Inspection checklists are an essential task for many industries and workplaces. This could be a safety inspection to spot potential hazards, equipment inspections and preventative maintenance, property or residential inspections, and much more. For all types of inspections, the checklist is a useful tool because it provides a clear list for inspectors to follow and helps to ensure a thorough inspection takes place each time.
Why Go Digital with Inspection Checklists?
With the rise of mobile apps and forms, completing inspections can be performed on a tablet or mobile device, quickly and easily on a job site. This article covers how digital inspection checklists help to simplify the process for inspectors and for management.
Digital checklists simplify the process for inspectors
A traditional paper checklist can take a long time for inspectors to complete and bring back the forms to the office before manually creating a report. Take for example Lumen, a US based IT services company that used paper forms for preventative maintenance inspections before switching to digital forms instead. Before going digital with inspections, their technicians on site had to complete paper inspection forms, return the forms to a central office, scan the form, and then attach the scanned reports to particular database entries.
Seeing how much time was being spent on administrative work, Lumen made the switch to digital forms and realized a 35 to 40 percent reduction in admin work, with savings of up to $1 million in their first year of going digital.
Digital checklists and forms allow inspectors to spend less time on admin work and streamline the process for collecting data in the field. Digital forms also allow for more standardization, meaning that required fields and drop down lists ensure that accurate data is submitted the first time. While paper forms can be filled out illegible or incomplete, digital forms provide a greater level of control of the format of data that is submitted from the field.
Other benefits include the ability for managers to schedule out and assign inspection checklists to be completed on a regular cadence. This notifies employees when an inspection is due and allows them to work collaboratively using cloud-based tools to help with productivity. Instead of spending hours on manual work to create inspection reports, the process is done automatically from the inspection app and sent via email to the appropriate groups of people and saved to the cloud.
Rod Badley, Critical Infrastructure Manager at Lumen explained this in simple terms – “The more time we can spend doing actual work instead of doing administrative work means more money and more savings for us.”
Digital checklists simplify the process for management
The entire organization benefits when efficiencies are gained by reducing manual work. Beyond the cost savings from efficiencies, management teams and business owners also benefit in a number of ways by having their checklists managed digitally instead of on paper.
One benefit is the ability to manage all records digitally, in a cloud-based platform that is secure and accessible. For many businesses performing critical inspections, like a job site safety inspection or equipment inspection, it can be incredibly valuable to have a central place to manage all of these documents. In case of an accident or incident, you can understand if proper protocols were followed on site. In the case of an OSHA inspection or audit, having the proper documentation can mean compliance with OSHA regulations and avoidance of fines. Paper forms leave too much up to chance, running the risk of becoming destroyed or lost over time. Moving this important documentation from inspection checklists will help to lower your risk and liability, with infrastructure to help you better manage your records.
Another benefit for organizations is the ability to track compliance. Many businesses have complex operations, with teams in different locations performing inspection checklists. This organization structure can make it difficult to roll up information quickly to verify that inspections are taking place in different locations. With digital checklists and a mobile data platform, you can perform analysis and run reports to track compliance. This type of technology can enable your organization to use analytics to gain greater transparency into operations and ensure that the appropriate action can be taken if non-compliance is found. Switching from paper checklists can empower your organization with greater insights
Take for example US Inspect, a leader in residential inspections that switched their paper processes over to digital forms with GoCanvas and realized an annual cost savings of $720,000.
“It sounds crazy but GoCanvas has given our company tremendous long-term competitive advantages. US Inspect is not your father’s inspection company – we have morphed into a wickedly excellent data collection enterprise which just happens to produce inspection reports,” explained JB Haller, President & CEO of US Inspect.
To learn more about how inspection checklists can benefit your field teams and your business, contact the GoCanvas team any time to set up a quick introductory conversation.
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
Improving Your Operations with Field Service Management Software
Whether you have two or 200 employees, your business’ success depends on their hard work. Passionate, motivated team players are the difference between…
Should You Connect Field Service Management Software with QuickBooks?
Field service management software has shown to increase productivity both for employees in the field and operations teams in the office. You may be wondering how field service…
How the Best Field Services Businesses Use Mobile Apps
Mobility and field service: the talk has been happening forever. The idea that real-time information improves customer service and boosts technician productivity is changing…
Time card apps are growing in popularity to replace the traditional form of punching in and punching out. A digital time card allows employees to record their hours worked by using a mobile app on a phone, tablet, or computer.
Time card apps are helpful for a company’s payroll systems. By recording hours worked through the mobile app, it can sync to your accounting software to initiate payment for your employees. This process runs much more efficiently than paper time cards. Instead of logging hours on a paper form, spreadsheet, or Google Sheet, you can use simple time card apps to collect hours worked and have it synced in real-time for faster payments and less work for your operations staff.
6 Things to Look for in a Time Card App
As a leading provider of mobile forms and apps, GoCanvas has helped thousands of companies to digitize their processes and work more efficientlyusing time card apps and more. If you’re thinking about going with digital time card apps, this article covers some of the top things to look for when selecting a platform for mobile apps and forms.
#1. Simplicity
Time cards should be simple for employees to fill out. The time card template should be easy to complete and time cards can be edited or modified, if needed. Some time card systems will allow you to pre-fill information based on data that is already known. For example, if you are a contractor and billing to a certain client, you may have a unique client ID that is referenced when completing the time card app with data from your CRM or other database. This saves time during the time card process and the goal is to make the process fast for your employees in the field or on a job site.
#2. Mobility
It goes without saying that your time card apps need to be accessible via mobile device and tablets, even when your employees do not have access to the internet. Time card apps can be completed offline and then synced back to the cloud when WiFi is available again. Mobile time card apps make it simple for anyone to complete their timesheet, and your business does not have to provide the hardware in most cases. Most employees can use their own mobile devices to complete simple time cards, making it easy for them to complete and easy for your business to process.
Another native feature with a mobile device is GPS tracking. Time card apps can be enabled with the GPS tracking feature to confirm that work has taken place at a specific location. This can help ensure that your team is clocking in and out from the job location and you can have an accurate record of where work has been performed. This can be a hidden feature collected automatically from the mobile device or it can be part of the form submission fields in the digital timecard.
#3. Customization
Customization is another important aspect of time card apps. For example, your business may need to bring in specific fields in addition to the standard fields on a timesheet. It’s important that your time card app is highly customizable to account for these unique business needs that you will have. You may have different categories of workers that require different timesheet templates, or you may require timesheets to be filled out on different cadences (daily, weekly) depending on the type of project. Having a high level of customization gives you the flexibility to design your time sheet app templates to your exact requirements.
#4. Workflow
Beyond making it easy for employees to fill out their timesheets, apps also help your managers and operations staff with better workflows. Time cards can be automatically assigned to employees, saving your staff from having to manually remind employees to fill out their time cards or track down information.
Time card apps can also be assigned to multiple people, so if you have a project with multiple contributors, you can have the timesheet roll up with hours worked from the entire team. Once the timesheets are completed, easily collect digital signatures within the app to get managers’ approval. Going digital removes much of the back and forth that is required when dealing with paper forms or spreadsheets. Simplifying workflows can reduce wasted efforts and free up your staff to focus on other work.
#5. Automatic Calculations
If you are dealing with paper sheets, Google sheets, or spreadsheets, there’s always the possibility of an unforeseen calculation error. It’s common for these types of mistakes to occur, but they can create additional rework to spot and resolve the calculation error.
Mobile time card apps have built-in calculations, to help your business eliminate manual errors that can occur during paper time card processes. This improves data accuracy and brings efficiency to your business by eliminating the time-consuming process of manually tallying the hours worked by each employee.
