Construction is a complex science that requires careful and precise planning, which traditionally has led to a series of administrative meetings with team members. The combination of holding regular meetings, creating progress reports, and drafting other documentation adds up to a large amount of time and energy.
Here are ways to reduce admin work in construction:
Reducing Wasted Time
The first step to reducing endless meetings in construction is to identify the time and effort that goes to waste in terms of return on investment. It’s typical for a stakeholder to spend well over a third to nearly half of their business time on reports and meetings. However, this work pattern is merely a long-accepted traditional norm, as streamlining any process has wide possibilities.
You can reduce meetings for the sake of meetings in numerous ways. Holding occasional in-person meetings can still be part of an efficient plan, but they should deliver valuable substance for all members. Meanwhile, thorough project documentation – including the latest updates – should be available to team members in real-time through digital means.
The consequences of too much emphasis on administrative procedures can lead to wasted time and money. For construction workers, the actual work is the productive and rewarding part, not so much all the time spent in meetings.
Just like in other industries, the worker feels a sense of self-accomplishment once a project is completed. Work and endless meetings can lower worker enthusiasm. Greater productivity and quality is usually achieved with an extra push from an inspired work crew. Making them attend boring meetings can diminish the focus on project goals.
Modern Transformation
At some point, every construction company and firm contracting with them must rethink business processes to fit the times. The current trend toward fewer silos and more collaboration is gaining steam with the adoption of digital solutions such as cloud computing. The more team members are connected through a private cloud, the less they need to meet at a physical location.
In the pandemic period or other times of widespread crisis that calls for social distancing, digital communication in real-time has many benefits. Developing a private social network is a solution that keeps all stakeholders updated. Through this network, members can share PDFs that answer their questions, along with work schedules, pictures, and specifications.
From a legal perspective, stakeholders are more likely to misunderstand a project’s direction by attending meetings rather than receiving important documentation through digital methods such as email. Siloed information can also lead to misunderstandings and legal disputes. So the solution is giving all the team members digital access to relevant details of the project.
If workers don’t have access to real-time information, it can lead to further misunderstandings about the project. Once again, digital communication is the solution. But the stakeholders must not forget someone needs to manage the central database to ensure no outdated information leads to incorrect conclusions or blame on an individual.
More Efficient Administrative Processes
All individuals involved in the construction project should strive to simplify solutions and overcome the problems responsible for slowing down work. A project manager, for example, needs to either take the initiative or hire someone to ensure all documentation is relevant, accurate, and up-to-date. Once all team members have access to all relevant work project information whenever they need it, the project can get underway faster.
The best work environment for a construction project involves a team of players who have real-time digital access to whatever information they need at the worksite. When you reduce admin work in construction, it helps meet deadlines and cut costs. Tell us about your construction needs when you contact an expert at Proforma Construction. We’ll help you complete your construction projects on schedule.