Construction businesses that are most vulnerable during times of economic uncertainty are those that are slow to react. Often paper-based processes for communicating crucial information between the office and the field necessitates face to face interactions. This further delays sub and self-perform contractors ability to concentrate on building as they become bogged down on manual processes and admin. The time is now to implement digital systems that can make your business more efficient and allow you to control operations remotely. Here are the top 7 cloud-based tools to help you stay connected and keep building.
Slack
Slack is an instant messaging platform that allows you to keep organised without the long email thread that usually gets lost within your stuffed inbox. Slack is the smart alternative to email as it allows you to form channels where a collective group can exchange important conversations in an easily searchable archive. Such as project-westconnex, crew-artc, safety-team or supervisors.
Zoom
Zoom is a remote conferencing tool that combines video conferencing, online meetings, chat, and mobile collaboration. If you are missing the face to face interaction whilst you are working remotely, zoom’s video conference tool creates a digital space for such an interaction. This is particularly helpful for widely distributed teams from metro to rural areas. Don’t be restricted by geography, host your weekly or monthly management meeting with ease across different regions.
Trello
Trello is a web-based Kanban-style list-making application. This collaboration tool organises your projects into boards. In one glance, you can see what’s being worked on, who’s working on what, and where something is in a process. Imagine a whiteboard, filled with lists of sticky notes, with each note as a task for you and your team. Now imagine that you can take that whiteboard anywhere you go on your smartphone and can access it from any computer through the web. That’s Trello!
Dropbox
Dropbox is a secure storage platform that allows you to share documents, photos and videos, and access files stored on any of your computers or mobile devices. For example sharing site plans, safe work method statements (SWMS) or photos of a hazard on the job with the team instead of the common paper-based job pack.
PlanGrid
PlanGrid is a mobile construction management software that gives builders real-time access to blueprints, punch lists, daily reports and submittals. PlanGrid allows you to instantly distribute plans and documents that are automatically hyperlinked, versioned in order, and easily searchable with full sheet search.
MYOB
Myob is an online accounting software for small businesses that allows you to ditch paper. Sort expenses, upload receipts from your phone and match them to your bank transactions for easy reporting and invoicing. Myob provides a single touch payroll solution and helps you understand your financial data at a glance.
Assignar
Assignar is a construction operations software for sub and self-perform contractors. It allows you to schedule crews, equipment, improve safety and monitor progress. It’s mobile app, allows your workers to send through digital timesheets, SWMS, machine pre-starts and client signed digital dockets to the office in real-time. With all submissions geo-located and time-stamped, Assignar’s audit trail protects your business during insurance claims or from visits from Work Health and Safety regulators.
Take the digital video tour to learn more about operational software
Now more than ever it is paramount that construction businesses stay connected, implement efficient business processes and harness technology to manage a widespread team with strained resources. Implementing cloud-based tools allows your teams and crews to not be constrained by their regional distribution or have to go to the depot or office on a regular basis to exchange information or catch up. Implementing any of these digital solutions enables your business to reap the benefits of cloud-based connectivity, allowing you to build more.
