With the ongoing labor shortage and growing demand for construction, talent and workforce management are among the top priorities for contractors. But these things aren’t just one-and-done activities; they are ongoing processes dedicated to creating and maintaining a working environment that people want to be a part of. Technology can help in multiple ways, from improving existing processes to providing insights for upskilling workers. Here are four ways you can use tech to enhance your business, both for your employees and your overall performance:
1. USE DIGITAL FORMS TO CUT TIME SPENT ON NON-CONSTRUCTION-RELATED TASKS
A 2018 study conducted by FMI found that construction workers spend an average of 16 hours a week on non-productive tasks. One of the main contributing factors is the industry’s continued reliance on pen-and-paper systems. Not only are analog processes slower, but they also create more work, requiring field managers to collect and deliver forms to the office, where the information then needs to be deciphered and manually entered into a database. By switching to a digital system that allows workers to use their phones to complete and submit forms, contractors can save hours of work while sharing real-time data with the administrative team.
2. USE SCHEDULING SOFTWARE TO IMPROVE EMPLOYEE WORK-LIFE BALANCE
Growing evidence suggests that a lack of a stable and reliable schedule can have far-reaching effects on employees. In addition to difficulties planning life outside of work, productivity, physical and mental health, and relationships can also suffer. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 40% of construction workers receive their schedules with less than a week of notice.
While construction will never be a 9-to-5 industry, there is still plenty of room for improvement. Scheduling software provides contractors with an overhead look at worker availability, enabling them to build more efficient schedules faster. These tools can fast-track the confirmation process by sending workers a link to their schedules via their phone, where they can easily view job details and confirm.
3. USE WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT TOOLS FOR CAREER BUILDING
A lack of opportunity is one of the most cited reasons for leaving a job, construction included. Workers don’t want to do the same thing throughout their job; they want to grow and learn new skills to further their careers. Savvy employers can use this drive to improve their assets as well. With enough insight and planning, you can keep operations moving by providing on-the-job training. Workforce management solutions centralize all the information on your workers, including licenses and certifications. From here, you can easily see which employees have specialized skills and pair them up with others eager to learn.
4. BE LOUD AND UPFRONT ABOUT YOUR TECH USE
Technology can bring many benefits to your workers, so use them as selling points to attract new talent. Include what programs you use in job postings, collect and post productivity statistics on your website and ask workers for testimonials. Your openness about modern solutions will resonate with younger candidates, and providing supporting evidence will entice industry veterans who are familiar with construction’s routine struggles.
CLOSING THOUGHT
Contractors who aren’t willing to give to their employees can’t expect much in return. If you want a dedicated and productive workforce, you must first create an environment that enables them to perform their best and then provide them with opportunities to improve. Only then can you both reap the benefits.
About the Author:
Marcel Broekmaat is chief product officer at Assignar, a cloud-based construction operations platform. For more, visit www.assignar.com.
Modern Contractor Solutions, November 2022
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