Site monitoring: how to optimize it in order to improve?

‍The world of construction is changing: traditional methods of site management are disappearing in favor of digital solutions. With these new tools, work management is directly in the palm of your hand, revolutionizing project planning.

In this article, we explore the benefits of web and mobile site monitoring, and how they could transform your business. But before that, let's briefly recall the fundamentals of this discipline.

What does site monitoring consist of?

Ensuring sustainable site monitoring is essential for Guarantee a Serene and Orderly Progress construction projects. It allows construction professionals to Fully Control Their Progress, from the preparatory phase to delivery to the project owner.

Site monitoring is thus used to: Centralize Key Information And Deliver adapted instructions To each actor in the project. It can also play a role in meeting safety standards and environmental obligations.

Why carry out clear site monitoring?

Each construction project is based on methodical and meticulous attention to detail. Site supervision embodies this precision, although it is sometimes overlooked.

The task is therefore not satisfied with a simple observation of the work, but includes all the elements necessary to guarantee The efficiency, safety and quality of the project. Accurate and clear tracking is critical, and here's why: ‍

• ‍Compliance with contractual documents: It is a question of ensuring that each element of the project is carefully aligned with the contractual requirements and the content of the specifications.
• ‍Budget optimization: Beyond cost monitoring, monitoring allows for proactive budget management, by identifying potential financial pitfalls before they become major problems.‍
• Communication and coordination: Ensuring a transparent and effective link between all stakeholders is essential for the success of the project.‍
• Responsiveness to the unexpected: Adopting effective strategies to respond with agility to unexpected events and changes is essential.‍
• Control of deadlines: Thanks to a global and in-depth view of the project, deadlines are not only respected, but can also be optimized for Maximizing Profitability.‍
• Training and skills: Ensuring that each stakeholder has the know-how and expertise adapted to their tasks is decisive in guaranteeing the quality of the work.‍
• Increased security on site: Safety is not limited to compliance with standards. It requires a regular assessment of risks, and adjusted responses, thus ensuring that each worker is optimally protected.‍
• Eco-responsibility: More than simply reducing pollution, it is a global approach aimed at reducing the ecological footprint of the construction site, whether in terms of resource management or anti-pollution measures.‍
• Quality requirement: Quality is not static. It requires constant vigilance to ensure that the level of excellence is maintained and even exceeded throughout the process.

Existing site monitoring therefore goes beyond surveillance: it allows controlled implementation and flawless completion.

Who is responsible for monitoring the construction site?

The implementation of site supervision requires a combination of expertise, efficiency and precision to Anticipate and Manage the Unexpected, while guaranteeing A Smooth Progress of the Work in accordance with the established timetable. But within an SME specialized in a government body, how is this responsibility attributed?

Within companies, it is generally the manager or the construction manager who takes care of the monitoring of construction sites. Its role varies according to the structure and size of the project. Its main missions include:‍

• ‍Procurement: Manage orders and deliveries of materials and equipment.‍
• Team coordination: Ensure that the right resources are allocated to the right place based on available resources and the company's volume of business.‍
• Interaction with stakeholders: Collaborate closely with the various actors in the project.‍
• The quality of the achievements: Monitor the compliance of the work with established standards.‍
• Cost control: Monitor the budget and anticipate possible overruns.

On the entire site, whether it is a house, a collective or industrial building, the supervision of the site is in principle ensured by The Project Manager. It is he who schedules regular meetings to assess the progress of the work. In its absence, this responsibility can be assumed by the project owner, the architect or the AMO (Project Management Assistance).

How do you monitor the construction site properly?

The control of a construction project is based on a series of essential steps. Here are our tips.

1) Before following the construction site, you must prepare it well

Construction managers often learn this the hard way: Prepare your construction site well is decisive for the success of a construction project. This phase, which extends from the receipt of the order to the start of work, focuses on Organization and Scheduling.

It includes the establishment of Site installation plan (PIC), the establishment of a provisional schedule, the determination of execution plans, and a consistent programming of supplies.

It is also important to monitor carefully administrative authorizations, logistical organization and the safety of stakeholders. Today's digital tools greatly facilitate this task, by guaranteeing exact traceability and controlled management of each phase of the project.

2) Identify the human and material resources allocated to the site

Managing teams on a construction site requires a thorough knowledge of the skills required, as well as the equipment and materials required. This requires solid expertise in the field of construction and construction.

The construction manager, assisted by his experience, is responsible for inventorying, allocating and supervising the use of resources. In doing so, he ensures Control Expenses, Control the progress of structures, and Guarantees Management The supply and storage of construction equipment and materials.

Alobees optimizes the management of your sites, to plan teams and coordinate work. Each stakeholder knows exactly their upcoming tasks and their deadlines.

3) Establish and follow precise schedules

Planning the site well is essential to the proper preparation of a site. This stage plays a decisive role in ensuring the coherence of operations, from the delivery of equipment and materials to the coordination of teams and subcontractors. Thanks to this, it is possible to:‍

• ‍Segmenting missions and scheduling supplies,
• Organize and prioritize tasks,
• Assign responsibilities and deadlines,
• Regularly monitor the progress of the work,
• Prevent errors and adjust quickly if necessary.

A well-designed construction schedule Centralizes all key information, offering a complete view of the project to all parties involved.

A lack of foresight can lead to delays. Hence the importance of devoting yourself fully to this stage. The use of digital tools can facilitate the process by ensuring Efficient Synchronization and an Overview of the Steps. It is also essential to remain flexible in order to easily find the solution to the unexpected during construction.

