Overseeing a construction project requires much more than nails and a hammer. It is a balance of creativity and functionality, and of bringing a client’s dream to fruition while managing expectations around timeline and budget. Here are some ways in which property management software for construction can optimize performance and keep the client happy while maintaining your sanity.
- It Makes Work Flow. Even smaller design-builds have numerous moving parts, including work schedules and the thousand incremental tasks that get you to each milestone. While any technology is better than none, jumping between different apps increases the risk that details will be lost, leading to unnecessary miscommunications and delays. A singular platform enables you to map out the entire project and access it in its entirety, or particular areas of concern, with a few swipes of your smartphone.
- Nurtures Relationships. When it comes to construction projects, collaboration is an integral part of delivering excellence. As the project manager, you are at the hub, listening to the client to understand precisely what they envision for the project – and the whys behind it. For example, they might want a particular room to be the focal point of the home – and have specific ideas about how it should look – because entertaining is an important part of their lives. Knowing their “why” will help you think outside the box and offer suggestions even they haven’t thought of. You also must be able to convey this information to the subcontractors so they can also have the big picture in mind while they’re doing the heavy lifting. Property management software for construction facilitates communication with everyone, including the client, so they can see the progress in real-time. Just as important, the information is shared by permission only and siloed, so, for example, you can discuss sensitive financial information with the client without others seeing it. On the other hand, you can share work schedules and other mundane things with the team without bombarding the client unnecessarily.
- It Manages Your Stress Too: As mentioned above, having multiple digital tools can actually slow down productivity. Think about a time you needed to pass along a data point (i.e., a room measurement, price, et cetera) with your client or vendor but couldn’t find it – even though you know who shared it with you and the date. This may sound like a minor issue, but looking through threads robs you of precious time and mental energy. Having all the project-related information in one space removes that frustration so you can loop everyone in and move on to the next task.
To sum up, data and the technology you use to access it should be tools that accelerate and uplevel your performance, not detract from it. Digital tools usually seem great when they are first introduced; most, however, don’t do everything you need them to, especially when it comes to something as complex as a construction project. Also, they don’t all play well together, meaning you’re expending extra effort to fill in the gaps. A singular platform creates a seamless process so you can focus on doing what you love.
