6 Types of Future Technology for Construction Professionals

6 Types of Future Technology for Construction Professionals

According to Deloitte’s 2021 engineering and construction industry outlook, 76 percent of engineering and construction executives indicated that they are planning to invest in digital technology this year. Investing in the latest construction technology is helping business owners facilitate digital transformations and stay a step ahead of the competition. Modernizing your current construction processes have real, practical applications and benefits. And if your construction company wants to maintain a competitive edge, you’ll need to find ways to integrate new approaches into your strategy and workflows. These cutting-edge technologies are drastically changing how the industry operates and how future projects will be completed.

Apps are becoming more of the norm in construction and for a good reason. The increased portability of tablets, smartphones, and other new technologies allows for greater communication between construction teams and the ability to work from anywhere. More specifically, data collection apps are helping construction companies gather faster, more accurate, and higher quality data from the jobsite. Integrating this type of technology into your current project management processes is simple. It equires a smaller upfront investment while still providing major benefits, including:

  • Significant time savings & reduced data entry errors. Data collection app users have reported more than 20 field and administrative hours saved each week, along with a 50 percent reduction in data entry errors. Helpful tip: Estimate your ROI potential by using our free online calculator.
  • Enhanced workflows. You can automate data collection workflows, so the submission of one form triggers another form to be sent, and so on, until a particular task is completed with all necessary sign-offs and collected data. Additionally, some data collection applications offer mobile forms and web forms apps so your team can submit forms on their smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops – basically any digital device.
  • Improved safety compliance. Data collection apps can facilitate everything from daily equipment inspections to near-miss reporting to a comprehensive job safety analysis.

Instant reporting. Whether you need daily job reports, quick turn-around on client deliverables, or fast access to legal documentation, a data collection app is going to help you streamline reporting. You can also easily customize reports based on your business needs.

Drones are the most widely used emerging construction technology. They can conduct site surveys more quickly and accurately than a crew on the ground and are cheaper than aerial imaging. Their high-resolution cameras and the data collected can create interactive 3D or topographical maps and models, and take volume measurements.Another benefit of using drones is the ability to inspect hard-to-reach places such as bridges or around tall buildings, and to do it safely. You can also use them to monitor progress on a job site and see how people work.

The use of BIM provides space for better collaboration because each person and expertise area can add their piece to the same model, instead of breaking out onto multiple versions of a 2D paper drawing. This way, the model evolves immediately as people contribute, streamlining the process and increasing efficiency. BIM also helps with problem-solving in the design and planning stages of a project, by automating clash detection and providing a more complete picture of the project. We’re seeing more and more global government initiatives to make BIM a compulsory procedure for large-scale facilities projects, including in India, Hong Kong, France, South Korea, Germany, and Italy. In the United Kingdom, BIM is already mandatory for government construction projects. According to Research and Market’s 2021 Building Information Modeling Market Report, emerging trends that will have a direct impact on the industry include AI development in BIM, increased demand for BIM-based cloud collaboration, and modular construction and prefabrication.

Virtual reality technology is often used in conjunction with BIM to help better understand complex projects. Think of the potential: you create a building design with BIM and then are able to use VR to actually walk around it. Pretty cool, right? This will give your team, or the client, an even more realistic idea of what the project will look like once completed. Having a more complete grasp on the project before it begins gives you the opportunity to avoid big changes and expensive change orders mid-way through. Wearables are a construction technology that is not only making a positive impact on safety, but also productivity. AsphaltPro published a recent article on the topic, reporting that wearable technology in the construction industry can increase productivity by 8.5 percent and workplace satisfaction by 3.5 percent. The article also highlighted some notable products on the market, including XOEye Smart Glasses, Spot-r Wearable Sensor, and Redpoint Positioning Safety. Vest Sensors

3D printing as a construction technology has the potential to change material sourcing. For prefabrication, materials for a project can be printed and then transported to the job site, ready for use immediately. This can allow you to get materials faster and streamline the process by removing extra steps in the middle.3D printing makes it possible to print materials right on site, reducing waste and further saving on transportation and storage costs. However, one of the current challenges with the adoption of this technology is limitations with mass production. Although some 3D printers can produce on a larger scale, they are expensive.

For years, artificial intelligence (AI) has provided benefits to construction projects through increased safety, improved workflows, and get jobs done faster and better. However, many construction companies continue to navigate and learn how to best apply this complex technology within their organization. Some larger firms have started to build out their own AI programs to help with internal decision-making processes and operations. While others are relying on third parties, such as AI advisors and solutions providers, to audit their current practices and identify opportunities for AI and/or machine learning implementation.

