Setting Your Construction Project Data Structure

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When working on construction projects, it is very important to collaborate in real time with all parties involved and have access to information that pertains to each segment of the project. Making sure data is available and selecting the correct platform and project data structure is also crucial. Access to construction items such as architectural drawings, project management schedules, budgets, work schedules and so forth ensures that your various construction projects run smoothly. Being able to oversee and manage multiple projects at one time, that involve different teams with different schedules and different work duties require very efficient collaborative project management software system. It will also allow construction management team members to stay informed of every aspect of your project.

Choosing a Good Construction Project Management System

A good construction project management software should consist of areas that combine multiple components into one package. It should meet the needs of all team players, no matter if they’re working on the site location or from the construction office.

When choosing a good construction project management system, it should also provide information such as the following:

  • Updates in Real Time
  • Instant Sharing Capability
  • Drawing Access, Markup, and Sign Off Capability

Additionally architectural project management software should be integrated into the overall management of construction projects as well. It should enable architects, engineers, geological surveyors and other affiliated professionals to stay plug into all aspects of the projects as well.

Construction collaboration software has become a very useful technology across a variety of mediums on a nationwide basis.  It contributes to the construction efforts in multiple ways by streamlining information and making it available in real time for its users to access at any time.

The engineering-based information that is integrated with the construction infrastructure also consist of risk reduction components, safety components and it promotes overall construction efficiency on the job site.

Professionals That Benefit from Improved  Construction Collaboration Management

Many key professionals have come to realize the importance of sharing critical information at a moment’s notice among multiple levels of disciplines. It not only enhances the communication between contractors and subcontractors on the physical construction job site, but it also allows other key parties to interact in a professional and timely manner. Professionals that benefit from construction management collaboration software consist of the following:

  • Facility managers
  • Commercial developers
  • Energy and research managers
  • Project managers
  • Real Estate Developers
  • Lead Contractors
  • Sub-Contractors and more

All members of the supply chain can benefit from this great software program as well -as it relates to making purchases of materials which is very important in the construction industry.  The materials aspect of the process alone requires an awful lot of oversight since all material must be order to the correct specifications.

Basically, the web-based construction management program also creates greater organization and streamlines each part of the overall process of the construction system.  It’s a must-have for companies that want to remain competitive in today’s market.

Keep your entire team on the cutting-edge with the construction project management tools from FASTTAC. Our documentation management software makes accessing, storing and updating your project’s information a breeze, providing the entire team with real-time updates to keep your project moving forward and improve productivity. When it comes to your construction project, time is money. Make sure your team stays on the same page and works to build your bottom line with help from FASTTAC.

Tracking Work Progress Through Construction Management Technology

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Few industries benefit from integration as much as the construction industry. The presence of project managers and superintendents is imperative to the success of a project, despite the fact that their presence is often required at meetings in field offices and other locations to provide for the needs of the onsite contractors and the job itself. If you had to describe the utility of construction management technology in one short sentence, it could be that they “surpass geographical limitations.”

Construction Apps as a Portable Solution

It is this aforementioned difficulty in directly observing the day-to-day progress of the project that makes project management apps so useful in keeping all contractors in the loop. Construction apps are capable of bridging the remote duties of every component of the project, allowing owners, project managers, onsite contractors and any involved design firms to keep abreast of the progress with just a username, password and mobile device. The app increases efficiency, productivity, customer satisfaction and profits.

“Blueprint” Software

This is very much an addendum to the benefits offered by construction apps – even if it wasn’t specifically intended for that purpose by creators. “Blueprint” software, or as it is now know as digital information software, is a time-management solution that uses access to current information to accelerate project completion, without compromising the results. It’s a collaboration tool that makes sure the development team and the business teams are on the same page; since, ultimately, they both have the same goal.

Software is pervasive throughout almost every aspect of the business as a whole, which means that it also provides a centralized location for a project manager to view the pertinent metrics at a glance.

Cloud-Based Capabilities

Centralization has so many benefits; it’s not hard to see why companies are clamoring to get on the cloud for as many applications as feasible. Large companies are especially in jeopardy of running over budget and maintaining the original time projections for team-oriented projects, because of the many parts that must come together to work in harmony.

Project managers can appreciate the wholesale solutions that cloud-based construction apps bring; they allow you to keep track of and mark off progress and action items, participate in drawing markup software with the technicians, and give owners immediate access to construction documentation to gauge just how far their budget is being stretched. This is a huge change from how construction management used to work, where the bulk of the system was on-site, and mobile devices were nonexistent. It is the ubiquity of tablets and mobile devices that have paved the way to greater (and far more efficient) collaboration.

