can all vastly assist in helping a project run smoothly there are still a lot of opportunities going to waste due to poor understanding with regard to the impact that digital solutions could have on the construction process.

Construction in numbers and the room for investment

It is no secret that the construction industry is currently battling against a number of problems. Poor on-field productivity, low margins, serious skills shortage, and absence of trust across the supply chain are some of the main pain points for the entire sector.

This problematic situation is also depicted in the stats that accompany the construction industry. As reported by McKinsey and Company, the total percentage of labor productivity growth in global construction hasn’t exceeded 1% on average during the last two decades. This number is very alarming if we consider that the average world economic growth is estimated at 2.8%. The same number for the manufacturing sector is 3.6%.

The main benefits of mobile technology for construction

Here are some of the biggest benefits of implementing mobile technology in the construction industry:

Better record-keeping

Firstly, and it is key, mobile technology should mean better record-keeping on a project. Using mobile technology means data collection can be done in real-time, transmitting information between the site and a project manager. Having cloud-based options means staff on-site can file timecards, daily reports, information requests, work records, and anything else important all through a mobile phone or a tablet.

Locking pen and paper out of construction

The beauty of this is that instead of somebody having to compile all this information it is instantly logged and filed using mobile technology. Eliminating paper from the equation means the chances of miscommunication, errors, and documents being lost are greatly reduced. A vast amount of time and manpower through data entry can be saved by using systems like this.

Whereas previously a project manager will have had to wait for all this information to be gathered and perhaps have to check that it is done properly, now they are immediately able to see the information they need to keep the project on time and budget. All this information can also be registered with date and timestamps, alongside GPS location data to make sure the data is authentic.

Bridging the gap between the field and the boardroom

Mobile technology effectively links the building site with the office. As soon as information is entered via a phone or tablet it will reach the office – which means that everyone is working with the same data.

A worker on-site can easily take a quick photo with their smartphone, build up a report, and send it off to be reviewed while they get on with another task. This not only speeds up the process but also again cuts the chances of mistakes being made.

The technology means a reduction in the number of trips that have been made to specific areas of the job site as, in theory, everything should be being logged. Of course, that does not go to say that a good old-fashioned traipse around a site and a quick catch-up with the workforce should be completely forgotten.

Efficiency combined with safety

However, mobile technology is not purely about apps and software on a tablet or smartphone. Data captured from drones, heavy machinery, smart hard hats are all able to use mobile tech to boost productivity and safety and improve a project’s efficiency and of course, digital solutions can also help with the safety of the workers.

As you can see there are many ways for you to be using technology to make jobs simpler and more efficient. The struggle is working out exactly which digital solution will work for you if you are not already using it.

The best way to start is by working out how your workforce already uses technology. Are mobile phones most common for them? Or tablets? Which particular apps are they already using and how are they using them?

This research is the key to deciding whether to spend money on a new system. But as you can see, if you get the right tech in place it can have a hugely positive impact on your projects.

By combining the strengths of the two tools, project teams and workers can benefit from having critical information available at their fingertips and being able to view tasks and coordinate easily, in real-time.

This allows those working on a project to instantly report progress, changes, and problems from their smartphone. It means that instant information is shareable for everyone on site. Moreover, users on the site can easily upload photos so problems can be understood straightaway. At the same time, office-based managers maintain full insight into progress and processes on the site, whilst creating a data foundation that enables them to make accurate decisions based on current information.