How to Simplify and Improve Your Current Construction Business Workflow

How to Simplify and Improve Your Current Construction Business Workflow

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Construction businesses are always looking for ways to automate workflow processes. There are several ways to do this, but one of the best is by simplifying and streamlining your current business processes. This can be done in several ways, but here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Streamline Communication

One of the best ways to improve your construction business workflow is to streamline communication. For example, GoCanvas can be utilized as a single platform to improve on-site communication and collaboration between team members. GoCanvas allows all members of your construction team including stakeholders, subcontractors, and more to collect data, fill out forms and inspections in real-time to avoid delays in communication.

2. Simplify Tasks

Simplifying time-consuming tasks allows your construction team to focus on the task at hand and avoid getting bogged down in complex processes. One way to simplify tasks is by using a construction project management software that automates tasks such as tracking change orders, manual processes, and invoicing. This can free up your team’s time so they can focus on more important tasks, such as project planning and execution.

3. Reduce Risks

Reducing risks and inefficiencies can be done by implementing safety protocols and investing in quality control measures. Strong protocols should be implemented for each stage of the construction process. For example, you can create a safety plan that outlines the procedures for dealing with accidents and injuries. You should also invest in quality control measures, such as regular inspections and testing, to ensure that your construction projects are up to code.

4. Plan Ahead

Pre-planning allows general contractors to create a project timeline and schedule that contains all the necessary project information needed for completion. This can help avoid delays and disruptions in your construction workflow. By planning ahead, you can also anticipate problems and find solutions before they cause delays in your project.

5. Optimize Your Fleet

Optimizing your fleet helps you reduce costs and improve your construction business workflow. For example, you can use a construction management software to track your fleet’s location and utilization. This information can help you optimize your routes and schedules to reduce fuel costs and travel time. You can also use this data to identify underutilized vehicles so you can sell or lease them. By following these five steps, you can make your construction business more efficient and improve your bottom line.

Going paperless is a significant enhancement for the construction industry. Construction companies no longer have to worry about paperwork and spreadsheets thanks to GoCanvas digital solutions. GoCanvas provides a dashboard that keeps finances, approvals, document management, checklists, and team communication all in one place. Some of the many benefits of going paperless include:

  • The ability to optimize schedules and travel routes at the click of a button
  • The ability to monitor jobsite progress and collect data in real-time
  • The ability to manage your workforce in one centralized location

GoCanvas offers a suite of ready-to-use digital templates and apps for construction industry project management that can be accessed from any device, anytime, anywhere. Contact us to learn more about how GoCanvas can improve your workflow management.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…

A man using GoCanvas for the digital transformation of his workflow.

Constructions Digital Transformation

Your competition is finding faster ways to capture data and get critical insights from the field into their existing systems. In short, they’re not going bigger, they’re getting smarter. In this 15-minute broadcast on the construction industry’s digital transformation, find out why the trend is to modernize workflows – and how you can stay ahead of the curve…

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See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas

VIP Lighting is a retail lighting and electrical maintenance business that services over 10,000 retail locations all over Australia and New Zealand. Before GoCanvas, VIP Lighting had two separate systems that were impossible to integrate, leading to inefficiencies. GoCanvas made it easy to integrate their systems into single, centralized platform…

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

How to Automate Your Field Service Data Collection

How to Automate Your Field Service Data Collection

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Automating field service data collection can save your organization time, money, and a lot of frustration. The best field service data collection software allows you to take in and process real-time information about many aspects of your business and make timely improvements. 

Understanding the importance of field service data collection is one thing. Finding the right data collection app and automating the process is another. At GoCanvas, we have field service apps for different industries, including maintenance, construction, sales, human resources, and more. 

Continue reading to learn how to automate your field service data collection using customizable GoCanvas field service apps. 

Whether you’re actively collecting data in an organized manner or not, the data exists. Every appointment, route, customer feedback, etc., offers your company an opportunity to analyze and improve business functions in real-time so long as you have the data to do it. 

Field service data collection can help your business improve in many areas, including: 

  • Workflow and dispatch efficiency 
  • Time savings 
  • Budgeting and elimination of revenue leaks 
  • Employee effectiveness and communication 
  • Customer satisfaction 

Additionally, when you have the correct workflow, job descriptions, expectations, and technology, field service data collection can help to keep your business organized and your employees accountable.

