5 Best Practices to Follow in the Preconstruction Phase
The build phase usually gets the most attention from construction organizations, a project’s success is often determined before ground is broken.
Preconstruction is where construction organizations can best identify opportunities to increase margins. A smooth sailing construction project depends on a thoughtful plan and clear, concise communication from the very beginning. By getting project partners involved early on during the planning phase.
At Riise, we have identified five steps to help you with your preconstruction process and set your future projects up for success.
1. Audit Your Current Preconstruction Process
It’s important to audit your current processes to identify any weaknesses. You could have a process set in place however not everyone in your organization is implementing it correctly. Or maybe you don’t have a clear preconstruction process and you need to create one.
Regardless, it’s important to get a full understanding of your preconstruction process presently so you can determine how to best optimize it. When auditing, ask yourself the following questions:
Does my preconstruction teamwork in silos, both internally and across departments?
Is your project information stored in different systems? Can we access it easily?
Do we waste time on manual work and data entry?
How often do we miss deadlines?
What mistakes can be avoided?
Conference with your team and look for situations where things could have been better. Be honest about where your process could use improvements, and identify actionable strategies.
2. Use a Collaboration Tool
It’s important to get all project stakeholders involved on the same page from the beginning. You will need to find the right digital platforms for your team. Presently, construction companies need systems that enable effective collaboration between departments and eliminate silos across offices.
3. Create a Single Source of Truth
During the preconstruction phase, information often remains trapped in binders, spreadsheets, or emails. This means that the information sharing is delayed. As a result, everyone works with different versions of reality.
It’s best to store all data in a single system, it increases efficiency and prevents vital information from being lost. Cloud based tools make preconstruction data portable, creating a seamless flow of construction information between project phases.
4. Make all manual processes obsolete
Automate tedious manual processes. Preconstruction software is designed to support teams and increase efficiency. With automation, preconstruction teams can take on more work and spend more time thinking strategically, not being subjected to data entry.
5. Build Trust and Strengthen Relationships
Preconstruction is the best time to cultivate working relationships. It’s the optimal time for all partners to align and support one another.
Final Thoughts
Preconstruction is a complicated phase in any construction project, involving multiple stakeholders and numerous processes. But following best practices can help businesses to set achievable client expectations, identify cost-savings and critically mitigate issues before they take place – boosting productivity and profitability on every project.
RIISE consists of industry-leading, knowledgeable professionals with years of experience in all areas of construction management and the entire building process. We help organize, administer, and oversee the construction of high-rise, mid-rise, stacked townhomes, and ICI projects. From the initial stages of your project to the final touches, RIISE is an invaluable ally every step of the way.
We are committed to implementing the best practices for all phases of the project. We can help your organization with the management of any construction project. Contact us today.