Investing in the latest construction technologies is undoubtedly a smart business move. The key is finding the tech tools to help you reach your company’s goals. As we mentioned earlier, onboarding a data collection app is a good place to start your digital transformation. At GoCanvas we provide a vast variety of templates to help you create the best project management apps for your construction site. Contact us today to learn more.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…

A man using GoCanvas for the digital transformation of his workflow.

Constructions Digital Transformation

Your competition is finding faster ways to capture data and get critical insights from the field into their existing systems. In short, they’re not going bigger, they’re getting smarter. In this 15-minute broadcast on the construction industry’s digital transformation, find out why the trend is to modernize workflows – and how you can stay ahead of the curve…

A electrician inspecting equipment.

See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas

VIP Lighting is a retail lighting and electrical maintenance business that services over 10,000 retail locations all over Australia and New Zealand. Before GoCanvas, VIP Lighting had two separate systems that were impossible to integrate, leading to inefficiencies. GoCanvas made it easy to integrate their systems into single, centralized platform…

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Top 11 Predictions about Future Construction Technology

Top 11 Predictions about Future Construction Technology

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As construction companies continue to combat labor shortages and push to separate themselves from the competition, they’ll need to consider future construction technology trends. To increase your productivity and remain competitive, explore how these innovative construction technologies will transform the industry in the years ahead.

AI can create tremendous value in construction. First, start with an extensive, high-quality database of past results and then develop machine learning processes to make predictions. Our favorite example is using AI to create new construction schedules by exploring thousands or millions of scenarios. Image recognition is another way to use AI in construction. You can use AI to analyze photos of materials on the job site and identify materials at risk, or watch for high-risk trends in worker behavior.

If you’re looking for AI to use right now, keep in mind that it may have a different name. Some companies prefer to use the term “machine learning” or “algorithms” to describe the same capability

The connected job site is already here. We predict that companies will work much harder to deploy this technology. Efforts to eliminate paper forms will pick up in 2020. As a result, construction companies will need to use digital forms to deliver information to others on the job site.By fully leveraging the connected job site, construction managers benefit in two ways. First, they receive higher-quality information from the site, without needing to travel every day. That means less wasted travel time and faster decision-making on changes. For employees, it means less frustration waiting for the head office to respond to them

Use Device Magic’s Enterprise Solution to bring the power of the connected job site to your team right now. This is a construction technology that’s ready for use right now and wouldn’t break the bank.

AR first became well known to the public through gaming and gadgets. However, AR is now coming to the construction site. Picture the following scenario: a construction worker wears Google Glass and receives updates on work.

For instance, AR can deliver relevant safety warnings when a worker becomes tired and needs rest. AR can also provide data such as temperature, pressure, and other data points when requested, so workers can proactively identify problems

Building owners want more analytics and IoT capabilities in their buildings. As a result, we predict that the construction industry will develop greater IoT expertise. Specifically, installing, testing, and improving network-connected sensors in buildings will become more popular. This will give building owners the capacity to manage heating, cooling, security, and energy usage more efficiently. In the short run, consider outsourcing IoT work to specialized firms. To stay competitive in the long-term, you’ll need to develop this capacity internally.

The days of building homes from scratch are coming to an end. Instead, we predict that modular construction will become more popular. This prediction is enabled by the increasing sophistication and affordability of 3D printers. Speed is another critical factor. In an age of same-day Amazon delivery, customer patience for long construction schedules is diminishing. How important is the modular construction niche? A 2018 market research report found that it’s already worth more than $100 billion annually. The category is also expected to grow at over 6% annually from 2018 to 2023.

Compared to our other predictions, this one is a bit more “out there.” However, these devices do exist, and there’s interesting potential. Just think about “wearable devices” writ large, and you have an exoskeleton. These devices help construction in two ways. First, they increase worker safety by reducing exposure to hazards on the job site (i.e., workers can avoid touching hazards directly). Second, construction workers can access increased strength.

In large-scale construction sites such as resorts, mines, and commercial properties, it’s difficult to get around efficiently. That’s why we’re going to see the rise of autonomous vehicles, also known as self-driving cars. Unlike self-driving cars on public roads, construction self-driving cars will become more popular because they have a smaller environment to operate in. Mining company Rio Tinto has already started using autonomous vehicles in some of its mines. Such vehicles are a good way to make the most of limited construction personnel. These vehicles are also an excellent way to increase efficiency since these vehicles don’t rest.

3D Printing is transforming the construction industry. Just a few years ago, this innovative technology was used to help design and construct two bridges. Now, construction companies all over the world are using 3D printing to help them complete projects like never before.

Traditionally, contractors could only make so many changes to a wood/plastic model before they had to create an entirely new model. Now, 3D printing makes it easy for contractors to adjust their plans without having to start over. 3D printing can also help to create curved designs, whereas plastic and wooden models are limited to straight lines. Even more fascinating, 3D printing is now being used to complete full-scale projects as well. Beyond modeling applications, builders can 3D print parts and components to be used in the actual construction of projects

Contractors and builders are more intentional than ever about using eco-friendly materials in their construction projects. Not every material marketed as “green” is actually eco-friendly, so builders and contractors need to know precisely what they’re using and how the products they choose impact their carbon footprint.