#6. Integrations and Analytics
Another important consideration when selecting a time card app is your business needs for its data processes. You will want to decide if an integration between your time card apps and your payroll system like Quickbooks or Sage is necessary for your business. Most time card apps can integrate directly with these systems and other databases, to streamline your processes and sync data between systems in real-time. Instead of manual data re-entry, you can have your information flow from your time card directly into your accounting system for a seamless billing process. This level of automation can help your business operate more efficiently, saving you time and money.
On the topic of data, another important feature for your business is analytics. Having the ability to run analytics reports on your time sheet data and form submissions will allow you greater visibility into projects and work that is being done. This can help to spot potential issues or inefficiencies across the business, giving you the opportunity to become more data-driven with decisions.
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
How Digital Work Orders Impact Your Key Business Outcomes
Is your company still using paper sheets to manage work orders? The drawbacks of using paper forms are often hidden, making it difficult to understand the true impact of paper forms on a business…
Centurion is the largest heavy haulage provider in Australia. They deliver national supply chain solutions to the resources, energy, construction & retail sectors throughout Western Australia, Queensland & the Northern Territory…
Companies rely on collecting data in order to operate. In a fast-changing world, companies that focus on streamlining and improving their data collection processes will be able to do more. The good news is that it’s become easier than ever for businesses of all…
Finding the right form builder for your business is an important decision. Today’s form builders are offered as cloud-based solutions, where you can login to the platform online and start building forms to be deployed on a mobile app or web browser.
There are limitless ways companies can use forms for their business.
Most often forms are used to collect information from different groups of employees in the field or on a job site. Common examples include things like work orders, inspections, timesheets, estimates, reports, invoices, and more. Forms can be used anytime you need to collect and share information between your field teams, office staff, management, customers, partners, and other key stakeholders for your business.
Top 3 Considerations When Selecting a Form Builder
So what should you look for when selecting a mobile form builder? The answer to that question will entirely depend on your business needs. This article will cover some of the top considerations when selecting a mobile form builder, so you can make an informed decision.
#1. How Easy is the Form Builder to Use?
Ease-of-use is an important factor for growing businesses. You don’t want to invest in software and have a difficult experience making it successful or finding out later that the user experience makes it difficult to gain adoption.
So what makes a form builder easy to use?
No Code or Low Code.
A no code or low code form builder essentially means that you do not need to dedicate development resources to deploy the forms. The form builder will use drag and drop functionality and you can develop forms and apps without any advanced technical knowledge required.
This feature is incredibly important for how businesses work today. Tools for the workforce should be designed with simplicity in mind, so that anyone can pick them up and start using them right away. While it may be helpful to involve IT in the process, you shouldn’t have to rely heavily on development resources in order to use a form builder.
Simplicity in the Field.
While the no code form builder makes it easy for office staff and managers to build the forms, it also needs to be as simple as possible for field teams. When implementing a new technology, a common fear is that teams in the field will fail to adopt the technology. That’s why the mobile form technology needs to be simple, so it makes the job easier for anyone that needs to complete the forms.
Consider features like integrating the form builder into your CRM or databases, so that customer records or project information is automatically pulled in real time to the forms. This auto populates form fields with information that is already known like customer information, parts, cost codes, and anything else that your teams may need to reference to complete the form.
Your mobile form builder should be easier and faster for employees, saving them time from manual processes and workflows. Consider how your form builder solution prioritizes time savings and efficiencies for crews in the field, as this can lead to greater adoption of the tools.
Customization.
When thinking about ease of use, another important consideration is customization. Some form builders can be difficult to customize, or they are built for very specific use cases that make it limited in the scope of what you can do with the platform. A highly customizable form builder will ensure that you can easily customize the forms to fit a wide range of potential use cases that your business will need, both now and in the future.
Best in class form builders will offer this level of customization, while maintaining the simplicity and ease of use that your business needs to fit into your existing workflows.
#2. How does the form builder promote a data culture within my organization?
Lack of data insights is one of the main reasons companies choose to eliminate paper forms and move to digital form builders. With paper forms, information is not available in real-time and data is collected in ways that are inconsistent and difficult to report on.
It’s important that your business finds a form builder that promotes best practices for data collection and reporting. These insights can lead to better outcomes, including opportunities to lower costs, increase revenue, and improve the customer experience.
So how can a form builder help your company improve its data processes?
Standardized forms.
When thinking about how your business collects data, the form builder should empower you to collect consistent and accurate data from the field in real-time. Things like required fields can help to ensure information is not left missing and things like drop down lists can help to ensure the right format is submitted for data.
Analytics and Reporting.
With best practices in place for data capture, your business will have clean data that is available in real-time. Your form builder should also give you the ability to run and share reports automatically with anyone that needs to view the information. You should also have the option to run more advanced analytics to spot trends and patterns in the data that’s being collected. Taking this data-driven mindset can have a profound impact on your operations.
Data Integrations
As discussed earlier in the article, data integrations can be an important part of the form builder solution. Not just to enrich form submissions, but also to ensure that data is synced automatically between your different cloud-based platforms. It’s likely that the form field data collected can be useful for payroll and accounting purposes, or you need the information to sync with other databases that your team uses internally.
All of this is possible with a best-in-class form builder that sets your business up to collect, report on, and distribute data to help your organization become more data-driven.
#3. Time-to-value
When implementing any new technology for business, it’s always important to understand the time-to-value for your organization. When selecting a mobile form builder, you should seek to gain an understanding of the types of results companies similar to yours have seen with the form builder.
Other factors that impact your value and adoption of the platform are things like customer success resources that can be made available to your organization, as well as support channels and training that is available to help your staff learn and answer questions. Best-in-class mobile form builders will have proven success stories and clearly defined processes for onboarding and implementation to guide your business to achieve its goals.
With digital transformation projects like implementing a mobile form builder, it’s important to remember the change management component and the resources in place to help your team with successful adoption of the technology. This will ensure that you see a return on investment in a matter of months that justifies the business expense by lowering costs, increasing revenue, and creating a competitive advantage. It’s important to find both the technology and the people to support your move toward digitization.
About GoCanvas
GoCanvas’s passion is building mobile products that enable businesses to digitize information and be more responsive to their customers. The cloud-based, customizable app works on smartphones and tablets, empowering SMB customers to digitally collect data and realize its value in improving workflow, communications, and operational processes.
GoCanvas is trusted by thousands of businesses throughout 70 countries, automating millions of workplace activities, making it one of the fastest-growing mobile platforms in the world.
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
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.
Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.
Inspection forms are used during the inspection process to collect information that is compiled into a report. An inspection form can be completed using a standard sheet of paper or it can be completed digitally using software for inspections on a mobile form.
Many different types of inspection forms exist and will depend on the use case. For example, there are home inspections, commercial vehicle inspections, building inspections, safety inspections, equipment inspections, operational inspections, and even more. Each of these inspection types will require different form fields to collect the information that is relevant to that industry. Checklist forms are commonly used for many inspection types to give the inspector a simple checklist to ensure all items are filled out.
Inspection forms are most commonly used in the fields of construction, service industry, oil & gas, transportation & logistics, utilities, and various other industries. These industries can benefit greatly from software designed to streamline the inspection process for field teams collecting data.
Why do businesses need software for inspections?
Companies are adopting software to transform their business operations in many different ways. Inspections are a perfect example of a paper-based process that works more efficiently when performed digitally. The reason for buying inspection form builder software is to save time and money for your business. Here is how most companies make the business case and ROI for inspection form builder software:
Eliminating cumbersome data entry from the field
Inspection form builder software allows field teams to capture data from the field using inspection forms. Data is captured in real-time and shared with anyone that needs to see it, rather than relying on paper forms and manual data entry.
Avoiding risk and liability
Most inspections contain information that is very important to a business and needs to be kept safe. With paper documents, there is no way to control if documents are lost or illegible. With digital inspections using software and forms, organizations reduce their risk by having the information automatically saved to the cloud. Inspections can even be performed offline and then synced to the cloud when an internet connection is available again. This ensures that inspection reports are always available, whenever they are needed.
