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For a while now, the construction industry has been considered a ‘late adopter’ of technology. Some would say this is due to the traditional behaviours within the industry, while others believe that vendors are yet to truly deliver on user needs.
In any case, the online technological world has crept up on the construction industry, and it has now reached a tipping point in terms of where its productivity sits alongside other industries.
Team members are now expected to stay up-to-date via email and instant messaging services. Documents are increasingly managed on the go using hand-held devices. For industry-specific workflows (like RFIs), the traditional paper trail is shifting to online communication.
With this in mind, there is a certain level of importance that needs to be placed on choosing and rolling out software across the business. That’s the challenge when hunting for software – you need to find a tool with the right features, while at the same time receiving buy-in from all staff. Equally, the business needs to know that the software is fulfilling its purpose, and that it has a positive impact on productivity and performance.
Having a framework to help map out this process can be beneficial to ensuring that you’re on the right track. Consider the importance of making sure you have clear goals, so that the software’s performance can be evaluated once rolled out. In addition, identifying the features that are a basic requirement compared to those that could set software vendors apart in truly being able to provide an enriched user experience is key.
This is vital in construction. It’s easy to accept traditional processes as a way of life; as the old adage goes, ‘that’s the way we’ve always done it’. But keeping an open mind by considering new processes and workflows provides the opportunity to save hours of work on each project.
In addition, accepting the initial upfront effort for ensuring that the technology adheres to the business’ needs is going to be more beneficial in the long run than continuing to use outdated, traditional methods.
Download your free copy of the Construction Project Management Software Buyer’s Guide to access a comprehensive overview of today’s construction project management software offerings, as well as buying criteria to help you select the best solution for your business.
Visit procore.com/en-au for more information, or contact Procore Technologies Inc on 1800 431 456, or email team-anz@procore.com.