Filed service workflow automation isn’t just about getting rid of paperwork. It’s about much more. The best data collection automation software and apps connect every step of the process, from dispatch to data collection to analysis tools. 

Learn the five steps for creating an automated data collection workflow below. 

The first step in automating your field service data involves identifying the data collection processes you want to automate, the employees involved, and the tasks involved in the automation process (i.e., workflow mapping). 

Areas you’ll want to identify for each data collection task include: 

  • The type of data that is collected 
  • How many people and/or tasks are involved in the process 
  • How long does each task take to complete 
  • Devices and software used to collect the data 
  • The team that will analyze the data 
  • When, how, and where the data should be reported 

In addition to the information above, data collection workflow mapping requires you to identify and eliminate potential bottlenecks. For example, suppose you currently require field service technicians to submit their paperwork at the end of the work week. In that case, it could hinder the ability of other parties to complete their tasks promptly. 

Now that you know what data you want to collect, who’s involved, and eliminated bottlenecks, you’ll need to specify the scope of data you want to migrate into your new process. In most cases, starting with a small percentage of data is better so you can have an optimal workflow by the time your new data collection system is 100% live. 

Supposing you’ve picked a field service data collection app (if not, try GoCanvas today), you’ll need to gather your data, solidify collection methods, and customize your data collection apps, forms, and/or software. It’s important to note that refining and perfecting field service data collection takes time. The sooner you start, the faster you’ll have a well-oiled data collection machine.  

Depending on the size of your business and scope of work, it may be best to release pre-launch versions of your data collection software to ensure it meets your company’s needs. After you’ve gone through an alpha and beta testing mode, your company should be ready for a full launch. During this time, it can be helpful to solicit feedback from beta users and make improvements as needed. 

The data collected by field service technicians can be a valuable asset to your company. However, how the data is collected, its accuracy, and how fast it can be reported play a significant role in your data collection efforts. At GoCanvas, our field service apps are affordable, efficient, and mobile. Check out how GoCanvas field service automation can help your business stay organized.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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We’ve Made Work Hub Even Better: Do More in Less Time

We’ve Made Work Hub Even Better: Do More in Less Time

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Find what you need in less time with powerful search & filter capabilities. 

  • 90% faster performance in returning search results
  • Improved query accuracy, thanks to a larger volume of content being searched
  • Flexibility to target results by specific date ranges, forms, and/or assignees

In this post, we’re going to break down all of the bells and whistles of Work Hub: what it is, how it will save you time, and how it will empower you to prepare for every possibility.

As you know, transformation is a constant in the business world. Change is how you best serve the needs of current customers, attract and delight new customers, and retain talented employees. 

But sometimes transformation is adaptive, as a result of disruptions in the environment. In fact, many thought leaders have suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic was a historic “change engine,” in their digital operations, setting new norms and preventing a return to the way things were. 

For whatever reason, your business has had to adapt and change over the past couple of years, and it’s certain that you’ll continue to adapt moving forward.

GoCanvas recognizes that thousands of our customers look to us to guide them on their digital transformation journey – and that’s why we’re especially thrilled to be launching Work Hub. 

Work Hub is GoCanvas’ new, modernized platform that gives you real-time visibility to manage all your fieldwork from one central location. 

Now you can easily track projects and jobs at every stage – upcoming, in progress, and completed. We’re confident Work Hub will enable you and your team to work smarter, thus saving you time and money.

We’re always working to improve the GoCanvas experience. It’s important to note that Work Hub is an update, not a feature – in other words, there’s nothing to enable. It’s free because we want to help our future and current customers evolve and grow.  

Our mission is to help you save money, keep your team connected, and reduce risks with real-time business insights.

Thousands of organizations trust GoCanvas to capture better data and complete things like site inspections, audits, and compliance reports. Our simple-to-use software empowers companies to automate paperwork, update safety audit checklists, and make things more efficient with technology (no programming or software needed). Now, with the addition of Work Hub, you gain a modern, efficient way to get better visibility.

Jump into Work Hub to:

  • See a full picture of what your field team is working on by managing all your in-progress work.
  • Keep your operations on target with full control of all your upcoming fieldwork.
  • Visualize all your completed tasks across your organization to tackle your next project. 

No doubt about it, transformation is a constant. That’s why GoCanvas will continue to evolve and serve our current and future customers. 

Our mission is to help you save money, keep your team connected, and reduce risks with real-time business insights. The changes we’ve made to Work Hub were made with your needs in mind.

