Around the world, many countries are planning for the return to work, as we adjust to the ‘new normal’ of the Covid-19 pandemic. This will be welcome news to the construction industry and its workers – the sector is estimated to employ more than 100 million people globally and plays a significant role in economies worldwide.
In France, the plan is to end the confinement period on May 11 th , and in Spain, restrictions on construction are gradually being lifted. Further afield in APAC, countries such as China have already ended their lockdowns, with construction sites reopening. But this is not a return to ‘business as usual’.
New guidelines have been put in place for how sites should function, with health and safety being a big focus – we covered this aspect in a recent blog. There are also new rules for how sites should manage workforces, support remote working, and enable social distancing to be observed. Our CEO, Franck Le Tendre, discussed some of these changes recently in an interview with ITR News. Franck talked about why companies need to rethink the way they work by digitalising their operations, so they can meet the new requirements.
Companies will need to be able to track who is on site and where they are, as well as allowing staff to work remotely where possible. This can’t be done if workers rely on manual or paper-based processes, which are inaccurate, time-consuming, and hard to share. Adopting a digital platform addresses this by removing silos and helping companies juggle people, plans and materials against a shifting schedule, in real-time. So, while construction might be entering a difficult phase, there is also an opportunity. The changes companies introduce
now will not only help with the short-term challenge of Covid-19 but will benefit many areas long-term. These include:
- Workforce management
Planning and scheduling tasks with visibility over the status of jobs helps to avoid delays or clashes. This also helps with social distancing – for example, staggering arrivals and departures on site, or making sure inspections are only carried out when site traffic is minimal.
Collaboration
Lack of collaboration is a huge problem, digital tools address this by putting everyone from subcontractor to developer onto a single channel. This provides a trackable communication trail and avoids errors, while allowing users to share information and pictures in a few taps or clicks.
Remote/flexible working
A digital platform gives you a centralised store for everything from site plans to safety polices, which can be accessed from anywhere, on any device. For those based in an office, this means they can work from home or whatever location they choose – reducing site visits.
Improving trust
With a clear view over all projects, human and financial resources can be monitored closely, and status reports can be shared instantly with all stakeholders. This helps build trust by making sure everyone has access to the latest data, which they can be confident is accurate.
Continuous improvement
As well as keeping projects on track, digitalisation also makes it easier to identify process improvements and best practices, and to change workflows. When managing multiple sites, it also means the same changes can be rolled out to everyone instantly.
Ultimately, social distancing could be something we all need to observe for many more months. Moving to digital helps make it possible, while letting work continue. It means there will be fewer site visits, and even reduces the need for in-person meetings on site – workers will be able to send updates, comments, and pictures to others via the same platform. Finalcad digitalises the processes and workflows that construction companies complete every day, optimising operations for the future, as well as today. Digital transformation not only enhances worker wellbeing, it improves efficiency and productivity, with a direct impact on the bottom line.
So, for those companies that haven’t adopted a digital platform for construction management already, now is the time to explore the options. For more information on how Finalcad can help you:
