Creating a data strategy that works for your construction business

With the onslaught of digital transformation, companies are getting inundated by the project data their software tools are amassing. According to InsideBigData, the size of the digital universe doubles every two years, and companies are feeling the weight of that information overload. While you may not want to see all the data, you do need to avail yourself of certain accurate information to make decisions in the field or even those affecting your company’s future. Maybe yours is like most construction companies, and you don’t have a formal strategy for collecting, analyzing, organizing, and putting all that data to use. The fact is your data is an asset that you can use to improve your project management and outcomes.

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Following are four steps for creating a data strategy that works for your construction business.

1. Focus on one thing.

You have lots of options for using data to gain insights. It’s up to you to decide what insights your business will benefit most from, whether that’s safety, quality, or something else. Then decide your priorities. Which of these do you want to tackle first? You can always add to your strategy, so give yourself the gift of not trying to tackle too much at first. Where do you see the most value coming from? This focus enables you to get the biggest impact from your efforts and shows everyone in the company the positive outcome of this strategy. For future use, data should be collected and organized in a consistent manner in a central location. Digitized processes ensure the data you gather is consistent, which allows you to make current and future decisions confidently.

2. Get buy in.

If you are not using data-based insights for making decisions now, some adjustments will need to happen in your company. One of the best ways to achieve this is by involving your team in the process of setting up your strategy and showing them how it will benefit them in their work. When they know why your strategy is being implemented and what their role is, that will go a long way toward getting their buy-in and support. The success of your plan depends on training, adoption and use by the people it affects the most, including their feedback. To continually reinforce your strategy, you should consistently share the ways data-based insights have improved project management and outcomes.

3. Standardize information collection.

One important task in developing your strategy is identifying erroneous data and cleaning it up. In addition, standards should be set for capturing clean and meaningful data, with tracking metrics. Make sure the information you’ll be collecting will provide the insights you need to take the actions you desire.

4. Use a common data environment.

Using a single software solution to collect and manage project data makes it easier for team members to collaborate and for project information to flow among stakeholders. A common data environment also reduces the chance that manual errors or other mishandling will corrupt your data.

When you put your deepest asset – your data – to work, your company will gain a competitive edge through better project management and outcomes.

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What is connected construction? Find out in the latest free Applied Software eBook download, “The Importance of a Common Data Environment.”