GoCanvas will transform how you do business. Take a minute to explore how Work Hub can offer you real-time visibility of all your fieldwork from one central location. 

New around here? Sign up for a free 10-day trial.

Already a customer? Log in to your account.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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Join our Partner Program and gain instant access to our global network of thought leaders and industry experts enjoying shared collaboration and collective success.

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Partner Snapshot: Forte Supply Chain Solutions

Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.

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Integrate with over 1,000 software applications. Enhance your GoCanvas experience by syncing real-time data to one or all of your business tools.

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Modernize Your Data Collection With Real Time Digital Forms

Modernize Your Data Collection With Real Time Digital Forms

Making real-time decisions that affect your bottom line, employee evaluation, and customer retention requires real-time data. By collecting data with real-time digital forms, you can unlock the full potential of your business. 

Effective data architecture and collection methods ensure your businesses data is: 

  • Easy to access, manage, maintain, and analyze
  • Streamlined 
  • Cloud-based
  • Secure and compliant with data regulations 

Continue reading to learn more about digital data collection and the benefits of implementing automated data collection processes in your organization. 

Digital data collection involves collecting, sharing, storing, and analyzing digital data via devices (i.e., iOS, Android, PC, etc.) and software. Before digital data collection, most companies used paper forms to collect information. 

Unfortunately, some companies are still opting for manual data collection. While it is better than nothing, it only provides a fraction of the power that a truly automated data collection process can provide. 

Regardless of your industry, it’s your business’s best interest to stay ahead of the competition. One of the best methods of solidifying your company’s footprint on the market is to leverage real-time data to identify problem areas and double down on areas where your business excels. 

A few of the most commonly cited benefits of digital data collection include: 

  • Reduced costs associated with data collection 
  • Faster and more efficient data collection 
  • Higher data quality and fewer mistakes 
  • More visibility and accurate tracking 

Overall, data collection modernization helps keep your business on the right track and provides insights that would have otherwise been unknown. 

There are many types of data collection software, each different from the next but essentially providing the same function – collecting, storing, and analyzing data in an organized and streamlined manner. 

The most significant benefit of data collection via digital forms over manual data collection (i.e., paper forms) is it allows your business to collect and analyze essential information in real-time. 

Additionally, data collection software like GoCanvas includes unique features like: 

  • Electronic signature collection
  • Form automation 
  • Accident investigations 
  • Process and workflow automation 

There are several types of data you can obtain using digital forms. They include but are not limited to the following: 

  • Employee information – Job title, projects, task completion time 
  • Dispatch information – Mileage per job, best times/places to dispatch technicians, job details, GPS, etc. 
  • Consumer data – Customer information, ratings, retention rates, and more 
  • Reference Data – Customer, product, pricing, barcodes, and accounting codes 
  • Payment Information – Integrations with popular payment apps

The best data collection digital forms can turn this information into valuable insights you can use to propel your business to the next level. Continue reading to learn how GoCanvas customizable data collection apps can benefit your business. 

Many small business owners and managers are interested in digital data collection software but can’t afford the cost. What separates GoCanvas digital forms from the competition is that our data collection solutions are affordable, easy to implement, customizable, and integrate seamlessly with popular data storage tools (i.e., MySQL, Google Drive, PulseM, Mailchimp, Quickbooks, and more).

Additionally, GoCanvas real-time digital forms allow:

  • Easy uploads to databases 
  • Branded reports 
  • Shareable information 
  • Image and signature capture 
  • Customizable drag-and-drop app building 
  • Fast deployment 

Are you ready to modernize your data collection with real-time digital forms? Try GoCanvas today for free- no credit card required.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

business people discussing project

Gown Your Business with GoCanvas Partner Program

Join our Partner Program and gain instant access to our global network of thought leaders and industry experts enjoying shared collaboration and collective success.

Forte Supply Chain Solutions Partner Video

Partner Snapshot: Forte Supply Chain Solutions

Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.

Closeup of a handshake.

GoCanvas Integrations: Streamline your Workflow

Integrate with over 1,000 software applications. Enhance your GoCanvas experience by syncing real-time data to one or all of your business tools.

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Top 6 Forms Needed for the Construction Workplace

Top 6 Forms Needed for the Construction Workplace

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The construction industry involves a lot more than just building and repairing. It also requires a massive amount of paperwork like checklists, project workflow forms, dispatch forms, work order forms, and more.  

