Meet Shaun Hofman, a Construction Coordinator on the Land Development team with Mattamy Homes' Alberta Division. Shaun plays a pivotal role in ensuring strict adherence to schedules, budgets, and quality standards, maximizing project efficiency and profit margins. Ranked in the top 25 homebuilders in Canada and the United States, Mattamy Homes is the largest privately owned homebuilder in North America.
In 2022, Shaun and his team implemented TraceAir, a decision that has revolutionized their operations. Join us as we delve into Shaun's experiences, insights, and the transformative impact of TraceAir in this interview.
Q: How did you get started with TraceAir?
A: We stumbled across TraceAir on LinkedIn. It wasn’t something we were looking for, but when we saw it, we were intrigued by what it could do. It really got us thinking about our dirt management, and how that component of our land development operations was lacking. So, we reached out to TraceAir and set up a demo. We started using them as a pilot on three of our projects two years ago, and that progressed into us implementing TraceAir on all of our projects in our Alberta Division. It was quite a unique platform to stumble across, and I’m so glad we did!
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Q: What were the main challenges you faced with earthworks before using TraceAir?
A: Our sites can be really large, upwards of 500+ acres. Understanding elevations, quantities, and achieving dirt balance across the entire site was extremely difficult. We often encountered discrepancies and areas where dirt was lost or required additional cut/fill operations. We also were double handling dirt a lot, and just not being as efficient as we could be. We were managing these issues by hiring surveyors or consultants to go onsite and spot check, which cost us a lot of time and money.
Q: How has TraceAir improved your earthworks operations?
A: TraceAir has significantly improved our approach to dirt management. We now have instant insights into our earthworks. We can easily check elevations, understand cut/fill progress, monitor dirt movement and the size of our stockpiles, all with just a click of a button. TraceAir allows us to fully understand our entire project, which empowers us to make informed decisions and hold everyone accountable, including ourselves. It’s quite an extraordinary tool to have right at our fingertips.
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Q: What other benefits have you experienced?
A: One of the most significant benefits we’ve seen from implementing TraceAir is the ability to keep everyone accountable – our contractors, consultants, even ourselves. Whether we’re processing invoices or checking progress, we can use TraceAir to easily verify work. This has not only helped us be more efficient and diligent, but reduced the chance of rework. Additionally, everyone having access to the same data, and having a single source of truth, has helped with communication and collaboration.
Q: What are some newfound efficiencies you’ve found?
A: TraceAir has allowed us to cut back on unnecessary site visits and meetings. Many of the things that we used to have to go out on site for or gather in a meeting, now everyone has access to in TraceAir. Everyone is able to make smart, quick decisions that keep our projects moving. Additionally, with TraceAir, we’re able to rely less on surveyors and consultants, which saves us a lot of time and money.
Q: What has been your favorite thing about having TraceAir?
A: My favorite aspect of TraceAir is the wealth of information it provides right at our fingertips, accessible from our phones or desktops. Previously, we relied heavily on surveyors and consultants for this data, so having it readily available has been a game-changer. The user-friendly tools have made it easy for everyone on our team to use them, regardless of their technical expertise. Whether on a phone or computer, the platform's simplicity and accessibility have led to seamless adoption within our division.
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Q: What are your teams thoughts on TraceAir?
A: Our entire team, from executives to our land team to our office staff, absolutely love having TraceAir. They all adopted TraceAir very quickly, right from the beginning. Everyone finds it super helpful for seeing daily site pictures and tracking progress over time. TraceAir helps us all make smarter, faster decisions based on what's actually happening on site. This is especially helpful for those who can't make it out on site regularly.
Q: How has your experience been working with TraceAir?
A: The support we receive from TraceAir is exceptional. They're always available and eager to help us. Whether it's addressing issues or listening to feedback, TraceAir has been responsive and accommodating. We've collaborated closely with them to develop and test new features tailored to our business needs and those of others in the industry. We recently tested TraceAir’s new Schedule tool, which we’re really excited to start using. This tool will allow us to align our schedules with real onsite progress, enhancing communication with our office staff. It's great to see how TraceAir actively collaborates with land developers like us to create tools that make sense for our work.
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Q: What advice would you give someone considering TraceAir for their own projects?
A: If you'd like to have a better understanding of your projects and ensure accountability, I highly recommend giving TraceAir a try! With TraceAir, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of your entire project and enhance efficiency in managing time and resources. Our experience with TraceAir has been great, and we continue to find new ways to use it throughout our division to improve efficiency.
Learn More About TraceAir
By implementing TraceAir within their operations, industry leaders like Mattamy Homes are not only elevating efficiency and accountability in land development, but also gaining a significant competitive advantage. To unlock the potential of TraceAir for your own projects, schedule a demo today.