The construction industry is more digitally connected and mobile ready than ever before. Contractors large and small are relying on smart phones, tablet devices, laptops and powerful construction applications to communicate between field and office, collect and share real-time data, streamline once cumbersome processes and boost project collaboration and productivity.
The 2017 JBKnowledge Construction Technology Report, in which nearly 2,700 construction professionals were surveyed, noted that the importance of mobile access on the job is growing quickly.
More than 40 percent of respondents said mobile functionality was “very important” to them, with another 42.7 percent saying it was “important.” Just 16.9 percent said these solutions were not important to them. That is a significant contrast from just five years ago, when 41.4 percent said mobile capabilities were not important.
More and more, project managers, foremen and site workers are pulling up plans on tablets or smart phones and entering job information. Work hours and labor rates are being keyed in on tablets. Entire job cost and work-in-progress reports can be accessed and updated on mobile devices as well. Mobile devices are proving to be invaluable tools in the field — and in keeping the back office updated.
However, as these devices grow in use in our industry so does the threat of loss, theft or compromised data. The good news is that a combination of good business practices backed by smart technology choices can let a contractor enjoy the benefits of mobile-connected jobsites while mitigating the inherent risks of moving more data gathering and consumption responsibilities to the jobsite.
Controlling Mobile Construction Devices
Some contractors — typically larger firms with significant IT resources – have taken to purchasing uniform mobile devices and installing rigid security controls before issuing to field employees. While that approach has its advantages in terms of controlling data and usage, it can be cost-prohibitive and time consuming, especially for smaller contractors.
As an alternative, many contractors have adopted “bring your own device” (BYOD) policies for mobile computing and app use. Contractors save time and money while the employees get to use their own favorite mobile device while on the job.
BYOD, though, raises questions about the use of personal equipment on the job. Chief among them is security. Modern mobile applications are being designed to provide the very latest security measures and mobile devices themselves are much more secure as well. However, as JBKnowledge’s 2017 report notes, fewer construction companies taking steps to ensure that their employees’ personal mobile devices are secure — just 26.9 percent in 2017 versus 39.8 percent in 2014. In 2017, 35.9 percent of contractors were using unsecure personal devices, while 37.2 percent of respondents said they used no personal device at work.
“The 36 percent of companies not securing the mobile data on employees’ personal devices used at work are leaving their corporate data vulnerable,” the report notes. “With no effort to secure data or the device, the employer is unable to control the flow of information an employee stores or transmits, especially when accessing social media, connected to unsecured WiFi networks and sending personal communications.”
Whenever data is allowed to exist outside the walls (or firewalls) of a company, it is going to lose some amount of control. Mobile developers have recognized this and have created apps and measures that add additional layers of security. Among them: time-out protocols, enhanced passwords, the ability to lock devices remotely should they be lost or stolen, and in some cases, even biometric controls.
Many construction companies are also taking steps on their end to deploy stronger security measures, including providing in-house mobile devices. The 2017 JB Knowledge report notes that construction professionals leaving their own devices at home in favor of working on company-provided devices jumped nearly 10 percent (27.5 percent in 2014 to 37.2 percent in 2017).
Integrated Construction Apps Providing Standardization of Data
There are a host of construction-related apps available today. A simple look at the Apple iTunes or Google Play stores will show apps for everything from simple measurement tools to time collection to payroll and beyond. For contractors, however, it’s important to standardize data across their organizations as much as possible and using disparate mobile apps with different data sets can hinder achieving standardization.
Fortunately, cloud-based, integrated construction software solutions are allowing contractors to work on the go while maintain a single source of data for the company. Many of these solutions require only a browser built into the tablet or smartphone device to access the software. Users working at project jobsites, traveling or at other offsite locations can access the accounting and project management information they need to do their jobs.
Easy-to-use mobile applications are also being built by and integrated directly into the enterprise platforms of ERP vendors, providing capabilities such as online collaboration portals, time and equipment tracking, change order management, quality and safety tracking, and much more. When mobility is “built-in” to an enterprise solution, and there is a single set of data that isn’t duplicated across multiple systems, contractors can better manage and control mobile data security at the enterprise level.
Building a Mobile Strategy
Cloud computing and mobile applications are here to stay in construction. How these solutions are deployed outside of the office and who maintains responsibility for the data and devices used are among the many questions contractors will have to examine in the years to come — especially as technology continues to evolve.
For example, what happens when a project manager accidentally breaks his phone on a jobsite and loses personal data? Who pays for the lost data, the phone, etc.? With smart phones and tablets being used by pretty much everyone these days, there’s really no way to avoid your employees using their own devices at work and the subsequent issues.
One recommendation is to get out in front of the issue and develop an overarching mobile productivity strategy for the organization. Whether through by issuing company devices or ensuring the BYOD policy has the right security protocols enacted, the benefits of a more connected jobsite and access to real-time information will make those challenges worth facing for the business and the construction industry as a whole.