Unfortunately, in many cases, construction management companies still use paper forms which can lead to lost information, late reporting, and an inability to react to valuable information in real-time. 

At GoCanvas, our digital forms and apps are fully customizable, integrate with popular software, and help your business streamline essential functions and data collection efforts. Continue reading to learn about the top six forms needed for the construction workplace. 

If you’re in construction, then you know the importance of the daily field report. It is a detailed log that includes a variety of data, including contractor/employee details, project information, work orders, error reports, safety reports, and more. 

Our fully customizable daily field report digital forms allow project engineers, managers, and subcontractors to efficiently track job site data that can be immediately uploaded to the cloud via iPad, iPhone, Android, or Windows device. 

Popular features of the GoCanvas Daily Field Report mobile app include, but are not limited to: 

  • Fully customizable 
  • Signature and image capture
  • Calculations 
  • Reference data 
  • Dispatch data 
  • Submission editing and tracking 

Try GoCanvas Construction Daily Field Reports today for free. 

Contractors and subcontractors are not administrative workers by trade, but in many cases, they spend hours filling out work order forms. If you’re not thrilled about the thought of your contractor spending billable hours on administrative tasks, then implementing a digital work order form may be in your best interest. 

At GoCanvas, our digital work order forms help to capture customer data, work order details, signatures, and more into one app, thus eliminating workflow bottlenecks typically attributed to work order forms. 

Try our GoCanvas Work Order Template Forms today for free. 

Safety inspectors, safety managers, site inspectors, and general contractors alike rely on inspection forms to meet OSHA, health, and other safety requirements. With that in mind, customizable inspection forms can help streamline the process and provide your company with real-time data and insights. 

At GoCanvas, we offer a variety of digital inspection form templates, including: 

Filling out and calculating costs manually on an estimate form requires a lot of time and money, both of which you can’t afford to lose. Now, imagine if your company didn’t have to spend hours completing and uploading estimate forms. 

At GoCanvas, our digital estimate forms allow your employees to use a smartphone or tablet to: 

  • Automatically calculate job costs (i.e., materials, labor, parts, etc.)
  • Capture customer data, including signatures 
  • Show the financial breakdown of a job 
  • Easily upload the estimate to the cloud in real-time
  • Provide customers with a professional and accurate estimate 

Try GoCanvas Estimate Forms today for free. 

It is necessary to keep track of the hours a contractor, sub-contractor, trade specialist, etc. works, but it can be a headache. Generally, manual time cards are inefficient and result in many errors. 

At GoCanvas, our Construction Time Card Mobile App allows you to track employee hours in real-time via an in-app time clock, track multiple employees simultaneously, and quickly download completed time cards. Further, you can easily upload the completed timesheets to popular accounting apps like Quickbooks and others. 

Try GoCanvas Construction Time Card Mobile App today for free. 

In construction, safety is essential. Job safety analysis forms help improve occupational safety on the job site. If you manually collect job safety data, it can take a while to turn it into actionable insights. Digital job safety analysis forms facilitate fast, accurate, and up-to-date risk assessments. 

Our job safety analysis mobile app covers many areas of the construction industry like: 

  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) use, effectiveness, and availability 
  • Potential hazards on a construction site 
  • Safety and equipment training materials 

Try GoCanvas Construction Job Safety Analysis Apps today for free. 

Construction data collection software can help modernize your company by promoting timely scheduling, accurate estimates, safe work environments, improved productivity, and streamlined communication. We have countless construction templates and apps for mobile that can help take your business to the next level. Try GoCanvas data collection software today for free – no credit card required. 

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

Three inspection workers on job site.

The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections

Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…

A man using GoCanvas for the digital transformation of his workflow.

Constructions Digital Transformation

Your competition is finding faster ways to capture data and get critical insights from the field into their existing systems. In short, they’re not going bigger, they’re getting smarter. In this 15-minute broadcast on the construction industry’s digital transformation, find out why the trend is to modernize workflows – and how you can stay ahead of the curve…

A electrician inspecting equipment.

See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas

VIP Lighting is a retail lighting and electrical maintenance business that services over 10,000 retail locations all over Australia and New Zealand. Before GoCanvas, VIP Lighting had two separate systems that were impossible to integrate, leading to inefficiencies. GoCanvas made it easy to integrate their systems into single, centralized platform…

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Three Ways GoCanvas Helps with Safety Toolbox Talks

Three Ways GoCanvas Helps with Safety Toolbox Talks

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Safety should be the number one priority of every construction company. Daily safety meetings and toolbox talks are integral to educating workers on best work practices and staying compliant with regulations for every job and project.

