Overcoming the Obstacles of Construction Documentation

Few of us truly understand all the obstacles that handling construction documentation can pose, but those who deal with blueprints and construction permits on a daily basis know all too well what a hassle it can be, especially with when the winds whip up and destroy an expensive set of blueprints that are crucial to the project. Project managers have to juggle many forms of documentation to keep a job going smoothly, which can become overwhelming. Keeping track of every piece of paper on a job site can be an absolute nightmare. Often the conditions on the site can wreak havoc on paperwork, wind, rain and snow can destroy it, and sun can fade the print, making it impossible to read. Luckily, today there is a better way to handle all the documentation through the use of construction document management software.

Getting a Handle on Documentation

As we become immersed in the electronics age, most of what used to be done with pen and ink has now become computerized. Project documentation management software for construction is becoming the norm. With all the information centralized in a tablet, it is easier than ever to read blueprints and present those all-important permits to any official that may want to see them and to be able to present clients with all the documentation at the touch of a button. Now all-important documents are centralized in one easy location, and project managers can simply access them all using a tablet or laptop on the construction site.

Project information management software organizes all documents needed, including:

  • Construction contracts and purchase orders — Each project starts out the same, with a contract, and what is in this contract is vitally important. This document has everything that has been discussed and agreed upon by the construction company and is needed in case confusion should occur during the project. This document is used to settle any disputes that may arise. Purchase orders are equally important and easily lost. Saving them to an electronic database preserves them, and allows the project manager to produce them easily.
  • Bid information — Again, a key document that helps the contractor keep costs in line. The bid contains information regarding subcontractor and supplier bids, among other important bid documentation. Not having the bid information shows a lack of professionalism and can undermine the entire project.
  • Project Calendars — Each day of the project weather conditions are recorded along with a summary of activities that occurred on that given day. Information included will include items such as finding issues with the project, deliveries made, and what subcontractors were on the job, among other information vital to the project. Being able to enter this information using construction document management software helps everyone involved in the project, and provides an accurate record of job progress.

These examples are just a sampling of the many documents project managers must keep track of in order to keep the job running smoothly, but project managers also have other responsibilities that require their time and attention, they simply don’t have the time needed to search through paperwork and deal with it on a daily basis. Project documentation management software for construction is a total game changer. Once a project manager experiences using construction management documentation software, they wonder how they ever got along without it.  In the coming years, it may no longer be an option, but a requirement to use project information management software for construction jobs.

Change the way you access content and documents on or off the construction site with help from FASTTAC. Our documentation management software delivers rapid access to all of your important documents at the push of a button. Say goodbye to working with old drawings and poorly organized files, and start streamlining your construction site with help from FASTTAC.

Better Facility Management with Maintenance Management Software

Even with superior attention to detail, managing the maintenance within a large facility can be greatly improved with the use of facility management software. This software eliminates the need for a paper trail, and improves everything from organization to communication. Below are just a handful of ways in which maintenance management software can help to improve the maintenance and repair workflow within your building.

Managing Your Seasonal Checklists

You are sure to have seasonal checklists in place to stay on top of your preventative maintenance. While these checklists work, software will make your seasonal schedule easier to organize, update, and adhere to. Facility management software will send you reminders regarding upcoming maintenance deadlines, and even past due maintenance and repairs. Since some seasonal tasks are estimates dependent on factors such as weather or volume of business, the software makes it easy to update your seasonal checklist in real time.

Improved Communication Regarding Day-To-Day Operations

Facility management software is a solution that will help to improve communication-related to your day-to-day operations. It allows you to create and assign tasks lists for your team, and allows you to quickly and easily view the progress of each maintenance concern. You can even access the software when you are offsite, and provide real-time updates to anyone on your team who has access to the software. And there’s no need for a traditional work station, since the software can be accessed on either a desktop or an iPad.

Long-Term Maintenance Management

Maintenance management software is not only beneficial for your current operations, but its in-depth reporting features allow you to identify patterns that play a vital role in creating your long-term maintenance management plan. This includes factors such as keeping an eye on the life cycle of tools and machinery, trends in both standard and seasonal inventory, and identifying when it is time for more efficient and effective maintenance solutions. These reports are also a precious resource to any new facility managers and team members that you bring on board.

