Home >>
January 2009 >>
New Technology Takes Software Applications to the Jobsite
In the construction industry, "on the job" often means "on the jobsite"—including locations notorious for a lack of Internet connectivity. Access to software that helps employees perform is even more important on a remote jobsite where the need for personal responsibility is at its highest.
Realizing that working far from the main office doesn’t reduce construction employees’ need to access information, software companies have developed hosted software solutions that put critical business information into the hands of those who need it, wherever they are. From tool management and job costing to accounting and project management, today’s database technology goes “on the job” with employees more easily than ever.
For companies looking to boost productivity on the jobsite, three key technologies combine the best applications to take ease of use and mobility to new levels. Together, these three technologies create software that lets construction companies gather data and report information across the entire organization. Multiple warehouses, jobsites and offices in different regions of the country or around the world can be synchronized automatically to provide an enterprise-wide look at the organization.
The Perfect Host
First and foremost, hosted products give construction companies the ability to use enterprise-level software with complex functions without buying, building and maintaining the information technology (IT) infrastructure to support it. Gone are the days of maintaining and monitoring secure servers to house vast amounts of company information. Software providers can build higher levels of security into the storage process than most construction companies could achieve on their own.
Because hosted applications use a subscription model, a new user simply creates an account to begin using the program, requiring no assistance from the in-house IT department. Users also can log in from any computer with an Internet connection. These applications store all company information in a central, secure database, so users can get the view of company information they need to do their jobs.
Whether it’s the president of the company looking to set long-term growth goals or a project manager trying to keep job costs down, the application can guide informed decisions.
Free to Roam
Hosted software is the foundation of applications that work in remote locations, but the one-two punch of two additional technologies can make an application truly mobile while still providing a superior user experience, online or offline.
Adding Smart Client Technology, a Microsoft platform that combines desktop applications and Internet applications, to a hosted application results in an easily deployed program that automatically updates itself. This user-friendly application reduces the need for IT support. Smart Client Technology is a stable platform, so these systems provide dependability and security in a multi-user environment.
Second, Microsoft SQL Compact Edition lets software developers create a seamless work experience for any user, regardless of Internet connectivity. SQL Compact stores a local view of a company’s encrypted data directly on a user’s computer or mobile device so users can work with the most recently updated version of company information even when they can’t get online—a common scenario on remote construction jobsites. Users also can continue making changes to the database remotely because all work is stored in their local view.
SQL Compact Edition allows huge database applications to run on mobile devices because it can condense a vast amount of information to make it accessible without slowing down the device. As soon as a remote user gets back to an Internet connection, the application can automatically sync up with the rest of the company’s database, uploading changes the user made and downloading changes made by others while the device was offline.
For a savvy construction executive looking to improve productivity and profitability, it makes sense to start where employees spend most of their time—on the jobsite. By providing easy-to-use, fully mobile, business-critical software applications that go on the job, employees can make better decisions that yield impressive results.
To get the most out of the investment, look for an application that combines hosted software with Smart Client Technology and SQL Server Compact Edition. An application built on these three powerful platforms gives decision-makers an enterprise-wide view of company data, gathered from various physical locations throughout the company structure and available immediately. This seamless gathering and updating of information lets companies see the big picture, making it easier to steer profits into view.