MSite - the key to successful time management in construction

Direct to worker notifications

All operatives are given access to the MSite Workforce App, which can significantly improve communication – without the need for time-consuming catch-up meetings and debriefs.

At the simple touch of a button, you can send key updates and messages via instant or scheduled push notifications, directly to everyone’s smartphone. These messages can be used to convey important information about safety announcements, shift changes, refresher training and more. And convenient read receipts will evidence whether workers have read them or not for your records.

Reporting

Most managers would agree, the key to a successful construction project (which runs on time) is having a complete picture of your day-to-day operations – and that’s exactly what MSite can offer.

It provides instant visibility of your operations. Real-time data and reports – relating to time and attendance, worker ID, training, skills and accreditations and more – can all be found on a single cloud-based platform. Data is available to view at a site, group or business unit level. And you can run reports and view live dashboards on everything you need to know about your workers.

This can be particularly useful if you manage multiple projects at once. There’s no need to spend hours completing tedious paperwork. Data is standardised across all sites, ensuring consistency and accessibility. And these rich data insights can be used to drive better decisions and productivity. You can ensure that – as a whole – your construction company is working as efficiently as possible.

Other ways to improve time management

Our complete end-to-end solution is designed to help you – as a construction manager – to oversee your workforce and operations, simplifying time-consuming daily tasks and allowing you to focus your efforts elsewhere. And it can make a huge difference. But in addition to MSite, there are many other things you can do to improve your time management. Here we suggest a few ideas.

1. Always refer to the project schedule

As the manager, the ‘project schedule’ is your bible. It states exactly what needs to happen, when, and who is responsible for that particular job. The slightest change to this schedule can often have a ripple effect, causing more changes and problems further down the line.

Therefore, one excellent time management strategy is to keep referring back to the schedule. You need to make sure you’re on track – and, if you’re not, it’s important to review and adjust the plan, as necessary. For most projects, we recommend taking a look at the schedule every morning. Then, once you know what needs to be done, you can create a to-do list for the day ahead.

2. Stop procrastinating

There’s always that one task that, for whatever reason, you keep avoiding. But such procrastination can be problematic. As a construction manager, you’re limited on time as it is – and research has shown that, putting off these tasks can reduce your overall productivity for the rest of the day.

Our advice is to do it first thing in the morning. Before you get sucked into your inbox or start making calls, get it out of the way. Start on the right foot and you’re bound to get more done.

3. Delegate jobs as much as possible

Delegation is a key time management skill. If you’re surrounded by a team of employees, why struggle to do everything yourself? Especially if it could jeopardise the success of the project.

Simply establish what needs to be completed each day and, wherever possible, offload jobs onto someone else. And if you’re worried about tasks being done poorly or incorrectly, perhaps you could create a new training video and multiple-choice assessment via the MSite Workforce App.

4. Plan your meetings

Direct-to-worker notifications can, of course, reduce the need for regular meetings. But if you feel like a face-to-face catch up with employees is necessary, be sure to create a meeting agenda.

Figure out exactly what you wish to achieve beforehand. Be clear on the purpose of the gathering from the start. Try to keep the conversation on-topic and give employees direct, actionable items at the end. This is a very simple time management technique, but you’ll be surprised how much of a difference it makes.