The sheer scale of construction projects isn’t truly felt until you realize the layers that go into completing not just one, but multiple projects simultaneously. Construction project scheduling isn’t just about getting one technician to one job site to get one job done. It’s about getting multiple technicians, to multiple job sites, at different time intervals, to ensure projects are heading towards milestones and staying within budget.
And even that is underselling the scale of project management for field service businesses.
There are parts to order, third-party vendors to communicate with, other contractual jobs to consider, and the regular day-to-day work a field service business handles. It’s one of the main reasons a lot of companies separate their project installation teams and their service teams, because then they have dedicated people working on just projects and just service.
But as companies scale, the need to collaborate is growing. The lines between just projects and just service teams are disappearing. Everyone, essentially, now plays for the same team. And construction project scheduling software is giving them a platform they can collaborate on.
Let’s look at defective construction project scheduling and why it truly is a non-negotiable for today’s enterprise business.
The cost of getting construction project scheduling wrong
Getting a project wrong can have a ripple effect on all of your projects. That’s what makes project management so difficult for larger field service companies who handle multiple projects at once. A mistake at one job site can have a major impact on all on-going projects the company is working on.
The true cost of getting it wrong can be measured in many different ways, all of which have some impact on revenue generation.
Delays in getting tasks completed result in budget overruns, such as paying for extra equipment rentals, increased labor costs, and the need to bring in additional overhead to finish the job. If you’re working with a third-party subcontractor, delays could extend the contract with them, requiring you to pay them more, even when work isn’t getting completed.
Your own resources can be caught in conflicts between job sites, as proper construction project scheduling would have their next appointment already scheduled. A delay in any appointment will throw off the timeline for all the appointments that follow.
All of these delays means timelines need to be pushed, new projects have to be rescheduled, and the extra costs either have to be taken on by you, or, you have to go back to your customer and explain why you have to adjust their quote. That’s not just a tough conversation to have with customers, but it can also ruin your reputation as a service provider, including losing out on any preventative maintenance contracts you may have lined up.
Check Out: Fieldpoint’s Integration With Leading Construction ERP Software
The role effective construction project scheduling software plays
Where a lot of delays and complications come from is from the combination of the unwieldy complexity that is today’s construction projects, and the lack of visibility across not just the projects, but the resources that fulfill project tasks.
According to Aberdeen, 85% of a project manager’s job is spent communicating and gathering data. If that data isn’t readily available, they struggle with communicating. Also, if they can’t see all the data they need to in one location, then more time is spent gathering information than actually managing the activities of the project.
That lack of information can be crucial to all project timelines, especially in instances where we’re talking about scheduling.
As we’ve mentioned, a delay in one project can have a ripple effect across multiple projects, especially if specific resources are required at different stages. If a highly skilled technician is required on-site, but a delay occurs, it not only affects their schedule and all the service they provide, but also all the projects they are associated with.
Construction project scheduling software helps by offering a place to consolidate information, project timelines, and resource schedules.
It tames the complexity of project management into a spot where project managers can see all the information they need quickly, and then be able to communicate appropriately. That includes:
- Talking to project foreman
- Dealing with third-party vendors and subcontractors
- Speaking with technicians
- Reassuring customers that the project is still on schedule
Read More: See how we united Waibel’s construction project and maintenance service teams
Better construction project scheduling and control
While outlining plans, tasks, schedules and activities beforehand is important for any project, it’s also important to monitor that plan through the project’s progress. A consolidated system allows for greater project control. Project managers can respond to disruptions caused by weather, material delays, or design changes, without derailing multiple projects, and the schedules of their technicians.
Not all plans go off perfectly. There are going to be delays for unforeseen reasons, and it’s important to give project managers a system in which to coordinate efforts, and develop a plan to keep projects on schedule. How you handle change management is a critical part of any type of project management. Especially in field service, where multiple projects can be on-going and have many moving parts.
Real-time updates across all your projects from a construction project scheduling software makes it easier to control all of your project work. You can use reporting to ensure projects are still coming in on time and on budget, work around maintenance schedules, and leverage third-party resources when needed to get projects completed.
More importantly, by leveraging technology, including mobile field service apps, you can track project progress in real time, allowing project managers the opportunity to make positive adjustments, such as starting phases early, or requesting in resources, that keeps work moving forward, and your customers happy.
Construction project scheduling doesn’t need to control you
Construction projects are only getting more complex. Technology is advancing, projects are getting larger in scope, and there are fewer hands to complete them. For enterprise field service businesses to succeed, mastering project scheduling complexity isn’t an option to succeed. It’s essential for their business growth, and customer satisfaction.
By moving to a construction project scheduling software, project managers can take control of all their construction projects. Manage all the moving parts across multiple projects, including buying parts, scheduling technicians and third-party contractors, while also ensuring billing is completed to AIA standards, from one consolidated system.
See how Fieldpoint’s project scheduling board helps you control all your resources, so you’re always bringing in projects on time.