In addition to facilitating the implementation and planning of your sites, Alobees offers you a precise view of the tasks of your employees. The software is an essential tool for maintaining traceability and consolidating the cohesion of your teams on site.

4) Everyone must be aware of the progress of the construction site

In a construction company, communicating on a construction site is essential and internal coordination plays a key role. The construction manager is at the heart of this dynamic.

It Organizes Regular Meetings with the Team Leader (or other, depending on the organization) for:‍

• ‍Discuss the progress of the work: monitoring progress, problems encountered and solutions envisaged.‍
• Discuss the resources needed: equipment, materials, personnel, and logistics.‍
• Generate the intervention report: essential document for internal monitoring, facilitating communication between teams and informing the project owner and/or the project manager of the progress of the project.

In addition to these coordinations specific to companies, the construction manager participates in site meetings with the various bodies of state. With a view to these appointments, he must be very precisely informed. Of The Progress of the Works and the Problems Encountered By its teams in the field. Hence the interest of optimal communication with its workers.

Alobees boosts live exchanges between field teams by streamlining the transmission of information and by offering the manager and site managers instant visibility on the progress of tasks. This gives them the advantage of projecting themselves and effectively orienting the progress of the site.

5) Keep an eye on expenses

The financial management of a construction site is a pillar for any construction company. In an area where margins can be tight, it is crucial to keep a close eye on the budget to avoid slip-ups. The main points of this monitoring:

• Negotiating with suppliers: Obtain preferential rates or volume discounts with trusted suppliers for better cost control.
• ‍Supply monitoring: Ensure that materials and equipment are ordered at the best price, while respecting quality standards.‍
• Regular follow-up: Organize periodic budget audits to confirm the consistency between planned spending and actual construction site expenses.‍
• Anticipation of overruns: The slight variation in expenditure, whatever it may be, must be identified without delay in order to maintain the profitability of the site.‍
• Cost optimization: Knowing where and how to reduce costs, especially in terms of labour, can have a significant impact on the final outcome of the project.‍
• Management of contingencies: Allocate a continuously reserve to deal with hazards, and ensure that it is used wisely.‍
• Post-project evaluation: Once the work is completed, analyze the differences between the planned budget and the actual expenses to refine and improve the estimation model for future projects.

Traditional methods may lack responsiveness or be tedious; the adoption of digital solutions is recommended. Tools now allow real-time control of construction costs, guaranteeing both precision and simplicity in financial management.

Alobees makes it possible to monitor resource consumption in real time and thus offers direct monitoring of construction site expenses.

In a few clicks, extract summary Excel reports, weekly or monthly, filtered by worker, site or at the global scale of the company.

6) Finally, it is necessary to write work reports

Writing reports after each intervention is essential to ensure Monitoring the progress of the work And Record Any Adjustments. These site reports:

• Retrace faithfully discussions, observations, and proposed next steps.‍
• Benefit from a clear identification, with a link between the report number and the project identifier, accompanied by an explicit title.‍
• Provide essential details Such as the customer, the address, a brief description of the project, the date and time of the visit or meeting, as well as the progress, often accompanied by photos for a clear representation of the construction site.‍
• Strengthen the company's image by integrating branding elements such as the logo or the slogan.

Accurate intervention reports are essential. As such, some software specialized in construction now offers the possibility of easily writing and sharing digitized reports.

With Alobees, it's direct: you enter, you share, you archive. Each stage of the construction site is recorded. The report of each intervention or site can be edited at any time and shared with all actors.

How to optimize site monitoring?

As explained above, the quality of site monitoring can be improved by using digital tools. Everyone knows Excel, which can be very useful. But the adoption of a digital solution such as Alobees brings Real Added Value And Saving time. This is beneficial for all employees and at all stages of the construction site.

Optimize site monitoring thanks to Excel:

Excel is often used for site management with Its customizable tables And Its dedicated models. However, its complexity, especially with Gantt charts, can make it difficult to manipulate.

For its part, Google Sheet focuses on real-time collaboration thanks to its cloud infrastructure, facilitating team sharing and coordination.

For optimal management, however, it is recommended to opt for Digital Tools Specially Designed for Site Monitoring, offering a more complete and harmonious approach. This is the case of Alobees, which pushes the boundaries of spreadsheets.

Optimize site monitoring thanks to Alobees:

Alobees is much more than a simple construction monitoring application. It is designed to transform the way you manage your projects. Its intuitive interface allows A dynamic overview Of the progress of the work and a clear vision of the evolution of each site.

Alobees is distinguished by several key advantages:

• Construction schedule: Effectively organize your teams and materials according to the needs of the site.‍
• Timesheets: Accurately track hours worked to maximize productivity and create payroll more easily.‍
• Cross-platform access: With Alobees, access your information from any device — whether it's a mobile, tablet, or computer, whether you're on the go, at home, or at work.‍
• Communication and collaboration tools: Simplify your interactions with features such as the sharing of images and videos, the publication of news related to the construction site, the integration of comments or the possibility of importing several images at the same time. Each construction site has its own news feed, guaranteeing Optimal traceability and organization. Because, let's remember, communication is the pillar of any successful project.‍
• Centralization of documents: All your documents, whether they are plans, contracts or minutes, are collected and searchable in a single location.

Alobees does not stop there. This construction software offers other functionalities dedicated to improving the performance of your business.

Alobees is therefore an essential tool for Boost the Profitability of Your Company. By optimizing the management of each position and task, it frees up time for each employee to focus on their main expertise. Its use not only improves productivity and the quality of achievements, but also customer satisfaction. Try Alobees free for 30 days!