Instead of using new timber for a construction project and cutting down new trees, consider using salvaged or reclaimed wood that comes from trees that have already been cut down. The same concept applies to steel. Producing steel requires a lot of energy, but using recycled steel for a construction project can produce the same results while using significantly fewer resources.

Other ways to include eco-friendly materials in your next construction project include:

  • For Flooring: Bamboo, Cork, and salvaged wood planks are sustainable options for flooring. Linoleum, recycled rubber, and recycled tiles offer a unique aesthetic with a reduced carbon footprint as well.
  • For Paint: Paints that have either zero VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) or low-VOCs are what you should be looking for when sourcing eco-friendly construction materials. Natural, organic paints, and non-toxic stains and sealers are also a “greener” way to add color to a room.
  • For Walls & Ceiling: Recycled content drywall can go a long way to reduce waste. You can find drywall containing up to 80% recycled materials. When it comes to framing, look for lumber with an FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification as eco-friendly.

For Countertops: Consider using recycled glass or paper composite slabs for countertop finishing.

Robots are changing the construction industry by performing automated tasks quickly and safely. They are already used in a range of construction activities today, including brick laying, painting, loading, and more—and their use is sure to become even more prevalent in the future. The use of robots on a construction site protects workers from dangerous environments, reduces injuries, and can be used to complete work during labor shortages. While the construction industry will always require manual labor, innovative robotics technologies can help speed up the process, reduce delays, and improve productivity across many areas.

The construction industry is constantly changing and improving. New methods, materials, and technologies help builders and contractors do their jobs quicker, faster, and safer while simultaneously benefitting the consumer experience.

Some of the most innovative building materials that are transforming the construction industry include:

  • Self-healing concrete. This incredible concrete uses built-in sodium silica capsules that produce calcite to repair cracks. The “bio concrete” is mixed with a healing agent. Once the concrete cracks and water gets in, the healing agent dissolves and becomes active, filling in the cracks automatically!
  • Carbon nanotubes. Scientists have developed carbon tubes with a thickness of 1 nanometer (one-billionth of a meter). Boasting the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any material on Earth today, these nanotubes can be used in combination with a range of other materials to significantly enhance their durability and strength.
  • Transparent aluminum. Imagine a material with the strength and malleability of metal that features the transparency and allure of glass. That’s exactly what transparent aluminum provides. Contractors can use this futuristic material to build glassy structures with less support required than with traditional glass structures.
  • Aerogel insulation. Aerogel is among the least dense materials on the planet, only 15x heavier than air. It is a foam-like substance that features an extremely porous structure. That porousness makes it very difficult for heat to travel through it, so it has outstanding insulating properties—even double or triple that of fiberglass or foam insulation.
  • And more. There are new materials for construction being developed every day. The possibilities for the future are truly exciting!

Dive into the future of construction technology with GoCanvas. We will collaborate with your construction firm to create the best templates and apps for your construction process. Learn more about how to take advantage of these technological advancements by contacting us today

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…

A man using GoCanvas for the digital transformation of his workflow.

Constructions Digital Transformation

Your competition is finding faster ways to capture data and get critical insights from the field into their existing systems. In short, they’re not going bigger, they’re getting smarter. In this 15-minute broadcast on the construction industry’s digital transformation, find out why the trend is to modernize workflows – and how you can stay ahead of the curve…

A electrician inspecting equipment.

See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas

VIP Lighting is a retail lighting and electrical maintenance business that services over 10,000 retail locations all over Australia and New Zealand. Before GoCanvas, VIP Lighting had two separate systems that were impossible to integrate, leading to inefficiencies. GoCanvas made it easy to integrate their systems into single, centralized platform…

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

5 Essentials For Creating a Website for Your Construction Business

5 Essentials For Creating a Website for Your Construction Business

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As a construction business, having an up-to-date and informative website is key to attracting new customers and keeping your existing ones updated on your latest projects. But with so many things to consider, it can be tough to know where to start.

Here are the 5 essentials for creating your construction company website that will help set you up for success:

First impressions count, and your website is often potential customers’ first interaction with your business. Make sure your site is designed with your brand in mind, and that it reflects the quality of your work. Having an engaging homepage and service pages will help pull website visitors in. Pay attention to small details like fonts and images and consider functionality for a better user experience.

Digital marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) is important for any website, but it’s especially crucial for construction businesses. Make sure your site is designed with SEO in mind from the start to help enhance your online presence. Including key phrases related to your construction services and location will help lead new users to your landing pages.  This will help potential customers find you when they’re searching online.

