Mobile Tech
Mobile Tech

Mobile Technology Innovatively Reshaping the Construction Industry

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In terms of technological advances, recognizing and determining which emerging options can able to bring value and profit to the business is necessary. The chosen emerging technologies can absolutely be a vital key for the future position of the company in the industry and in the market. Like any other industry today, the construction industry is never an exception to this rule. Focusing on the existing advancements and other related technologies that could improve productivity is the very goal now that there are constant changes and recurring challenges happening in the industry whether high competitions, shortage of laborers, and tight margins.

Good thing that mobile technology has introduced to the market and eventually right now it has become the number one technological trend. The demands for mobility have been rapidly increasing due to the growing need for real-time details and information and the increasing workforce at the workplace.

Evidently and true enough, mobile technology tends to reshape and innovatively transform the construction industry today. Take a closer look at several major areas where technology has a huge impact in providing changes and improvements in the construction industry.

  1. Communication is improved

It is already known that the construction site is a fast-moving type of place. Expect that there are numerous construction crew and professionals involved with a lot of things to say and to update. The exchange of communication is necessary. However, at one point in time, a struggle to communicate and get by has kept on happening. However, with mobile devices, real-time communication has allowed the team and crew to efficiently update and communicate with one another via chat applications and the best construction management software tool.

  1. Reports are more precise

Aside from mobile phones where one can easily download applications, tablets are also considered a useful tool today. Any contractors who will be using tablets can have the ability to easily create reports which can guarantee much more precise and accurate details. The workers or anyone who is assigned to creating the reports can absolutely improve it by putting other helpful resources such as pictures and even videos.

  1. Project Management is enhanced

The majority of construction professionals these days have already used mobile devices when it comes to managing construction projects via mobile apps. Mobile devices such as phones and tablets are the most preferred tool today. With the use of these smart devices, the crew can able to record everything and store information and other important details associated with the project. Uploading the files can also be done in order to corporate and improve the document management system. In a practical way, all members of the construction team can be on the same page and can able to access the stored information if given the authentication. As soon as information is being directly entered via the mobile app, it automatically updates the selected stored data across all associated functions and departments.

Using a construction project management software tool such as Pro Crew Schedule, it can guarantee a one-click management for all project’s tasks, documents, participating crew members, and all related resources. This cloud-based scheduling software is accessible at any time and in any place and a corresponding app is also available and can help you stay on the track giving you constant updates. Make sure to request a demo today.

  1. Real-Time Analytics 

Long gone already the days when reports were only created right after the daily tasks have finished. Today, business intelligence with big and enormous data has finally involved in the construction industry. Project managers can now easily manage all data and information and at the same time track the performance of the team, overall project costs, and on-site conditions using the available real-time reporting features and tools available in their tablets and mobile phones. 

Scheduling app can be downloaded and accessed anytime and anywhere. This application can ultimately help project managers to basically schedule all tasks, organized everything, and at the same time manage the crew and other involved workers. Anyone can also see the latest information updates real-time.

  1. Boost Productivity and Efficiency

The goal has always been making projects and everyone involved in that particular project “productive”. Hence, reducing manual strategies and procedures should supposedly be the main goal too. Mobile technology can basically help increase the productivity and efficiency for every single one involved. When people are productive, the project seems to be easy and less complicated. Profits are clearer from this perspective. While the construction industry has faced many different issues, mobile technology on the other hand has played a crucial role in reducing larger costs being linked from too much wasted time and rejected processes. 

  1. Enhanced Field Functionality

In a much more practical sense and for real-world example, below are a few things that field professionals can able to do with much ease and efficiency using the trending mobile technologies.

  • Create and Review RFIs
  • View up-to-date files and documents (drawings)
  • Check and view submittals
  • List Project contacts
  • View day-to-day logs and recent items
  • Checking of the weather
  • Managing issues occurring from the field
  • Manage resources, tools, and equipment
  • Viewing and entering production information
  1. Lesser Errors at the Field

Basically, if errors are minimal while at the construction work, it means there will be lesser costs. Before, mistakes happen all the time in many areas back when people using were still using paper cards to list everything down. Even tracking down work hours of the crews and equipment used have been not accurate as well. Important documents and papers tend to be a subject of loss as well as missing equipment. Even several of the workers were misinformed most of the time. It is important to take note of how hours spent mean a lot because it corresponds to costs. 

Additionally, another issue such as reworks happen all the time and one of the major reasons why it still is occurring was because of the fact that there is a difficulty when it comes to sharing of information and data among all involved and participating crew and professionals within a construction project. 

If the construction project manager and the crews used mobile phones and downloaded the necessary apps, tracking labor hours, and currently used tools and equipment from the field is easy. Errors that can possibly lead to reworks can be greatly reduced. Indeed, mobile technologies have evidently become an effective solution for this by fixing a disjointed team to participate and collaborate productively in resolving issues.

Mobile Technology in the Construction Industry: The Rising Challenges

It’s also necessary to acknowledge the challenges being faced by the industry while implementing these mobile technologies. A few challenges are listed below that need to be acknowledged and addressed by the construction companies.

  • Wireless Communication

In the past decade, there has an enormous growth in the implementation and deployment of wireless communication advancements. A constant increase in data communication has been apparent. It is voice communication via mobile phones which considered as the primary item. Additionally, wireless LAN technologies have been widely used in the construction industry. However, the downside of using this and the others is it can be adversely affected by increasing levels of light. Wi-Fi network couldn’t perform the right way. That is why, the most preferable location is an open space. For sure, at the construction sites, there are a lot of open spaces available. It is also important to take notice of how the range has become profoundly related to transmission power and a few technical challenges have been linked with it which need to be addressed. 

  • Hardware

In relation to static elements, it has said to be that the mobile elements have been long considered as a resource-poor when it comes to size, weight, and also power. It doesn’t even come close to the compact laptops and personal desktops in terms of the mentioned factors and elements. Many basic issues have been complicating design and implementation. An open space is where the transmission of data happens. Hence, mobile communication tends to be vulnerable and extremely prone to a security violation. It is also believed that wireless connectivity has a strong unpredictability in terms of performance and reliability. There still constant research progress being conducted today yet the design and deployment of mobile computing systems are still an issue.

  • Privacy

When it comes to any technological tools and software, privacy is still and will remain an issue. Systems as well as mobile computing are still experiencing the same privacy issues. Pervasive computing is what makes it complicated even more. As the crew who happen to be the users keep on relying on this universal type of computing system, the system itself will acquire more knowledge in terms with the habits and behavioral pattern. If the used information and details will not be strictly and manageably controlled, it will be unsafe from blackmails and spam. Basically, this recurring confidentiality loss has discouraged users from using this type of computing system.

Key Takeaways

Mobile technology has proven its uses and advantages in many areas. Project managers are more capable of managing tasks efficiently. In addition to that, it definitely allows the team to work efficiently and have better team collaboration. The tablets and the smartphones can effectively turn into a working mobile office and can access anytime at anywhere. Today, this kind of advancements has been continuously expanding and influencing not limiting itself from tablets and mobile phones. Telematics data coming from drones and augmented reality are currently utilizing mobile technology which just proves that it is multifaceted.

On the other side, mobile apps are also revolutionizing the industry. In the most evident way, technology has become a firm influence on all areas of construction management. Therefore, being capable of adopting and embracing these new advancements will certainly keep the construction business improves and reach its ultimate goals.

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