In the field of construction, precision and technicality is of utmost importance. It’s easy to think of a construction crew and imagine a few burly men with a lot of brawn and simple directions – but then look towards the architecture and infrastructure of 21st century housing, and you’ll know that there’s a lot that goes into designing, plotting, and building a neighborhood or subdivision. And it’s a huge field – nearly 7 million Americans work in construction in 2016, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Together, the value of their work amounts to over 4 percent of the nation’s GDP, as per Statista.

Part of making sure what architects plot out on paper actually happens in reality is the job of a field service technician. Field service technicians spend their time on-field, going from construction site to construction site, checking, maintaining and repairing all the necessary equipment for construction to continue. From earth movers to bulldozers, cranes, loading equipment, forklifts and trucks. They’re resourceful and skilled – but they’re one part of the process, and managing them and their numerous skills is important if you want your construction job to be finished in time and go off with a hitch. And that is where, in the 21st century of constant expedited processing, technology comes in to help.

What is Construction Field Reporting?

The cliché of the man in the hardhat with a clipboard is accurate, but today, that clipboard will doubtlessly be accompanied by a sturdy smartphone or tablet, and not very far from there, an industrial laptop.

Construction field reporting is the act of taking notes and cataloguing data of what goes on in a construction field. From the hours worked, to the tools and machinery used, the exact materials being moved and their tonnage, and the rate at which equipment is failing and being fixed.

All this data is then accumulated and studied. Finally, the results are in – and with these, things like productivity and possible savings can be gauged.

Today’s construction field reporting is done through the use of simple and intuitive technological aides – such as quality construction field reporting software from a company like 360 Field Reporting.

How Software Helps

The steps of managing the progress of a construction site – and specifically, the tasks and progress of your field service technician – are made much, much faster and simpler through the use of software. Pictures, notes, and simple input data let about a month’s worth of research be instantly analyzed and catalogued, allowing you to use software to build a quick and accurate audit of how exactly you can make the process even more efficient – and, even more importantly, how it can be made safer.

Safety is a huge factor in construction. With as many as 4,800 work-related deaths occurring due to non-compliance or some other reason in 2014 as per the OSHA, the need for proper oversight and management is critical in a safe work environment. Thankfully, the use of construction field reporting software makes the process simple, and fast leading towards a better field service management at construction sites. Any accidents or irregularities can be monitored, and possible safety loopholes are closed before they possibly turn into real accidents.

The crux of the issue then is finding the right reporting tool for you to use.