5 Ways Project Management Software Improves On-Site Construction Leadership

Construction foremen have the extremely complex job of effectively managing project progress while also funneling information back and forth between job-site workers and office-based teams. Manual documentation control processes exponentially complicate the ability of on-site construction leadership to do either of these key tasks effectively for the life of the project. 

By digitizing and automating document management and data gathering, construction project management software, like eSUB, improves a foreman’s ability to manage the job site so their crews finish projects on time and on budget while simultaneously keeping other key stakeholders informed with details from the job site. Here’s how.

1. Technology Facilitates Smoother Communication Between On-Site Foremen and Teams

“Communication is an incredibly important aspect of an effective construction project,” writes the team at E.K. Bailey Construction.

In order to effectively lead their teams, a foreman has to know the status of their projects at all times. That information comes directly from the crews who need to be able to give status updates or report issues in real time to their foreman. They can’t do that with paper and pencil. 

Construction project management software streamlines communication between workers and on-site construction leadership so foremen spend less time chasing information and more time focused on project-related tasks that keep jobs moving forward. 

2. Software Informs Smarter Labor Allocation Decisions

Labor allocation impacts the success of construction projects. A good leader knows this and focuses on ensuring workers are doing the jobs they were hired to do, assigning them work where their skills are most valuable. Construction project management software helps construction leadership make smarter labor allocation decisions to maximize worker productivity. 

This not only boosts project quality and on-time delivery, but also worker morale because people are doing work that puts their skills to use. 

“Everybody wants to have a job that uses their skills, that allows them to take pride in their work,” says Professor Emeritus Susan Lambert, co-director of the Employment Instability, Family Well-Being, and Social Policy Scholars Network at the University of Chicago. Good construction leaders recognize this and strive to create that environment on the job site.

3. Data Fuels More Satisfactory Conflict Resolution

Conflict happens regularly on a construction site. “With any construction project, there will inevitably be unforeseen issues that have the potential to delay or entirely derail the process,” writes the team at MFS Construction.

Miscommunication and a lack of visibility into project details most often lead to tensions that can hamper or completely stall a project if they are not dealt with in a timely manner. That’s where real-time data plays a critical role for on-site construction leadership. 

Data gives everyone access to the same project details, providing greater transparency into project specifics and mitigating the possibility of miscommunication. Foremen can use that data to end conflicts quickly and in a way that satisfies all parties so projects keep progressing.

4. Technology Enables More Efficient Task Management

Completing construction project tasks on time leads to getting projects finished on time. 

Managing tasks on a construction site requires foremen to know specifically which tasks need to be accomplished each day. They also must be able to pinpoint where the team may be falling behind and why. “If a task or activity is falling behind schedule, it’s important to identify the root cause,” notes ConstructConnect’s Editor in Chief, Kendall Jones.

These capabilities require real-time data that manual documentation processes simply can’t provide. 

With access to updated project information, on-site construction leadership more efficiently tracks the status of tasks and identifies where they may be behind schedule. With that information, they can then make adjustments as necessary to ensure those tasks get done. 

5. Real-Time Data Fuels Better Decision-Making by Construction Leadership

Construction site leaders need to be able to make quick, smart project-related decisions. 

Sometimes, there just isn’t time to track down paperwork, compile and analyze relevant data, and then make a decision because crews rely on foremen to make informed, instantaneous decisions to keep projects moving. Construction project management software gives construction leadership the ability to do just that by centralizing real-time project data and providing data-backed insights that fuel smarter, faster decision-making. 

On-site construction leaders have a hard job that is made just a little bit easier with construction project management software. The technology helps foremen communicate better with crews and project managers, allocate labor more effectively, resolve conflicts quicker, manage tasks more efficiently, and make smarter project decisions. In the end, the software improves their leadership and ability to bring projects to a successful completion.

Schedule a demo of eSUB Cloud today to learn more about how this trade contractor-specific software helps on-site construction leaders deliver more high-quality projects on time and on budget.

Images used under license from Shutterstock.com.