Client

The client is a construction supply chain management platform provider. The idea for their project was born of a synergy between professionals from construction and computer science backgrounds. More specifically, they wanted to build a platform that would offer comprehensive visibility and control over every facet of the construction supply chain, empowering stakeholders both on and off construction sites.

As of today, this unique solution caters to the needs of 200+ construction professionals. However, our involvement started back in 2020 when the client initially presented us with their concept, seeking technical assistance.

Challenge

Construction site managers must navigate numerous factors — including diverse stakeholders, material shipments, and unpredictable weather — to ensure project success. As of 2020, no all-in-one solution existed to seamlessly handle all construction supply chain processes. Construction site managers had to resort to using multiple tools, with many tasks still requiring manual efforts.

With a background in construction, the client experienced these struggles firsthand. Eventually, they decided to create a platform that would address the entirety of construction supply chain needs. So, they were in search of a dependable software development partner to turn their vision into reality.

Cooperation

The client engaged with us right from the project’s inception. At that moment, they already had a deep understanding of the target audience's needs and a vision of a future product that would address them effectively.

Essentially, they wanted a solution that would automate all elements of the construction supply chain. In order to fulfill their vision, we employed the following technologies and services:

Beyond technicians: integral contributors to the client team

Since day one, we’ve worked with the client’s team, handling the technical aspects while the client has been driving the vision. Beyond being mere technicians, we were actively contributing to ideation, suggesting new features, or advising on when to activate new elements — all thanks to our deep understanding of the project’s context.

As a result, we developed the raw concept into a full-fledged UI design. Leveraging the client’s background in construction, we quickly defined a user flow that authentically reflected real-world interactions — an approach that enabled us to incorporate only those features essential to meet the needs of potential users.

One idea — three milestones

Our workflow can be broken down into a few milestones.

  • Milestone 1: The implementation and release of the construction site management solution

    During the first 18 months of the project, we were fully focused on building and enhancing an automation tool for construction site management.

  • Milestone 2: The implementation and release of the suppliers’ management tool

    Despite the success of the construction site management platform, the logistics side still needed work. In 2022, we initiated the design of an automation tool for distribution and supply management. The solution was meant to seamlessly complement the construction site management tool. The solution is currently in progress, with 90% of our focus dedicated to its implementation.

  • Milestone 3: The improvement of the construction site management solution

    While the solution is already empowering over 200 users, it keeps evolving. We address bugs, incorporate features for seamless integration with the suppliers' management solution, and recently, we’ve conducted a refactoring to handle two new challenges:

    • The construction site management platform had gained substantial traction, necessitating code restructuring for resilience and a customer-centric experience
    • Initial attempts to integrate the suppliers' management tool revealed coding constraints in the construction site platform

    The six-month refactoring process (October 2022 to April 2023) included a shift to a customer-centric order placement and delivery concept, running parallel to the suppliers' solution development.

Solution

After months of dedicated brainstorming, coding, analysis, and upgrades, we have successfully launched a comprehensive solution revolutionizing the construction supply chain.

Tailored to empower contractors and material suppliers alike, the solution comprises two key components: a construction management tool and a suppliers' management platform.

Construction site management tool

The construction site management tool is designed to address supply chain needs within a construction site.

Targeted at contractors, subcontractors, and construction site managers, it comprises a web platform for efficient planning on larger screens and a mobile app for real-time tracking of deliveries while on the move. The solution encompasses the following modules:

  • Delivery schedule: Helps to plan and control delivery of materials, book resources (like cranes and forklifts), as well as to manage garbage removal and container deliveries.
  • Construction area management: A construction site plan with all projects, terminals, unloading zones, resources, gates, checkpoints, and other information needed for informed delivery planning.
  • Project management: Provides a 3D project view with all the relevant information, displays weather information, enables remote gate control, and more.
  • Deviation management: Allows users to register, prioritize, and manage delivery and project deviations.
  • Waste management: Helps to monitor waste containers across the site, order new containers, and place container emptying requests.
  • Statistics: Helps to view and analyze project KPIs from a logistics perspective and identify areas for improvement.

Suppliers' management tool

The tool addresses the organizational need to efficiently manage the logistics terminal, distributors, and suppliers. It has the following modules:

  • Terminal management: Allows users to view terminals (accessible to a particular user) across the construction site, access information on planned deliveries, define an optimal warehouse structure, register vehicles, define loading and unloading zones, and manage shipping invoices.
  • Incoming orders: Helps to manage the movement of materials and resources to the terminal.
  • Outgoing orders: Helps to manage the movement of materials and resources from the terminal to the construction site.
  • Storage management: Facilitates efficient material storage within a warehouse.
  • Deviation management: Allows users to register and manage deviations for orders in the terminal.

Results

Although the project is still underway, over 200 construction site professionals are actively using the platform. By the last quarter of 2023, the solution had already facilitated more than 20,000 deliveries and over 3,500 resource bookings. Here are some of the key reasons behind its popularity.

Customer-centricity

While the client has a background in the construction industry and knows their target audience’s struggles from the inside, we iteratively enhanced the product based on customer feedback. The outcome is a customer-centric solution well-received by its intended users.

Full visibility

The solution offers comprehensive visibility into the construction supply chain requirements, necessary resources, related information, delivery processes, and deviations. This ensures participants in the construction project experience a seamlessly organized site, enabling them to fully focus on their jobs.

Increased productivity

The tool increases productivity immensely, and there are a few reasons behind that.

  • Reason 1: Having all critical supply chain information at hand drastically reduces legwork and minimizes phone calls, preventing disruptions before they impact operations.
  • Reason 2: The mobile app ensures organizational efficiency from anywhere. For example, a construction manager can check the status of deliveries and do a lot of other tasks on the go.
  • Reason 3: Automation plays a key role. For example, drivers can open the gates for delivery themselves, so there is no need for some other employee to run to the gates to open them, which saves a lot of time.
  • Reason 4: It enables project participants to learn from each other by sharing their experiences and observing how other contractors perform certain tasks.

Increased sustainability

A comprehensive view of the entire construction supply chain and improved productivity on their own contribute to an immensely reduced impact on the environment. In addition, the solution harvests CO2-emissions data and calculates the carbon footprint based on the distance a vehicle needs to travel.