September is Suicide Awareness Month, and with more focus being given to mental health across the board, it is important to understand its role and impact within the construction industry. Unfortunately, construction has the highest total number of suicides, and is ranked second highest for suicide rate in comparison to other industries. The overall U.S. suicide rate is 13.26 per Read More
September 22, 2017
Any computer user who has ever placed a call to a support hotline knows the difference between a quality support experience and, well, the opposite. But what does quality support really mean? Let’s start by talking about what it isn’t. How many of us have… called a support line, only to be greeted by an automated attendant which forces us Read More
September 20, 2017
Construction Operations Mobile Technology Software Optimization
Heavy civil construction projects need to carefully manage logistics in order to ensure success. Project complexities are driven by large amounts of resources over huge geographic regions, with three key resources needing optimization so projects are efficient and successful: People Equipment Materials The rise of mobile technology is well aligned to address the field operations requirements associated with optimizing people, Read More
September 7, 2017
Construction Operations Mobile Technology
Heavy Civil Infrastructure projects are getting larger and more complex, and as a result, over 50% of projects fail to meet budget and schedule. This increasing complexity is driven by many factors including… No two projects are the same. Each project has its own unique set of existing circumstances. Conditions on the job are always in flux, and often the Read More
August 30, 2017
Construction Operations Mobile Technology
Working in the construction industry comes with its fair share of risks: roughly 20% of all worker deaths occur at construction jobsites, with the top four causes of these fatalities including falling, being struck by an object, electrocution, and getting caught/compressed between two objects. In order to help keep workers risk-free and jobsites compliant, a holistic safety program needs to Read More
August 29, 2017
Construction Operations Mobile Technology
Heavy construction costs occur in the field, and that’s where collaboration and insight can help contractors control them. The problem is, many contractors continue to rely primarily on financial or ERP systems to tell them how they are performing versus plan. Now, operational software and mobile capabilities are paving the way for a more effective field-centric approach. As margins get Read More
August 25, 2017
Construction Operations Mobile Technology Software Optimization
Equipment inspections, repair requests and maintenance work orders are essential, every-day processes within heavy construction operations. Let’s take a look at: How contractors typically complete these process and the challenges they face with current workflows. How they could complete them more effectively with connected workflows and a unified software platform. Problems with Paper and Disconnected Processes For inspections, contractors first Read More
August 4, 2017
Scott Adams attended the B2W User Conference in 2015 and was intrigued by an upcoming addition to the B2W platform being previewed for the first time. Fast forward two years, and B2W Inform was a pivotal asset in his employer’s to move toward paperless field data collection. Forms at Bluebird Contracting and the Trotter & Morton Group of Companies were Read More
July 31, 2017
Construction Operations Mobile Technology
Going “paperless” is an increasingly popular goal, as contractors look to escape the inefficiencies, lag time and errors that paper forms bring, while better leveraging the data those forms contain. At Barriere Construction in Louisiana, safety meetings and equipment inspections are two processes where dramatic improvements have been achieved via the B2W Inform solution for data capture and analysis. “We Read More
July 27, 2017
Construction Operations Software Optimization
Having worked closely with Herb Brownett over many years when he was a B2W client at Pennsylvania sitework and excavating specialist Brubacher Construction, two things are clear. He has an in-depth knowledge of our platform and he knows how to deploy our applications to enhance bidding, operations and profitability. That’s why we’re so pleased that Herb, who recently retired as Read More
July 26, 2017
Construction Operations Mobile Technology Software Optimization
We’re all pressed for time and trying to “do more with less”. This blog post highlights little-known and underutilized features in B2W Track to help recoup some time each day. Over the years, B2W Software continuously adds great features, and more than a few go unnoticed – including these overlooked gems. Exclude Zero Cost Labor Types Auto-Add Foreman Auto Add Read More
June 26, 2017
Contractors maintaining a few dozen or a few hundred pieces of equipment know that keeping track of warranties and optimizing coverage are real challenges. Tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars can be lost by not knowing which repairs and replacements could be covered and when. In this article in Construction Executive “Tech Trends”, John Kane explores how maintenance Read More
June 23, 2017
Construction Operations Estimating
Improving estimating, field performance tracking and the link between the two “B2W Estimate and Track have had a profound impact on our company,” says Benson Thoudsanikone, general manager of Kitsaki Projects. The company has close to 200 employees and focuses primarily on utility-based construction projects in Saskatchewan. Kitsaki implemented the B2W Estimate and Track solutions in tandem, with the goals Read More
June 23, 2017
Estimating Software Optimization
For heavy civil construction estimators juggling multiple bids on a tight deadline, every second counts and – if they aren’t careful – so can every error. That’s one reason why the B2W Estimate software application includes a unique and powerful tool: the Estimate Error-check Wizard. The wizard not only checks for red flags in a final draft, but guides users Read More
June 23, 2017
For those that follow the construction software and technology market, there is a noticeable uptake in technology among construction firms. VDC, BIM, mobile project management apps and the Internet of Things (IoT), top the list. This has not gone unnoticed by software firms and venture capital. Both have been investing heavily over the last few years. Most of this investment, Read More
June 20, 2017
Construction Operations Estimating Mobile Technology
An accounting or ERP system is the go-to tool for managing project costs at many heavy construction companies, but those systems are specifically designed for recording and reporting after costs occur. The limitation is that they are not very effective at helping contractors stay on top of project costs where and when those costs actually occur – in the field Read More
June 19, 2017