Gaining insights into field operations
It’s really difficult to spot trends and have meaningful insights into your business in real-time when manual processes and paper forms are involved. You may get to the reports, but your staff spends too much time creating reports on a daily and weekly basis. Moving the inspection process to software will give your organization the ability to analyze trends and potential problems. You can even get alerts to know when inspections fail, so you can send someone to resolve the issue right away. All of the reporting is done in real-time and available in the cloud, giving your business greater visibility into field operations.
How does inspection form builder software work?
There are many different features and functionality offered for inspection form builder software and forms. Here are some of the main ways that inspection software can be used:
Dispatch
One key feature of inspection form builder software is dispatch. With Dispatch, you can create, assign, and send tasks to your team from the software application. Field technicians can then head directly to the next call without ever having to check in with status updates. The software will also let you create custom report approvals between employees and supervisors using workflows. The goal of dispatch is to send jobs directly to your workers in the field to improve their productivity and reduce their downtime.
Forms and checklists
Another feature of inspection software is the form builder for field data collection. Forms and checklists that were once paper-based, now become a digital process for technicians to complete on tablets or mobile devices. The best form builder inspection software will allow you to build customized inspection forms using a low-code or no-code platform. This means that you can easily create customizable forms and apps on the platform, without any advanced technical knowledge. Mobile forms and checklists for inspections make the entire process simple. Easily collect all of the relevant information for your industry’s inspection, collect electronic signatures on the spot, and have the information digitized for record-keeping.
Reports
Once the inspection is completed in the field, the next step in the process is to generate a report. Without software for inspections, this might require several hours of additional work to compile the reports and send them to the appropriate parties after the job has been completed. Inspection form builder software streamlines this process by generating a digital report in real-time that can be shared via email and other communication channels.
Analytics
Another important feature of inspection form builder software is the ability to perform analytics across inspections. For many industries, this is useful for visualizing what’s happening across the business and distributing findings throughout the organization. Analytics is designed to allow you to drill down into one facet of your business or keep track of everything in a high-level view. All of this is meant to empower data-driven decision-making that can result in improved productivity and greater profitability.
Getting Started with Inspection Form Builder Software and Forms
The best part about inspection form builder software and forms is that the process to get started is simple. You can get started for free by signing up for an account with GoCanvas and companies that use the platform see a very fast time to value with digital inspections. Here are some common inspection form templates and examples.
Inspection Form Templates and Examples
Building Inspection Form
Looking for a customizable inspection form for your business? This versatile inspection form is designed for building inspections and can be adapted to fit your needs. This digital inspection form simplifies the processes to assess home condition and safety.
The inspection template covers general property condition topics covered during the inspection process, including cleanliness, safety and overall condition. Jot down notes about whether or not the home is in good condition and add photos.
The Quality Control Inspection form enables inspection of mechanical devices and equipment inspections. The form is designed for quality management and can be used by many different industries. The form is designed to help you detect problems and identify where quality improvement through corrective measures is needed. The digital quality control inspection form allows you to make recommendations in real-time using inspection form builder software to streamline the process for your business.
Vehicle inspection forms can be used during the pre-purchase phase of the vehicle, to ensure that the car is ready to be sold. Vehicle inspection technicians can use this mobile form to review the vehicle’s condition and assess what repairs are needed in order to have the vehicle in top condition for the new owner. Use this inspection form to ensure customer satisfaction and document your dealership’s attention to detail when performing vehicle inspections for the customer.
The housekeeping inspection form is designed for companies that provide cleaning services and janitorial services. Use the mobile form to add specific details about the building, including areas that need extra attention from cleaning staff, and the overall condition of inspected areas.
This inspection form helps to ensure that the highest level of standards are met and inspections are performed consistently using the template form provided to employees. Going digital with this type of inspection form allows your teams to complete inspections faster and provide instant feedback from their inspections. For example, if an issue is detected during the inspection, an image can be attached to the report and submitted instantly to have the item corrected as soon as possible.
The Food Service Inspection Form helps restaurants to perform full inspections of food service operations electronically.
The food establishment inspection form includes all areas of the food service facility and can be completed on a mobile device with a report that is automatically generated with the results of your inspection. This form is essential for restaurants and other service businesses to ensure the quality and cleanliness standards are met.
Looking for something different? See another helpful resource that is a compiled list of inspection templates and examples for many different use cases and industries. You can also find all of our inspection apps on the GoCanvas App Store.
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
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.
Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.
When you’re in the process of building a commercial property or a home, you’ll discover that it’s a requisite to conduct regular construction inspections to ascertain that the construction process meets all the quality and safety procedures and standards. However straightforward it may sound, this process can be tasking, given the multiple tasks involved in construction projects. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that the contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site.
This article covers an in-depth look at all aspects of construction inspections to help you have a better grasp of the process and to share how technology can be leveraged to streamline the process.
What is a construction site inspection?
Construction inspection is a contractual duty held by the contractor to assess the progress of a construction project. It entails ensuring that procedures and materials comply with the plan and specifications – monitoring a contractor’s schedule, conducting field testing, and going over the drawings to pick out any errors.
Upon completing the inspection, the building inspector issues the contractor with a construction inspection report. This document acts as evidence that proper tests were conducted to uphold the structural integrity of the building.
6 reasons why construction inspections are important
Below are some of the benefits you’ll accrue from construction site inspections:
#1 Protection against deficiencies in the work
The inspection process ensures that the installation materials and equipment comply with the design plans, contract documents, specifications, and the approved drawings. As such, it offers assurance that the contractor gets materials and quality of work specified, and the building owner gets their money’s worth.
#2 Identification of hazards
Safety should always be the number one priority of a project manager. Construction inspections can help you ensure that the contractors and people who reside around the locality of the construction site are safe from any harm.
The inspections prioritize safety by identifying safe gear for workers to wear, safe roads to transport various materials and equipment, and potential risks and hazards that might occur on the construction site. After all, the construction profession is a dangerous one. The inspections ensure that the necessary precautions are put in place for workers and site safety, so your project flows seamlessly without any instances of work-related injury litigations.
#3 Better communication
Smooth communication between all the parties involved in the project is essential for its efficient completion. An inspection can address a construction team’s communication if the operations aren’t in line with the proper codes and regulations.
In most construction projects, careful coordination of various work processes is essential to limit any possible risks. Inspectors are tasked with communicating with the contractor, anticipating risks, and documenting progress and potential design and construction issues with the owner.
#4 Enhancement of the quality of the construction
Most, if not all, companies strive to offer quality when working on a given project. It not only helps build your reputation but your team members pride in their artistry.
That said, to produce quality work, you need to set high standards, and what better way to do that than through inspections. They will help you identify any code errors or non-adherence to construction regulations.
Producing top-notch work and abiding by the construction regulations will ensure that you present your client with a well-constructed structure.
#5 Better focus on the task at hand
While inspection may be a thorn to construction workers at times, it helps them be alert when working on the project.
Inspections ensure that agents and construction workers focus on the task at hand so that they don’t violate any construction regulations. To add to that, construction workers and agents work more efficiently since they know the pre-established standards they should attain.
#6 Eco-friendly construction
There are environmental regulations that are geared towards ensuring that the construction industry promotes a greener construction environment.
Routine inspections contribute to ensuring that construction companies heed to them. Failure to follow these regulations may lead to construction companies or building owners incurring heavy penalties.
Understanding the different types of construction inspections
Construction is a precarious and hazardous industry encompassing a wide range of activities such as remodeling, repair, and commercial construction.
While performing their tasks, construction workers are subjected to various kinds of harm, including unguarded machinery, electrocution, getting hit by heavy equipment, and falling off rooftops.
Developing a construction inspection checklist addressing the above risks and outlining the various construction regulations your project needs to heed will ensure that you pass your inspection with flying colors when the inspectors come to review your site.
