Elevate takeoffs for faster bids and increased project success for FREE. See Details Here.

PlanHub’s Q2 Research Reveals Many Opportunities. Register for the Webinar and Learn More

Five Tips to Improve Construction Productivity

Subway Construction

The construction industry’s productivity “increase” is -0.32 percent per year, according to McKinsey, and project schedules and budgets are paying the price. 98% of all megaprojects slip by over 30%, and over 75% of big projects suffer cost overruns by 40% and more. With labor statistics showing many companies still feeling the effects of the pandemic, a labor shortage, and material delays and shortages, productivity is more important than ever to keep the construction sector alive and well.
We’ve put together five quick tips to help construction companies increase labor productivity, both in the field and the office.

1. Adopt technology

Construction is one of the least digitized industries. Part of that is due to the hands-on nature of construction project work, but even some of the most intensive tasks can be made easier through the use of technology. From robots that help install windows to software solutions, automation and construction technology can lead to productivity improvement in the field and the office. Construction bidding websites and general contractor software are a great way to automate and streamline internal processes.
There’s a wide variety of construction management solutions available to contractors and construction workers looking to implement technology into their workflows to increase their productivity rate. Today, software solutions are available to help with:

  • Design Collaboration
  • Preconstruction/Bidding
  • Trade Coordination
  • Field Productivity
  • Project Management
2. Collaborate

The current contract structure for most construction projects and construction work leads to an adversarial relationship among project team members. Contractors see themselves as opposing forces with the design team and ownership. Contract language forces blame and responsibility down the chain to subcontractors and sub-subcontractors and suppliers. This often leads to finger-pointing and unnecessary claims.
Many project teams have found greater success in a collaborative approach where team members work together to complete construction projects. When members are assembled early in the project process, they have a greater chance of working together and coming up with creative solutions to project problems.

3. Improve training

With the current labor shortage in the industry and lack of young skilled workers able to work on a construction site, companies need to look to improve training programs to backfill their labor needs. Training can be provided within the company or through external partners, like unions and private construction schools, where students can learn construction safety tips and best practices for the industry. Proper training can also reduce construction site hazards and accidents.
Offering training to workers and potential employees helps with employee retention and improves the efficiency and quality of the work being provided.

4. Prefabricate

In a recent report, it was found that 70% of trade contractors recognized that prefabrication helped increase production, but only 14% used it to provide more than 50% of their work. A construction team needs to work together early in the project to identify potential prefabricated components that can be used to increase project efficiency.
Prefabrication can reduce the scheduled time for a project by up to half compared to traditional on-site construction methods, ultimately reducing inefficiency. This helps contractors take on more projects and earn more profits.

5. Communicate

In the Autodesk and Dodge report, 62% of general contractors said that lack of coordination and communication was a factor in reduced productivity. Maintaining communication on a job site among several project team members can be difficult, especially when companies struggle with their own internal communication. The need-to-know communication style used on most projects often leads to an overall lack of communication and increases adversarial relationships.
In construction, internal communications between the office, the field, and the job site are necessary to help prevent mistakes and meet critical deadlines. The more open communication a company has at all levels, the more successful the team will be in meeting their productivity goals.
Looking for a technology solution to help you find more projects to bid or more subcontractors? PlanHub is designed to meet the bidding needs of general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers. Contact us for a free demonstration.

Be the first to know

PlanHub insights, resources, and news, sent directly to your inbox.

    planhub
    planhub icon

    Data and Deep Insights

    We make construction smarter by connecting with the right people, at the right time, for the right project.

    With our technology and data intelligence, we empower construction professionals to easily build the right business relationships, streamline pre construction processes, and make efficient decisions.

    From competitive intelligence in each project allowing you to know how many other contractors are downloading or bidding to insights as to contractors’ performance, we provide the data you need to lead your business to success.

    By providing faster, simpler, and unmatched data insights in each step of the pre construction process, PlanHub helps your business lay a strong foundation for the success of the rest of the construction process.

    planhub icon

    Bid Leveler & Proposal builder

    Comparing bids to one another has never been easier. Users can now see bids side by side, compare bid amounts, and review subcontractors’ certifications and qualifications all in one place.

    Bid Leveler’s apples-to-apples approach allows you to easily drill down and see detailed, easy-to-scan cost breakdowns. Indicate bid preference, hide bids that don’t meet your needs, and request needed information from subs.

    planhub icon

    Full Bid Management

    From the initial decision to pursue a project to the final bid submission and follow up, bid management plays a central role in pre construction.

    Effectively managed bids during the preconstruction phase set the stage for a successful project execution and satisfied clients.

    Streamline bid management from project posting to estimating, bidding, and awarding in one place with easy project posting, project-contractor automatic matching based on trades, location, and qualification with PlanHub.

