IT and digital technology solutions are powering more and more sectors to boost productivity and efficiency by transforming the way they work.
While people might think that the construction sector isn’t the quickest industry to adopt digital technology, just like other sectors, the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have sparked an innovative approach to embracing new technologies.
At 365 Training Consultants we see the transformative power that IT has on a business and construction is benefiting from this too.
Challenges facing the construction sector
The construction industry has its own unique challenges born from the nature of its work but there are also many other challenges shared with other sectors that are fundamental to success:
- Effective communication
- Building collaboration within teams
- Saving costs
- Accurate planning
- Data Analysis
- Document management
- Data security
- Efficient processes
- Maintaining standards
Without addressing these daily challenges, a business may never reach its full potential, instead constantly battling these barriers to growth.
IT solutions
For many businesses the key to addressing many of these issues is a better use of IT solutions; construction can also benefit to improve many aspects of day-to-day operations.
At 365 Training Consultants we support many construction businesses through the introduction and integration of Microsoft 365, to address these daily challenges.
Being cloud based, Microsoft 365 is accessible from a range of devices, such as mobiles and tablets, wherever you are, so your team is no longer tied to a single location. They can work from a number of sites and still have full access to files, communication tools, e-mails and any software or apps crucial to their work.
A platform such as Sharepoint also allows you to automate repetitive processes specific to your organisation and the connectedness of its wide range of apps avoids the trap of stove-piped spreadsheets and makes your data work harder.
Greater connectivity and security on site
It also offers greater data security because its Cloud security is managed and updated by the provider and individuals don’t need to keep sensitive files on local devices in order to work remotely, making them vulnerable to loss or theft.
Communication tools, such as Teams, also make it is easier to collaborate, not just because these offer one-to-one or group communication, but video calls, instant messaging and file sharing across different locations.
With SharePoint, Word, Excel, etc, creating, storing, sharing and managing information becomes easier and more secure. It also creates efficiencies as users can track changes, create tabs to search material more easily and several people can share and work on one document at the same time. When managing projects, putting quotes together or managing client needs, this increased ability to collaborate can greatly improve efficiency.
Project planning
Project planning, data analysis and workflows can also be created, managed and analysed on SharePoint and Microsoft 365. This can have significant impact on the ability to create accurate project plans which help reduce costs, lets you analyse data to make better-informed decisions and create workflows to drive efficiency, while enforcing thorough processes.
Getting more from your IT through training
There are IT tools for every task but it’s important that the right training takes place for you and your staff to make best use of its potential.
Designed to be user-friendly, Microsoft 365 is simple to gain a basic understanding of, but training takes its utility to another level:
- Greater confidence increases operating speed
- Quicker adoption means your business feels the benefits sooner
- Improves innovation and the team’s ability to develop their own solutions for driving business productivity, through a deeper understanding of the capability of their software
- Investing in training for key team members lets them support others to develop their skills
- Staff retention increases as they feel better equipped for their job and more valued through training investment
- Confident IT users become advocates for it, supporting wider adoption across the business
- Fully utilising IT packages improves output and saves costs through efficiencies
A team trained to use the right tools, whether it’s heavy plant or an accounting app, will give any business a competitive edge. On the other hand, not adopting technology, while others around you do, could see a business being left behind.
Investing in training is about building business capabilities but it’s also an investment in developing and empowering people who then understand what they can do with the tools at hand and can work more smartly to deliver results to your bottom line.
IT training support
If you’re interested in exploring how our team can help your business gain more from your IT equipment and software packages including SharePoint, both virtually and face-to face, in group training, one-to-one coaching, or through our consulting services, then contact 365 Training Consultants today.