That said, which types of inspection should you perform? Here is an outline of the different types of construction inspections:
Daily site inspections
Just like the name suggests, these inspections are carried out daily.
These inspections assess several activities, including the number of workers on-site in a given day, the types of equipment used, whether the day’s work met quality standards, any unusual happenings on the site, whether there was damage to government property, whether the project is on schedule, among other issues.
Health and safety inspections
One of the areas that the construction inspection covers is the health and safety of workers. Contractors have to ensure that the site meets the health and safety standards set out byOccupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The health and safety inspections can be conducted externally by a regulating body, internally by the contractor, or through third-party audits. Among the health and safety standards that are checked during this inspection include:
Asbestos risks
The soundness of electrical systems
Provision of welfare services such as handwashing facilities and toilets
The management of various respiratory risks
The prevention of unauthorized people from accessing the site
The structural stability of the construction
Provision of personal protection equipment (PPE) such as helmets, goggles, or other garments.
Provision of personal fall protection systems among other fall prevention equipment
The condition of the vehicles, plant, and other equipment, among other things.
The timing of health and safety inspections should be as frequent as possible and be accompanied by accurate reports and actionable measures.
Quality control inspections
Quality control inspections are those that are geared towards ensuring that construction workers comply with the construction requirements and regulations.
These controls encompass the products and materials, the execution of the project, and the completion of the construction works. Quality control inspections are a way of ensuring that the finished works meet the set standards. It helps refine the work before it’s presented to the client so that if there is anything that doesn’t comply with the standards it’s fixed.
The international standard that governs the construction industry isthe ISO 9000 set of standards. It includes reports, technical guides, and specifications on the efficiency of a construction company’s quality management system.
Typically, the principles that dictate quality management in the construction industry are the budget of the project, the scope of the construction project, and the scheduled completion time.
Some of the construction inspections related to quality include checks for equipment and materials, work processes, units, and services planned and designed by the construction company to comply with the quality requirements of the contract. Quality control inspections lead to a monthly quality report that identifies various issues and monitors the project’s progress.
Building regulation compliance inspections
Building inspections are usually conducted by an approved third party or a building control local authority. Depending on details such as the scope of the project, these inspections vary in frequency and number. Generally, the building inspections are required in the following stages of the project:
Commencement
Excavation stage (prior to the filling of excavations)
Foundation stage (before the foundation is covered up)
When laying the damp proof courses
Installation of new drains (before covering up)
When constructing the primary structure
When installing insulation
Construction of the roof
Completion of the project
OSHA inspections
OSHA conducts periodic inspections and consultations to ensure contractor compliance and protect workers. The OSHA inspector will look at procedural problems or physical hazards like equipment lockout procedures, inadequate machine guards, respiratory issues, noise, availability of PPE for construction workers, among other issues.
Among the reasons OSHA may come to inspect your site include workplace fatalities and hospitalizations, imminent danger situations, referrals and complaints concerning potentially hazardous conditions, scheduled inspections, and follow-up inspections.
Depending on the inspection findings, a contractor may receive a report detailing the violations found, what has to be corrected, the duration within which to make the corrections, and the monetary fines for the violations.
Other types of inspections
Some other inspections that contractors should expect include:
Insurance inspections
Environmental inspections on pollution (water, smoke, and noise)
Fire inspections—availability of fire protection systems, fire escapes, and storage of certain materials
Planning inspections to ascertain whether you complied with planning permissions, obligations, and conditions
Inspection of the release of finances (by relevant agencies)
Archaeological inspections (in case of excavations)
Inspection of street works conducted by highway authorities in the case of road and sewer constructions
Best practices for construction inspections
Here is an outline on some of the best practices to heed for construction inspections:
Ensure that you have a checklist: Your construction inspection checklist will help you identify any violations of the construction regulations and have them rectified before the inspection.
Budget: Ensure that all your construction inspection checklists that have monetary dealings reference the project budget. Make sure that you complete the project with the allotted budget. Also, use your inspection to ascertain that every spending meets the budgetary allocations as you move from one phase to the next until the completion of the project.
Schedule: Remember, your project should not affect your client’s budget. As such, not completing the project in time will make them dissatisfied. Use the inspection to monitor the schedule of your project daily, weekly, and monthly. Also, ensure that you inform the relevant parties of any delays.
Scope of the project: The inspection process should be led by the defined scope of the project. Ensure that you notify your client of any adjustment to the scope of the project. Also, make sure that you use the construction inspection to confirm that everything is running according to the project’s scope.
Plan ahead: You can do this by undertaking a pre-task session that allows workers to identify and avoid mishaps.
Benefits of using mobile apps and forms to manage construction inspections
As you probably know, the construction industry has cutthroat competition. As such, you need proper productivity tools to gain a competitive edge.
Given the fast rate at which the construction industry is adopting digital solutions, you cannot afford to lag behind.
Construction project management software will give your construction business a leg up that you need to stay ahead of your competition. Here are some ofthe key benefits of mobile forms and apps:
The improvement of communication between various parties in the construction project: Mobile apps and forms eliminate communication gaps by enabling you to dispatch information to various parties of the project directly via a mobile phone.
Incorporating photos into documents: Enabling the photo capture feature on your mobile forms app will allow you to add pictures directly into your documents. You can, therefore, better describe construction progress issues and achievements.
Capturing digital signatures: Mobile app forms allow you and your client to sign and save various documents directly via the program.
Improved document organization: This app enables you to keep track of paperwork and files so that you always know where to retrieve them from.
Mobilization of document construction: With this app, you can go with your documents wherever you want without the fear of losing them or being damaged.
Get started with GoCanvas for construction inspections
Are you looking for an easy-to-use mobile forms app that can help improve the operations of your construction company? GoCanvas is your go-to tool for construction inspection reports, checklists, and more. Try out GoCanvas and all its features with a free trial or contact our team to learn more.
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
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…
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…
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…
Timesheet forms are an excellent way for businesses to manage time for their employees. Companies can use different timesheet forms, such as a weekly timesheet, a monthly timesheet, a biweekly timesheet, or even a daily timesheet. All of these tools are useful for time tracking of work hours.
There are many simple resources available for printable timesheet templates using Microsoft Word or Excel timesheet templates. These different forms can range from straightforward timesheet templates to more advanced templates that factor in billable hours, lunch breaks, sick leave, vacation leave, time-in/time-out, hourly rates, and other valuable information.
Another solution for businesses is to use simple timesheet form apps that track employee hours and the number of hours worked by contractors in real-time. These apps also provide workers with the opportunity to enter time manually. This option brings a number of benefits to an organization, rather than using spreadsheets or paper.
For example, timesheet apps integrate directly with payroll and billing systems. They also can include much more advanced features, like the ability to track employee mileage and other reimbursable expenses. Continue reading this article to understand more about timesheet forms and how mobile applications work for businesses.
What frequency is best for timesheets?
Companies process payroll in various ways, including weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or semi-monthly payroll. Each of these payroll frequencies has a specific timesheet template to meet a company’s specific needs.
A best practice with timesheets is to have employees or contractors complete them on a daily basis so that it is easier to keep track of hours worked. Even for timesheets submitted on a monthly basis, it can be difficult to recall any breaks taken several weeks ago or if an employee had to leave work early one day.
Although companies may pay employees at different intervals, it is essential that a business has a defined and consistent process in place for tracking time.
What information should a timesheet form collect?
Most timesheet forms have a space for the employee name, an employee ID, the position of the employee, the week ending date, a start and end time field for each day, and any hours deducted for lunch breaks or sick leave.
Non-exempt employees who work over 40 hours a week can quickly document overtime pay on their timesheet. Similarly, workers who work holidays may track time paid at a higher rate during a pay period.
