Three Ways Technology Can Boost Communication On The Job Site

While building materials might stay mostly the same, the construction process has evolved over the last several years, largely due to the introduction of on-site mobile technology.

As schedules and budgets tighten, contractors have had to walk a tightrope between efficiency and completing a high-quality finished product. Punch lists, Excel spreadsheets and email have been replaced with centralized apps for transparent reporting, real-time updates and efficient task management. 

Here are three ways technology is changing job site logistics.

Transparent Reporting

When stakeholders hand over the project reins to the general contractor, they expect to be kept in the loop about progress and issues at all times. From developers and owners at the top of the chain to the subcontractors for each step of the process, tracking work and reporting on progress helps keep job site communication transparent. By using a smartphone app, project managers can compile a running list of data that can be analyzed and formatted into reports with the tap of a screen.

Construction apps can let managers know immediately when employees arrive on-site. That same technology can be used to track building materials, approve construction schedules, record issues and mark when work is complete, all within one app. The accumulated data could also provide insight into how a project is progressing and whether or not it will stay under budget.

Real-Time Updates

Communication is the linchpin of an efficient job site. Construction apps allow information to be tracked automatically without wasting time with manual inputs and multiple tools.

Mobile platforms can shift from typing on an office computer keyboard to taps on a smartphone, from anywhere on the job site. Project managers can update the punch list in real time and assign work to the correct subcontractor immediately. When workers are able to access and edit information on-site, they have the most up-to-date information available.

If a task needs to be scheduled immediately, like postponing work after a backlog on materials, project managers can be sure their subcontractors received the notice. The information is always there and always up-to-date.

Efficient Task Lists

Seamless delegation of tasks and sharing status updates between subcontractors and project managers can mean the difference between a property being finished on time and a project delayed and filled with unresolved problems.

Bridgit Closeout, available for both residential and commercial developments, allows project managers to sift through various projects, manage task lists and create reports by specific task types. The app creates a more efficient system for task management, quality control documentation and trade damage reports.

Property Markets Group, a premier real estate investment, development and general construction firm, used Bridgit Closeout to ensure its most recent project was the latest jewel in Miami's property inventory. 

At the Echo Brickell, a luxury residential high-rise in the epicenter of Miami’s downtown Brickell neighborhood, contractors Moriarty Construction used Bridgit Closeout to ensure PMG's project was the latest jewel in the Miami's inventory.

Echo Brickell not only features high-end amenities like a 2,800 SF fitness center, resort-style lounge services and a spa overlooking its pool, Biscayne Bay and Downtown Miami, but also incorporates technology among its luxe finishes and appliances. Residents have access to modern features like a smart iHome system and an automated parking system.

To maintain the level of quality while meeting deadline, PMG relied on Bridgit Closeout to track issues, delegate tasks and communicate effectively with team members. 

"Task management is just the beginning for our users," Bridgit co-founder Lauren Lake said. "They're also using Bridgit Closeout as a quality control tool for luxury developments with high-end finishes and appliances. Attention to detail is critical in these projects, and our software is helping them to make sure nothing is missed."

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