Regular safety toolbox talks, sometimes referred to as daily briefings or tailgate meetings, are a great way to reinforce safety basics, introduce new policies, and inform workers about changes to the jobsite and working conditions that may have occurred since their last shift. These daily meetings can also serve as a means to provide training on new rules in order to stay up to date with state and federal OSHA standards.

But toolbox talks also come with daily challenges. Collecting attendance and capturing meeting notes from multiple worksites is daunting. Plus, you’ve got the headache of making sure the details of federal or state regulations are communicated consistently across several locations. You also need to be able to document all of these details and provide reports that all of your employees have been properly informed to ensure compliance with the standards of every project.

Fortunately, GoCanvas Safety has the solutions to each of the problems that plague your crew for safety toolbox talks.

With GoCanvas Safety, your team can complete safety documentation from any mobile phone or tablet. Using required attendance logs, you can collect the names and IDs of every employee at each worksite to ensure they are present for the latest safety information. Plus, you can capture details related to the jobsite location, project manager, as well as date and time stamps for every briefing.

An integrated signature capture field means you can have employees verify their attendance and you can collect signatures from your foreman and any safety representative who makes an onsite visit, ensuring compliance measures are met for every meeting.

Every day on a jobsite brings new challenges. GoCanvas Safety helps your supervisors and safety managers deliver consistent messaging at every meeting. Required fields and checklists ensure that the proper information is conveyed and collected for every toolbox talk, so they don’t have to scramble to keep their crews informed and safe.

Monitoring the delivery of policy and regulation details across multiple worksites is a struggle. Not only do you have to decipher handwritten paper forms, but you have to hope that any details are not missed as they are input into your home system. 

GoCanvas Safety means no more waiting for paper forms from daily briefings to be returned at the end of the day or managing documents from multiple worksites. 

Analytics Dashboards remove the hours-long wait times for daily reports. With real-time visibility of your current Certification Programs (including expiration dates and IDs) and active incident reporting, you can quickly share safety program data with customers, fulfilling SLA requirements so you can get jobs done faster while keeping your team safe.

Looking to streamline your safety data collection and ensure compliance from your toolbox talks? With GoCanvas Safety, you have real-time visibility into your safety program and can quickly share results with customers with the click of a button. Click here to learn more!

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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The Complete Guide to Digital Data Collection for Your Small Business

The Complete Guide to Digital Data Collection for Your Small Business

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Information and data: you can’t avoid these words online. Big businesses are even learning to anticipate their customers buying behavior. Information has become crucial for not only competitive advantage but also for staying relevant. Collecting information has become easier than ever with technology. All sorts of businesses need to gather data, including small businesses.

In today’s digital era, many people are moving away from paper forms—and for good reasons. Paper forms tend to be slow, bad for the environment, require redundant data entry, and are easy to damage, lose, or misfile. More than a pain, they’re hurting your business financially. PWC reports that up to 11% of paper forms get misfiled or lost every year. If you lose just 5% of your invoices a year that lengthens your sales cycles, and you lose the opportunity to work with more customers or provide additional services. Paper forms also require extra data entry and storage, costing you thousands of more dollars a year in redundant work and storage costs.

Paper forms were the best solution for the 20th century. But today? They’re only holding you back.

In 2014, this race to collect information felt like a game only open to the big guys: the businesses with money and resources for data analysts and hundreds of developers. If you’re a plumber, a landscaping service, or even a daycare facility, you’re trying to keep up with the day-to-day. The algorithms and tech side of the story can seem overwhelming and unavailable to small businesses.

With digital data collection on the rise, small businesses can track their data collection with the simple use of a digital data collection device. These devices can transform your workflow and transform your small business.

If you have a mobile device and a computer, you have all the hardware you need to get started. Businesses in all sorts of fields can collect better information on smartphones and tablets. Some of the benefits include:

  • Collect more information (Photos,GPS, Signature, Calculations)
  • Share information in real-time
  • Eliminate redundant data entry
  • Validate information externally with location or time and date stamps

The mobile forms experts at GoCanvas created a FREE 80+ page guide to help you get off the ground running: The Ultimate Guide to Digitally Collecting All Types of Data for Your Small Business. Chapters include:

Helping business owners understand the full benefits of mobile, and how you can tailor it to your business needs is very important. Consumer data is important to collect. Collecting customer data through digital data collection methods like data analytics will help you better understand your target market, improve your customer service, and make more informed strategic decisions.

