Cloud computing is everywhere these days. We communicate through the cloud with email and social networks, we back up information and documents in the cloud, and often we use cloud-based software platforms to collaborate and increase productivity while working remotely. Using the cloud has benefits for all different types of companies because it is flexible and has so many varied uses, but we have gathered a few reasons that the cloud is especially useful in the construction industry.
Accessibility
Perhaps the most notable feature of the cloud is that it is accessible from anywhere. This is particularly relevant for construction companies because employees might be in the office one day and on a job site the next. And for companies with multiple ongoing projects, the ability to access paperwork and data without being tied to a desk can save a lot of time and many trips back to the office. The ability to pull up the same information on a smartphone or tablet as is available from a computer is a real game changer for construction participants ranging from material suppliers and contractors to project managers and property owners.
Connecting Your Employees
Connecting to your employees who are on the job site and connecting them to each other is made easy with communication apps. Managers can supervise from afar without constantly touching base over the phone or in person. Open and constant communication is especially important in the construction industry because many companies lack a centralized office where employees regularly meet and interact face to face. Seamlessly keeping up with employees through apps and software programs saves a lot of time and optimizes the flow of operations.
Archives
Archiving important paperwork is important across the board, but can be particularly critical due to the nature of the construction industry: different contracts for each project, contracts with subcontractors or other parties you have hired as well as contracts with whichever party hired you, invoices, lien-related documents such as preliminary notices, etc. That’s a lot of paperwork to keep track of manually. Using cloud software means these documents are stored electronically and are accessible from anywhere, which eliminates the fear of spilling coffee on a key contract or having an invoice fly out your truck window on a drive to the job site. You can manually store documents in the cloud with a service like Google Drive or Dropbox, or you can use a software platform like zlien that backs up your files automatically.
Collaboration with Other Companies
Collaborating with other agencies electronically has many benefits. For one thing, electronic communication leaves a paper trail that can be referenced in the event of a problem, for example, if a client claims not to have received an invoice you can prove that it was sent. Second, electronic communication saves time. You can send a dozen emails with attachments such as bills, budgets, plans and more back and forth in a few minutes, whereas snail mail might take days or weeks (and is more expensive). Third, real time document collaboration opens the flow of communication between people at different companies without requiring an in-person meeting.
Scalablility
Most cloud services offer a limited amount of storage for free and charge for extra space as needed – consider Google Drive, Dropbox and iCloud. This flexibility makes it easy for companies of all sizes to find the right storage solution. As businesses change in size, cloud storage can be easily scaled up or down to fit a company’s needs. This scalability is one of the many benefits of cloud computing in construction.
[zlien id=”26429″]
Leave a Reply