Gather Project Data
Is construction undergoing a technological revolution due to new methods to collect and share data? Many processes are being altered and streamlined thanks to technology innovations, and it’s not a stretch to imagine many workflows in the construction industry being revolutionized as a result.
A new partnership between BidsList, www.bidslist.com, San Diego, Calif., a company that brokers any service-related projects, and NoteVault, www.notevault.com, San Diego, Calif., which provides voice-to-text software for mobile devices, is a step toward using technology to improve productivity, track progress, and enhance collaboration efforts on the jobsite.
Through the partnership, BidsList’s providers will be required to record projects via NoteVault’s software. The NoteVault solution is a communication tool the company says is as simple as talking into your cellphone. For instance, construction professionals on the job can simply walk the site and record voice notes, including pictures, videos, or text as needed. NoteVault’s backend then captures and transcribes the notes and puts them into BidsList’s project report.
According to Derick Downs, CEO, BidsList, the company has adopted NoteVault’s cloud-based solution to “facilitate straightforward communication” and overcome challenges faced by construction professionals. The company says it will be the first to extend NoteVault’s software solution to residential construction projects.
The ultimate goal is to help facilitate the gathering of data, including multimedia data such as pictures and videos, in a more precise and timely way. BidsList says NoteVault’s features will enhance its onsite estimates process and progression reports, and in general, open a line of communication among team members by combining project data into one report.
What’s more, when a provider uses a mobile device to make an update, the company says it will be able to track the GPS position of the professional, which can help provide transparency into the onsite estimating process. With other features, such as NoteVault’s keyword notification alert feature, users will have the ability to speak a voice message that can be sent to important members of a project team immediately.
Because the construction industry is evolving, the need for realtime communications, paperless workflows, and new ways to document processes at every turn is becoming a competitive advantage firms should not overlook. Innovation, which often involves some measure of risk, could end up reducing risk in other areas of a construction business. In the end, more data, transparency, and communication are a safe bet toward profitability.