As 2022 comes to an end, industries across the nation are feeling the strain of inflation, continued supply chain delays, and labor shortages. For homebuilders and land developers, rising interest rates have resulted in some projects to slow down or pause. Despite these challenges, homebuilders and construction companies remain under extreme pressure to safely deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget.
Success in the new year will require companies to be strategic with their time and money. Where companies invest, how they approach project delivery, and how they differentiate themselves in the market is essential as the industry becomes even more competitive in 2023. We’re here to help! Here are some tips for planning a profitable year.
Tip #1: Evaluate Efficiency
There has never been a more important time to take a look at your processes and evaluate if there are areas you could be more efficient. Many homebuilders, land developers, and construction companies still rely on outdated methods, resulting in wasted time and money. Often these companies are either unaware that better methods exist or are intimidated by change.
Do any of these sound familiar to your team?
- Spending hours each week driving to job sites to check progress
- Repeating tasks multiple times — moving dirt, having lots surveyed, etc.
- Relying on expensive third-party consultants to obtain information
- Disconnect between field and office staff, clarification is often needed
If so, it’s time for a change. TraceAir eliminates these inefficiencies, allowing you to be more strategic with your time and budgets. 100% turnkey, easy for anyone on your team to use, and backed by unbeatable customer support, TraceAir also eases any fear of making a change in your processes.
Tip #2: Empower with Technology
The best way to maximize productivity in 2023? Empower your team with technology everyone can use to make fast decisions and stay on the same page. Traditionally, project data was expensive to obtain and required formal training to interpret. As a result, this data was only accessible by engineers, consultants, and project managers, leaving field staff in the dark.
TraceAir allows everyone involved in the project to access project data. Our software was specifically designed to be easy and intuitive for the entire project team to use with minimal training, even the least tech-savvy. TraceAir is accessible from anywhere via phone, tablet, or laptop, with no software downloads required.
Teams empowered with TraceAir can:
- Make better decisions - Providing the entire project team with access to TraceAir empowers everyone to make decisions with confidence using trusted data.
- Maximize productivity - Remote access to project data allows decisions to be made from the office, at a jobsite, on the road, or from home, reducing travel time.
- Prevent bottlenecks - When everyone is looking at the same data, changes are processed faster, potential errors are caught earlier, and fewer project delays occur.
- Eliminate miscommunications - Images, PDFs, drawings, measurements, notes, and more can be added to the TraceAir platform and saved as exhibits. Using one platform to communicate reduces the risk of miscommunication.
When we started to use TraceAir and realized how user-friendly and accurate it was, we relied on it a lot more and benefited from it significantly. Unlike other software in the industry, TraceAir puts data analytics in the hands of field managers. So, now we do many tasks that previously were done at the office, including measurements.”
— Mike Jensen, Foreman at Independent Construction
Tip #3: Be Proactive
With tight budgets in 2023, profit margins will leave little room for error. Although no project ever goes perfectly, errors like over-excavation, incorrect placement of utilities, or simple miscalculations can happen before being noticed, and can quickly lead to missed deadlines or disputes.
Using TraceAir to regularly check progress allows teams to catch mistakes before they become costly. Within the platform, users can easily compare current project status to design grade. Sharing this information with the entire project team eliminates finger-pointing and ensures everyone is on the same page every step of the way.
Furthermore, TraceAir maintains a historical record of project progress that can be revisited at any time. This feature has proven especially helpful during discrepancies of work completed versus work billed and disputes.
Tip #4: Invest Wisely
New technologies are hitting the industry like rapid-fire with promises to solve all your problems. It can be overwhelming to decide which will actually be the most beneficial for your company. Cost is obviously important, but other factors like implementation, customer support, and usability are also critical.
TraceAir is the only site intelligence software built specifically for homebuilders and land developers. What makes TraceAir their number-one choice?
- A Turnkey Solution - You will not need to download any software, process any data, own a drone, or hire a drone pilot to use TraceAir — we are 100% turnkey. We do all the heavy lifting for you.
- Customer Support - Our team goes above and beyond to provide you with the best customer experience. From start, you will have a dedicated customer success manager to guide you through the setup and provide you with white glove service throughout your project.
- Usability - Not only are the tools within TraceAir easy and intuitive for anyone to use, but they are also built specifically for homebuilders and land developers. Our tools help manage dirt balance, confirm lots are on grade, ensure accuracy, and more.
My team was surprised by how easy it is to use and how quick and relevant it is. TraceAir is a fantastic tool because it’s so simple.”
— Mark Gehringer, Vice President, Century Communities
Tip #5: Avoid Overspending
Overspending is common on construction projects — over-purchasing materials, fuel wasted on unnecessary site visits, paying consultants to obtain simple project data, the list goes on and on. These dollars can quickly add up and eat away at profit margins.
Combat overspending with TraceAir. Here’s a few ways we can help:
- Using regularly captured drone scans of your project, coupled with precise measurement tools, correctly calculate coverage areas and order the exact amount needed.
- Reduce consultant hours by obtaining valuable data from 3D topographic scans. Easily track dirt movement, measure slopes, evaluate current site conditions, and more.
- Keep up with project progress, answer questions, and obtain measurements without the need to be on-site, saving time and money.
By flying the project every week, we are able to see the project progress, first from a visual standpoint. The team members can also look at our quantities and activities, create predictions of our schedule, focus on areas that need particular attention, and share exhibits with the executives. This year, we're saving a lot because we're only purchasing what's needed.”
— Kevin Bunn, Director of Offsites Construction, Shea Homes
A Proven Solution
TraceAir is here to help 2023 be your best year yet. Our turnkey solution has earned the trust and business of top homebuilders and land developers across the nation. A quick demo with our team is a great way to learn more about TraceAir’s capabilities and see if our turnkey software is right for you. Schedule a demo today to get started.