For companies that want to utilize timesheets for exempt employees, the information collected may be more granular or project-related. This tracking time practice helps to understand how much services cost to deliver, how much effort is going into various jobs or projects, and how effectively employees use their time.
What are the problems with paper and spreadsheet timesheet forms?
Paper forms present many problems to workers and companies. Although paper may seem like an easy and inexpensive option for documenting time, here are some of the hidden costs of paper forms and spreadsheets:
Error-prone: Regardless of intent, workers filling out these forms can make errors in entering start-times or end-times. These errors can lead to over and under calculating hours worked and will require additional resources to fix the errors. This costs both the workers and the companies who lose income or revenue due to errors.
Misplaced paper: Paper-based timesheets are also subject to being lost or misplaced, which can slow down payroll for workers. It can also have an impact on the availability of historical data related to employee time tracking.
Data-loss: Spreadsheets may become corrupted, users may overwrite data, or anyone on a workplace network can inadvertently delete time tracking files.
Lack of accessibility: Both paper and spreadsheet timesheet forms are not that accessible for workers either on the road or working offsite.
Lack of insights: It’s difficult for companies to gain insightful information from paper-based timesheets since the data on paper is not accessible without being manually entered.
Online timesheet forms and timesheet apps
More companies than ever are using online forms and apps to track employee hours. These online forms and apps can be easier to use, more accessible, and have enhanced or automated workflows. Collecting timesheet information through an app or digital form can enable HR notifications. For example, a notification can be sent when:
An employee is approaching unapproved overtime hours.
An employee’s hours fall outside of the regular hours of a business
The total hours noted by an employee do not reflect the time they spent in an office or their billable hours
Timesheet apps make it simple to fill out timesheets in the field. Employees can use their smartphones to submit their hours worked. This level of accessibility helps workers in jobs where they are required to be in the field or they do not have a dedicated job site from which they work.
Timesheet apps also enable companies to track employee hours based on factors such as arrival and departure time with GPS and time stamps. With modern applications, businesses of all sizes can take advantage of mobile applications that allow them to streamline their operations and work more efficiently.
These apps are effective for both contractors and employees. GoCanvas has pre-built templates for a monthly, biweekly, or daily timesheet template, and many other types of employee timesheet templates. These simple solutions can help to improve and streamline processes for your business, especially when it comes to paying workers.
Apps are able to leverage the native functions in iOS and Android devices, such as GPS and built-in time tracking. This can be used to automate the clock-in/clock-out process and verify a worker’s location.
The use of these tools helps process payroll efficiently. Companies can bill clients or customers where a worker has to visit a job site or track hours spent working on a specific project.
For contractors, timesheet apps can be implemented directly by companies for contractors to track hours or can be a tool that contractors use to document hours and bill customers directly.
GoCanvas can accept Credit Card payments in its apps through Square, an industry-leading payment processor. One helpful feature is the ability to do calculations. You can simply enter the number of hours worked and have the app use pre-built formulas with hourly rates that can generate invoices in real-time.
GoCanvas apps can integrate directly with payroll processing companies such as QuickBooks and Xero and countless other apps through our Zapier integration. These integrations make the processing of timesheets occur much more quickly, ensuring that pay for employees occurs in a timely fashion.
This helps human resources departments and payroll specialists to avoid spending hours each week inputting timesheets and payroll information. Effective timesheet apps are designed to work with the tools you have in place today and to transform the way workers track time in the field.
Timesheet Form Templates
GoCanvas has customizable templates for all of your businesses’ time tracking needs. Here is a list of some of our most commonly used timesheet form templates that are available for you to access on the GoCanvas app store.
Simple Timesheet Form
In need of a simple timesheet form for your business? This GoCanvas app allows you to track employees’ hours worked, collecting details about the work or tasks performed on the job. Our basic timesheet form is designed to be customized for any business or job type, giving you more flexibility to manage timesheets for your unique business purpose.
Daily timesheet forms are commonly used when businesses have hourly workers and their hours can vary depending on the day of the week. Using this daily timesheet form template on GoCanvas, you can keep a record of time and attendance details from across locations and employees. Track hours, assess overtime, sign off on approvals, and manage the entire daily timesheet process from this simple app.
Many businesses also prefer to have a weekly timesheet that documents the summary of all work performed in a given week. Using the weekly timesheet form template, businesses can easily keep track of hours, days, and weeks for a payroll pay period. Access reports, export the information as a PDF, or use the data to automate other business processes using an integration with other cloud applications.
Access the weekly timesheet form template to get started for free. You can also find our bi-weekly timesheet template form that is similarly designed for companies that prefer bi-weekly payroll sheets.
QuickBooks Timecard Mobile App
QuickBooks is widely used by companies for processing payroll. To easily integrate timesheets with your payroll processes, use this timesheet form that is designed to connect with QuickBooks. Integrating data and cloud applications is one main benefit of using GoCanvas for timesheet forms and other types of digital forms. Instead of Excel forms and Google Sheet forms for timesheets, using GoCanvas brings you the ability to automate workflows and eliminate manual work or data entry.
Contact our team to learn more about our integrations and access the QuickBooks timesheet form on the GoCanvas app store.
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
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.
Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.
Work orders are widely used in many industries to request the performance of a task or job. The work order is most commonly generated to fulfill a customer request, but it can also be used internally within a company as part of a larger project.
The work order includes the details of the job to be performed and often will have a worker assigned or dispatched to complete the job in the field, on a job site, or in an office.
Work orders are used by many different types of industries and business types. Using the GoCanvas form builder, your business can create entirely digital work order forms that are custom to your business. All of this can be done with no-coding required, making GoCanvas an easy-to-use solution for all of your work order needs.
How GoCanvas works:
Create mobile work orders, forms and work process apps with no coding needed
Get information back in real-time, eliminate redundant data entry and automate your processes
Never miss another work order form, inspection or other crucial information due to problems with paperwork and outdated processes
Core features include:
App Builder. Easily create and edit your own GoCanvas Apps (mobile forms) with our online drag-and-drop App Builder tool.
PDF Designer. Once your team fills out a GoCanvas App a PDF can be generated and emailed. Customize this PDF to engage your customers and colleagues.
Image Capture. Whether you need photos for inspecting equipment, or tracking rhinos, do it with a click.
Signature Capture. Need to confirm a package or a sales order? Easily grab someone’s signature on your mobile device.
GPS Tracking. Know where your equipment or team members are at any moment with GPS capture.
Barcode Scanning. With one click, look up equipment or inventory.
15 Free Work Order Form Templates and Examples
This article summarizes our most widely used work order form templates that you can get started with for free. If you don’t see an app listed here, simply search the GoCanvas website where we also have thousands of additional form templates available.
1. Construction Work Order Form
The construction work order form is designed for construction companies and contractors to manage all of the work orders throughout a project. The form has fields to capture important contract details, including the scope of work, change orders, extra work authorization, materials and services requested, subcontractor fees, and hours worked.
The template can be customized to suit your business needs and can also be used as a subcontractor work order form. Construction companies use this digital work order form to sync up with the construction contract, helping to organize and store pertinent information for completing the requirements of those contracts. Collect signatures, share PDF reports, and more with this digital form for construction work orders.
2. Change Order Form
The construction change order form is used when projects require a change to account for any additional work that is needed. Whether you have small changes to the construction project’s estimated costs or need to scope out the overhead costs for more substantial work, this template can quickly generate the form for you. Use this form in the field or at the client office’s so that you don’t fall behind on the construction contract.
3. Stop Work Order Form
The stop work order form is used in the construction industry to document when it is required to stop work due to a violation or incident. This form can be used to document items such as project name, project number, individual’s name of the letter, contractor, and subcontractors. It also captures relevant signatures and can be emailed as a PDF in real-time.