A contact form is a must-have for any business website, and construction businesses are no exception. Include a form on your site so that potential customers can quickly get in touch with you. Be sure to include all the necessary fields, such as name, email, and phone number. And include any additional contact information for your company such as a primary email, address, and phone number.

Testimonials from past clients on previous construction projects are a great way to build trust with new potential customers. Include a few testimonials on your site and include the customer’s name and location.

Finally, don’t forget to showcase your work. Include a portfolio on your website so potential customers can see examples of your work. Be sure to include high-quality photos and detailed descriptions that can be shareable on social media.

The construction industry can be very competitive. If you keep these 5 essentials in mind, you’ll be well on your way to creating a website for your construction business that will attract new customers and help you grow your business. GoCanvas provides various templates to help you build a great website. Contact us today to learn more.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…

A man using GoCanvas for the digital transformation of his workflow.

Constructions Digital Transformation

Your competition is finding faster ways to capture data and get critical insights from the field into their existing systems. In short, they’re not going bigger, they’re getting smarter. In this 15-minute broadcast on the construction industry’s digital transformation, find out why the trend is to modernize workflows – and how you can stay ahead of the curve…

A electrician inspecting equipment.

See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas

VIP Lighting is a retail lighting and electrical maintenance business that services over 10,000 retail locations all over Australia and New Zealand. Before GoCanvas, VIP Lighting had two separate systems that were impossible to integrate, leading to inefficiencies. GoCanvas made it easy to integrate their systems into single, centralized platform…

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Construction Business Hacks That Reduce Paperwork: Google Forms

Construction Business Hacks That Reduce Paperwork: Google Forms

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The longer you’re in the construction business, the more you realize the need to reduce paperwork and digitize your forms. Otherwise, using paper forms increase the likelihood of paperwork errors, lost paperwork, and confusion among your staff and customers. 

Converting your paper forms into digital versions can save your construction company time, money, and a lot of frustration. If you’re ready to ditch the paper and go digital, this article is for you. 

Continue reading to learn how Google Forms and top-rated Google Forms alternatives can transform your construction company for the better. 

Google Forms allows you to transform, create and store customer forms in an organized manner. You can customize every form to fit the specific needs of your customers. The best part is since it’s stored in the cloud, you don’t have to worry about losing another form again. Further, any employee with access to your documents can make their own copies and make changes as necessary. 

Businesses operating in the construction industry must meet compliance requirements and keep strict documentation. With that in mind, digital forms can make compliance a breeze compared to paper forms. 

Google Forms and similar online templates allow your company to create, transform, and safely store: 

When working with paper documents, it can be a pain to adjust and customize the forms to fit customer-specific needs manually. With Google Forms and similar online resources, your customers can use personalized forms that speak directly to their needs. 

Further, dynamic fields allow your forms to change automatically depending on responses to each field. Customizations available with Google forms include: 

  • Background and theme customizations (i.e., colors, fonts, images, etc.)
  • Multiple choice, linear scale, and randomized questions 
  • Layout customizations 

Google Forms can be used for compliance, organization, space-saving, and more. However, one of the best features of form digitization is data collection. Imagine if you could calculate customer satisfaction rates, job costs, most in-demand services, etc., with the click of a button. 

How much would that help your business reach the next level? Regarding data collection and analysis, Google Forms doesn’t offer anywhere near the functionality and support of GoCanvas Construction Forms. 

However, it offers basic data collection features and add-ons that can be helpful for small construction businesses. 

Google Forms is one of the most widely used online form platforms, but that doesn’t make it the best. That’s because it doesn’t offer payment integrations, white label branding, advanced design customization, conditional logic questions, electronic signatures, etc.

If you need more robust solutions for your construction forms (i.e., integrations, powerful data collection, customization, dispatch capabilities, etc.), check out a few of the best Google Forms alternatives below. 

  1. GoCanvas Construction Forms GoCanvas Construction Forms offer the same capabilities as Google Forms but much more. In addition to basic features, GoCanvas Construction Forms offer countless construction templates, a user-friendly interface, app integrations, unrivaled support, and in-depth training. 
  1. Survey Monkey – If you’re looking for more advanced survey creation features, Survey Money is an excellent Google Forms alternative. However, a drawback of Survey Money is the cost compared to Google Forms and GoCanvas, and its focus on marketing (not construction). 
  1. Typeform – Typeform doesn’t offer the same functionality as apps like GoCanvas or Google Forms. However, if you’re looking for a simple form creation tool, Typeform has enough to deliver what you need on a limited scale. 
  1. Jotform – Jotform is another reputable Google Forms alternative. Similar to GoCanvas construction forms, it offers collaboration tools, workflow automation, version control, drag-and-drop features, payment integrations, and access controls. 

