PeerAssist Blog

There is no better tool than a cloud-based purchasing control system to quickly collect and store data, and build your business intelligence. It smoothes the procurement process. Highly industry-refined apps such as PeerAssist’s Purchasing Control System (PCS) can help search for competitive pricing and product availability.

“Above all else, show the data.” – Edward R. Tufte

Data holds the power to profoundly transform construction companies by making them more agile and efficient. This past year has put the industry on a never before seen trajectory that required a massive overhaul of operations from the field to the office, rapid technology adoption, and, for many companies, the first deep dive into data management’s potential. Simultaneously, the construction technology industry advanced to meet these demands, providing off-the-shelf cloud-based tools such as PeerAssist’s SiteForms.

As we begin the new year, it is hard to believe the impact that 2020 has had on the construction industry and business in general. Most will remember this past year as perhaps the most challenging of all for our sector, from massive physical job site changes and new safety protocols to a rapid acceleration in digital adoption.

We know that there are many issues to consider as we reopen job sites, and we strive to minimize the costs and potential productivity loss. We have prepared this checklist to help you make ready for reopening your job site. We wish you continued success as we face these unprecedented times.

Here is a four-part plan to overcome supply chain disruptions and the myriad of problems that companies will face as they ramp up operations. We call our plan, P.E.E.R..

COVID-19 and the extraordinary speed that the virus has spread is having an immediate impact on the construction industry, pressing companies to adopt new technologies at unprecedented rates. With most American workers in lockdown and construction starting back up again, we are unlikely to return to old processes and procedures.

Construction is taking on one of the biggest challenges of its time with the entrance of big data. Big data is defined by three characteristics; volume, velocity, and variety.

By now, you may be getting tired of news of business closures and reactions to the Coronavirus. We aim to provide something of value as we reach out to wish all our construction peers with a heartfelt reminder to stay safe, as always, but especially during such unpredictable times.

Our CMO, Jerad Ferrell, with 27 years of experience in the construction industry, shares with us why ROI should be at the top of your search criteria when looking for the right construction software for your company.

Autodesk and our CMO, Jerad Ferrell, team up to share how understanding data management and construction technology can maximize profits for contractors.

Construction is booming in many parts of the US. But as the industry grows, it is facing a challenge of a shortage of skilled and semi-skilled workers, especially among young workers. As a new generation enters the labor market, many have turned away from construction jobs, believing that work in construction leads to a dead-end career. These young workers can’t imagine a future in what they believe is a low-tech, low-paying sector.

Controlling for the unexpected is one of the greatest challenges for the construction industry. Clearly no one can predict the future, but those who plan ahead and put processes in place are more likely to be ready when something unexpected happens.

Construction projects are long and grueling if not managed properly, and software initially designed for the desktop hasn’t translated well to noisy, dusty job sites. Luckily, the emergence of targeted applications is improving this, transforming how tech is being used in the field.

No industry is as ripe for digital transformation as construction. The need to quickly and efficiently capture data in the field is driving the industry towards implementing new systems, with the promise to enable fast adopters to become more competitive.

Sooner or later, the Internet of Things and the massive amount of data that exists will catch up with every industry, including construction. The potential for robotics, sensor and laser technologies, as well as data collection are all factors affecting the future of the industry. At the same time, recent advancements in the construction industry technology are creating immediate pressures for companies to modernize their operations in order to stay competitive. Chief among these is digitization.

Making the switch to digital workflows has been proven to create substantial and immediate benefits to both subcontractors and general contractors. Even replacing a single paper workflow with a digital platform can save a team a significant amount of administrative staff time in inputting, filing and sharing information.

One of the more difficult problems facing the construction industry is not a lack of new technology, but how to integrate applications in the field. While the construction industry has a tendency to adopt construction technology slowly, the obstacles to going digital are not insurmountable.