Since the COVID pandemic started, many industries are learning how to allow managers to manage without being physically in the room as their employees, often allowing them to work remotely from another site or home.

While the construction industry has been historically slow to adapt to new technology, the time for companies and managers to learn to manage remotely has arrived. This article explains how managers can work remotely, what technology is available to help them do a good job, and how managers can adapt to a different style of work.

Why Work Remotely?

Before the COVID pandemic, construction was one of the slowest to adapt technology. Often believed to require hands on project managers, some construction crews were gradually moving to remote work. When trying to manage employee productivity, some crews saw remote work as a way to eliminate the labor intensive, and time-consuming process of physically driving to a site to evaluate progress.

Many worksites now use a combination of RFID readers, GPS trackers, drones, and 3D mapping software to ensure productivity, safety, and complete tasks. Software like Bridgit Solutions (https://www.bridgitsolutions.com/construction-field-workforce-management) also allows project managers to remotely schedule workers and assign tasks to achieve the best possible productivity.

Time and Resource Help

Managing an entire construction project remotely combines tracking human labor, equipment, capital, and material. Managers can use construction software to layout the time and material needs for tasks, and to ensure equipment is in the right place at the right time. These elements are huge for helping a project move along smoothly.

As mentioned, a combination of resource management and drones can ensure employees are in the right place at the right time, as well as offering the ability to inspect larger projects. In addition to drones, some software allows videos of work to be sent so that a pair of eyes can see the project up close.

3D mapping can also give workers a picture of what a project should look like before resources are committed and can work like blueprints for people who are highly visual.

Administrative Help

Many parts of the average construction home office have been time consuming, like payroll. Most construction companies have relied on a portable time clock for employees to punch in and out. An office worker has to then use this data in payroll. Time clocks can also be manipulated by ‘buddy punching’.

Cloud based tracking offers a more efficient way of tracking time. Employees check in within an app, which can also be set to allow only for clock in within a small distance of the work site. The home office is offered a real time glimpse of what is happening and can make needed time adjustments immediately instead of waiting to collect data, then later verifying.

Even if the rest of a project is managed mostly in person, a cloud based HR timer system can help significantly with payroll management and offer a small change to begin the process of a larger technology change.

Communication Help

Remote work is less face to face and some companies might need help adapting to new methods of communication that aren’t side by side. Without a predefined standard for communication, some workers might choose not to communicate or discuss issues through a non recordable method. If workers use a variety of communication methods, staying on the page is much more difficult as people need to read the same instructions and understand the same goals on a regular basis.

Project Management Software

Project management software and general communication tools, often designed for the construction industry, provide a single robust method of communication that keeps everyone on the same page with real time communication. Instructions and scheduling can easily be communicated and employees alerted to new messages.

Daily communication is made much easier with remote working, as simply not being at the construction site doesn’t mean that a discussion is not possible. Communication software can be used both as a productivity booster when checking on tasks, and for building relationships with employees by offering the flexibility of conversation and small talk.

Working through Issues

Unless you plan to use a camera, building up relationships is especially important for remote construction crews. Employees may be less willing to discuss problems with other personnel or the construction site and a lack of obvious visual cues keeps you from asking about them. Offering daily communication through remote work gives employees the opportunity to describe problems, even when they aren’t at work.

Face to Face and Recognition

Technology is great with the potential for video chats, messaging, and email, but nothing replaces face to face meetings and being recognized. Use remote software as a method to continue to provide positive feedback for your employees, including recognizing those who do especially well. Visiting construction sites at least once or twice a year can also provide a morale boost, and a warm human being to look at and relate to.

Some people also feel more comfortable expressing problems in person in a way that remote management cannot effectively do yet, so be sure to at least be available for in person visits.

Conclusion

Technology has made the gradual transition for remote project management easier. With COVID and the overall inefficiencies of in person travel for project management, many more companies will have as few people as possible on site and discover just how smooth and efficient management can be for people who already wear plenty of hats.

Consider using a variety of software and equipment to help your company grow. Resource management enables efficient daily work while drones allow for close inspection. Save time in the office by offering remote HR software that tracks time in real time.

 

Source: https://activerain.com/blogsview/5602020/how-project-managers-can-manage-teams-productivity-remotely