Maximizing Efficiency: Do Roofing and Scaffolding Specialists Need Construction Software?

Editorial Note: This article was brought to you courtesy of Rose Morrison, managing editor of Renovated.com.    

You have witnessed others in the construction industry assert the importance of tech integrations for competitive advantages. The atmosphere insinuates roofers and scaffolders without software will fall behind, but are there reasons to dismiss the transition for now? Alternatively, the investment could be worth the hype for boosting productivity.

Discover which perspective has more backing and whether you need construction software.

When Advantages Make You a Market Leader

If a construction corporation could avoid most of the negative aspects associated with transitioning to a software-based approach, what benefits could you gain?

1. Efficiency and Productivity

Construction software may improve more aspects of a roofing project than the installation or repair. Project management timelines update stakeholders and clients on progress. Scheduling for future visits or consultations happens without lengthy phone conversations. Construction professionals know exactly how many resources they need if the program provides better insights and analytics than operators could.

These culminate into streamlined operations, boosting productivity from every facet of the project’s timeline. Embracing automation and reducing data entry mistakes also remove tedium and preventable mistakes. Even the most negligible disruption could yield upsets in deliverables.

2. Easier Communication

Even if software removes some face-to-face interactivity with customers, it can meld with accessible digital communications. It also helps contractors and teams connect internally, especially if they work on different jobsites miles away.

The convenience of construction management software brings employees together so everyone is on the same page about project statuses and resource availability.

3. Improved Safety

A program can provide checklists, reminders and resources for safety protocols. Roofers can follow instructions before every project to check if they are wearing the proper protective gear and are notifying clients of any hazards.

It also makes incident reporting hassle-free. Subcontractors can easily attach photos of the individual and accident site while quickly recording a voice recounting or typing an instantaneous report on what happened.

4. Data Management and Reporting

Roofing includes a number of helpful data points to collect. Contracts may use software to develop their first build information ecosystems, deepening familiarity with their industry. Software can process and categorize information for easy visualization. It makes project documents simpler to navigate, blueprints more flexible and contracts faster to parse.  

Gathering performance metrics can also boost employee productivity. Roofers can submit time estimates, log tool and material use and enter other relevant information to project managers for improved market awareness. For example, a manager may not know that a specific neighborhood is known to have a particular roof material in the homes. Preparing for its weaknesses makes specialists more informed and able to bring useful tools and knowledge.

5. Expense Oversight and Cost Control

Construction companies have to trust contractors to be honest about how much time they spend on a job and how many assets they use. Everything from forgetfulness to fraud veers budgets off course. Software removes countless uncertainties in manual expense reporting by expanding visibility to more parties in the accounting and logistics departments.

For example, programs may consider how building information modeling codes impact a job’s intensity. The building may not be up to date, increasing the estimate because roofers need to do more work than usual. Studies show that enhancing awareness of building codes could increase cost predictability by 20% or more. If a project runs over, technicians can spot this before it is too late.

When the Cons Outweigh the Benefits

Why would a roofer decide not to use construction software? These cons may justify waiting until you find a tech asset that meets your needs.

1. Keeping Operations Simple

Roofers may have a finite list of tasks they need to execute on a job. Including software in an already manageable list could seem to overcomplicate operations. If everything has been manageable manually, and contractors and small businesses particularly find spreadsheets and traditional paper trails adequate for keeping businesses afloat, why complicate things? If a company keeps human error low and manual work from becoming a tedious hindrance and is not focused on growing, there may be no need to adopt software.

2. Financial Investment

The upfront cost of construction software, primarily at enterprise levels, isn’t always feasible. As many program offerings become subscription-based, the monetary impact may extend past the installation.

It may not be worth it for a company to include a new, recurring expense in their budget, especially for independent contractors. Some programs may charge fees if clients pay through the platform, increasing overhead costs. Investigating the right product is critical to yield the right return on investment.

3. Learning Curve

If the roofers need to learn to use the programs, it will take time and education to upskill everyone. The adjustment period could lead to workflow disruptions and initial project errors. One wrong input could skew projections for a job. Instead of learning how to use a program, many roofers and scaffolders would rather focus on perfecting their craft. Avoiding the learning curve may be sufficient for now, while some competitors are not yet adopting technology to streamline efficiencies.

4. Changes in Client Relationships

Digital communications are convenient and instantaneous, but for some more traditional clients this may lack personality. Roofers and scaffolders have countless opportunities to connect with clients and provide customized services by interacting with them in person. Moving to construction software may seem to some like moving away from that personal touch. It may remove valuable opportunities to know specific wants and needs more intimately. Even if the technology gives granular updates, speeding up communication time.

Where Software Impacts Workflow

The pros and cons of construction software may have already influenced your decision. However, understanding which processes it directly influences will contextualize what happens after implementation.

1. Cybersecurity Considerations

Even otherwise reputable companies lose value and reputation over a data breach. Cybersecurity compromises any construction software, primarily if contractors and managers do not research reputable third parties. They should adhere to the most updated compliance frameworks to protect sensitive data. However, everyone adopting construction software should anticipate becoming part of a breach and prepare accordingly.

2. Project Management and Scheduling

If roofing specialists need to know what stage a project is in or who is in charge, project management software helps understand the plan without needless back and forth. Tasks are assignable, and visualizing timelines is malleable.

View projects in calendars, Gantt charts, or whatever feels comfortable and productive for your team. Giving clients access to their appointments also gives them peace of mind if rescheduling or cancellation needs to happen.

3. Lead Generation

Construction software may have GPS enabled to help with marketing campaigns. Firms seeking new clients could locate and advertise to local prospects or reach out for cold inquiries. The program may assess the likelihood of certain leads panning out based on previous business with the company or the property’s age.

4. Project Quotes and Budgeting

If the construction program is embedded with assets like inventory management or enterprise resource planners, it may leverage numerous data points to estimate project budgets. Estimation tools become more precise as more projects inform their datasets. It is also one of the most accessible forms of construction software, with 70% of contractors naming it as their most frequently used technology.

Combine this with machine learning and artificial intelligence, and its estimations become even more precise. These can research trending prices for materials, consider this against contractor salaries, and dock up a prototype budget in minutes.

Communication and Collaboration

Many hands go into any roofing project. Fulfillers deliver parts or wood, and managers verify efficiency to impress clients. Before construction software, these roles felt disparate as the project moved along, delegating responsibilities to the next person. Software enables projects to be fully collaborative at all times, giving visibility and transparency.

This changes workflow by preventing unnecessary follow-ups because real-time updates are available. Additionally, document sharing speeds up another party’s understanding of the job’s details. Business-to-client (B2C) communications are enhanced with feedback requests to present to project managers to inform process improvements.

This is a guest post written by Rose Morrison, managing editor of Renovated.com.