Learn how to simplify your tasks, increase efficiency, meet compliance requirements, and save money with GoCanvas below. 

At GoCanvas, we work hard to make life easier for you and your construction team. Our digital construction forms help your team better communicate and collaborate on project logistics, equipment needs, project management timelines, data collection, and more. 

Key features of GoCanvas Construction Forms include: 

  • E-signature and photo capture
  • Pre-populated forms and dynamic fields 
  • Automatic location identification 
  • Real-time job site data analysis 
  • GPS to know where your team and equipment are 
  • Barcode scanning 
  • Construction form templates with easy customization options 
  • Creation and conversion of inspections, estimate sheets, work orders, time cards, contracts, and more 
  • Integrations with popular construction apps 
  • User-friendly mobile forms for all devices  (i.e., iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, etc.)

Increase your efficiency and improve compliance with GoCanvas Construction templates and mobile apps. Try it today for free.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…

A man using GoCanvas for the digital transformation of his workflow.

Constructions Digital Transformation

Your competition is finding faster ways to capture data and get critical insights from the field into their existing systems. In short, they’re not going bigger, they’re getting smarter. In this 15-minute broadcast on the construction industry’s digital transformation, find out why the trend is to modernize workflows – and how you can stay ahead of the curve…

A electrician inspecting equipment.

See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas

VIP Lighting is a retail lighting and electrical maintenance business that services over 10,000 retail locations all over Australia and New Zealand. Before GoCanvas, VIP Lighting had two separate systems that were impossible to integrate, leading to inefficiencies. GoCanvas made it easy to integrate their systems into single, centralized platform…

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Manage Multiple Projects with Construction Management Software

Manage Multiple Projects with Construction Management Software

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As a construction business owner, your company may be responsible for managing several different projects simultaneously. Each project carries its own set of financials and resources that must be managed separately. 

Recent developments in software for construction management have greatly improved a stakeholder’s ability to remain profitable and keep a close eye on all of their projects. With insight into key areas of each project, owners are empowered to make important decisions in real time. 

In the financing stages of a construction project, you may be responsible for securing funding, managing bids, and forecasting budgets. Throughout the lifecycle of the project, your responsibilities shift too frequently in assessing profitability. Project owners may even be required to share monthly or quarterly project reports with investors.

Financial data for construction projects have historically lived in spreadsheets that make construction budgeting and finance tracking difficult. Construction management software removes the complexity of pulling actionable insights from financial data by organizing important information about each project in readable and shareable interfaces. 

Construction management software allows you to:

  • Review and track bids from multiple sources
  • Estimate your construction costs for every project
  • Share updated, highly-visual reports with key stakeholders

The software provides you with the oversight you need throughout the phases of each construction project. Incidentals and last-minute changes can carry major implications for construction budgets, making it crucial that you’re equipped with the real-time information you need to stay on track. 

Project risk increases once the work has begun. Construction safety becomes a number one priority the minute workers reach the job site. 

To increase accountability and minimize risk, compliance and safety management need to be streamlined. Project stakeholders require access to real-time safety reports to avoid costly, life-threatening mistakes. 

As a construction business owner, keeping an eye on the compliance and safety needs of each project can seem daunting. Collecting information from inspections, walkthroughs, and incident reports requires communicating with many subcontractors across the project. 

Construction project management software groups information for each project into a centralized dashboard. Forms, checklists, and compliance reports can be shared with specific groups of team members, allowing you to track completion in one location.

Centralizing required forms also allows project stakeholders to dispatch required documents straight to the mobile devices of team members in the field. Construction management software provides a level of oversight that holds everyone accountable at every moment.

You no longer need to chase subcontractors down to complete or deliver a form. 

Project statuses change daily. Effectively managing your workforce and resources across job sites makes it possible for you to adapt and pivot quickly. 

But manual processes used to collect the data necessary to make decisions create costly inefficiencies. Construction project management software allows your contractors to collect resource and workforce information about every construction project. 

Team leads can document team member performance and attendance in real-time, setting expectations that keep you efficient. Equipment can be evaluated daily using checklists that ensure everything is in working order. Plus, construction management software uses a cloud-based system that makes important job site data available to all project stakeholders at any time. 

Streamlining your resource management and staying on budget throughout each phase of construction becomes an attainable reality. 

GoCanvas makes managing every aspect of your construction projects incredibly easy. Our construction management software allows you to create an infinite amount of templates for any construction process. 

With our analytics tool, we aggregate document data across projects and instantly generate a branded report you can share with key stakeholders. Our integration feature allows you to connect outside sources of data such as Salesforce and Quickbooks so you can manage your information in one convenient dashboard.

We’ve helped over 5,000 companies save time and money by centralizing important processes and providing them with a single interface that makes project management simple. 

