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It's been an exciting trip in the world of construction. First, we have the pluses: a surge in construction spending due to pent-up demand post-lockdown, $550 billion in federal funding which will spur large infrastructure projects, and a (temporarily) red-hot housing market leading to new residential housing begins are expected to increase by 15.6 percent in 2021.

Then we have the headwinds: a 7.5% inflation rate and upcoming increase in interest rates that will make borrowing more expensive; steadily growing fuel rates (just for gasoline, more than $1/gal increase from 2021 to 2022) making everything more expensive; a persistent, pervasive worker shortage; and finally, a construction safety management materials shortage including a staggering triple of lumber prices only in the final four months of 2021.

There are Lots of Things to Take Out

The majority of these issues are related to technology, and yet many of them can be addressed at least partially through technological solutions. Field inspections management system can help alleviate some of the burdens associated with the above issues through :

• Quicker worker onboarding. With the rate of turnover for construction workers at between 21% and 31 percent, it's very likely that there will be a constant flow of new people on the job throughout the duration of every project. Digital field inspection management could assist new workers to succeed throughout day One using mobile construction checklist to define tasks and procedures including reference photos and videos that provide examples, maps that include reference points for geo-referencing to ensure workers are on the right track, and also simple back-and-forth communications with managers and other stakeholders even if they're thousands of far away from the work location.
• Tracking resources. With the increase in the cost of equipment and materials will come a rise in theft of materials, with the threat heightened due to websites that remain idle because of backlogs that allow the occurrence of shortages in materials. Utilizing a digital field inspection management system helps in storing expensive equipment and other materials in the field to identify any issues quickly, and possibly avoid the expensive repurchases of stolen items as well as work interruptions while missing items are found or substituted. Field inspection management platforms can also be used to check the security measures at the site including fencing and other methods of protecting the area. (It could help ensure that your permit applications are effective and properly documented, too.)
• Reduced risk of rework. Rework for construction can be costly and rework projects can reduce the average annual profits of construction companies by 28 percent. Through continuous quality inspections during the duration of projects, the chance of having quality issues that need to be addressed is drastically diminished. Additionally, in the event that a quality issue should be discovered, frequent inspections ensure that issues will be discovered earlier, and they can be readily (and inexpensively) cleaned up.
• Easily scales upwards (or down) depending on the needs. The construction industry is unpredictable. Although many regions of the United States are enjoying the midst of a boom in construction, there are indications that growth in the construction industry will slow. Furthermore, fluctuations in weather conditions, projects that are coming to the end of their lives as well as the current shortages of materials and labor that could delay projects could mean that projects run through a series of flurrying starts with delays followed by a rapid increase. With the help of a field inspection management system, you'll be able to expand or reduce the amount required to keep your project running efficiently.

The late Yogi Berra once stated, "It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future." We're with this sentiment. Our Magic 8 ball too often declares, "Reply hazy. You can try again in a few days." There is one thing that's for certain, however: Construction is expected to be volatile, and the best strategy is to minimize risks when they are inevitable. A field inspection management system can be a great device to keep your projects - as well as your business thriving regardless of what the future may bring.

Why is It Taking So Long?

Join Quadric, to improve your field inspection processes and simplify reporting using real-time shared data that is scalable and flexible. Join our free trial of 90 days today!