The construction industry is currently short of approximately 650,000 workers needed to complete projects in a timely manner. This alarming statistic shows just how much pressure construction businesses are under when trying to deliver high-quality outcomes without the workforce they need to do so.
Since 31% of construction employers state that finding skilled staff is a big challenge, businesses are having to find new ways to work and adapt to the shortage of laborers.
In this article, we discuss how construction management software can be used to streamline operations and help construction businesses make the most of the resources they have available.
What is Construction Management Software?
Construction management software is designed to streamline every aspect of project management during a construction project. By automating administrative duties that take up hours of time within a business each day, project managers can focus their efforts on the duties that require a human touch.
By managing construction workforce operations through one system, all documentation and scheduling are managed centrally, so everyone in the team can work towards the same goals. From the initial budgeting and scheduling of a project all the way to the documentation and rota planning, construction management software automates admin tasks to not only free up time, but to maximize the potential of a project.
Since the system is able to make accurate predictions and optimize project schedules, construction businesses can offer a more efficient service to their clients.
How Software Can Be Used to Help With Labor Shortages
As well as helping manage projects within construction businesses, construction management software can help those struggling with ongoing labor shortages.
Automated shift scheduling
When planning a project, booking different laborers at different stages can be a challenging process that requires a high level of accuracy. If a laborer is not booked in for long enough, this can cause significant issues partway through a project, but if they are booked in for too long, this is an unnecessary cost to the business.
Construction management software can automate schedules to optimize labor bookings and ensure that time is well utilized. By considering the availability of each laborer against project timelines, it can create rotas that align with the needs of the project.
If the business is facing a shortage of labor, the system can optimize the time of the workforce that is available and schedule the project accordingly. This way, unrealistic deadlines are not given to the client.
Productivity tracking
To ensure a project remains on track and goals are being met, construction management software can be used to track productivity.
If all laborers have access to the list of tasks that need to be completed by a certain date and are required to update the system once they have been completed, project managers will have a good understanding of how the project is progressing.
This approach means that if there are any holdups or laborers are not managing to keep on top of the deadlines, this will be immediately obvious, and measures can be put in place to resolve it.
Identify possible bottlenecks
One of the main benefits of construction management software is its ability to keep a project on schedule. The system can be used to break down a project into smaller chunks that can be assigned to laborers along with a deadline to work towards.
If there is a holdup, whether this be due to external factors, laborer absences, or tasks taking longer than expected, the software will highlight any potential bottlenecks.
By seeing what the knock-on impact of a delay early on is, the project manager can reassign tasks or make changes to prevent delays from escalating. Being able to spot these potential issues as soon as possible will allow adjustments to be made to minimize disruption and see if changes need to be made to the rota.
Manage the use of machinery
To make the most of a workforce during a labor shortage, it is important that everyone has access to the machinery and tools they need. If they do not have the best equipment for the job, there are bound to be additional delays.
As well as managing laborer schedules, construction management software can create rotas for key pieces of machinery. By coordinating equipment to be available during the days that they are needed, wait times and unexpected bottlenecks can be prevented.
In addition to this, this approach makes maintenance scheduling easier. Since project managers can easily see when machinery is needed, any maintenance work can be planned for quieter periods to minimize disruption.
Overcoming Labor Shortages with Construction Management Software
Many construction companies are facing difficulties due to a shortage of laborers, but the impact this has on their business can be minimized if they implement new and improved processes.
Construction management software is designed to help make projects more efficient and cost-effective. By automating shift schedules, tracking productivity, identifying bottlenecks early on, and managing the use of machinery, they can make the most out of their resources and reduce delays during construction projects.