4. HVAC Service Work Order Form
The HVAC service work order form is designed as a template to use for HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) technicians to help cut down time spent on paperwork. Dispatch workers to the correct location, so contractors in the field can fill out the forms on a mobile device. Invoice reports can be automatically generated as a PDF sent via email to the customer to automate manual processes for your business.
5. Electrical Work Order Form
The electrical work order form is designed for electrical contractors, electrical installation companies, and master electricians for work on all types of electrical systems. Instead of relying on paper invoices or electrical contracting software, the digital form provides a completely mobile way to manage all types of electrical services work. The mobile form automatically calculates charges for electrical equipment, electrical wiring and labor, and jobs can be assigned to different electrical contractors in the field using the Dispatch feature.
6. Maintenance Work Order Form
The job work order form is a generic template that can be used for all types of maintenance and service requests. This digital job invoice template works for many types of jobs, including plumbing, HVAC services, and other types of maintenance work. Simply customize the app to fit your maintenance business requirements.
7. Mechanic Work Order Form
This mechanic work order form is ideal for repair shops and repair facilities of all sizes. Customers will appreciate the professionalism and simplicity of the digital work order app that is designed to streamline the work order and invoice process. The app allows you to quickly document vehicle information, detail the service request, list all parts, labor, shop supplies, and capture the customer authorization. All parts and labor (including sale tax) can be automatically calculated for you within the app.
8. Cleaning Work Order
The residential cleaning work order form offers a simple way for professional housekeepers, independent cleaning services, and housekeeping agencies to manage daily or weekly cleaning jobs. The app can be used to track all the details of a housekeeping services visit, including the customer contact information and details about the services provided. The housekeeper invoice form app also tracks labor and materials hours and the hourly rate, calculating the total cost at the end of the visit.
9. Handyman Work Order Form
The handyman work order form provides a simple way to manage your handyman business. Use the app to track a variety of handyman services, including plumbing work, appliance repairs, yard maintenance, and more. Any contractor or handyman business owner can customize the app to suit their needs.
The app lets you generate a handyman invoice template based on the work order, with fields for hourly rate, work performed and other important details. Once the service call has been completed, the contractor can email the handyman invoice directly to customers for payment.
10. Graphic Design Work Order
The graphic design work order form offers a simple way for print shops and graphic design teams to generate work orders electronically. The graphics work order form covers all the important details of the work order request, including facility service details about the job, customer contact details, turnaround time, order approval information, and more. Once completed, the form is automatically saved for your records.
11. Fleet Services Work Order
The fleet services work order form is perfect for fleet management professionals and helps make the day-to-day operations of a fleet easier. The app can improve preventive maintenance in a variety of ways, such as better equipment and item management, notifications when vehicle maintenance needs to be performed, field service task lists, and more.
12. Manufacturing Work Order
The manufacturing work order form offers a simple way to track manufacturing production orders using a smartphone or tablet. The work order form can help track materials used, add details about the finished goods, and add notes about raw materials consumed during the process. Once the manufacturing process has been completed, you can enter notes about additional materials or equipment used and other work instructions and operations notes as needed.
13. Landscaping Work Order Form
The landscaping work order form is perfect for landscape architects, landscape designers, professional landscapers, and others who provide professional landscaping services. Available on any smartphone, mobile device, or PC, this app will help you complete work order forms for your next landscaping project, especially those related to irrigation and landscape planning.
14. Painting Work Order Form
The painting work order form is an easy-to-use tool for painting contractors and professional painting services. Track all customer details, capture basic painting services details, terms of service, and calculate the final costs. All types of painting businesses can benefit from this handy work order form app, which lets you quickly and easily generate new work orders for your painting services. The app automatically calculates tax, materials, and labor charges for painting invoice forms, eliminating the need for manual calculations. Additionally, the application also features Dispatch functionality, making it possible for scheduling managers to assign different jobs in the painting business to the right employee while in the field.
15. IT Work Order Form
The IT work order form provides a basic work order template that computer maintenance and IT support desks can use to stay organized. This computer work order management app includes fields for customer name and location, details about the service request, equipment details, actions completed, and recommended maintenance. The service desk technician can add his or her own comments about the work request to the work order template and save the form for their records.
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
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.
Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.
Construction checklist apps are widely used by businesses to simplify the collection of data in the field or on a job site. The simple checklist that was once completed on a paper form, is now available to businesses as a digital app with forms that can be checked off using a mobile device.
GoCanvas is a leader in construction jobsite management software and forms, with thousands of pre-built templates that can be used for checklist apps. Using our no-code form builder, you can customize checklists to meet your business requirements, all without needing advanced technical knowledge.
10 Free Checklist App Templates on GoCanvas
This article compiles the 10 most popular use cases for checklist apps. If you don’t see a checklist app listed below, simply search our website for more free examples and templates your business can use for checklists apps. All of the apps listed can be customized and branded specifically for your business. Contact our team any time to access a free trial and learn more.
1. Home Inspection Checklist App
Every home inspection business uses checklists as part of their field work. Instead of relying on paper forms and manual data entry, companies are moving to digital checklist apps that simplify the process for home inspectors.
The checklist can be dynamic based on the property type, saving your employees time when filling out the forms. All of the data is recorded on a mobile device or tablet, and a home inspection report is generated automatically for the home buyer. Leverage the dispatch feature to streamline how you assign work in the field, save your employees time by automating the reporting process, and turn around inspections faster for your customers with fully digital home inspection checklists.
2. House Cleaning Checklist App
Cleaning businesses commonly use checklists to ensure that all areas of the property are cleaned. Instead of using paper forms, employees can use their mobile devices to run through the cleaning checklist on an app, submitting any photos and signing off on their work.
Any time you are removing paperwork from your operational workflows, it will help to reduce any manual work that is required to enter data into a computer. The housekeeping checklist app is designed to track items related to house cleaning tasks, deep cleaning work, standard hotel cleaning tasks, cleaning staff assignments, and more. Simply customize the digital checklist to meet your specific business needs.
There are regulations that require vehicle operators to perform pre-trip and post-trip inspections to ensure that commercial vehicles are able to operate safely. Instead of having workers fill out paper forms on the road, switching to digital forms brings all of this essential information online.
This commercial motor vehicle safety inspection form makes it easy to identify when vehicle maintenance is needed and protects trucking companies, commercial vehicle operators and truck drivers from unnecessary accidents.
4. Building Inspection Checklist App
Building inspections are common in the construction industry and this app is perfect for contractors and workers in the field. The app includes a building inspection checklist and tracks all aspects of a building including exterior, heating systems, electrical systems, housekeeping, fire safety, evacuation plans, and other miscellaneous areas ensuring compliance with building codes.
Once completed, an inspector can sign off digitally on the work and have an inspection report automatically generated and sent as PDF via email to anyone that needs documentation. This saves time and ensures that important records can always be accessed in case of a dispute.
5. Coronavirus Workplace Safety Checklist App
Coronavirus has created workplace challenges to health and safety for businesses of all types. Using the COVID-19 workplace safety checklist app, businesses can take steps to ensure that proper procedures are followed to minimize the risk of spreading coronavirus.
This comprehensive checklist app will help your business take steps to plan and protect the health and safety of your staff and colleagues. Topics include Administration and Logistics, Work Protections in the Workplace, and Travel.
6. Construction Job Site Inspection Checklist App
Job site safety inspections are important in construction to promote the safety of workers. Going digital with inspections helps to ensure compliance across job sites and give businesses greater insight into their safety operations.
The safety inspection checklist for construction sites covers personal protective equipment, sanitation, fall hazards, worker safety plan details and other workplace safety standards and considerations. Once the construction site safety checklist is complete, an email with the results can be sent directly to the project managers, contractors and others who work on the project and need to save the results for their records.
7. SDS Sheet Compliance Checklist App
If your business handles hazardous materials, you know that safety data sheets are required for your workplace. The SDS Sheet Compliance checklist is designed to help ensure compliance and that your business is following the required local regulations for chemical inventory management.
