How Cloud Can Enable Collaboration In Construction Industry

The construction sector is among the industries where collaborating with the team members, field workers, stakeholders, and project managers is the most crucial task. Construction is not just about working in the field but also getting in constant touch with the project members to communicate each task properly.

Since collaboration remains the priority here, the adoption of technologies such as Cloud is crucial as they ease the construction-related tasks.

Simply put, cloud computing means accessing files and data over the internet that are stored on high-performance servers. You can opt for cloud services such DaaS from a service provider that takes care of all the IT-related needs. With cloud, you can access your construction data and apps from anywhere at any time.

Cloud and Construction Industry

Back in traditional days, the construction industry faced several challenges when sending files back and forth via emails became an exhausting task. However, with technology evolution, cloud computing came as a savior that resolved construction industry issues.

According to Statista, in 2018, 34 percent of UK enterprises in the construction industry bought and used storage of files as a cloud computing service.

With cloud, it is now possible to access back-office information and a reporting functionality from anywhere- on-job site or off-job site.

Collaboration In Construction Industry

Cloud-based collaboration in the construction industry is a way to eliminate the hassle between the back office and field, contractors and suppliers, stakeholders, and everyone involved in between. Cloud-based systems help to collaborate with ease with everyone involved in the project completion, making the documents stored.

Here’s how the cloud can enable collaboration in the construction industry:

1. Streamlined Project Coordination and Scheduling

Every project demands different schedules and completion estimation. There are a variety of ways to keep a close tab on the progress of the project manually. For some projects, tasks include regularly sending out the calendar to the team members while others require coordinating with them and setting up a meeting daily to achieve the goal.

Therefore, it becomes difficult to have real-time access to the project schedule.

With the cloud, collaboration becomes more effortless. The stakeholders, both internal and external to the organization, can access the schedule if only one master calendar is set up. The team members can update their new events. This enables them to set a priority for themselves what deadline to meet first.

Therefore, the cloud enables collaboration between the stakeholders and contractors, aligns the project with the proper schedule, and manages the appropriate coordination amongst the team.

2. File Storage and Sharing

One of the benefits of cloud-based construction software is the ease of accessibility of files. There might be many stakeholders with whom you want to share the update of the project. Sending data files through emails and then taking the changes forward within the email can be a time-consuming task.

Cloud eliminates the accessibility issue. The stakeholders and contractors can view the same file simultaneously. With this, multiple users of the project can access the file anytime and anywhere around the world, and even restrict the access to only a few members. This enables them to keep the data handy every time.

3. Improved Checklist and Document Security

Cloud enables collaboration with contractors, subcontractors, and stakeholders by sharing a project checklist with them. The cloud-based construction management software such as Sage 100 Contractor or Sage 300 CRE helps project managers and contractors to suggest the changes in the list.

When they have complete access to project checklists, contractors will be sure of the work scope and the objective.

Likewise, teams in the field and the office can have a right to access and edit the changes by controlling the editing rights so that the third person does not edit them in the cloud. Personnel can even attach the passwords to the document that you and only the appropriate receiver know. 

Since the documents are saved in the cloud, there is no data theft, and it is highly secured with the password. Moreover, when you opt for the services of a cloud provider, they ensure that our documents are stored under multiple layers of security.

4. Faster Data Processing

The area of construction sites is enormous, and before starting any projects, prototypes of the designs are made. To construct any buildings, contractors analyze the location, gather information, prepare a model, and then start to process the collected data.

In the process of information gathering, there can be delays due to approval from the stakeholders. Hence, it takes a lot to start with the implementation part.

Here is when the cloud can be of great help. With all data stored in the cloud, you don’t have to send documents back and forth for approval- the same documents can be shared with the project managers.

Not only this, but cloud-based collaboration also enables to view the data and make the updates so that there is no delay, and the project is implemented within the timeline.

5. Eases Communication with the Off-Site Teams

With the off-site team members, communication can be an arduous task, and this barrier may result in reduced efficiency. This is a common problem in the construction industry when managing the work at different locations.

Having all the information at one place is easily accessible by the off-site and on-site teams to eliminate cross-communication risks.

Wrapping Up

Collaboration is an essential factor in the construction industry. By increasing the utilization of the cloud, construction industries will never face issues like lack of communication, file storage, etc. It is also necessary from the revenue point of view when the contractors do the job within the specified period.