As of this moment, there are 1.85 million apps available on the App store and 2.55 million apps on the Google Play Store ready for someone to download them. We are all on our phones most of the time daily, tracking our sleep app or creating digital to-do lists for personal errands. Since our phones are such useful tools in our private lives, why shouldn’t construction professionals be comfortable using snagging apps?
When it comes to a construction site, any team member can detect a defect that might disrupt the delivery date or the overall work process. However, it’s even easier for these team members to notify senior managers by using a construction snagging app. That way, site inspections don’t have to be a one-person job. Whether you’re a project owner, contractor, architect, engineer, or a construction manager, you can help ensure snagging is done efficiently.
Importance of a snag list in construction
PlanRadar’s construction tracking software app for defect management is a digital way to track any error detected on site. For example, when a contractor on the site sees a crack in a wall, they don’t need to call a site manager to log the snag. A site snagging app gives that contractor the ability to create a ticket right away, with a photo attached and the ability to record an explanatory voice note. Each ticket also contains a chat function allowing the assignee to ask for any other information they need to understand the task. Not only that, our software digitally integrates the collected data and turns it into a snag list (or punch list, in the US). For site managers, it’s also easy to get an overview of the open and completed responsibilities for each contractor.
By far the best snagging app around
Using an app that lets all parties work pro-actively to solve problems can give your company the edge. Construction projects are often complex and one mistake can disrupt plans considerably. However, you can reduce that risk by using a construction snagging app that alerts you to problems as they arise. Here are four reasons why you should consider using a snagging app on site:
- Cloud-based access centralises all data and synchronises automatically across various devices. It allows the whole team to stay aligned without having to print and share paper plans every time they’re updated.
- Confirm that your team is working on the most important tasks and isn’t being held up by other tasks running late.
- Follow-up on the current status of defects digitally and get a documented trail of all communication with subcontractors.
- Enjoy transparency and speed when sharing the project’s overall status with the owner.
When it comes to snag lists, it’s clear that having inspections earlier in a project can reduce the final number of snags. Detecting defects early gives you time to identify the error, track the repairs, redirect the task to the responsible person and monitor progress. When site inspections happen frequently, not only do you have more control over the time-frame and the project’s schedule but you also avoid overspending. You can also protect your firm’s credibility by delivering on-time and on-budget.
How a construction snagging app saves you money
Globally, construction costs are increasing at a rate slightly above inflation each year, with a 4.2% jump on average in 2018.
Source: Turner & Townsend
One of the largest concerns when it comes to construction projects is cost overrun. With most projects running on very tight profit margins, any unexpected overspend can be disastrous. On any construction site, there are many interlacing factors that could lead to unexpected spending. Digital solutions can be key to saving time, money and effort, ensuring that problems are spotted before they get out of hand.
If you decide to use our site snagging app, you can easily stay on top of your costs and deadlines. Naturally, the bigger your construction site is, the more tasks you will have. That’s when a documentation and defect management tool can really prove its worth. With an app available on your phone, you’ll reduce time spent doing follow up, while ensuring that all tasks have been assigned to qualified team members.
Digital technologies are capable of reducing the cost of the construction project by up to 45%. Despite that, many construction companies are hesitant about embracing software solutions. However, not all apps will suit all teams.
How digital is your company?
According to McKinsey & Company, each company needs to study its needs and capabilities before implementing new software and allowing all team members to use it. Some companies frequently acquire and implement software solutions, while others are very inexperienced. Identifying where your company falls can help you to create a strategy for future development.
Most companies fall into one of these three categories:
- Type A: Companies that are digitally nascent. They don’t have specific digital managers or a clear digital strategy and invest very little in digital solutions.
- Type B: Firms that are digitally emerging. They have recognised a basic need for digital solutions and have started creating a strategy to find them. They tend to invest in one-off solutions for specific problems, so their strategy isn’t always cohesive.
- Type C: Digitally capable companies have made the largest and most cohesive investments in digital strategies. Their chosen solutions work together well, integrate across all different parts of their business. They are also scalable across different projects at different points in their life cycle. This is the rarest category, but this is where investment in digital solutions really begins to pay off.
Conclusions
As an industry, construction lags behind in terms of digitisation. Most companies are digitally nascent, some are digitally emerging, but only a very small percentage could be described as truly digitally capable. As a result, the construction industry is missing out on some of the major benefits of a digital workflow.
All construction companies want to minimise errors and defects. They all want to save time and reduce the amount of work for their site managers. With a snagging app, you can ensure that you’re managing your workflow in the most efficient way possible.
And you can finally forget about spending hours struggling to compile a snag list after an inspection.
