The modern construction industry has evolved to a point where IT services play a central role in day-to-day working duties. The demands on IT infrastructure will only increase due to technological advancements, so it is crucial construction companies know about IT services and how beneficial they can be.
How much do you know about Managed IT services?
Arguably, the construction industry lags behind other manufacturing and service industries in terms of adopting new technology. To change this, construction companies should be more informed and knowledgable of existing construction IT applications and how to utilize them daily to keep up with competitors.
For example, a number of IT services in the Gold Coast provide bespoke IT solutions for all types of business, making your working life easier and stress-free. With a dedicated team of IT specialists who provide 24/7 IT support and have up-to-date industry expertise, you are guaranteed to find a service that will enhance the success of your company. Similarly, various Managed IT services in Brisbane provide companies with tailored industry IT solutions and services which allows for ultimate productivity and organisation. Get in touch with the team at ONGC Systems for more information about IT Support in Brisbane.
Communications
Specialist construction technology guarantees to promote collaboration and improve communication between team members and contractors. There are many voice and communication services available which improve both internal and external communications.
Hosted phone systems
Hosted telephony is a great addition to the construction industry for many reasons; firstly, they support remote working. Hosted phone systems such as voice over internet protocol (VoIP) make it possible for your work, home and mobile phone to be accessed using one number. This provides the ultimate portability as internal office calls can be made no matter where you are based.
In the construction industry, contractors tend to come and go, so investing in a communications system which allows you to add and remove contacts easily is worth considering.
Hosted phone systems also significantly reduce call costs. As opposed to using a mobile phone, a wireless phone system means calls are free across your local network and helps those in the construction industry to connect instantly.
Video conferencing
It is more than likely that construction companies have several project sites operating simultaneously and visiting each location can be costly and time-consuming. Video conferencing eradicates these issues and allows individuals to manage and monitor projects from any location.
Video conferencing also makes it easy to share relevant documents, such as plans and drawings, with the necessary people. Ultimately, live video streaming speeds up decision making and allows project progress to be monitored regularly.
Stock tracking
Stock management is an essential element within the construction industry, which is why many companies are using IT to make the process more organised and reliable. Keeping track of inventory in warehouses and stockrooms can be quite a difficult task, but with a reliable inventory control system, you can monitor stock with ease. Typically, inventory systems work by tracking two main functions of a stockroom/warehouse: incoming and outgoing. Other functions include printing barcode labels, creating purchase orders and creating sales orders.
Estimating
Cost estimating provides an indication of the overall cost of a project before it is completed. Accurate estimations are crucial for deciding whether a project is worth undertaking, ensuring the project remains financially feasible and avoiding cost overruns. Unlike other industries, estimations in construction must factor in two major cost categories:
- Construction and development – e.g. the cost of land, labour, equipment and materials
- Operations and maintenance – e.g. repair costs, utility costs, costs of services and employing operations staff
In construction, estimations are determined by the relationship between the scale of the project and average cost per unit. Typically, this means that if the average cost per unit changes, the scale of the project increases.
Business.com offers a useful guide on The Best Construction Estimating Software Of 2019, which provides all the information you need to know when choosing an estimating software.
CAD design
Computer-aided design is frequently used in the construction industry to create graphical representations of physical objects, improving the design process. CAD has many features, such as the ability to create 2D and 3D images, animations and other presentational material. Other benefits of using CAD for construction purposes include:
- Improves the speed of production
- Improves the quality of drawn information
- Reduces errors
- Reduces development costs
- Enables changes to be made easily
- Allows drawings to be generated using a wide range of scales
CAD has existed for almost 30 years now, so it has undergone many changes and improvements over time. Today, CAD costs significantly less than it did in the 1980s and is widely accessible, making it suitable to use for both big and small construction projects.
Project planning and management
Accuracy in construction is of utmost importance, which is why extensive planning and management is necessary for any project. The primary purpose of construction management is to control and monitor the progress of a project, with careful consideration of factors such as quality, time and cost.
The recent digitization of the construction industry has introduced online progress tracking. For an effective construction project planning and management platform, there are various options to choose from. If you haven’t already considered it think about using SharePoint in Brisbane. Sharepoint is a website-based collaboration tool, integrated with security features, which empowers companies to work together. Both small and large construction companies can utilise SharePoint as it is easy to maintain and understand. The features of SharePoint enhance productivity and encourages collaboration from all parties involved in the project. Key features of SharePoint include:
- Requiring approval on documents before they are visible
- Notifications when new documents are uploaded or changes are made
- “Check out” documents which prevent others from editing them
If you still want to know about SharePoint and its benefits for the construction industry, AvePoint has a handy article which provides details on what SharePoint is, its benefits and its uses.
Being successful in the construction industry
Technology is continuously advancing, and it looks like it is not going to stop anytime soon. For this reason, incorporating appropriate IT services into construction is key to success and will ensure the industry does not suffer in the future.