Analytics Through Cloud-Based Solutions

Lastly, you can derive a lot of data from cloud-based solutions, which is immediately shareable with project heads and owners. Metrics such as the amount of time spent per project and the productivity per employee can help reduce costs. They can also help you make judgments such as less overtime and more employees, or vice versa – whichever one makes more financial sense. These benefits just scratch the tip of the iceberg, and the growing number of cloud-based management apps and users is a testament to their efficacy.  Selecting the right combination will ensure the success of your project.

To help with this selection and keep your team in sync every step of the way on your project with help from FASTTAC. Our revolutionary construction documentation software grants the entire team accelerated access to all the latestdocumentation, markups and workflows to remove communication problems and build worksite productivity. Request a live demo of our construction management software today, and say goodbye to your old drawings and documents with help from FASTTAC.

5 Features to Look for When Choosing Construction Management Software

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The infusion of technology and business in the modern era has reached new heights and is being utilized in a diverse range of businesses. In the construction industry in particular, where collaboration is imperative to success, construction project software is making waves as more managers become apprised of its benefits. It’s led the way to greater efficiency in team projects, and greater transparency between contractors and owners.

Who Can Use Construction Project Management Software?

The short answer is – everyone. From general and specialty contractors, engineering firms and owners, to construction management firms and the onsite employees, the right construction project software is easily robust enough to handle the load. A username and password is all that is required to open up the details of the job to any allowed party; you can gauge the project progress and the efficiency of the current team.

Some construction apps even allow you an around-the-clock viewpoint of the job site. Blueprints, technical drawings, construction amendments – all of these can be rendered with drawing markup software available in the app. It’s about as efficient as putting everyone in the exact same field office – but it’s definitely more convenient.

The Most Useful Attributes of Construction Project Software

Indeed, the attribute that represents the most telling departure from the limitations of the past is the collaborative aspect.Construction project management software changes effectively bring everyone involved into the same room, where real-time information is conveyed simultaneously to all parties – or at their convenience.

Given that it’s on an iPad or tablet device, anyone can be keyed in at a moment’s notice, and there’s an adequate amount of customer support available to help you maximize the software’s capability. Some of the other attributes that make the software an attractive replacement to the old way of doing things are:

1.Security

Make no mistake about the level of commitment to security harbored by construction project software. The engineers realize that the important data that constitutes the core of your business network must be secure and the app have a host of measures to ward off cyber-attacks, technical issues or loss of this valuable data. In fact, the tenets of business continuity must be fully integrated into the software, so that your data is safe even in the event of a breach on your end.

2.Ease-Of-Use

Ease-of-use is a highly-regarded attribute; much of the software is intuitive, as a lot of consideration is paid towards perfecting the user interface. Besides, customer support must almost always available to help you maximize the potential of your software and overcome obstacles you may encounter.

3.Boosts Productivity & Efficiency

Construction project management software can save loads of time. Everything from team collaboration, to the decision-making process between owners, clients and contractors transpires in as little time as feasible, because of the connectivity.

4.Real-Time Updates

The collaborative aspects of construction project management software must be bolstered by the ability to sync changes and suggest alternatives in real-time, making it possible to receives updates to a project when the team is logged in. Add markups and make other amendments even as you receive feedback from the onsite workers.

5.Easy Navigation

The software is easily able to allow navigation between the different levels of a building via plan drawings moving from trade to trade effortlessly. This advanced technology tends to increase the accuracy of the finished product to the drawings.

With this type of software, optimized collaboration is what you should be after. It’s all about getting teams to work together in the most efficient capacity possible, with the ultimate goals of improved productivity and, ultimately, increased profits and customer satisfaction.

Start changing the way your crew stays connected and on the same page with help from FASTTAC. Our state-of-the-art construction documentation software offers accelerated access to every member of your team, helping streamline collaboration to keep everyone on the same page with the latest documents, markups and on-the-job updates. Request a live demo of FASTTAC’s software today, and let us help you start transforming the way your team stays connected.

The Importance of Communication & Real-Time Collaboration on the Worksite

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Constant communication and collaboration are very important elements to the overall success of any construction worksite.This is true for a variety of reasons, including for safety reasons, to enhanced business practices, to increase efficiency and productivity, to make more effective use of construction equipment and just better overall collaboration between all parties involved.