Use the SDS Compliance checklist app with your smartphone or tablet to ensure that employers and workers use the material safety data as sources of information about chemical hazards and to obtain advice on occupational safety for any work area that contains a chemical inventory.
8. Food Safety Checklist App
Restaurant inspections are critical, and this app allows you to develop a customized checklist to meet the requirements at your food service establishment. Include checks for ensuring hazardous foods are identified and removed, food is kept at the proper temperature, and food safety is top-of-mind for all employees at your food facility.
9. Roof Inspection Checklist
The roof inspection checklist is designed for roofing contractors to use as a template form to create invoices, sales orders for roof repairs and roof replacement. The mobile app can be used to inspect and detail the condition of a roof, helping to detect any roof problem or damage.
Roofing contractors can leverage the mobile app from a customer’s location, allowing them to perform the inspection checklist and create an instant report with photos for reference. The digital experience is preferred by customers and simplifies the job for inspectors.
Plumbing contractors can use the checklist app when performing the inspections for buildings. This checklist app makes it easy to identify when plumbing work is needed to keep plumbing systems running as efficiently as possible. The results of the inspection make it easy for plumbing companies to recognize when problems exist, so they can quickly be fixed before issues get worse.
Instead of relying on paper forms that can get lost or damaged, simplify the process for everyone involved by going completely digital with your checklist forms for plumbing.
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
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.
Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.
Construction estimate form templates are used as a way to approximate the cost of a project. Estimate templates are used in different ways and what’s included in the estimate will depend on the type of project. For example, general contractors and subcontractors have specific estimate templates they use for residential or commercial projects and construction firms have specific templates used in commercial and building projects. Estimates are also used in the bid process for selecting who is awarded the project business.
At a very high level, estimates are created by construction companies to deliver to the client so that all parties can sign and agree to what the approximate cost could be.
Typically an invoice, bill, or quote would be used when giving the actual cost, whereas an estimate just accounts for what the expected cost would be given the scope of work. Of course, the estimate can not account for all of the hidden costs that arise – so the actual cost of the project is different from the estimate.
Getting an accurate estimate is critical for construction companies to set reasonable expectations and gain the confidence of the owner or customer. That’s why many companies are starting to leverage digital technologies to streamline the process for estimates.
Software platforms can provide digital forms that simplify the estimate process for everyone involved and provide free templates that can be used to get started. Continue reading to learn more about digital templates for estimates and how construction firms and contractors can benefit from modernizing their operations.
How do you write a construction estimate?
Estimates are used by construction companies and contractors for various purposes and at different stages of projects. While there are many types of estimates that exist, most estimates will include some basic information about the project.
Here are some of the common form fields that you might use on a construction estimate form template:
Basic project information. Examples include things like company name, client name and information, type of project, estimate number, and more.
Scope of work. Description of the work to be performed and setting expectations on what is included within the scope of work.
Cost estimates. Detailed line items for material costs, expected labor costs, additional fees or permits, and any other relevant details related to the expected project costs.
Summarized cost. Total of materials, labor, and additional costs as a summarized view including taxes and the total project cost. Be sure to also factor in profit and overhead costs in your calculations.
Signatures. Estimates are designed to be signed by both the company representative and the client involved, so signatures are required to ensure an agreement has been reached on the estimate for the project.
Templates should provide a basic framework for what to include in the estimate, but ultimately they should be customizable to suit your specific project needs. Starting from a template can be useful to bring in standard calculations, but you will likely need to customize the template to fit your needs.
Why You Should Avoid Excel, Word, and Google Sheets for Free Estimate Templates
There are many options for free construction estimate form templates available for Excel, Word, or Google Sheets. Although these options are free to use, there are many hidden costs and risks involved when using spreadsheets or word documents. Here are some things to consider:
Risk #1: Human Error
When working with any of the free tools like excel spreadsheets, Google Sheets, or Word documents, there is a very real risk of human error. Research actually shows that almost 90% of all spreadsheets contain errors.
Using these free tools for construction or contractor estimates can lead to errors unknowingly ending up in the spreadsheet. For example, you may accidentally mistype the formula for calculating labor cost and not notice that the final calculation is wrong.
With a spreadsheet or document, there’s really no way to ensure that human error doesn’t happen and they can often be hard to find.
The hidden cost: When we’re talking about an estimate given to a client for work to be performed, there is no room for error. This can lead to an inaccurate estimate that takes away from your profit or cause frustration from the client that the initial estimate was inaccurate and now over budget.
Risk #2: Lost Work
The second common risk involved with excel spreadsheets, Google Sheets, or Word documents is the risk of lost work. This happens many times by accident when a computer crashes and the document isn’t saved, or similar cases where the data gets lost or deleted by mistake.
The hidden cost: Your business can’t afford to lose important documents. In case of an audit or dispute, you need the information to be readily available. Additionally, re-work is often needed when work is lost by accident, creating additional time spent by staff to re-create the lost paperwork.
Risk #3: Version Control Issues
One of the biggest challenges with using free tools like Excel or Word documents is the potential for version control issues. If you have multiple versions of the same document being used, it can be difficult to keep track of the latest version.
This becomes more of an issue when you have multiple people or subcontractors that need to collaborate on the same document. It becomes difficult to manage the different versions of each Excel file and make changes to the documents over time.
The hidden cost: Your business can’t afford to lose productivity when it comes to managing estimates and other forms of paperwork. While it may seem like a simple solution to use free tools like Excel and Word, they can also drain staff time by creating additional busy work to manage the documents and issues with multiple versions.
Apps and Forms for Construction Estimates
With all the risks and hidden costs associated with some of the free tools available for construction estimates, many companies are moving their operations to using construction apps and forms that are designed specifically for construction and contractor estimates.
These types of platforms provide estimate templates for construction firms and contractors to use. Instead of using a paper form or a word document to generate a PDF, companies are turning these into digital construction forms that can be completed from a computer, mobile device, or tablet.
Digitizing construction estimates can bring a number of benefits to an organization, including:
Secure Cloud Platform for Estimates. Using software and mobile forms for estimates can help contractors and construction firms create a secure and centralized platform for managing digital forms. Leverage templates and store estimates in the cloud so that your team can review and update them anytime, anywhere. This helps to limit risk, create accurate estimates, and streamline the process for everyone involved.
Automatic Calculations. You can automatically calculate materials and labor costs using software and forms for estimates. Contractor and construction estimates can be quite complex in terms of the different calculations involved. Pre-build the calculations and ensure that they are always accurate so that all you need to do is input fields and have the calculations performed by a computer program.
Digital Signatures. With digital signatures available for estimates, simplify the process for the client by giving them a digital PDF and digital signature field to complete from anywhere. Streamline the process even further by sending them a copy automatically via email to retain for their records.
Image Capture. For contractors, it can be helpful to provide an image as part of the estimate process. Software and mobile forms allow contractors to capture images and attach them to the estimate, clarifying the work to be performed and providing an additional level of detail within the estimate.
Reference Data. Auto-populate data like material costs and labor to reduce manual input time and eliminate errors. This data can be dynamically pulled from any database, ensuring that you have the most up-to-date information for estimating. Should costs change in the future due to inflation, this information can be pulled in automatically so estimates account for current prices and jobs are estimated accurately.
Modernizing your processes for estimates can simplify the process for staff and clients. This helps to ensure that estimates are accurate and profits are maximized by avoiding the common pitfalls that happen with free tools like Excel, Word Documents, or paper sheets. The next section covers free templates you can use to get started with GoCanvas for estimates.
GoCanvas is a mobile platform that makes it simple for businesses to automate how work is done, replacing outdated processes and expensive paperwork. The GoCanvas App works on smartphones and tablets, helping companies easily collect information across their organization, share it instantly with others, and gain real-time insight into their business. Construction firms and contractors rely on GoCanvas to streamline their processes for estimates, work orders, inspections, and much more.