Discover what information you need, what to lose, and how it can grow your business. Too much data can be just as crippling as too little. Collect only the business information you need, and use it to create new opportunities, improve your workflow, and make better decisions for your small business.

Ruggedized to consumers, there’s a huge variety in devices. Ensure you get the right devices, and policy, for your business. Finding the right mobile device for your small business data collection needs is important to your success.

Bonus Chapter: Going mobile is just one way to save time and money. We’ve got tips and tricks to keep you focused and using your time wisely.

Enhance your workflows and customer experience with GoCanvas. Mobile apps and forms help you ditch the paper and transform your business workflows. Learn more about how GoCanvas can benefit your business. GoCanvas offers a variety of mobile apps and digital forms to meet your specific business needs.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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Steps to Reduce Data Entry Errors

Steps to Reduce Data Entry Errors

Data entry roles have existed since the late 1800s. Since then, small businesses and large corporations alike have struggled to maintain data accuracy. While human error is understandable and somewhat unavoidable, they are also costly. In fact, there’s a rule for this. It’s called the 1-10-100 rule. 

Here’s what it means: It costs companies $1 to verify data after it’s entered into a company’s system, $10 to clean each data error afterward, and $100 if the error goes unnoticed.  

Since human-derived data entry errors are likely to occur at some point, you can expect your company to waste a lot of resources to fix data entry problems or deal with the consequences of unnoticed mistakes. With that in mind, you can take a few steps to reduce common data entry errors. They include: 

  1. Avoid having an understaffed workforce.
  2. Setting and modeling high standards for all employees.
  3. Data validation.
  4. Introducing process controls.
  5. Creating streamlined processes.
  6. Eliminating redundancies.
  7. Utilizing technology to automate specific (if not all) data entry tasks.

Learn more about each step below. 

Estimates suggest the typical data entry error rate is between 1% and 4%. These numbers seem small and inconsequential. However, transcription errors, transposition errors, and unit/representation inconsistencies at these rates over a period of time can be incredibly costly to your business. 

These are just data entry error estimates for the typical employee. One can surmise the rate is exponentially higher for overworked employees in understaffed departments. With that in mind, keeping your data entry team adequately staffed, trained, and equipped with the right tools is in your best interest. 

Employees involved in the data entry process who are held to high standards are likelier to achieve incredible results. With that in mind, employers should set lofty yet achievable error rate goals. In doing so, you develop a new standard, build a strong culture, and reduce careless errors. 

One way to incentivize error-free data entry is to offer performance-based perks for outstanding work (i.e., more paid time off, gift cards, monetary raises, promotions, etc.). Generally, higher standards should go beyond the data entry team. They should permeate throughout the organization. 

Suppose an employee enters data accurately according to their source, but the source is invalid or of poor quality. In that case, it still counts as a data entry error, which means that sooner or later, your company will have to pay to correct it. One of the simplest methods to avoid this type of mistake is to check the accuracy and quality of a data source (i.e., data validation or data cleaning) before passing it to the data entry team. 

Depending on the potential impact of errors on a particular data set, it can be beneficial to introduce process controls for specific data entry tasks. Process controls can include having two people enter the same data (i.e., double key data entry) or hiring another employee to conduct a ‘second level check’ after the data is entered. These types of process controls can significantly reduce human error. However, hiring two people to do the same job can also be costly. 

Perhaps one of the best methods to reduce data entry errors is to utilize technology to automate the data entry process. In doing so, you can eliminate human errors caused by inattention, boredom, fatigue, etc. By automating specific data entry tasks, you free up your human resources to tackle other pressing functions within the organization while eliminating most data entry errors. 

How Can Data Entry Errors Be Reduced? 

Reduced or eliminated data entry errors means more money to reinvest into the business, less confusion, and more profits. In addition to the steps listed above, you can do the following to help reduce data entry errors within your organization: 

  • Conduct pre-validation checks.
  • Cultivate a stress-free and distraction-free work environment for data entry employees.
  • Hire employees with a personality profile that fits the role.
  • Update your data collection software.
  • Never stop optimizing the data entry process.
  • Conduct regular training about the importance of accurate data and how it affects the company’s bottom line.