Cost-Saving Benefits

Facility management software offers you many cost-saving benefits. For starters, more efficient and effective daily and seasonal operations will help to reduce the likelihood of emergency repairs. The software can also be customized to identify risk factors that can lead to an increased need for maintenance. It will reduce the likelihood of human error that can lead to costly repairs, and you can turn to the software to search for areas of opportunity in your maintenance budget. The software will eliminate the need for paper orders, and will streamline your daily operations—meaning that more time can be invested performing your much-needed maintenance, instead of tracking and managing them.

Customized Reporting Features

As mentioned above, electronic facility management solutions allow you to create reports that are ideal for long-term projections and assessments—but the reports can also be customized for your weekly, monthly, and quarterly needs. This allows you to quickly identify any new patterns or trends within your facility.

Last but not least, maintenance management software is designed to be intuitive, and easy for you and your team to put in place. After only a few projects you and your team will have the hang of it.

Revolutionize the way you access your facility’s information with the building facility management software from FASTTAC. Our innovative software enables your team to easily access and organize all of your facility’s institutional knowledge. So stop wasting time searching for the information you need, and start accessing all of your facility’s data when you need it most with help from FASTTAC.

Setting Your Construction Project Data Structure

When working on construction projects, it is very important to collaborate in real time with all parties involved and have access to information that pertains to each segment of the project. Making sure data is available and selecting the correct platform and project data structure is also crucial. Access to construction items such as architectural drawings, project management schedules, budgets, work schedules and so forth ensures that your various construction projects run smoothly. Being able to oversee and manage multiple projects at one time, that involve different teams with different schedules and different work duties require very efficient collaborative project management software system. It will also allow construction management team members to stay informed of every aspect of your project.

Choosing a Good Construction Project Management System

A good construction project management software should consist of areas that combine multiple components into one package. It should meet the needs of all team players, no matter if they’re working on the site location or from the construction office.

When choosing a good construction project management system, it should also provide information such as the following:

  • Updates in Real Time
  • Instant Sharing Capability
  • Drawing Access, Markup, and Sign Off Capability

Additionally architectural project management software should be integrated into the overall management of construction projects as well. It should enable architects, engineers, geological surveyors and other affiliated professionals to stay plug into all aspects of the projects as well.

Construction collaboration software has become a very useful technology across a variety of mediums on a nationwide basis.  It contributes to the construction efforts in multiple ways by streamlining information and making it available in real time for its users to access at any time.

The engineering-based information that is integrated with the construction infrastructure also consist of risk reduction components, safety components and it promotes overall construction efficiency on the job site.

Professionals That Benefit from Improved  Construction Collaboration Management

Many key professionals have come to realize the importance of sharing critical information at a moment’s notice among multiple levels of disciplines. It not only enhances the communication between contractors and subcontractors on the physical construction job site, but it also allows other key parties to interact in a professional and timely manner. Professionals that benefit from construction management collaboration software consist of the following:

  • Facility managers
  • Commercial developers
  • Energy and research managers
  • Project managers
  • Real Estate Developers
  • Lead Contractors
  • Sub-Contractors and more

All members of the supply chain can benefit from this great software program as well -as it relates to making purchases of materials which is very important in the construction industry.  The materials aspect of the process alone requires an awful lot of oversight since all material must be order to the correct specifications.

Basically, the web-based construction management program also creates greater organization and streamlines each part of the overall process of the construction system.  It’s a must-have for companies that want to remain competitive in today’s market.

Keep your entire team on the cutting-edge with the construction project management tools from FASTTAC. Our documentation management software makes accessing, storing and updating your project’s information a breeze, providing the entire team with real-time updates to keep your project moving forward and improve productivity. When it comes to your construction project, time is money. Make sure your team stays on the same page and works to build your bottom line with help from FASTTAC.

Tracking Work Progress Through Construction Management Technology

Few industries benefit from integration as much as the construction industry. The presence of project managers and superintendents is imperative to the success of a project, despite the fact that their presence is often required at meetings in field offices and other locations to provide for the needs of the onsite contractors and the job itself. If you had to describe the utility of construction management technology in one short sentence, it could be that they “surpass geographical limitations.”