Reach out for a personalized demo to discover how we can increase the productivity of your construction business.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…

A man using GoCanvas for the digital transformation of his workflow.

Constructions Digital Transformation

Your competition is finding faster ways to capture data and get critical insights from the field into their existing systems. In short, they’re not going bigger, they’re getting smarter. In this 15-minute broadcast on the construction industry’s digital transformation, find out why the trend is to modernize workflows – and how you can stay ahead of the curve…

A electrician inspecting equipment.

See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas

VIP Lighting is a retail lighting and electrical maintenance business that services over 10,000 retail locations all over Australia and New Zealand. Before GoCanvas, VIP Lighting had two separate systems that were impossible to integrate, leading to inefficiencies. GoCanvas made it easy to integrate their systems into single, centralized platform…

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Streamlining Construction Compliance: How to Stay Safe, Legal, and Sane

Streamlining Construction Compliance: How to Stay Safe, Legal, and Sane

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Jobsites are regulated by strict compliance requirements that can delay a construction project for longer than anticipated. Preventing delays means being proactive about compliance at both the state and federal levels. But how do you manage the numerous steps required to ensure a jobsite is compliant while reducing wasted time? 

Gone are the days of clipboards and pens. Using technology to replace dated manual processes is the most efficient way to overcome compliance challenges. The most effective construction projects use project management software to track and correct compliance issues in real-time. Moving to a digital process can streamline your compliance process and drastically increase the productivity of your project. 

Let’s look at 3 challenging steps in the compliance process that improves with a digital approach. 

1. Standardize Compliance Documentation

Subcontractors are responsible for ensuring compliance daily. They collect a lot of data from various areas of a jobsite with multiple forms. Common compliance processes can include incident reporting, safety checklists, property inspections, and quality control inspections. 

Manually creating or locating compliance forms makes it difficult to guarantee the right information is being collected on time. Construction management software allows you to easily create universal compliance documentation that can be utilized across departments.

Avoiding redundancies means making sure everyone is on the same page. When it comes to compliance, document standardization can mean the difference between a safe work environment and a life-threatening incident.

2. Track Compliance Audits & Checklists

Various team members are often responsible for completing compliance documentation in their respective departments. Audits may be performed daily, meaning countless data points are collected every week. 

For a general contractor or safety director, tracking down the progress of these audits manually can seem impossible. Digital checklist apps streamline this process by allowing team members across departments to perform audits, report incidents, document compliance with photos, and obtain important signatures with their mobile devices. 

Project managers can access all compliance documentation through the app and assess its completion in real-time. Compliance issues that affect the safety of workers need to be corrected immediately. 

The digital process prevents important compliance paperwork from being skipped.    

Once compliance documentation is complete, it needs to be aggregated and shared with key project stakeholders. This information is vital when assessing the level of compliance or submitting documentation that ends project delays.  

With a manual process, paperwork can be easily misplaced during a review. Delivering compliance documentation becomes laborious and time-consuming. 

Today, construction management apps centralize your documentation in a single location. Sharing reports with management or tracking compliance trends becomes an instantaneous process. 

Safety directors are also empowered to create custom reports with data from all compliance documentation for use in safety bulletins or compliance meetings. Construction management software speeds up the sharing of information and increases the integrity of the compliance process.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is a federal regulator responsible for ensuring all workplaces are safe for workers. Their compliance standards are some of the most common on a jobsite. Construction projects are required to comply with OSHA regulations or risk long project delays and workplace accidents. 

Every year, OSHA releases a list of the ten most commonly cited compliance issues its compliance officers encounter during jobsite inspections. The list increases compliance transparency and makes safety directors aware of the most common infractions they should keep an eye out for.

As a construction management software provider, we’ve encountered every OSHA compliance issue and created numerous templates that make your job easier. 

GoCanvas is a project management tool that’s useful at any stage of a construction project. Stakeholders can create documents with ease, track their completion, and share them with anyone. 

GoCanvas also offers an analytics feature that pulls actionable insights from all the information found in your project management apps.

Take the next step in streamlining your compliance process by scheduling a GoCanvas demo. We guarantee the positive impact it’ll have on your organization.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…

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Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

The Best Project Management Software for Construction Companies

The Best Project Management Software for Construction Companies

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As the construction industry becomes increasingly complex, the need for construction jobsite management software that can help construction companies manage their projects effectively has never been greater. Fortunately, there are several software options available that are specifically designed to meet the needs of the construction industry. In this post, we will take a look at five of the best project management software options for construction companies.

Project management tools are essential to streamline your construction business. Here is a list of the top 5 software that has a strong safety/compliance angle for your project planning, time tracking, change orders, purchase orders, timesheets, task management, and more.