How Construction Communication Software Increases Performance and Productivity

Real-time collaboration on construction worksites is exceptionally important because it keeps all workers and other interested parties in sync with the day-to-day activities that take place both on the site and in the office.

Effective project management can not only help save time and money, but it helps you stay on course and within your budgetary limitations. Daily accounting reports can be created to ensure that managers are aware of what they’re spending at all times. Additionally, a good project management software can help the entire team collaborate with each other and streamline the communication between team members – regardless of what location they may be working at throughout the country.

Channeling the Power of the Cloud to Improve Collaboration

Cloud-based construction management software will ensure that there is a more effective channel of communication among workers. It provides a host of benefits to the job site information management process by:

  • Increases the distribution of resources, ensuring the right tool is always in the right place
  • Keeps clients in the loop, leading to fewer misunderstandings in construction management
  • Improves interactions between the suppliers, vendors and all levels of management
  • Provides accelerated access to key documents with real-time markups to keep everyone on the same page.

Online construction management software also reduces meeting times tremendously.  Imagine needing to call a meeting or make an announcement at a moment’s notice – it could take quite some time to provide such an alert in real time or gather up all parties involved with a short notice.

Construction collaboration software can address these sort of issues and more.  It now has the tools that make it easier to achieve such a goal.  Good construction collaboration software allows managers and workers to use mobile devices to streamline the process as well.  Not only can managers communicate directly with their staff and sub-contractors, but they can obtain the information needed to update and submit professional reports, collaborate on sub-tasks and delegate assignments, provide updates and changes on to jobs relatively quickly.

Maintaining a Competitive Edge

Cloud-based construction management software is critical to remain competitive in the construction industry.  It basicallyadds value to the overall IT Networking Infrastructure for the construction industry and provides your company with a competitive edge.

Provide your team with the features you want and the functionality you need no matter where they may be with the cloud-based construction management software from FASTTAC. Our construction project collaboration software is revolutionizing the way drawings and documents are distributed on the job, streamlining communication and building collaboration regardless of where your team may be. Contact us today to request your free demo of our construction software, and start building a better bottom line for your company

Project Management on the Move with iPad Construction Apps

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In business as in life, organization is the name of the game. With so many tasks to complete during the course of an average day – and many more as a particular deadline approaches – keeping an account of them is the first step to actually accomplishing these task. Project management software has taken off these days, because of their ability to sync information between team members in real time, as well as their particular utility in construction-oriented jobs.

Construction Apps Make Collaboration a Breeze

On a construction site, there are a million things to do – and different people handle fractions of the collective task. There are construction apps for the iPad that allow large-scale collaboration on such projects, from onsite workers, to offsite project managers viewing specifications and drawings at the same time. The utility of status updates and timelines are fully realized with the emergence of these apps, where only a username and password is required to log in and contribute.

Naturally, the tendency to stay consistently on schedule is a by-product of using construction apps. As the quintessential project management software, the project manager can gauge onsite progress, then amend individual task completion dates as he sees fit. Indeed; he can alert the client of the changes well in advance, and connect with the onsite team leader via the app to show the client the benefits/necessity of adjusting a milestone or deadline. Or, for hard-and-fast terminal dates, everyone involved in the project is aided by the collaborative time management features of the software. In sum – it increases productivity and helps you stay on schedule.

Project Engagement and Punch Lists

A natural byproduct of the enabling abilities of a construction information app is the ability to keep track of the project. You can be alerted vital changes as the project progresses, or notified of the completion of specific tasks by the onsite team leader as they are finished. The collaborative nature of the app then eliminates cross-talk between different parts of the team, since they all have access to the app and everyone is updated at the same time. Essentially, construction apps optimize efficiency – which leads to better results, lower costs and has benefits for your reputation.

Keeping Clients In the Loop

This crucial aspect was touched on a bit earlier, but bears mentioning again. In the past, it would have been unwieldy trying to appraise a client of everything going on mid-project; for example, what if you needed more time for a task to improve upon an expected result? Trying to explain this looked unprofessional, and had an adverse effect on your reputation.

With many of these construction apps for iPad, you can keep the client in the loop throughout the project – without drowning them in the details. Their ability to access project data files explains to them more completely than you ever could, the benefits of adjusting milestones or approving funds for better outcomes.  It never has to be complicated, especially when the right app can simply provide a simple issue identification and resolution for reference.

Project management software is the collaborative app of the future, and it’s already here. Make sure your organization isn’tleft behind with help from FASTTAC. Our construction project collaboration software ensures that everyone on your team – from contractors to clients – is on the same page all project long.  Make sure your construction management works at maximum efficiency from start to finish with help from FASTTAC.