    Use bid planner, bid builder, bid leveler, and award tools to always know what’s going on with each project and bid.

    planhub icon

    Estimation and TakeOff

    Let’s face it—time is money. And the more time it takes to perform takeoffs and submit bids, the more you risk losing out on valuable revenue opportunities. Manual methods and locally installed desktop software slow your takeoff process, and many digital solutions currently on the market can be overly complex and not user-friendly. 

    Build faster takeoffs, get more bids out the door, and win more projects. Forget pen and paper, outdated desktop software, and overly complicated digital takeoff solutions. PlanHub’s easy-to-use Takeoff tool helps you and your team build accurate takeoffs faster, minimize errors and material waste, and win more projects that boost your business growth. Performing your takeoffs with PlanHub allows you to:

    • Streamline and integrate your process: Perform your takeoffs in the same platform you use to manage your network and bids.
    • Avoid costly estimating errors: Get better accuracy with digital tools instead of traditional, mistake-prone pen and paper.
    • Collaborate easily: Share and work with your team, no matter where you—or they—are located.
    • Submit more bids and win more projects: Get quality bids in front of general contractors faster and get ahead of your competition.
    planhub
    planhub icon

    Document Management

    Organize, store, and manage various documents, blueprints, drawings and other information related to projects before the actual construction phase begins.

    This phase is crucial for setting the foundation of a successful construction project, and effective document management plays a significant role in ensuring that all necessary information is accessible, accurate, and up-to-date to all interested parties.

    Access, review, work on, and share large complex documents in one platform with amazing speed. From project definition, drawing management, takeoff, estimation, bid management, and contracts, everything happens in PlanHub.

    planhub crm
    planhub icon

    CRM

    Be part of a construction professionals’ ecosystem that enhances collaboration, streamlines project management, and fosters smart relationships between companies, construction professionals, and projects.

    Enjoy seamless communication, build strong relationships, and streamlines project management. By leveraging the power of connections and collaboration, we enhance efficiency, save time and resources, and drive collective growth in the industry.

    planhub network
    planhub icon

    1M+ pre-qualified network

    PlanHub is the leading platform that connects companies, construction professionals, and projects in the pre-construction industry, focusing on building and developing meaningful relationships to enhance efficiency and productivity.

    We have integrated general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers’ workflows in one platform to simplify the complex back and forth usually present in preconstruction. By allowing all interactions to be done through PlanHub, tracking projects and relationships is much easier, saving contractors and material suppliers time and money. Interactions in the platform are tagged and measured to provide insights to users.

    General contractors create bid packages that are shared in PlanHub as projects. They can include templatized lists of all CSI cost items as part of the new Baseline feature. Baseline allows for faster and more accurate bid requests, facilitates homogenization of subcontractors’ bids, and simplifies the comparison of incoming bids.

    Subcontractors are automatically matched with relevant projects based on their profile, preferences, and pre-qualification information saving hours of research to both sides. They can review project details, documentation, and blueprints.

    planhub icon

    High-quality projects

    Your one-stop job for qualified hard-to-find private project leads in varying stages like pre-planning, bidding, etc., and across different geographies, zip codes, or distance to your office.

    Projects include plans, specifications, bid dates, and other relevant project information.

    You can segment project leads by type of project, status, project building use, trades and sub trades, or create your own list of keywords — and be notified when one of them is found in a posted project’s documentation or plans.

    We make it simple to find projects that match your business — and make sure you are notified right away.

    				
    					<script src='https://planhub.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js' id='jquery-core-js'></script>
    <script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="//js.hsforms.net/forms/embed/v2.js"></script>
    <script>
      hbspt.forms.create({
        region: "na1",
        portalId: "7063061",
        formId: "ced7254f-5c61-49b9-9ce0-6f870b79a958"
      });
    </script>
    				
    			

    Get the report!

    From the very beginning, PlanHub has been a place where people can do meaningful work and build strong relationships.

    Come grow with us! We’re building innovative technologies that simplify preconstruction for everyone.

    Expand your network and connect with general contractors, subcontractors, owners, architects, and suppliers – not to mention thousands of relevant projects at your fingertips.

    Generate relevant leads, faster and with precision. With access to private, hard-to-find projects, you can connect with architects and owners on projects still in the pre-design and design stages.

    PlanHub’s advanced suite of bid management tools allows you to increase productivity, identify relevant projects using data, build bids with Takeoff, and manage bids through the entire process.

    Create quicker, improved takeoffs effortlessly. PlanHub’s Takeoff Core aids your team in accurate, faster estimates, minimizing errors, and driving business growth.

    Expand your network and connect with general contractors, subcontractors, owners, architects, and suppliers – not to mention thousands of relevant projects at your fingertips.

    Generate relevant leads, faster and with precision. With access to private, hard-to-find projects, you can connect with architects and owners on projects still in the pre-design and design stages.

    PlanHub’s advanced suite of bid management tools allows you to increase productivity, identify relevant projects using data, build bids with Takeoff, and manage bids through the entire process.