Procore is a construction management software that offers a comprehensive suite of tools to help construction professionals manage their projects effectively. It includes key features such as project scheduling, budgeting, and document management. In addition, Procore also has a strong focus on safety and compliance such as its safety plan module, which helps construction companies to develop and implement safety plans.

Buildertrend is a software that offers a wide range of features to help construction companies manage their projects effectively. It includes features such as daily logs, easy-to-create change orders, and portfolio management. In addition, Buildertrend also offers several tools to help with safety and compliance. The warranty feature, for example, makes it simpler to track claims, report warranty issues, and book appointments. You can take advantage of customer reporting, send and receive automatic notifications, and attach files to support your claim.

CoConstruct is another helpful project management solution that allows you to track your project progress from start to finish. It includes unique tools such as advanced scheduling, cloud-based synced tasks with Google, a task manager for workflows, a branded mobile app, a punch list for warranty requests, and much more. It also offers tools to support safety and compliance such as file and photos management, invoicing for client management, and internal process management.

PlanGrid is another job site tool that allows users to mark up photos and tasks, see multiple sheets side by side, and gives you the functionality to work from anywhere. This project management tool is designed with Microsoft Windows users in mind and takes safety and compliance to the next level by providing access to a full history of sheets, versions, planned work, and punch lists.

BuildTools is a cloud-based construction project management software. It’s been designed for custom home builders, general contractors, subcontractors, and remodelers. This software solution helps your construction project team organize construction projects with project scheduling, budgeting, purchasing, and customer support tools.

When it comes to choosing the best construction project management software, there are several factors that you will need to consider. However, by taking the time to research your options and choose software that is specifically designed for the construction industry, you can be sure that you are making the best possible choice for your company. GoCanvas provides various form templates that can be paired with your software. Contact us today to learn more.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…

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A electrician inspecting equipment.

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Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

How to Ensure Site Safety Every Day

How to Ensure Site Safety Every Day

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Construction site safety is no joke. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there are more than 200,000 construction site non-fatal accidents every year. That’s why it’s so important to have a site safety plan in place and follow it religiously.

Below are some general safety guidelines you can follow to ensure site safety every day.

This is the first and most important step in ensuring site safety. You need to have a plan that outlines the specific risks present at your site and how to mitigate them. Your safety plan should be created with input from all team members, including, but not limited to, management and construction workers.

You need to make sure your site safety plan is being followed, once it’s in place. That’s why it’s important to conduct regular site safety inspections and safety meetings. These inspections should be thorough and conducted by a designated site safety officer. Pay attention to obvious and potential hazards, and make sure all workers are following the site safety plan.

In addition to conducting site safety inspections, you should keep a site safety log. This log should be used to record any incidents that occur at the site, as well as any near-misses. Keeping a site safety log will help you identify patterns and trends so you can make changes to your site safety plan as needed.

Site safety should be a top priority for everyone on your team. That means taking the time to review the site safety plan regularly, conducting site safety training for all new employees, and being vigilant about safety hazards at all times. It is important to have a first aid kit on site in case of emergencies, as well as, other needed safety tools including hard hats, hearing protection, barricades, fire prevention, fire extinguishers, foot protection, and more.

We’ve put together a few different checklists, to help you ensure site safety

Any type of construction site can use the general safety checklist:

  • Review the site safety plan with all workers before work begins
  • Inspect the site for hazards before work begins and throughout the day
  • Ensure that all workers are wearing the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Prohibit drugs and alcohol on site
  • Implement a site health and safety log to record any incidents that occur
  • Make site safety a priority for everyone on site

In addition to the items on the general construction site safety checklist, here are a few additional items to include on a residential construction site safety checklist:

  • Inspect the work area for trip hazards like uneven pavement and loose cables
  • Inspect scaffolding, ladders, and other fall protection equipment before use
  • Train every construction worker in power tool safety
  • Secure all site materials to prevent them from falling
  • Implement safety meetings

Here are a few additional items to include on an industrial construction site safety checklist:

  • Inspect the site for hazards like loose debris and exposed electrical cords, wires, and power lines
  • Inspect site machinery and heavy equipment for hazards like blind spots and defective parts
  • Implement a site traffic control plan to prevent vehicle accidents
  • Make sure all construction workers are properly trained in the use of site machinery

In addition to the items on the general construction site safety checklist, here are a few additional items to include on a commercial construction site safety checklist:

  • Inspect the site for hazards like trip hazards and loose debris
  • Post signs and barrels around the perimeter of the construction project

Following these simple checklists can help you avoid potential accidents and injuries, and keep your construction site safe for everyone involved. GoCanvas provides a mobile app for easy site safety checklist management. With GoCanvas, you can easily record and track site safety incidents, ensuring that your construction site is safe for everyone involved. Contact us today to learn more.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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How HubSpot can Grow Your Construction Business – GoCanvas

How HubSpot can Grow Your Construction Business – GoCanvas

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As a construction company, you are always looking for ways to grow your business. But with growth comes more paperwork, more compliance concerns, and more safety issues to worry about. A CRM (customer relationship management) system can help you automate some of the processes involved in running your business in real-time, allowing you to focus on other things.