Measuring Your Construction Project Management Efficiency

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Regardless of the size of the construction project, contractors and project managers alike must take a proactive approach to measuring and managing their efficiency. Managing your project properly is not only essential for keeping your clients happy, but is also essential for staying on budget—and for breaking ground on your next project in a timely manner. Turn to the tips below to measure the efficiency of your current and future projects.

Create a Plan of Action with Clearly Defined Benchmarks

First and foremost, you must create a plan of action that includes a detailed workflow. Within your plan of action, you will need to set measurable benchmarks – supported by daily, weekly and monthly goals. You will need to identify the KPIs that will help to determine your progress, and as the inevitable roadblocks arise – you will need to modify your plan of action as needed. Project document management software will help you to create an organized workflow, which is also easy to share with your team. It will even help you to determine areas of opportunity. While every construction project will need to be adjusted and revised along the way, you must have an initial plan to work from – and modify this plan as needed.

Turn to Software for Real-Time Updates

Project document software will not only help you stay organized, but investing in iPad construction apps allows your team to access real-time updates throughout your project. The construction collaboration software is intuitive and easy enough for your non-technologically savvy members to update. This way you can manage your project remotely, or see the progress of multiple projects at once. This will also help you to identify areas where you can scale back to cut more costs along the way.

Provide Clear, Concise and Timely Communication

Another benefit to construction collaboration software, is that it allows you the ability to identify bottlenecks and other areas of opportunity sooner rather than later. This allows you the ability to provide timely communication. However, you must master the art of providing clear and concise communication. Do this with a combination of verbal communication and electronic communication. Don’t forget to encourage your team to ask questions, and provide feedback so that you can adjust your plan as needed.

Walkthrough Daily or Weekly to Assess Progress Firsthand

As helpful as your project document management software and iPad construction apps may be, there is nothing that can replace a live walkthrough. Depending on the scope and scale of your construction project—this will need to be completed twice daily, daily or at less active projects a weekly basis. This will help you to determine any project-specific challenges, as well provide you with invaluable insight that you can turn to for the remainder of your current project—as well as insight that often transfers to your future projects.

Managing the efficiency of your construction project is not only essential for the success of your project, but is required for further developing your project management skills. The reoccurring theme, is that you must stay one step ahead at all times—and construction collaboration software will be one of your greatest assets in achieving this goal.

When it comes to construction, time is money. Don’t let poor communication derail your project and reinvent the way your team stays on the same page with the construction documentation software from FASTTAC. Our cutting edge project management technology transcends the traditional workflow to help streamline communication and accelerate access to up-to-the-second information. Learn more about how FASTTAC’s construction documentation software can take your business to the next level and request your free demo today!

The One Year Hurdle For All New Facilities

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Some of the biggest challenges today in the facility maintenance arena are the availability of critical information and how to access it.  Once a construction project is completed, the facility information is turned over from the building team to the maintenance team.  There are  many forms that information is both submitted and received such as paper, notebooks, binders, clip boards, drawing racks, rolls of drawings, FTP sites, CDs and DVDs, CAD files, BIM Models, PDFs and the list goes on and on.  The most critical element of the information turnover comes down to, “…can the information in its current format be utilized by the rank and file maintenance technicians and workers?”

There are other impediments to the utilization of this information.  The first hurdle is the typical “one year” standard warranty for construction work.  After the training is completed and the information is turned over, the facilities staff will spend a lot of time in that first year making warranty and guarantee calls.  The information obtained at turnover is now one year old.  Chances are the facility will only have PMs completed for the first five years of operations since unscheduled maintenance only begins as the facility ages.  That turn over information is now several years out of date.

In the sixth year of operation, the facility is now beginning to experience unscheduled maintenance or “emergency calls” to replace worn or broken parts.  This is the time that the organized information kept current during the “honeymoon” period of the facility occupancy comes in handy.  Studies at USC which captured the time of the average work order takes 6 hours to complete with nearly 2 hours being spent trying to find information about the subject of that work order.

Facility information for maintenance (scheduled and unscheduled) is a long term effort, the longer it is invested in, the more it returns…the only thing to ask now is…how much does it have to cost?  Well, you don’t have to spend a lot to obtain “a lot more” in benefit!  Careful understanding of your staff and how the information that is turned over to you is going to be accessed makes all the difference in how accessible it is and how much it will cost you.