What trends will take hold in the year ahead? According to a number of construction professionals, one answer is mobility. More contractors are looking to take their processes right out to where work is getting done—in the field.One recent example comes from Corrigo Inc., www.corrigo.com, Tualatin, Ore. This provider of mobile field service applications for the construction industry recently announced a new, free WorkTrack Service Management app for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.
This news also extends WorkTrack’s integration with QuickBooks from Intuit, www.intuit.com, Mountain View, Calif., to include support for Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions. The advances will allow users to bring WorkTrack Service Management or Intuit Field Service Management ES to the field through Apple devices. Corrigo already offers its solution in a BlackBerry and Windows Mobile environment.
As the consumer world continues to evolve and devices such as the iPad take hold in a user’s personal life, these trends are undoubtedly impacting the business world as well. Businesses are using social-networking tools to communicate with trades and customers. Video conferencing—a trend becoming more common with consumers—is something that will certainly impact the business world in the year ahead. And of course, the iPad has found its place in the construction industry, allowing contractors to use unique functions and take software to the field.
In addition to being able to use WorkTrack Service Management to handle service operations, work orders, and dispatch at the jobsite, contractors can also use the camera functionality in the Apple devices to document work. The GPS and Push technology can also allow staff to keep an eye on field workers, while also providing workers with alerts.
For construction professionals, 2011 will most likely be the year to bring software to the field. Some technology providers are offering mobile versions of their software while others are developing customized apps for devices. Are you looking at all the options open to your company? Some can be very affordable and will transform how your firm does business.
SOURCE: CONSTRUCTECH Magazine - the construction industry advocate focused on the technology needs of the construction professional dedicated to driving technology initiatives forward. http://www.constructech.com/news/articles/article.aspx?