Construction Apps as a Portable Solution

It is this aforementioned difficulty in directly observing the day-to-day progress of the project that makes project management apps so useful in keeping all contractors in the loop. Construction apps are capable of bridging the remote duties of every component of the project, allowing owners, project managers, onsite contractors and any involved design firms to keep abreast of the progress with just a username, password and mobile device. The app increases efficiency, productivity, customer satisfaction and profits.

“Blueprint” Software

This is very much an addendum to the benefits offered by construction apps – even if it wasn’t specifically intended for that purpose by creators. “Blueprint” software, or as it is now know as digital information software, is a time-management solution that uses access to current information to accelerate project completion, without compromising the results. It’s a collaboration tool that makes sure the development team and the business teams are on the same page; since, ultimately, they both have the same goal.

Software is pervasive throughout almost every aspect of the business as a whole, which means that it also provides a centralized location for a project manager to view the pertinent metrics at a glance.

Cloud-Based Capabilities

Centralization has so many benefits; it’s not hard to see why companies are clamoring to get on the cloud for as many applications as feasible. Large companies are especially in jeopardy of running over budget and maintaining the original time projections for team-oriented projects, because of the many parts that must come together to work in harmony.

Project managers can appreciate the wholesale solutions that cloud-based construction apps bring; they allow you to keep track of and mark off progress and action items, participate in drawing markup software with the technicians, and give owners immediate access to construction documentation to gauge just how far their budget is being stretched. This is a huge change from how construction management used to work, where the bulk of the system was on-site, and mobile devices were nonexistent. It is the ubiquity of tablets and mobile devices that have paved the way to greater (and far more efficient) collaboration.

Analytics Through Cloud-Based Solutions

Lastly, you can derive a lot of data from cloud-based solutions, which is immediately shareable with project heads and owners. Metrics such as the amount of time spent per project and the productivity per employee can help reduce costs. They can also help you make judgments such as less overtime and more employees, or vice versa – whichever one makes more financial sense. These benefits just scratch the tip of the iceberg, and the growing number of cloud-based management apps and users is a testament to their efficacy.  Selecting the right combination will ensure the success of your project.

To help with this selection and keep your team in sync every step of the way on your project with help from FASTTAC. Our revolutionary construction documentation software grants the entire team accelerated access to all the latestdocumentation, markups and workflows to remove communication problems and build worksite productivity. Request a live demo of our construction management software today, and say goodbye to your old drawings and documents with help from FASTTAC.

5 Features to Look for When Choosing Construction Management Software

The infusion of technology and business in the modern era has reached new heights and is being utilized in a diverse range of businesses. In the construction industry in particular, where collaboration is imperative to success, construction project software is making waves as more managers become apprised of its benefits. It’s led the way to greater efficiency in team projects, and greater transparency between contractors and owners.

Who Can Use Construction Project Management Software?

The short answer is – everyone. From general and specialty contractors, engineering firms and owners, to construction management firms and the onsite employees, the right construction project software is easily robust enough to handle the load. A username and password is all that is required to open up the details of the job to any allowed party; you can gauge the project progress and the efficiency of the current team.

Some construction apps even allow you an around-the-clock viewpoint of the job site. Blueprints, technical drawings, construction amendments – all of these can be rendered with drawing markup software available in the app. It’s about as efficient as putting everyone in the exact same field office – but it’s definitely more convenient.

The Most Useful Attributes of Construction Project Software

Indeed, the attribute that represents the most telling departure from the limitations of the past is the collaborative aspect.Construction project management software changes effectively bring everyone involved into the same room, where real-time information is conveyed simultaneously to all parties – or at their convenience.

Given that it’s on an iPad or tablet device, anyone can be keyed in at a moment’s notice, and there’s an adequate amount of customer support available to help you maximize the software’s capability. Some of the other attributes that make the software an attractive replacement to the old way of doing things are:

1.Security

Make no mistake about the level of commitment to security harbored by construction project software. The engineers realize that the important data that constitutes the core of your business network must be secure and the app have a host of measures to ward off cyber-attacks, technical issues or loss of this valuable data. In fact, the tenets of business continuity must be fully integrated into the software, so that your data is safe even in the event of a breach on your end.

