You know how difficult workforce planning can be if you’ve ever been a construction project manager. Well, at times, you might curse the construction sector for being susceptible to delays. While you accept the hard fact, it makes sense to brace up for the impediments. How about executing practical and actionable ideas to leverage your productivity?
There’s no practical alternative to workforce management tools to keep track of your budget, project goals, and labor. Successful construction project managers can optimize labor hours and site operations with the right kind of software at their disposal. The experts at Bridgit have developed some strategic tips that should help you enhance your workforce planning through obtaining a complete idea of what is workforce planning. By using idea management systems to make it easier to gather and assess innovative ideas from employees, organisations may promote creativity.
How Can Construction Firms Improve Workforce Planning?
Investigate these tactical methods that you might implement in your firm to improve the workforce planning process.
1. Collaborate Digitally
Irrespective of the project’s scope, construction firms need a seamless communication channel between the on-site workers and remote officials. Besides, the construction sector involves subcontracting. While achieving your project goals, collaboration would significantly drive coordinated operations.
With intelligent database management systems and project management software, you can streamline communication with subcontractors. This eliminates the chances of possible delays and errors hindering your progress.
2. Deploy Project Management Tools
In case you are still counting on Excel or have multiple systems in place to manage your operations and workforce, your business would be susceptible to inconsistency in information flow. Moreover, manually seeking information from several sources can prove to be a stressful ordeal. The best way out is to go paperless.
Construction companies are always looking for ways to improve workforce productivity and optimize job site operations. One way they can do this is by using a time clock app. This type of app can help managers track employee hours, locations, and job site activity in real time. This information can be used to improve workforce planning by identifying areas where employees are spending too much time or not enough time. In addition, the data collected by the app can be used to improve safety on job sites by identifying hazards and potential risks. By using an employee time tracking app with GPS, construction companies can gain valuable insights that can help them improve workforce productivity and reduce operational costs.
An integrated project management software would serve all your departments, including bidding, accounting, scheduling, resource allocation, etc. Such a tool would also leverage your workforce planning. Project managers across the globe currently schedule their projects based on intelligent insights available through these tools. This would put you in a more commanding position when it comes to determining the focus of what is workforce planning.
3. Bank On Intelligent Forecasting
Thanks to the power of data analytics, construction project managers can plan their workforce based on intelligent inputs. Particularly, in an industry where every little element contributes to the cost factor, you cannot simply overlook analytics. Scrutinize historical data, customer demand, and price trends to create realistic and accurate forecasts.
Construction businesses can develop practical resource plans by comparing the costs of their previous projects and respective estimates. Some construction management tools also support forecasting. This would help you allocate your resources and human capital intelligibly.
4. Efficient Time Management
While business leaders habitually equate time with money, the concepts hold good, particularly in the construction sector. Efficient time management largely impacts the success of your projects.
With intelligent project management tools, you can significantly mitigate project downtime. These tools enable project managers to get a holistic view of manpower, resources, and schedule at any time. You can optimize time management by scheduling accordingly when you know the task at hand. This would ultimately enhance the productivity of your firm.
5. Scrutinizing Your Productivity
A statistic reveals that 90% of the workers operating in the construction sector deem the industry to be unproductive. While the numbers look worrisome for project managers, there are ways to get around it.
Firstly, you need to rely on data-driven insights. Without data-oriented facts, scrutinizing or gauging your productivity becomes an arduous pursuit. Rather than indulging in guesswork, capitalize on the graphs and data you can generate through construction management software.
By aligning your goals with this progress, you can monitor the proceedings each day. This would also minimize the instances of delays and errors.
6. Prioritize Safety At The Construction Site
Workforce planning and employment conditions go hand in hand. While every industry has its own share of dangers at the workplace, you need to prioritize workplace safety for construction workers. The operations involve various machines and technical equipment. Besides, your staff might be operating at extreme heights or even dealing with hazardous materials. This makes them susceptible to accidents, which would eventually disrupt your workflow.
To warrant safety for your employees, you must have proper construction gear in place. Also, train up the personnel to handle the materials professionally. While this would boost your productivity, you can keep accidents and interruptions at bay.
7. Flexibility In Operations
Construction managers prefer having a calculated degree of flexibility in place. This helps them to cope with uncertainties and delays. Along with the right technology and software, a flexible schedule can save your time, enhance productivity, and mitigate costs.
In general, shift workers have little control over their operational schedules. This can adversely impact their lifestyle and health. It becomes challenging for them to schedule anything apart from work. However, ensuring flexibility in the operational hours boosts employee morale and enhances the retention rate.
When it comes to effective workforce planning, you need to keep your staff motivated. With happier construction workers, you can fancy better business efficiency.
Why Is Workforce Planning Important?
Have a look at the features you should benefit from when you deploy advanced tools.
- Warning signs in case your workforce planning exceeds your budget
- A holistic overview of your business from any location
- The power to make intelligent and data-oriented decisions
- Integrated operational management, encompassing different departments
- Simplified communication and coordination between your staff
- Manage resource allocation, process leave requests, and deal with shifts
- Comprehensive control over your budget, schedules, and forecasting
Endnote
There are several dimensions to what is workforce planning. These include meeting deadlines, mitigating construction downtime, and controlling your budget while planning resource allocation.
In the end, every construction firm strives to secure its clients’ confidence and trust. This is where powerful construction management software can help you out. Eliminating human errors and automating repetitive manual processes, these cloud-based systems can help you plan intelligibly.
Consult professionals if the need arises, and get the best tool recommended as per your budget and scope of the project. This way, you can optimize your resources and leverage productivity.
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