Optimising field and office coordination practices has become essential to any successful project
Let me run a scenario by you and let me know if it sounds familiar.
Say you’re managing a construction project and running a site inspection when something catches your eye: the contractors built a doorway, but you worry it might be in the wrong spot.
You ask the foreman, and they show you the sheet off which they based their work. But the way it was authored includes some ambiguity and the door’s exact positioning could be interpreted in two different ways.
So, to confirm whether a mistake was made and if rework is warranted, you’ll need to write up an RFI, which is par for the course when it comes to field management.
In days past, you’d have to take a note before moving on to the next part of your inspection.
Then – perhaps hours later – you’d return to your office and write up an RFI based on your memory, your notes and your ability to describe the exact problem you saw. Finally, the architect who authored the sheet would be able to process your request and return a definitive answer.
But we’re living in the age of smart phones and project information apps like Newforma Konekt Mobile, which provide an easier, less time-intensive way to resolve these sorts of contract administration workflows and reduce the risk of human error.
1. Use your phone or tablet: Modern field management at your fingertips with Newforma Konekt Mobile
Newforma Konekt Mobile is the companion app to Newforma Konekt, a construction project information management platform, which gives AECO project teams all over the world access to their complete project data.
Newforma Konekt unifies conversations, project files, action items, and contractual workflows into a single cloud-hosted platform, while at the same time providing a history of the project from conception to completion.
The mobile app connects to your Newforma Konekt account and provides instant notification on the status of issues and action items, RFIs and submittals to help you make informed decisions in record time wherever you may be.
2. Log and track submittals and RFIs on the go
Now, let’s return to the initial scenario with the door that may or may not have been placed incorrectly. Using Newforma Konekt Mobile, you could log an RFI immediately with just a few taps on your phone.
You could also use your phone’s camera to snap a picture of the door and attach it to the RFI. There’s no need to take notes and transcribe them back at the office: you can log your inquiries during your inspection.
Imagine how much time you could save if you log as you go: the otherwise lost hours travelling between the job site and the office are now reincorporated in your workflow.
Alternatively, Newforma Konekt Mobile also lets you view your notifications in real-time and from anywhere. So, let’s take that you’re issuing submittals for a specific building material, which the structural engineering team will need to process. With Newforma Konekt Mobile, you would be notified immediately once the submittal is assigned to you or is closed. And if you need to add new information or issue a new submittal, you can tap away on your phone and send it off right away.
3. Even offline! Track issues offline and other helpful features
Because Newforma Konekt Mobile is built for more than just field management, it also comes with offline functionality for when job site access to the internet is spotty or non-existent.
In practice, this means that even in areas without internet connection, you can keep track of action items and issue updates from your phone and they will update and sync with your project as soon as you reconnect to a Wi-Fi or cell network covered areas.
Also, when sending or receiving pictures, each one can be up to 15MB, and the app will issue a warning before letting you download or upload them if you are on a cell network, so that you don’t end up using more cellular data by mistake.
In short, anyone on your team can use Newforma Konekt Mobile with a minimal learning curve, while speeding up their usual RFI or submittal workflow. Learn more about how with Newforma Konekt Mobile, coordination comes easily.
Newforma
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