2.Ease-Of-Use

Ease-of-use is a highly-regarded attribute; much of the software is intuitive, as a lot of consideration is paid towards perfecting the user interface. Besides, customer support must almost always available to help you maximize the potential of your software and overcome obstacles you may encounter.

3.Boosts Productivity & Efficiency

Construction project management software can save loads of time. Everything from team collaboration, to the decision-making process between owners, clients and contractors transpires in as little time as feasible, because of the connectivity.

4.Real-Time Updates

The collaborative aspects of construction project management software must be bolstered by the ability to sync changes and suggest alternatives in real-time, making it possible to receives updates to a project when the team is logged in. Add markups and make other amendments even as you receive feedback from the onsite workers.

5.Easy Navigation

The software is easily able to allow navigation between the different levels of a building via plan drawings moving from trade to trade effortlessly. This advanced technology tends to increase the accuracy of the finished product to the drawings.

With this type of software, optimized collaboration is what you should be after. It’s all about getting teams to work together in the most efficient capacity possible, with the ultimate goals of improved productivity and, ultimately, increased profits and customer satisfaction.

Start changing the way your crew stays connected and on the same page with help from FASTTAC. Our state-of-the-art construction documentation software offers accelerated access to every member of your team, helping streamline collaboration to keep everyone on the same page with the latest documents, markups and on-the-job updates. Request a live demo of FASTTAC’s software today, and let us help you start transforming the way your team stays connected.

4 Ways to Lessen Your Workload

As a facility manager, efficiency can be your greatest asset –given your plethora of responsibilities and immovable deadlines. One of the more robust ways of keeping up to speed with your day-to-day activities is through the use of maintenance management software. Successful implementation of work order management software sees huge returns on investment, as well as simply better results for your business overall. Follow along as we explore just a small sample of the ways facility managers are using work order management software to revolutionize their facility’s information and lessen their workload.

  1. Minimizing Delays

In any work order load, one of the biggest wrenches in any process is the lack of availability of essential parts. Not only can a work order management software suite make sure that parts are never unavailable during business hours, but it can also keep tabs on your general inventory. For example, if the manufacturer has come up with an upgrade, your software will notify you right away. Additionally, it can provide you with a well-ordered storehouse free from under-stocking and over-stocking – and the associated cost of either.

  1. Maintenance Management Software Helps You Prioritize

Sometimes, during an especially robust season, your business can get backed up – it’s one of the costs of being successful. Management software is exceptional at prioritizing your palette and ordering the most pressing matters first – while scheduling reasonable time slots for the others based on your set preferences. Schedule automation is one of the biggest time savers in this same vein, such that employees, outsourced work and contractors are juggled in an optimal fashion. The included analytics also helps you gauge employee performance and better streamline business goals.

  1. Keeping Track of Manufacturing Details

The breakdown of equipment represents another major contribution to inefficiency in business. Work order management software can drastically reduce the occurrence of emergency breakdowns by overseeing a regular maintenance schedule and ensuring that machines are working at maximum efficiency. This schedule includes everything from lubrication to calibration, which of course extends the operational lifetime of the equipment, as well. Just as importantly, a metric called the life-to-dollars date is accounted for, so you can decide at what point it’s more cost-effective to replace a machine than to keep repairing it.

  1. Keep Track of Labor Costs

Any labor-associated costs that you can think of, capable maintenance management software can handle them. Is overtime killing your budget? Simply use the software to make the workload and staffing levels more efficient to match expectations. And when you combine this ability with the priority tracking properties, the end result is a cost-saving optimization of your enterprise – without any compromise in efficiency. Indeed; businesses usually make more money, produce better product, and have a more streamlined operation once work order management software is implemented.

From ensuring the availability of the right parts when needed – well ahead of time, in fact – management software from FASTTAC can only be a boom to your business. It allows you to supply your employees with the critical information at the location where it is needed to efficiently complete work order tasks and support other crucial business operations. Production delays and losses will all but disappear, as overtime diminishes and your business becomes, effectively, a well-oiled machine. Request a demo of FASTTAC’s facility management software today, and discover how we can help your team stay on the same page.