It
shouldn’t
come
as
a
surprise
that
the
COVID-19
pandemic
has
triggered
the
use
of
mobile
apps
in
construction.
However,
the
2020
JBKnowledge
ConTech
Report
shows
that
data
sharing
and
integration
amongst
company
software
and
other
apps
is
still
behind.
The
survey
found
that
92%
of
workers
in
the
construction
industry
are
now
daily
using
a
smartphone
on
the
job,
and
one
in
five
workers
utilize
at
least
six
construction
apps
in
the
field.
The
use
of
mobile
devices
ranges
from
viewing
project
documents
(78%),
service
billing
and
dispatch
(74%),
the
creation
of
project
documents,
such
as
emails
and
RFIs
(71%),
loading
time
for
payroll
(71%),
BIM
model
viewing
(65%),
and
viewing
installation
drawings
(63%).
That
said,
27%
of
those
surveyed
mentioned
that
none
of
their
apps
actually
integrate
data.
34%
say
three
or
less
apps
integrate
at
all.
Therefore,
half
of
these
workers
have
to
manually
transfer
data
use
spreadsheets,
CSV
(37%,
custom
built
integration
(29%),
email
(16%)
or
XML
(5%).
The
report
noted
the
following:
“ConTech
influencers
are
rather
candid
in
explaining
how
manual
entry
and
spreadsheets
are
the
antithesis
of
innovation.
Perhaps
this
notion
isn’t
widely
known
yet,
or
people
are
unbothered
by
the
redundancies
caused
by
manual
entry
and
spreadsheets.
The
time
has
come
for
smarter
solutions,
and
placing
integrations
among
the
most
critical
features
for
app
and
software
solutions.”
A
few
more
key
elements
found
in
the
survey
include:
-
For
daily
reporting,
the
top
mobile
apps
were
almost
the
same
as
prior
years.
PlanGrid,
Procore,
Bluebeam
(Revu)
once
again
took
the
top
three
positions.
All
three
of
these
apps
indicated
increased
usage
from
2019
to
2020
(18.6%,
14.4%,
and
9.5%,
respectively.)
The
app
Procore
saw
a
nearly
19%
increase
in
users
over
the
past
year.
-
Almost
half
(45%)
of
project
management
workflows
still
depend
on
spreadsheets.
This
includes
estimating
(62%),
accounting/ERP
(51%),
bid
management
(36%),
takeoff
(27%),
project
scheduling
(27%),
tracking
data/performance
metrics
(26%),
field
data
collection
(14%),
project
management
(45%),
client
relationship
management
(11%)
and
CAD/BIM
(6%).
-
Software
specifically
dedicated
to
estimating,
project
management,
bid
management,
and
takeoff
had
growth
in
2020.
The
report
continues:
“While
the
changes
aren’t
staggering,
the
small
conversions
from
spreadsheet
to
software
should
not
be
overlooked.
Whether
it’s
a
better
understanding
of
how
to
use
software
or
respondents
finally
appreciating
the
ROI
of
software,
the
needle
is
moving
forward.”
-
Almost
one-third
(29%)
of
the
survey
respondents
claim
to
not
bid
on
projects
involving
BIM,
and
12%
outsource
part
of
their
BIM,
and
13%
entirely
outsource
BIM
to
someone
else.
Many
companies
are
utilizing
BIM
mostly
for
coordination/clash
detection
(61%),
visualization
(53%),
project
planning
(48%)
and
virtual
mock-ups
(37%).
-
The
hardware
that
technology
survey
respondents
are
using
include
robotic
total
stations
(45%);
3D
scanners
(43%);
HoloLens,
XOi
or
augmented
reality
devices
(14%);
virtual
reality
goggles
(4%);
RFID
or
other
tracking
devices
(6%);
and
TigerStop
(27%).
-
Approximately
a
quarter
(24%)
of
survey
respondents
made
use
of
off-site
construction
more
frequently
in
the
year
2020
than
they
did
prior
due
to
pandemic
restrictions.
Overall,
40%
of
construction
workers
using
prefabrication
claim
that
it
has
given
their
company
a
strategic
advantage.
-
13%
of
respondents
say
that
in
2020,
they
experienced
a
data
security
breach.
Less
than
10%
are
not
currently
using
any
data
security
solutions.
Tools
such
as
two-factor
authentication,
training,
and
mobile
device
management
are
currently
being
put
to
use
by
more
than
half
of
all
respondents.
The
report’s
authors
had
the
following
comment:
“It
was
disappointing
to
see
simple
yet
invaluable
solutions
like
cyber
liability
insurance
coverage,
cloud
liability
insurance
coverage
and
cross-platform
authentication
under-utilized.”
Charter
Estimating
is
a
professional
electrical
and
pre-construction
estimating
company
that
offers
long
term
and
short-term
estimating
solutions
for
contractors
around
the
nation.
Whether
you
are
looking
for
part-time,
full-time,
or
more
than
one
estimator,
we
are
always
here
to
help
you
further
your
company’s
goals.
Get
in
touch
with
us
today!