No matter the business you’re in, your employees probably have to work in small, detached teams. With each squad having separate tasks and using different methodologies, you must introduce a chain of command that will make sense of it all.
More importantly, you’ll need advanced communication technology that will allow your teams to seamlessly exchange information with each other.
Team Communication in the Construction Business
Effective communication solutions are especially important in the construction industry. Workers on the job site have to be aware of any changes that occur in the back office. They must have a clear line of communication with the management, so they can adapt to a newfound situation.
Advanced solutions are especially important for large construction companies that work with numerous clients, finishing buildings in several locations. Among others, minor communication errors can lead to the following issues:
- Lack of communication leads to various work-related mistakes. For example, your field team could be using the wrong materials, or they might be prioritizing the wrong section of a building.
- You might also experience improper substantiation for payment claims.
- Not having a clear line of communication is potentially dangerous. If one of the building’s sections has become unsafe for work, your team needs to be aware of it as soon as possible.
- Lack of communication leads to poor scheduling and other delays. It affects your team’s ability to address bottlenecks in the field.
- Not being able to relay information from the field will affect future planning and project analysis.
7 Methods for Improving Communication Between Construction Teams
The good news is that the communication tech has significantly changed in the last few decades. Today, field teams and back office administrators can easily communicate with apps such as Telegram, WhatsApp, and Viber. Teams can utilize portable construction time clocks to notify management of their current status.
- Introduce a Chain of Command
Chain of command, or chain of communication, allows you to determine who’s in charge. Your key contacts will manage teams in the field and take care of their immediate needs. For example, bricklayers should contact their team leader whenever they’re lacking materials or are unable to meet deadlines.
Each leader is responsible for their respective team. Their job is to relay communication from the back office to the craftsmen, and vice versa. With a proper chain of command, everyone will be notified of changes in the job site, but you can also conceal information from employees lower in the chain.
- Find User-Friendly Solutions
Although people are generally more savvy nowadays than they were several decades ago, some of us still struggle with apps and devices. This is why construction businesses must introduce solutions that are user-friendly and geared toward each person, regardless of their tech acumen.
Ideally, you should use simple programs like FaceTime or WhatsApp. Just about anyone uses these programs, so your employees shouldn’t have a hard time using them. If you want to use something a bit more complex, you should consider providing paid training for your staff.
- Introduce Standardized Tech
If you have ever worked in the construction business, you will know that a lot of guys are stubborn. They’re proud of their craftsmanship and stick to things that work, which is why they slowly adapt to any change. This is why managers have to introduce universal communication solutions as soon as possible.
For example, you should have a communication app that would work on a company level. As soon as the upper management signs a new person, they should be given access to appropriate channels. Besides everyone using one and the same programs, you must also ensure they have the same configuration.
- Rely on Real-Time Notifications
Among other things, you should use communication solutions that have real-time notifications. Your team should be immediately updated on any change in the field, so they can react as quickly as possible. Just imagine how much you could boost your productivity by streamlining orders between the back office and your staff in the field.
- Utilize Cloud Technology
Generally speaking, the discourse between construction teams is rather straightforward. Most guys in the field are veterans who know what they’re doing at every moment, so you can explain a situation in just a few words. However, there will be cases when you’ll have to relay much more data to your team.
In these situations, you’ll need a communication solution that utilizes cloud tech. These solutions are especially important for large files that engineers use (for example, various blueprints). By relying on a single centralized location, you won’t have to worry about data loss and cybersecurity issues.
- Use Multimedia
Construction companies are using a lot of multimedia solutions (videos, images) to showcase different issues in the construction yard. For example, you can take photos of a dent in a wall or mistakes using the wrong metal profile. Managers can point out various mistakes to craftsmen in the field and urge them to rectify the issues.
With photos, you can take note of everything you’ve done during the day. That way, you won’t get in trouble when another team takes over and messes things up.
- Provide Continuous Training
Although programs such as Revit and Slack can’t compare in terms of complexity, your teams should still master the basic communication tools. They should also have a good understanding of project management software such as Trello, as it would allow management to track progress in the field.
The company should teach its staff about advanced features. Each craftsman should be able to download files, transfer them in different formats, insert links into text files, and perform other actions. Although you’ll rarely use some of these features, they might be lifesavers in certain situations.
Conclusion
Communication software is vital for increasing a construction company’s profitability. It allows you to streamline complex processes and coordinate between teams. One of the less emphasized advantages is that these programs strengthen relationships between employees.
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