Blog Post

Field Report – A core pillar for a project success

20.12.2019 | 4 min read

For a project to run smoothly from day one till day the day of launch, a field report is a must on a construction site. We can all agree that any collaborative project team share the importance of finishing the work without having unnecessary hiccups that might disrupt the general workflow. The end goals between team members remain clear and common; to finish on time and under budget while providing the highest quality for the best value.

Waist up of two employees standing near the building while one of them holding smartphone

Punch list for construction projects and how it pays back

A punch list is considered the backbone for a construction site, but what other list is also vital and unneglectable? A construction project check list that holds many aspects within, from the weather forecast your team is dealing with at the location of the site to the number of tasks accomplished on the day and the activities that are scheduled to be completed. To give an instance, with a documented description of the equipment used a subcontractor would be aware of what is being used and what tool is just idle and sitting around not adding a benefit other than occupying space. By recording everyday activities, you create a project’s timeline that is free of potential delays including materials, workforce, meetings or any significant step that counts. According to a recent study conducted by Turner and Townsend, the global construction cost is expected to rise by an average of 4.3%. That being said, why would one member of the project cause a further reason for cost overrun that can be easily avoided by filling a daily construction log?

A punch list software saves the life of a building

Working in the field of engineering and construction does give a person the privilege of taking a site diary lightly. Being able to provide and generate a detailed site diary puts the project on a high level of transparency that allows all parties to stay on track and record all details. The ConTech app PlanRadar is a cloud-based software that plays the role of the personal smart assistant. At your fingertips, you can record a defect, assign a ticket, attach photos/videos, or even send voice notes for further explanation. Having a digital form of support on construction sites has been a great form of minimizing stress and managing the whole workflow, without having to worry about forgetting to mention a certain note or remembering to follow up on a defect that requires a high level of attention.

‘’Every construction manager knows those time-consuming activities keeping you away from your job on the field. You probably spend up to 60 minutes daily for documentation and spreadsheets. PlanRadar helps you save two hours of rework time for every job-site inspection hour’’ – Domagoj Dolinsek, CEO PlanRadar.

Time is money, and in 2020 it is not a rhetorical statement anymore. Having a proper kind of documentation makes it easy to manage the day-to-day activities efficiently and give room for feedback without having shortages or subject the project to a case of litigation. Documentation comes in many forms and the importance of it reflects on the smoothness in running the site. From complex activities and planning to detailed requirements and team coordination, it is an outstanding objective to not interrupt any of the aforementioned.

Snag list in construction, an architect’s own to-do list

Many concerns arise when it comes to the industry of buildings, but building a good reputation is one factual goal and for that to be achieved a company needs to be aware of the emerging technologies. A study conducted by FMI recently revealed that 90% of all global infrastructure projects are either over-budget or delayed. For these facts, implementing a digital form of snag list in construction is considered an ideal solution for those who depend on their memory and eventually end up forgetting at least one major detail. In complex projects many parties tend to lose track of the most recent update and to be able to avoid the dilemma of whom responsibility was it, you can simply save yourself time and effort by checking the project’s punch list.

What to document?

More like what not to document. In construction sites, every piece of information is worth documenting, starting from the list of personnel on-site and the number of tasks assigned to important visitors and any event that was not meant to be occurring. Many parties see the benefit behind having a field report and thoroughly filling it. From the owner who would appreciate having an overview of the project at a fingertip and the managers who don’t need to waste a minute on chasing down tasks and filing reports to the supervisors who will be able to save at least one hour per day on paperwork.

By the book, a punch list is meant to be prepared near the end of a construction project but why not reshape how we work, so we can re-adjust ourselves to the current worldly trends and be on the top of the heap.

Get started in 4 easy steps.

1. Create an account

2. Upload plans

3. Invite team members

4. Download app