Free Templates for Construction Estimates
GoCanvas has many types of estimate templates for contractors and construction firms. Simply choose from one of the templates listed below or check out our application store for a full list of customizable templates you can use to get started for free.
Basic Estimate Template
The basic estimate template provided by GoCanvas allows you to create a professional-looking estimate that includes labor, material, and equipment costs. No job is too big or too small. Provide transparent estimates that allow the customer to see the full breakdown of costs, including: hours of work and cost per hour; number of materials units and cost per unit; fixed costs; tax rates; and more.
Subcontractor Estimate Template
Subcontractor Estimate template allows project managers, general contractors, and subcontractors to complete a paperless construction subcontractor estimate for subcontracted services, labor, and construction subcontractor work, using a smartphone or tablet to complete a competitive bid and construction proposal. The app also allows construction subcontractors to act as a material supplier and include construction industry materials in the construction proposal.
Handyman Bid
Start with this simple handyman job bid template, including job specifications and estimated costs, and email the estimate to the customer before leaving the site. Include all the required legalese to protect you and your company and collect everything you need right from your smartphone.
General Building Contractors Estimate Template
The General Building Contractors Estimate is a template that allows general contractors to produce estimates for construction projects right then and there on the job site. Enter specifications such as customer details, materials needed, labor hours, unit rates, and material costs, and the app will provide the total work estimate calculations for you.
Roofing Contractors Estimate Sheet
Designed for any contractor or business that provides roof repair, this roofing contractors template makes it easy to estimate the cost of the service, which may include materials and labor costs, warranty information, and square footage of the area to be repaired. It’s easy to customize the Roofing Contractors Estimate templates to include the type of roof being serviced, which could be a flat roof, asphalt roof, shingle roof, or one made of slate or wood shake. You can also create fields that will affect the price, such as roof slope and pitch, or the extent of leak damage. Once all the information is entered, this app uses a calculator to provide a free estimate quote in a PDF format. This roof cost estimate may be emailed directly to the customer, who may use it in an insurance claim.
Painting Estimate Template
Painting companies can customize the estimate template form to include the square footage of the areas to be painted, a list of services to be performed by the painting contractors, estimated gallons of paint to be used, specialty materials needed, labor, and other details for the customer. The business can also add more specific details about the job as needed, including paint colors to be used and the number of coats to be applied.
Remodeling Subcontractor Estimate Template
The Remodeling Subcontractor Estimate template allows project managers, general contractors and subcontractors to complete a paperless remodeling subcontractor estimate for subcontracted services, labor and remodeling subcontractor work, using a smartphone or tablet to complete a competitive bid and construction proposal.
Electrical Contractors Estimate Template
The Electrical Contractors Estimate template makes it easy to provide free estimates for electrical work while in the field. Use this form to process the client’s contact information, details about the materials required, labor rates, final costs, and additional information. This reporting app automatically calculates job costs for you, making it easy to determine the final estimate, get customer approval and begin work. Save time on each electrical services estimate, get to work faster and complete more jobs over time with this handy app for residential contractors, licensed electricians and electrical contracting companies.
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
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…
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…
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…
Change order forms are used in the construction industry when changes to the contract are required. Change orders happen when a client or contractor decides that changes are needed to the initial agreement. This could be to add time and material costs or other similar changes to the overall scope of work.
Change orders happen on almost every construction project to account for additional work that is needed along the way. This article summarizes the purpose of construction change order forms and provides several free templates that can be used by contractors for different types of change orders in construction.
What are the causes of a change order?
Companies do their best to avoid change orders, but there are many circumstances in which change orders become necessary in a construction project. Some common reasons include:
Ambiguities in the original contract or design drawings
Unforeseen circumstances that could not have been known
Challenges with materials or supply chain issues
Poor project management
Regardless of the reason to initiate a change order, it’s important that all parties involved have clear documentation included in the construction change order form.
What to include in a construction change order form
The construction change order form will be different depending on the company and project needs. Here are some of the basic types of information included in many scenarios:
Project-specific details. All of the basic information needed to know about the project.
Changes to be made. Detailed changes to the scope of work and any justification for the changes to be made.
Updated timeline and pricing. Change orders usually cause changes to the initial pricing and timeline, so clearly documenting expectations is needed in the change order.
Line for signatures. Most change orders will require signatures as proof that both parties agreed to the updated agreements.
While most of this can be captured using paper forms, there are some clear benefits to managing the process with digital forms and apps for change orders.
Key Benefits of Using Digital Forms Rather than Paper
Changes to the scope of work can cause delays and overruns on budget, so it’s important to have clear documentation for record-keeping. Should litigation arise, it’s important to have these documents available.
Instead of using paper forms or one-off Word documents or PDF documents, companies are starting to leverage mobile app platforms to provide secure, digital forms for change orders. This benefits construction firms and clients in a number of ways:
Increased efficiency. Instead of employees traveling between the office and job location to submit paperwork, all of this can be managed digitally. With construction change order forms managed through a mobile device or tablet, changes can be made from anywhere and digital signatures can all be collected through one platform.
Increased visibility in the field. Digital construction change order forms allow you to instantly transfer in-progress change orders from one person to another to review, approve, or reject then sync to the cloud for easy access. PDF copies and reports can be generated in real-time and shared with the appropriate parties via email or notification.
Avoid expensive storage volume, costs, and searchability. Store all of your completed change orders in the cloud for easy access from anywhere, anytime.
Avoid damaged or lost paperwork. Electronic submissions eliminate the risk of damaged and lost paperwork. Access your data anytime from anywhere from a mobile device. Solutions for digital forms can prevent data loss and avoid version control issues that create confusion.
Getting Started with Construction Change Order Forms on GoCanvas
GoCanvas is a mobile platform that makes it simple for businesses to automate how work is done, replacing outdated processes and expensive paperwork. The GoCanvas App works on smartphones and tablets, helping companies easily collect information across their organization, share it instantly with others, and gain real-time insight into their business. Construction firms and contractors rely on GoCanvas to increase productivity, streamline business operations, and create a competitive advantage.
Below you will find some of our most popular templates that can be used for digital change order forms for construction firms and contractors. You can get started for free using our templates and customize them to fit you specific business requirements.
Construction Change Order Form Templates and Examples
Construction Change Order Form
Change orders happen on almost every construction project to account for additional work that is needed along the way. Whether you have small changes to the construction project’s estimated costs or need to scope out the overhead costs for more substantial work, this construction change order form template can quickly generate the form for you.
Subcontractor Change Order Form
The subcontractor change order form is similar to the basic change order that tracks the running changes to the project. However, this template is designed to be used solely between a contractor and subcontractor. This template can be used when there is a change to a subcontract purchase order that would require a change to the scope of work and updated documents.
Time & Materials Change Order Form
When extra work is needed on a construction project, the general contractor or construction manager can create a change order form using this time and materials change order form. Change orders are often done on a time and materials (T&M) basis, even if the original contract is fixed-fee. It’s faster and easier than calculating all the materials and their cost, estimating the labor, then adding overhead and profit.
Change Order Log
As a general contractor in construction management, this construction change order log will help you save time, work, and money on every owner-contractor agreement. When everyone has access to the same construction documents, you can avoid breach of contract terms, contract disputes, and construction disputes so you can keep the project on schedule.
Electrical Contractors Change Order
The electrical contractors change order is designed to prevent work delays on electrical projects. Efficiently process change requests from your smartphone or tablet. Perfect for use by project managers or general contractors who need to manage change orders for their electrical sub-contractors.
Looking for additional templates?
GoCanvas has hundreds of pre-built forms with a variety of features to fit all of your business needs. Discover more construction change order forms that are available in our Application Store.
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
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…
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…
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…
