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In the world of construction, documents are everything. Technology is being further integrated into the construction industry, and 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. We can take it one step further and wager that you’re looking to keep track of your employees time-cards as well.

While some of these processes may be automatic, the majority of them require user input to function correctly. Even an app won’t get around the fact that some human interaction is necessary. In the past, paper forms would 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.

Construction apps can offer many benefits to a firm. Push Notifications, for example, notify your users in an effective, almost impossible to ignore way. In a report conducted in 2016 by SurveyRadar, they proved that Push Notifications are much more effective than phone calls, and in some cases, even text messages. The best part is that the head user would be able to send these notifications, monitor their business, and communicate with their clients all from the same piece of software on their smart devices, whether it’s a phone or a tablet.

Many construction workers are reluctant to jump into the digital playground that has recently introduced itself to the industry. It’s unfortunate, but the learning curve associated with acquiring a new piece of technology is the main detterent. Through that, though, Snappii has persevered as one of the easiest to use platforms on the market. With apps that are completely customized, it’s never been easier to jump into the digital world.

It’s funny to think that the construction industry, which is home to some of the most expensive equipment in the labor market, still operates off pencil and paper for most of it’s field work. Over the years, Snappii has helped many businesses drop the traditional method, and adopt a streamlined version that can make their business more efficient, productive and lucrative overnight. Here are some of the features that Snappii can provide to your business:

A Digital Archive

Looking for a needle in a haystack sucks. Back when I used to work for a law firm, finding documents for lawyers was a nightmare. Even the “storage” that held all the documents felt more like a cave than another room in the office. So I can’t imagine the paperwork that goes into making a structure appear from out of no where. Compliance, regulations, forms, data – there’s way too much information that is flying around, vulnerable, in the process. A mobile business app can reduce the clutter seamlessly, but that’s not all it offers.

Imagine being able to look your client up by date. With a mobile app, everything becomes archived so that you can always go back and find a clients information without having to search through endless filing cabinets and accordion folders. It also ensures that the data entry process goes much smoother, avoiding costly mistakes by taking out the middle man that would normally be delivering paper to your office receptionist. Input the data once, and it send it away to either a cloud service or your office.

Mobile Forms

Without a doubt, there’s some sort of forms in your work flow. Whether it’s acquiring information to make sure that a scaffolding meets safety requirements, or just a standard daily log that you have to fill out, forms take time when the individual has to write things down. A digital form, though, gives you access to certain features that wouldn’t be available on a clipboard.

Take voice notes for example. If a worker is on the top of an electric post and they spot an erroneous error that has to be reported and addressed, they can talk into the mic rather than taking notes. Afterwards, they can take a picture of the error, attaching it to the body of the report their filling out before they even get back on the ground.

One nifty trick that the admin can do is track where the mobile forms are being sent from. This tracking would occur wherever the user is, but without the users knowing. The admin user can know where all of their workers are, without having to do any extra work, and again, all from their phone.

Construction apps made by Snappii are available on all platforms: Apple, Android, and even Desktops. If you’re interested in creating an app for your business, do not hesitate to contact Snappii sales team, or check out the brand new Snappii Labs which allows you to be the developer and create an app yourself.