To some, technology is about as much fun as dental work, and even those who can’t live without it hate the thought. But this love-hate relationship is here to stay with everything from building materials to estimating and jobtracking software bringing technology to the job site and with it, time, labour, and cost savings.

The trend is clear: for companies to stay profitable, they must recognize the industry is changing and leaning toward operating in an electronic environment where it can, says Greg Duyka, training manager and senior product specialist at On Center Software. The company offers software solutions in most areas of construction with its QuickBid, On-Screen Takeoff, and Digital Production Control systems. The ability to set scales, measure quantities, and manipulate labour costs that these products allow, drastically reduces the risk of miscalculation and lost revenue.

But that doesn’t mean contractors should dive into the techno-age with eyes closed. Duyka says before deciding to invest, asking a few simple questions could clarify whether and which software will prove most valuable to a company. “Can I bid more in a month with a product like this? Have we had to say ‘no’ to jobs? Have we made costly mistakes? If the answer to any of these is ‘yes’, the choice is simple,” says Duyka. He also suggests doing some research to find the product that suits the project and to ensure you’re dealing with a company with longevity who will be around for service and support.

Hazmasters, a BC-based provider of safety materials, equipment, and training to industry professionals, offers the i-Safe™Intelligent Safety System, which helps contractors minimize the cost of safety programs by allowing users to electronically record and access inspection, inventory, and purchase information for safety equipment. The i-Safe™ system is enabled by RFID (radio frequency identification), a wireless data collection technology that has the ability to identify, track, and assign information to unique items without direct contact or line-of-sight scanning. “It is creating new and more efficient operational models in diverse industries and is revolutionizing the way business is done,” says a news release for the product.

Getting back to basics, Ian Henderson, branch manager for Hazmasters, says while once the sole interest of larger companies, even smaller teams now realize they can improve efficiency and overhead with hands-on technology used in simple tools like the JoeScaffold system or humidifiers that speed up drying times and reduce the likelihood of mould. “If you’re going to get paid the same whether you take three days to do a job or four, why not get it done in three and move on to another project?”

Regular paper-faced wallboard has been used in both interior and exterior applications for decades, and despite its benefits, its paper facers can de-laminate from the gypsum core when exposed to sufficient levels of moisture and it can support mould growth under the right conditions. Chris Davidson, a manufacturing rep with Enercorp, recently spoke as part of a seminar series at the Construct Canada tradeshow in Toronto on the technology of paperless wallboard. The development of paperless wallboard technology offers a viable choice when contact with moisture is possible during and after construction. While this type of product is best known for its use in exterior applications, there are now also viable options for interior applications.

“This gypsum wallboard carries a six-month exposure to element warranty,” says Davidson. “That means if you know or even suspect your building will be hyper-tracked, you can install this drywall before the building is enclosed and get other trades in and out faster.” This is especially important for construction in Canada, especially in winter and spring.

While people aren’t intentionally dishonest, who remembers at the end of a busy day whether they started work at 7:30 or 7:40? This is where the JobClock time clock system comes in. Scott Prewett is vice-president of technology services and chief technology cfficer at Exaktime, makers of JobClock. His company has developed a way of tracking attendance without time sheets or human error. “Handwritten time sheets are messy and don’t typically get done throughout the day so memory comes into play,” says Prewett.

Half a million customers use the JobClock system daily, not only to track hours, but to reduce the paperwork involved. Software maintained at the office creates reports, calculates overtime, and even budgets person hours for bids based on past results from similar jobs. It works for companies with five employees, or 500 employees. While the 10-minute over-payment sited may not seem a lot, a crew of 15, making an average $15 per hour and losing ten minutes a day can cost the contractor over $9,000 per year.

Dan Meyer, owner of Meypro Construction has used the Exaktime system for three years now. “ It just makes it easy to control time, and for my crew of 15 guys, payroll now only takes an hour. The units are durable and weatherproof so I can leave them anywhere and not worry.”

Meyer says when he first introduced the system he feared his workers would see it as a lack of trust, but they soon realized it put everyone on a level playing field. As the boss he knows exactly when everyone is working and they know exactly what they’re being paid through the detailed printout the system provides.

Steve Watt is president and CEO for WinEst, which offers a variety of cost estimating and modelling software solutions. The WinEst database includes information about common materials, labour production rates, and more, and cuts the job of estimates considerably. Tell the computer once that on a 200 ft liner wall interior studs go every eight feet. After that you plug in the specs of your job and the computer pulls the elements together to develop your cost analysis. This built-in logic lets you set the specs for specific wall or ceiling types, can even allow you to factor in conditions affecting labour rates, and your estimate is compiled quickly and easily.

Watt says to make the product familiar and easy it was designed to look like Microsoft Excel, though its database and capabilities offer much more. Phone support, online training, and annual support subscriptions make the product user-friendly and the support outstanding. But is this for everyone?

“Certainly,” says Watt. “Companies at every level spend money on accounting software, but profitability in the end is really more about estimating and work efficiency. Our product is for anyone who understands the difference between using a hammer and using a nail gun. Once you’ve tried it, you won’t go back.”

Technology provides new methods, products, and systems for doing work. When these also lead to increased productivity, money savings, and a better end project, it makes sense to give them a closer look. CWCJ