Process errors can be just as devastating to a company’s bottom line as data entry errors. With that in mind, you can significantly reduce unnecessary process errors by taking the following steps: 

  • Identify tasks that are prone to human error. 
  • Consider automating certain tasks. 
  • Reduce data set redundancies. 
  • Conduct regular data audits to instill accountability among employees.
  • Ensure that multiple qualified employees have access to datasets. 
  • Encourage employees to speak out about process issues. 
  • Take fast action as soon as you notice fixable process errors. 

GoCanvas – Reduce Manual Data Entry Tasks & Automate Your Forms 

Manually capturing and entering data is expensive, time-consuming, and in many cases, a misappropriation of employee talent. Automated GoCanvas data entry apps can help your company increase productivity by 20%, save thousands of dollars, and capture job site data in real-time so you can take immediate action to improve workplace efficiency. 
Our automated data entry forms have boundless integration possibilities, reduce paperwork, and eliminate data entry errors. Try GoCanvas automated data entry forms today for free – no credit card required. 

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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Gown Your Business with GoCanvas Partner Program

Join our Partner Program and gain instant access to our global network of thought leaders and industry experts enjoying shared collaboration and collective success.

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Partner Snapshot: Forte Supply Chain Solutions

Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.

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GoCanvas Integrations: Streamline your Workflow

Integrate with over 1,000 software applications. Enhance your GoCanvas experience by syncing real-time data to one or all of your business tools.

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Reducing Errors in Construction Management 

Reducing Errors in Construction Management 

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Mistakes on the construction site are costly, time-consuming, and frustrating for construction workers, construction managers, and most importantly, the customer. When a construction worker has to return to the job site to fix an error, it takes them away from other projects and potentially compromises the entire work schedule. 

In worst-case scenarios, mistakes can even lead to the cancellation of a construction project. With that in mind, we’ve put together a brief list of tips you can take to reduce common errors that occur in construction management. We’ve also answered a few commonly asked questions about error reduction in the construction industry. 

A solid quality control process can significantly reduce the number of reworks and result in higher profit margins for construction companies. When your construction crew delivers flawless craftsmanship on the first go around, the customer is happy, and you can move on to the next project. 

With that in mind, successful quality control in construction requires the following steps: 

  1. Define what it means to ‘complete’ the project and ensure the crew understands and gives input. 
  2. Implement a detailed inspection plan.
  3. Use and share checklists to ensure all crew members are on the same page. 
  4. Document problems, fix them, and notate corrections. 
  5. Learn from errors and adjust your quality control process as needed. 

Successful construction management requires buy-in and communication from the entire team, from the electricians to the concrete pourers, the roofers to the plumbers, and everyone in between. Everyone must be on the same page. With that in mind, communicate expectations, inform crewmembers of the quality control process, and allow them to provide feedback.

Lack of adequate training can result in catastrophic safety issues on the job site. The better a construction manager trains their staff, the more likely they will complete the job right the first time. Regular training helps ensure consistency and a uniform process. When everyone on the crew has the same expectations, they hold themselves accountable. 

The larger the construction project and the more crew members, the higher the chances of unavoidable mistakes. Fortunately, you can remove uncertainty and ensure accuracy in specific areas by implementing automated processes. 

GoCanvas Construction Apps help you streamline otherwise time-consuming processes like generating daily reports for work orders, change orders, time cards, job costs, etc. Further, our construction, repair, and improvement apps allow contractors, maintenance crews, and construction managers to have safety-related forms at their fingertips. 

This means less wasted time and real-time data sent where it needs to go at the push of a button–which increases productivity and reduces downtime. 

In addition to the tips listed above, there are countless other methods of reducing construction management errors. They include but are not limited to the following: 

  • Plan out work from beginning to end before you get started. 
  • Communicate project priorities and expected delivery dates. 
  • Use high-quality products and never sacrifice quality. 
  • Document mistakes (even one-offs) to identify and correct negative trends. 

Keeping track of every crew member’s hours using traditional time sheets is time consuming and likely to result in mistakes. Further, construction time tracking solutions like Excel worksheets, head counts, and honor systems are rarely adequate. In most cases, the best way to keep track of construction worker hours is to harness the power of mobile data collection apps for construction. Learn more below. 