CRM systems can be beneficial for small construction companies in several ways.

  1. They can help you keep track of your customer data and prospects. This is important because it allows you to keep track of who your best customers are and what kinds of projects they are interested in.
  2. A CRM system can help you manage your sales tools for your sales team. This is important because it allows you to see where your sales cycle is at and what kind of projects are in the pipeline.
  3. A CRM system can help you track your team members and onboarding. This is important because it allows you to see who is doing what, how they are performing, and who is new to the team.
  4. A CRM system can help you manage your compliance and safety concerns. This is important because it allows you to see where your company is in terms of compliance and safety.
  5. A CRM system can help you manage your finances and invoicing. This is important because it allows you to see where your money is going and where your profits are coming from.

The functionality of your business is very important. As your construction company grows, you will have more compliance and safety concerns to worry about. A HubSpot CRM project management system can help you manage these concerns by tracking your team members and keeping track of your compliance and safety records.

GoCanvas integrates with Hubspot and other CRMs, so you can manage your construction business forms in a more efficient and tech-driven manner. Our easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface makes it simple to add or remove fields, or even change the order in which they appear. By integrating with HubSpot CRM, you can automatically sync your data and keep everything up-to-date in real-time.

Plus, our templates are mobile responsive, so you can fill out forms on the go from your smartphone or tablet. And because our forms are stored in the cloud, you can access them from anywhere, at any time. This integration allows you to save time and automate your workflow, so you can focus on other aspects of your business.

A CRM system can be a highly beneficial way for a small construction company to scale up in an efficient and tech-driven manner. Optimize your workflow with GoCanvas by integrating your templates with Hubspot. Contact us today to learn how to get started.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…

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Constructions Digital Transformation

Your competition is finding faster ways to capture data and get critical insights from the field into their existing systems. In short, they’re not going bigger, they’re getting smarter. In this 15-minute broadcast on the construction industry’s digital transformation, find out why the trend is to modernize workflows – and how you can stay ahead of the curve…

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Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

How Tolerating Paperwork Is Holding Your Business Back

person using mobile device for data collection

How Tolerating Paperwork Is Holding Your Business Back

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We all have small problems at work we put up with on a daily basis:

  • A web page that is still functioning but needs to be updated
  • A co-worker who is always five minutes late to meetings
  • A desk drawer that always sticks exactly when you need a paper clip

Counselors and coaches call these small issues “tolerations” – things that could be eliminated, but instead we put up with them. 
We tolerate these situations because we’ve convinced ourselves they’re not that bad, or because we think exploring or implementing an alternative would be too difficult or time-consuming.

Let’s give you a concrete example:

What would your job be like if you didn’t have to deal with paper forms?

It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it? 

  • No more lost, delayed, or illegible paperwork
  • No more waiting on information from the field team
  • No more manually typing information in order to get reports and information
  • No more costly errors, unexpected problems, compliance issues, or interrupted work time

We want to show you what your business would look like without the tolerations of paper forms.

There are two main problems with tolerations, and paperwork is a perfect example:

  1. Tolerations create a constant level of stress and frustration that is low-level, but cumulative
  2. While dealing with the toleration at the moment might seem minor, we’re missing out on potential benefits long-term

Many companies tolerate paperwork problems because it’s the way they’ve always done things. But going digital is surprisingly simple, and can have hidden benefits for your business.

GoCanvas transforms the way companies like yours work every day with digital forms and work process management solutions that make communication seamless. We’ve built a library of forms for essential use cases in multiple industries, including construction, fleet management, and field services, or you can design your own.

And you don’t have to imagine – we want to show you exactly what taking your business digital would look like.

All you have to do is upload a paper form your team uses – a picture or a scan are fine – and we’ll turn it digital for you – for free.

Really. It’s that easy.
Take a look at the future of your business, no strings attached.

After we’ve transformed your paperwork, one of our solutions experts will walk you through the new digital version so you can see exactly how it would work for you and your business. 

Want to make changes or customize your form even more? No problem. 
GoCanvas has easy-to-use drag-and-drop tools so you can build whatever you need – no coding or complicated systems required.

We can’t fix your sticky desk drawer, but we can transform your work life by getting rid of one big toleration: paperwork. 

Taking your business digital means taking your business to the next level with:

  • Cost and time savings
  • Increased productivity
  • Faster communication with field teams
  • Enhanced reporting from digital data
  • More complete records
  • And more!

Without having to tolerate paperwork and all its delays and errors, you’ll be free to focus on what matters: your business.

Let’s get started digitizing your business today.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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