For construction, documents are everything. With the advent of technology being further integrated into the construction industry, it’s important to document not only all the safety regulations, procedures and actions that must take place, but the equipment that is being used to carry out those procedures as well.

While some of these processes may be automatic, the majority of them require user input to function correctly. Paper forms get filled out by the workers, which in turn get inputted into spreadsheets on a computer so that they can be archived. By using a mobile app, however, the worker can take out the middle man and send reports directly to the main computer to be archived. Normally, mobile apps would cost a fortune.  But, by using a DIY app builder like Snappii, you can make a mobile form that resembles the form you already use in a matter of minutes. Try it out today!

That said, how does a mobile app help to alleviate the pressures of documenting everything while on the job?

Increased Complexity = Increased Functionality

Today’s construction projects are becoming more complex. Contractors and individuals are spread across multiple locations, and communicating between all of them can become difficult. Documents go through multiple people, all ending up on a desk where it needs to be processed and filed. And with the advent of the internet, stakeholders have expectations for information to be available whenever.

These requirements can be difficult to reach on a consistent basis without the aid of some type of software. Companies tend to lean in the direction of making their own software to handle documents, but this becomes problematic if a company has to exchanges documents with another entity also working on the same project. It also involves a lot of paper, which is easy to misplace or damage.

The best part about mobile apps is that they are malleable. As your business grows, you can expect your processes to become more time-sensitive and difficult. Mobile apps made on DIY editors allow you to constantly update and add functionality without paying programmers to come and tinker with it. As mobile app editors become more powerful, new features can be added with just the click of a button, making mobile apps far more intuitive than software that would have to be redesigned over and over.

How else can a mobile app help?

Many companies use document management software in order to manage all of their documents, and to keep them universally available. Document managers can be accessed from businesses via a cloud service, so location does not matter. And because the structure is already predefined in the document manager itself, there’s little room for error.

While it does work well, the cost associated with buying multiple licenses in order to use the software among all employees can be crippling for some companies. Mobile apps also provide the same universal structure for documents for a much cheaper cost – and you don’t have to give up convenience.

The biggest benefit a mobile app can provide is that the hardware to use the program is already in the pockets of most of your construction workers. They simply have to download the app, input their credentials, and a personalized view of the app will guide them through whatever processes they need to perform. These can be anything from filling out a mobile form, to checking what the weather will be like next Tuesday. Mobile apps eliminate the bridge of communication that companies have to cross by connecting every worker to the same system.

Mobile apps can get expensive quickly. Hiring a team of coders and programmers can not only be a logistical nightmare, it’s also going to break the bank. Snappii, a powerful DIY app editor, enables even anyone to create their own app from scratch with zero coding experience. One app can effectively replace all your paper forms, and add the functionality that you need to complete the long, difficult construction projects.

Try out Snappii today with a free trial, and see why how we’re making the construction world safer, and more efficient.