From Stantec ERA: Changing field reporting through technology
February 11, 2020
6 ways that field reporting technology is enhancing project delivery by providing real-time reporting, consistency, and project cost savings
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This article first appeared in Stantec ERA, Issue 02.
In the Energy and Resources market, profits are made on the margins. The experts in the field are tasked with maintaining the delicate balance between schedule, cost, and quality all while collecting, storing and reporting a significant amount of information. In this increasingly competitive market, technology in the field is the needed differentiator.
Field personnel spend long days tracking and monitoring the progress of their projects. They are continuously collecting data and checking for quality issues. All this information must be brought together, accurately and efficiently at the end of each day. As the project meets milestones, it must then be made into reports for both internal and external clients. By introducing technology in the field, the process from data collection to reporting is streamlined resulting in shorter turnaround and more accurate results.
Stantec teams across the Energy and Resources market are using a suite of proprietary software applications called mTOOLS™ to facilitate the information gathering, analysis, and reporting processes. By collecting data in the field using iPads, they are streamlining their work process. Our experts have pinpointed 6 ways technology is enhancing project delivery for Energy and Resources clients.
Technology can make a job easier and more enjoyable. While long days in the field are still a reality, overtime can be significantly reduced using technology to deliver workflow automation.
1. Technology creates consistency
Technology on the job site ensures all staff are on the same page, regardless of an individual’s familiarity with a project. Teams can enter information into standardized forms, which are tailored to the specific needs of the project, guiding users through the process and driving consistency. These uniform layouts within the data collection and reports make it easier to understand the information being presented.
In an industry that makes its money on the margins, technology makes the difference!
2. Technology makes work easier
Technology on the job site helps simplify the data-collection process. By having a centralized system, team members can take pictures, track scannable materials (like barcodes on the pipes), and drop pin locations to show where work is being performed/monitored. While working in the elements, teams can use voice to text technology to record information, which has been invaluable during field operations in our winter months. Most importantly, all of this can be done in the field, on or offline.
3. Technology encourages collaboration
Technology on the job site ensures data is available to the entire team. Large projects have multiple moving parts: internal and external stakeholders, and multiple systems and processes. By having a centralized location for all collected data, team members across offices can access information in next to real time. Up-to-date information ensures projects stay on track and enable project managers to monitor changing aspects of their project.
4. Technology reduces labor overages
Technology can make a job easier and more enjoyable. While long days in the field are still a reality, overtime can be significantly reduced using technology to deliver workflow automation.
Teams can arrive on-site with access to all the necessary information ensuring tasks can be completed efficiently.
Because data is captured in real time in the field, extra hours for reporting are virtually eliminated. Field reports are created and distributed immediately, instantly updating all associated data on customized dashboards.
Technology on the job site helps simplify the data collection process. By having a centralized system, team members can take pictures, track scannable materials, and drop pin locations.
5. Technology increases accuracy
Technology in the field provides more accurate and timely results. By avoiding handwritten field reports, teams reduce inaccuracies that are sometimes caused by duplicating efforts.
When outliers arise, software platforms like mTOOLS™ can rapidly create reports from the data allowing teams to investigate quickly. Dashboards allow users to analyze their data and provide useful information, which can assist in making better business decisions.
6. Technology simplifies reporting
Technology makes the creating of final reports easier. The reports are easily published with rich photographs and informative charts. By using a centralized database, teams can create templated reports that already includes boilerplate text. This makes client-focused outputs easier to template and populate.
Better project delivery
Using technology throughout a project results in long-term solutions that ensure consistency, quality, accuracy, and cost savings for our clients. Field staff are now able to use their skill sets to improve institutional knowledge, address issues earlier, and solve problems all within one centralized application. Less effort is being spent on time consuming data collection allowing the team to focus on delivering projects.
In an industry that makes its money on the margins, technology makes the difference!