How construction firms can collect and distribute key data to deliver on KPIs
It’s no secret that the pandemic has caused a rapid acceleration of mobile working for the US construction industry. In the past, back office staff, often working on site, would be key in processing physical documents and helping to manage authorizations. But in the ‘new normal’ world of reduced physical contact and mobile working, teams […]

Why data is so important
In an industry as complex and interconnected as construction, businesses should be cautious about going with a gut feeling and instead look to data to make robust decisions and optimize resilience. Data-driven organizations are three times more likely to report significant improvements in decision-making compared to those that rely less on data, according to a survey of more than 1,000 senior executives conducted by PwC. Harvard Business Review adds that this approach enables you to make more confident decisions, become more proactive, and realize cost savings. In addition, businesses that implement digital practices have seen savings of up to 20%, according to McKinsey. That’s a statistic to take seriously when the construction industry has long-suffered margins of around 2%, where even small slippages on time or cost can have knock-on effects that determine whether you make, or lose, money on projects. With the benefit of insight and digital systems, you’ll be able to spot patterns and trends, helping you to navigate a business landscape and get ahead of the competition, as COVID-19 continues to reshape the industry.Data to collect and distribute
Most construction firms are familiar with Lean working – a way of systematically reducing waste from every stage within a business. To support this, and minimize costs and risk, it’s sensible to collect and manage data relating to the seven main areas of waste: transport, materials, waiting, motion, re-work, overproduction and over-processing. You’ll also need to collect and analyze day-to-day data relating to critical aspects around approvals, budget control and work in progress (WIP), including:- Health, safety, environment and quality (HSEQ): Details of accidents and near-misses.
- Actual costs: Estimates against actual cost, details of purchase orders and evidence of materials delivered to site.
- Materials and labor: End-to-end paper trail of purchase orders and approvals, hire of plant and subcontractors.
- Task management: Copies of all critical policies and procedures.
- Time: Including timesheets, holidays, and absences.
- HR: Disciplinary records, the HR calendar and file copies of qualifications and certifications.
- Phasing: Details and completion of specific phases – which impact other teams.
- Management reports: Covering details the management team needs around budgets, project timelines, and KPI tracking.
How technology can help with data collection and distribution
Collecting data via manual processes can result in errors, teams working in silos and project delays, which can be detrimental to the objective of achieving KPIs. By using technology, your construction firm can stay on track and your staff can work more effectively. Here’s a few examples of how technology can help your firm when it comes to data collection and distribution:- You can view data according to the project, current stage/phase, and type of materials used.
- Supporting technologies such as barcode recognition and mobile apps can be used to manage documents.
- You’ll be able to generate real-time data on individual hires of equipment, labor costs, hours worked, accidents and incidents, compliance status, and projected vs actual costs.
- You can create reports within a few clicks about specific financial workstreams within your business – according to project stage, month, individuals, or material type.
- You’ll be able to compare estimated vs actual costs to ensure your business stays on track.