Yana Tcharnaia, the sales manager of Jonas Construction Software, ensures that future customers have the information they need about the company’s software products and the industry in order to help them research and buy construction software. We recently spoke with Yana about how construction management software is becoming more widespread in the construction industry.
Briefly tell us how Jonas Construction Management Software can make a construction supervisor’s job easier.
Jonas does this by allowing them to approve and view documents in the field with our online document management system and giving them the ability to review and approve time for their crews. With our project scheduler, construction supervisors are able to review their projects and make sure that the phases are being completed on time and on budget; while eliminating any scheduling issues that can be really costly, especially if crews/subcontractors are double-booked. All reports can be automatically sent to the supervisors so they can drill down directly into their jobs and see RFI’s, submittals, transmittals, drawings, and change orders whether they are in the office or in the field.
Are you still seeing much resistance to the idea of entrusting construction project management to a computer software program? Or are these types of products becoming the industry standard these days?
These types of products are becoming the industry standard. People need real-time information and must have access to actual costs. In addition, collaboration is huge as companies want to have things standardized across the industry. To work with other contractors, they will require things to be done to a certain standard, and if you don’t have software in place, they may choose not to work with you on a project.
On a typical construction project, how much paperwork can construction management software reduce or eliminate?
Its document managing system can eliminate all paperwork.
Finish this sentence: “The most widely-reported problem or challenge by construction supervisors that construction management software can help overcome is…”
…to make sure that the job is not going over budget. With real-time information flowing in daily, you can ensure that you don’t go over budget on jobs. In addition, you can make sure everyone is on the same page with our collaboration tool.
In today’s construction industry, how advantageous is it for a construction supervisor [and his or her job prospects] to be computer literate and well-versed in operating construction management software?
It is of the utmost importance. Even though the construction industry is slow to change, technology is being adopted very rapidly across the industry. More companies are looking to hire people with experience in software.
With virtual reality becoming more widely available, it is necessary for businesses to get on board. While some in the industry are hesitant to change, it really isn’t as drastic as they think. Once they get their hands on this type of software, it is pretty straightforward – even if they aren’t computer literate.
How do you expect advances in digital technology to change the construction industry in the future?
There will be a huge push to standardize the software in the industry that will drive the need for all contractors to be using the same solution. More specifically, there will be a need for integrated construction software.
Integration has always been important, but there will be a big push for it as people are starting to realize how important it is for field and office staff to be on the same page and understand the value of real-time information and the cost-saving aspects that come with it. It is necessary to always make sure that you have the proper technology in place to be competitive; otherwise, you risk not being relevant in the industry and potentially losing business.
Virtual reality will be the next big advancement in the industry due to the high demand for field staff and the lack of highly-skilled resources available. Contractors will start to hire people that don’t necessarily have that much experience but will be led using virtual reality glasses that will ultimately lead/show them what needs to be done.
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