There are many types of data collection apps for the construction industry. At GoCanvas, our mobile construction applications enable construction managers, contractors, and similar to: 

  • Create easy-to-deploy mobile forms that are customizable, simple to update, and compatible with all major mobile devices and platforms.
  • Improve the speed and accuracy of data collection efforts.
  • Quickly share information with project managers, supervisors, crew members, contractors, and similar.
  • Monitor construction sites and job hours in real-time.
  • Identify areas in need of improvement.
  • Reduce liability and risk.
  • Store your information in the secure GoCanvas cloud network.
  • And so much more.

Are you ready to improve the efficiency of your crew and get the job right– the first time? Try GoCanvas for free today – no credit card required. Roll out your first mobile forms in a matter of minutes.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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5 Methods For Collecting Your Field Service Data

5 Methods For Collecting Your Field Service Data

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Field service data is the new gold for HVAC, IT, oil and gas, facilities management, construction, maintenance, Telcom, and countless other industries. Data collected by field service workers (i.e., employees conducting work on customer premises) can transform your business, increase efficiency, and streamline business operations. 

How the data is collected matters just as much as the information obtained. With that in mind, there are five methods you can use to collect field data. They include: 

  • Interviews.
  • Observation.
  • Paper Surveys / Questionnaires.
  • Reviewing Field Service Worker Documents.
  • Field Service Automation Apps & Software.

Continue reading to learn more about each. 

Field data capture refers to any information field workers (i.e., carpenters, plumbers, IT specialists, consultants, etc.) collect and input into digital or physical forms. Generally, the type of data collected can include information like: 

  • Customer satisfaction surveys.
  • Electronic signatures.
  • Employee performance metrics. 
  • Travel time and GPS location. 
  • Best dispatch strategies. 
  • Revenue by employee per field service visit. 
  • Delivery times. 
  • The time it takes to complete specific tasks.
  • Inventory levels.
  • Cost of parts, delivery, and labor per job. 
  • And much more. 

The field service data that needs to be collected depends on the industry. However, one thing is clear— every field service company can gain valuable insights from detailed and organized data collected from workers in the field. 

Field data collection apps collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data in real-time while employees are in the field. In most cases, this can be accomplished on a mobile device (i.e., iPhone or Android device) or a laptop. Generally, they help businesses streamline field service dispatch, analyze data, and ultimately provide a better customer experience. 

Learn about the 5 methods for collecting field service data below. 

One of the oldest methods of field service data collection is interviewing employees when they return from completing a work order. While there are some benefits to collecting data in this method, it can yield inconsistent and inaccessible results. 

Another way to collect data from employees in the field is to send a supervisor on every work order to observe. Having a senior employee observe another worker has some value. However, sending multiple employees out for one service order, sales call, etc., is a strain on business resources. Further, aggregating that information and turning it into actionable insights can be challenging. 

Many businesses use paper surveys and questionnaires to evaluate customer satisfaction or employee performance. While this is a great starting point, it can lead to an unnecessary bulk of paperwork, which can strain business operations. Further, analyzing data obtained through paper surveys and questionnaires can be challenging. Due to illegible handwriting, transcription mistakes, inaccuracies, and more. 

If your field service business reviews all employee documents to assess employee performance, customer satisfaction, costs, etc., it can take forever to collect essential information. 

For example, suppose your business waits until the end of the month (when employees turn in their reports) to assess mileage, dispatch needs, employee performance, etc. In that case, your business is constantly making decisions based on old data, which can leave you at a competitive disadvantage. 

Field service automation apps and software can drastically improve employee efficiency, customer satisfaction, and your business’s bottom line. These mobile applications help to: 

  • Minimize the time it takes to collect and analyze data.
  • Decrease the likelihood of duplicate documents. 
  • Limit the cost of data storage.
  • Enable searchable data. 
  • Increase the volume of data your business can analyze. 
  • Enhance real-time visibility of what’s happening in the field. 

Learn how GoCanvas field service automation apps and software can help to improve your business’s efficiency by replacing the paperwork with digital field service forms. 

GoCanvas field service automation apps and software fit all types of businesses and needs. They are dynamic, customizable, and easily accessible on mobile devices. 

Our customers report a 24% increase in productivity after using our apps. One of the best parts is you can build and roll out your customized field service automation application in under a day. See why thousands of customers trust us to take their business to the next level. Sign up for a free trial today – no credit card required. 

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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