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As the Construction Industry Again Hits "Play," the Time is Right for Change Addressing Mobility and Communication Pain Points can Boost Advantage
Michael Mullin, President, Integrated Business Systems

E ntering 2020, no one could have anticipated the events that overturned tried and true operational approaches across all industries – and among companies from large to small. The construction sector is no exception, with many projects grinding to a halt as spring arrived, and operational teams shifting from centralized offices to remote workspaces.
Yet the world on “pause” created an opportune moment to assess key business tools and protocols – including weaknesses that had already been impacting profitability and competitive advantage. And as things begin to move toward a new (albeit redefined) equilibrium, many companies are positioned to embrace strategic change and new best practices for moving forward. Consider technology. And a lack of – or delayed – communication between team members in their various locations can lead to the failed exchange of timely, accurate information and project updates. Further, most construction and development companies have full histories of “siloed” data that is difficult to access and, therefore, provides little value from a business intelligence perspective. Addressing operational pain-points Today’s robust, cloud-based applications geared specifically to the construction marketplace bring mobility, transparency and functionality that addresses traditional pain-points like ineffective office/field communication, project estimating and time reporting. They enable real-time access to information on any device and from any location, integrating disparate data, reducing or eliminating errors and delays across the entire operational process.-
Today’s robust, cloud-based applications geared specifically to the construction marketplace bring mobility, transparency and functionality that addresses traditional pain-points like ineffective office/field communication, project estimating and time reporting.
The good news is that unlike the often clunky and wholly disruptive implementations of the past, reputable suppliers are now working with business owners to offer layered adoption strategies based on a company’s most pressing requirements and goals.
The staged implementation of additional features then builds upon the initial core competencies. And scalable subscription plans can be tailored to fit comfortably into limited budgets.
That’s why the right partner is so important. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of software applications from which to choose. But which is the right one for your company? Which is the one that will effortlessly integrate with legacy systems to store, generate and retrieve information needed at a moment’s notice and from just about any device connected to the Internet?
When it comes to construction, it is impossible to provide a single, cookie-cutter solution for every job and client. That’s the value of specialization. Few cloud construction software solutions on their own fulfill the requirements of every individual customer and user. Look for a product developed with an advanced open architecture that allows best-of-breed third-party applications to easily connect and interact with other programs to create a true end-to-end solution. Further, platforms that offer support for Open API standards not only ensure the easy integration of today’s true cloud applications, but also tomorrow’s software advancements and innovations.
CONCLUSION
At this time, when the business world is again hitting “play,” construction practitioners have a golden opportunity. Take this moment to embrace the curve with an insightful eye on the latest methods and means for improving company-wide productivity, easily capturing and storing in-depth project data for instantaneous retrieval, and stimulating profits across every operational phase.

Michael Mullin