The Labor Gap
Construction (particularly housing) is booming, but labor is falling short. 71% of homebuilders see the cost and availability of labor as a significant problem they expect to face in 2021, and contractors agree. 81% of contractors are having trouble filling salaried and craft positions, according to the Association of General Contractors. While there are long-term solutions, like investing the time and effort in recruiting younger generations, builders need solutions NOW. Furthermore, future generations will rely on technology, so the industry must adapt.
71% of homebuilders see the cost and availability of labor as a significant problem they will face in 2021.
Source: National Association of Home Builders
Smart contractors are turning to technology and lean processes to do more with less. Homebuilders and land developers should pay attention too; labor shortages lead to higher costs to build. In order to see an immediate impact, both owners and contractors must embrace technology today.
Multiply Your Workforce with Technology
It should be no surprise that TraceAir recommends using drones to conduct frequent site surveys of construction projects. The data provided by the drone flyover, coupled with our sitework analysis platform allows several roles on construction sites to do more with less. Learn how our solution can help your team maximize their time and manage their projects more effectively.
Project Managers
Project Managers often juggle multiple projects with considerable distances between them. Without using technology, some managers report spending 6 hours per day driving between jobsites to conduct visual inspections and collect information for reports.
With TraceAir, this driving time is eliminated or greatly reduced. It takes a Project Manager about 10 minutes to inspect and measure work completed for several projects, and it takes about an hour to run a report of weekly updates and accompanying visuals.
Travel time saved: 10+ hours per week
Project Managers also spend substantial time processing billing and payments. Without a technology solution, PMs use timecards, foremen's reports, and other inaccurate estimates to bill for the work completed. Disputes with the owner can take weeks to solve.
With TraceAir's measurement tools and visual record, the PM can take accurate measurements and bill for the exact work completed. Disputes are resolved in a short discussion or two, and contractors get paid faster!
Administrative time saved: 3 hours per week
Superintendents / Senior Operations Leaders
Similar to Project Managers, senior operations personnel spend a lot of time on the road traveling between projects. With a solution like TraceAir, this driving time is eliminated or greatly reduced. TraceAir allows senior operations leaders to track their projects virtually, calculate quantities moved, and problem-solve with their foremen remotely.
Travel time saved: 10+ hours per week
Grading Foremen
Using technology to plan weekly operations and sequencing can save grading foremen hours of time each week. Without a tool like TraceAir, they must review paper plans that don't reflect current site conditions, then they must conduct a visual inspection of the site. This takes a few hours. If they need more precise calculations, they must request this information from an engineer using CAD, which might have a day or two of turnaround time.
With TraceAir, it takes 10 minutes to inspect current site conditions in the software and determine the best grading strategy and haul roads. Not only does this save grading foremen a few hours each week, it also prevents expensive double-handling and long-hauls.
Surveyor / Grade Setter
Using drones to conduct site surveys is MUCH faster and cheaper than traditional surveying. You can read more about it here. For surveyors on construction teams, using TraceAir can save days. It takes about an hour or two to topo most projects using a drone, and our GIS team processes the data overnight.
Survey time saved: 3 days
Don't get left in the dust!
Contractors, home builders, and land developers can use technology like TraceAir to improve efficiency, save their staff hours of time each week, and get better visibility into their projects.