Enhancing construction’s business mobile calling will sustain productivity and momentum

Simon Hochhauser is founder and CEO at PiPcall

PwC might be forecasting an overall decline in construction spend of -5% in 2023, but it also says the industry will “[return] to growth in 2024 and 2025”. Businesses must put their best foot forward to capitalise on this opportunity.

To do this, businesses must revamp project management to tackle aggressive deadlines, address supply chain issues, and relieve productivity concerns. Specifically, outdated communication methods on sites underpins issues workers experience, from dropped calls and poor connectivity to missed calls due to a lack of mobile collaboration tools – it’s time to rectify these communication gaps.

Digital transformation toolbox

Embracing digital transformation will propel the industry towards a positive trajectory for recovery and growth. Positively, nearly half (44%) of construction businesses are working towards a smarter, digital future, an additional 44% are already well on the way. What mustn’t be forgotten on this digital transformation journey is communication tools.

We’ve all heard about the rise of remote and hybrid working in the news. Indeed, a communication revolution has transformed office-based and remote workers, empowering them with Unified Communication (UC) tools like call recording, instant messaging, CRM integration and live document editing. However, the same innovative strides have excluded out-and-about workers, particularly those navigating construction sites.

This is because mobile phone apps with UC features typically require the voice stream to travel over a public data internet connection and this is shared with other data-hungry applications. These data channels do not provide guaranteed delivery in real-time as most applications tolerate transmission delays. However, telephone calls require real time delivery between the parties and any delay inevitably reduces voice call quality and gives rise to frequent call drops. This isn’t good enough for construction workers and professionals on or moving between sites.

Traditional phone calls will always remain essential within construction – they provide immediacy and a telephone discussion leaves little room for ambiguity when you need a job done efficiently. So, what is required today is a solution that integrates advanced calling features with the dedicated mobile voice network, for consistent high-quality. It’s the best of both worlds.

Picture this…

Adopting a mobile calling solution that has HD-voice quality combined with advanced calling features greatly increases productivity. Imagine a Quantity Surveyor working on-site who is chatting with a contractor about upcoming deadlines when a call from a supplier arrives to say that the window units will be late. Instead of letting the call ring through, they can seamlessly transfer that call to a colleague to manage inquiries and make sure it’s delivered on time. Or, if they are able to take the call themselves, they can rest assured their important direction won’t be missed due to poor call quality.

What’s more, say you’re dealing with a tricky contractor who arrives late. You can record your phone calls so that when they say they’ll arrive at 9am but actually show up at 11am after repeated chasing calls, you have proof to help you in the event of a dispute arising from their late arrival.

It’s all about connecting different people on the same project – surveyors, property developers, architects, engineers, contractors and more – and giving them rich calling features to make data-backed decisions and speed up communications, without compromising quality. This will bridge the communication gap for construction professionals, offering a reliable and advanced mobile communication framework tailored to their unique needs.

Concrete solutions

This transformative approach to communications will be intrinsic to boosting productivity, particularly for project-scoped professionals that aren’t engaged with one firm full-time. With this in mind, any mobile phone solution should not only utilise the dedicated mobile voice network for superior call quality and advanced features but must also prioritise GDPR compliance.

Construction firms use a range of mobile devices, including SIMs, eSIMs, and BYOD (bring your own device). This can present challenges such as security compliance gaps, hidden costs and administrative complexities for IT teams, especially when managing intricate supply chain models. The BYOD model, intertwining personal and professional aspects, heightens GDPR risks – such as the sharing of both personal and work contacts.

Implementing a solution with a separate mobile number, data, and communication plan ensures business calls, contacts, and messages remain separate from confidential information. Furthermore, a solution that enables IT managers to wipe sensitive data from mobile phones post-project ensures the safeguarding of employee, partner and customer data.

The blueprint for tomorrow

A shared understanding that embracing digital tools is key to sustained growth and success will be pivotal for the industry’s future. To ensure this momentum continues, businesses must persist in prioritising digital transformation, with mobile calling taking centre stage. Integrating advanced mobile communication technologies will fortify construction companies’ resilience in the face of evolving challenges, ensuring the sector stands poised for growth.

• Simon Hochhauser is founder and CEO at PiPcall

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