It’s no secret the construction industry has been impacted by COVID-19. While most projects have resumed, many companies’ field productivity levels have decreased (and will continue to do so) due to the added safety procedures and regulations instituted to prevent the spread. By planning ahead and using the right tools, contractors can work to offset the productivity dip and resource drains that come from added protocols.
Consider offsite fabrication and assembly
Since the COVID-19 safety protocols limit the amount of people allowed on jobsites at a time, companies need to start finding ways to safely and effectively pre-assemble as much scope as possible. Doing this will reduce the amount of manpower required to build and assemble on the jobsite, and will help mitigate some of the productivity loss that comes with social distancing requirements.
Leverage technology to communicate
Construction is a highly collaborative industry, and proper communication and documentation are critical factors to a company’s success—especially now. Currently, contractors are faced with the challenge of maintaining collaboration while staying six feet apart. Instead of being able to walk the jobsite to show progress, many companies have begun adopting more technology to improve communication. Tools built for video conferencing are an extremely effective way to discuss any field-related issues without requiring a face-to-face meeting.
As more and more companies pivot their processes to use technology, it’s important to think beyond a solution for meetings. For every project, the office needs a way to get real-time updates as they’re happening. The daily report is the best window into the jobsite—and making sure they are consistent and thorough makes a big difference for company communication (internally and externally).
Especially now, paper reports are not a reliable method for documenting and communicating important information that is constantly changing. Finding a digital daily reporting tool will help set companies up for success with clearly documented updates, searchable and stored in one place. Even better, implementing a tool that allows photos to be directly uploaded and compiled into a daily report will allow for better progress documentation and regular visual updates.
Negotiate longer project durations
For new jobs getting ready to start, general contractors and owners should be prepared for longer schedules. The new jobsite safety requirements are likely not going away anytime soon, so the more contractors can effectively plan with other stakeholders and be realistic about limitations, the better the project will be managed. What once worked for timelines will need to be reconsidered with the updated distancing protocols in mind.
By communicating these updated schedules early and often, companies can properly set expectations for completion. It’s important to be forward-thinking toward how projects may be affected, and minimize any risk or discrepancies with clearly documented conversations.
