The civil construction industry can no longer afford to overlook digital solutions. Digital alternatives to paper-based systems have revolutionised communication between the job site and office, increased visibility into real-time progress, addressed issues early on, reduced data duplication, saved time, and more. However, rolling out digital solutions to field-based workers can be difficult, and a lack of front-line user adoption is one of the most common reasons for digital initiative failure.
To prevent this, here are some best practices to increase your chances of successful digital solution adoption:
Tip 1: Clearly define the business outcomes you expect to achieve from implementing digital solutions.
Before choosing software, consider the problems you need to solve, how the solution will help you overcome them, and whether it aligns with your other business systems. Avoid collecting “vanity data” that adds little value to improving your business performance.
Tip 2: Be ruthless in cutting out data capture requests that don’t help with key business activities such as cost management.
This step can be challenging for leaders who believe that all data collected from the jobsite is critical. Seek an outsider’s opinion to identify data that can be eliminated. This frees up workers’ headspace to adopt the new system.
Tip 3: Choose a software solution that is easy to use, even for your least tech-capable employees.
Most software solutions for the civil construction industry target management teams, neglecting the most critical part of a successful rollout – the workers who will use the software. Complex solutions require highly trained, computer-savvy workers on every jobsite, leading to costly gaps between the jobsite and the office.
Tip 4: Communicate to your workers why it is important to roll out the new system, how it benefits the business, and how it helps with their day-to-day tasks.
Workers are more likely to contribute to the success of their employer if they understand why it matters.
Tip 5: Develop a solid rollout plan that includes communicating the steps, timing, and requirements to all workers.
Ideally, communication should come from the highest level of the organisation (business owner or general manager) to demonstrate support for the initiative. Make it clear that the new digital solution is non-negotiable and part of the job requirements.
Tip 6: Provide appropriate training and support to users.
After workers understand why the new solution is necessary and the rollout plan, they need to know how to use it. Provide training that should not take more than 30 minutes for most users. Ensure that “power users” with a high level of training or the software solution provider offers support to front-line users.
Tip 7: Monitor usage over time.
Rollout alone isn’t enough – workers must continue using the new system to provide business value. Monitor workers’ completion of required tasks daily and step in to give support to get things back on track.
Following these steps can increase the chances of successful digital solution adoption without adding stress to other areas of the business. If you’re currently using paper-based or Excel-based systems, it’s time to consider adopting fit-for-purpose solutions for civil construction, such as Varicon. Varicon was built with front-line workers in mind to make adoption easy, provide increased visibility, and give peace of mind to civil construction business owners.
To learn more about Varicon, schedule a no-commitment introductory call today. Don’t let the competition leave you behind – it’s time to embrace digital solutions.
