Connecting field and office teams in an evolving construction environment, while challenging, is crucial to the successful delivery of construction projects. These sites can be difficult to manage with multiple vendors, contractors, subcontractors, inspectors, and other highly specialized professionals, as well as equipment. Successful management requires coordination. To understand what is happening on site, office staff working on the project must obtain reports from the field and then make this data available to other stakeholders. Typically, this process requires using multiple platforms and manual processes that lack integration, connectivity, and collaboration, resulting in siloed data and communication problems in construction projects.

To close this gap between the field and the office—as well as drive productivity, transparency, and cost savings—the construction industry needs to implement integrated digital workflows. Prioritizing technology that facilitates good communication on the job site and connects the field to the office is key to optimally managing and delivering a construction project. Technology advances are changing as projects continue to become more complex with more parties involved. To keep up with industry demands and improve communication in construction, construction managers must embrace these new technologies and connected digital solutions.

The Significance of Integrating Field and Office Workflows

Without proper field management and access to current information, mistakes can occur, such as overpaying vendors for supplies or paying subcontractors for work that has been improperly completed. In many instances, site managers are spending time and resources trying to track down information rather than coordinating and completing construction works. Work delays, scheduling, and budgeting become issues when up-to-date project information is inaccessible and communications between the office and the field are delayed or interrupted. In the office, teams need to manage project progress and financial status, and in the field, crews need to complete their tasks safely and quickly report back on progress and issues. Finding a way forward requires a well-defined, integrated digital process and single source of truth that allows field and office teams to stay aligned and have greater insight into the project progress.

However, while a significant portion of the industry has moved toward digital construction communication software and mobile applications, there are still many construction firms that rely on email, text messages, and Excel spreadsheets to manage data and carry out their routine operations. Communication problems in construction projects are inevitable without a reliable, integrated technology system between the office and field. Without it, teams will face errors, frustration, and a lack of live information available to complete a project on time.

To be successful, construction projects require logistics and resources to be carefully managed and budgeted. Integrating workflows between office and field teams allows office members to track resources and field data, and field crews to work in a safer environment and get paid on time. It demonstrates the importance of communication in construction and the use of advanced technologies to meet client expectations and remain competitive in the industry.

With cloud-based construction technology and mobile applications, teams can simplify data collection and accessibility to accelerate communication.

Technology Aligns and Connects Data and Teams

Digital applications can help align and coordinate teams, data, and resources utilized in construction across project timelines, improving job site communication and field management. With cloud-based construction technology and mobile applications, teams can simplify data collection and accessibility to accelerate communication, connecting data for a more aligned project environment. The improved access to information and workflows among the different field and office teams makes it easier to process and share real-time data, adding value to field management, scheduling, and financial decisions. Beyond the field and office, these digital capabilities are also proving to be a boon to construction project stakeholders and the industry as a whole.

By moving communications to the cloud, teams can close the gap between the field, the office, and project stakeholders for better construction management. However, mobile field applications and digital workflows do more than just streamline communication and collect data. They digitally and visually connect the entire project, facilitating digital construction monitoring and providing visibility into what is happening on the job site to better manage construction contracts and costs, improve productivity, reduce risk, and prioritize a safe work environment. From breaking down construction communication barriers to optimizing resources and reducing on-site errors, modern construction management technology is one of the significant advantages behind connected teams and well-aligned, successful projects.

Digital applications can help align and coordinate teams, data, and resources utilized in construction across project timelines, improving job site communication and field management.

Integrated Digital Management Is the Future of Construction

Considering the competition and growing needs within the construction industry, the use of integrated technology has proven to be a successful strategic approach for field and project management, enhancing communication with greater coherence among teams. Construction firms and contractors who have moved to integrated digital construction management platforms have significantly improved data accessibility and communication among their field and office teams. Now recognizing the importance of communication in the construction industry, those firms who have been operating within their conservative practices have started to explore the opportunities and competitive advantages that technology can offer.

Integrated construction technology has streamlined the process of data transition among teams, project managers, subcontractors, contractors, and project owners, and is dedicated to the continued development of connections and integrations that best serve the industry. An integrated digital construction solution not only speeds up productivity, but it also removes guesswork or the need to chase information, which often leads to project errors. It also eliminates inaccurate budgeting information, saving time and money. While the future of construction continues to evolve and as the industry aims to build new ways of connecting and working together, having the right digital applications in the office and field is key to streamlining construction site communication and successful project delivery.