Builders have always recognised the importance of scheduling to make sure projects are completed on time and within budget. Even the ancient Egyptians used project management techniques to organise tasks when building the pyramids. And today, construction job scheduling software is making the scheduling process even more efficient.
What exactly is construction job scheduling software, and how might it benefit you?
What is construction job scheduling software?
Scheduling software for construction provides a digital method of organising the people, time and resources used on a building project. Rather than mapping the entire project out on paper or using a spreadsheet, you plan and allocate tasks using a specialised computer programme instead. Construction job scheduling software comes with various features intended to make it easier to create tasks and manage time.
The best construction scheduling software will be responsive and offer features tailored to the specific needs of the industry. It allows you to plan for things like:
- Labour – be that subcontractors, internal staff or temporary external workers
- Project management capabilities, which breaks the work down into smaller chunks
- Task management and task allocation capabilities
- Communication and collaboration features
- Digital blueprints (2D or BIM), which can be viewed using a mobile device
By digitising the construction job schedule, you can then easily share it with everyone involved in a project. All participants can view their tasks and the relevant plans. As a result, they understand what they need to do and by what deadline.
5 benefits of scheduling software
Using scheduling software for construction comes with multiple benefits. These include:
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Getting a true view of progress
Knowing the true status of project progress is vital for managing time and allocating resources. However, the actual progress of work is almost impossible to ascertain without physically being on-site.
But this is where simple construction scheduling software helps. It lets you view and track task progress at any time. Apps like PlanRadar let you see how many tasks have been completed, how many are in progress, and which remain to be done. This means you can get a true, real-time view of progress against the project plan.
For example, if you are on the wiring and plumbing stage of a residential property development, you can see exactly how many of the wiring tasks have been completed and how this compares to your project plan and timings. You can then quickly judge if the project is on schedule or if you need to bring more resources onboard.
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More control over task management
The best construction scheduling software gives you granular control over task management.
Suppose you identified a defect on your site. Your construction site manager could open the blueprint in a mobile app and create a ticket that contains all the relevant information. Then they can assign it to a subcontractor. That person receives a notification via their mobile device telling them what they need to fix. The ticket can also include voice messages, photos, deadlines, and a detailed description of the required work. The subcontractor can document their work, ask any questions and mark them as complete. The site manager can then simply generate a list of recently finished tasks to inspect before signing them off.
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Improved construction site communication
Good communication is vital to the timely completion of construction projects. However, in the traditional approach to construction job scheduling, the project manager and those on the site have very limited means to communicate with one another or discuss scheduling issues.
Once again, with simple construction scheduling software, it is possible for all contractors and subcontractors to view the building model, ask questions and resolve any issues using a simple communication app on their smartphones. This also encourages collaboration, reduces the risks of misunderstandings and means projects run more smoothly.
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Better performance management
Do you know which of your contractors and subcontractors is working efficiently? Are some of your suppliers taking longer to complete scheduled tasks than expected? Is one particular worker frequently holding the entire project up?
In the traditional approach to construction job scheduling, it is very difficult to understand the causes of delays and manage people’s performance. However, if you use construction job scheduling software, you can instantly view which workers have completed tasks, how long it has taken them to do their jobs and identify the causes of poor performance.
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Save time and money
A final benefit of construction job scheduling software is that it can save time and money. Apps like PlanRadar save project managers seven hours per week when it comes to planning tasks on average. And because your onsite contractors are more efficiently managed, they can be more productive too. This then means that you are more likely to complete projects on time and within budget.
Join the construction job scheduling software revolution
An ever-growing number of building and engineering firms are using simple construction scheduling software to save time, improve performance and ensure projects are successful.
Are you ready to join thousands of businesses already using construction job scheduling software? Try PlanRadar today using a free 30-day trial.
