The Ultimate Guide to Online Learning For Construction and Trade Professionals

So you’re a construction or skilled trades professional and you want to start using online learning.

Good call.

Online learning is becoming increasingly popular in the construction and trades industries. If you do it right, online learning can save both learners and those looking to teach, time and money, reach a wider audience, and allow you to preserve your knowledge online.

But before we get into the different types of online learning systems available, let’s address the questions that may be in some of your minds: “Should I use online learning? Is it a good fit for me?” Well, here’s my answer: chances are, if you’re in the construction or trades industry, you can and should use online learning.

Here’s an overview of different types of people in the industry who could benefit from online learning. See if one of them sounds like you.

Who should use online learning in the construction industry?

Big construction companies

While it might seem obvious, it has to be said that big construction companies can benefit from online learning in a number of ways. For example, you can use it to streamline your new-hire program, having your employees sit in front of a computer to watch basic or introductory training in order to free up your HR staff. You can also create a custom online course that tells the new hire about your company culture, what to expect, and more.

Online learning systems are particularly good for company-wide compliance and safety training. Having your training online allows your employees to train from home (provided they have internet access) and can be easier and more cost effective than coordinating a company-wide training session in-house. Finally, the right online learning system would also allow you to film and publish your own proprietary training that you could then distribute to your employees (like manufacturing processes, certain techniques, and company protocols).

Contractors with small to medium teams

If you’re a contractor with a small to large team, online learning can still benefit you — just in a different way. You may not have as many employees to educate as a large construction company, but your time is severely limited and extremely valuable. You’re probably wearing ten different hats at any given time, and the thought of training your employees or temporary hires may be overwhelming.

More than that, let’s face it: you might be good at what you do, but you’re probably not proficient enough to educate your team on all the things they need to learn.

For example, let’s say you’ve just promoted one of your faithful employees to the role of lead foreman, and he or she is now going to run multiple jobs or oversee other employees. You may want to train them in managing the jobsite, making sales, or even marketing and social media.

Using online learning, your employee can learn the skills they need when they need them. If you’re not a marketing, sales, or leadership expert, why not let your employees watch courses from those who are? In the end, it will benefit your company. Plus, these courses are generally not a large expense, and allow you to focus on running your business while your employees learn from experienced pros in their field.

Lastly, you might consider becoming an online teacher yourself! Below we’ll outline a few great ways you can get started — why not share your expertise with the next generation and get paid for what you know?

Training/Consulting companies

If you’re a training company, an educational company, or a consulting firm in construction or trades, you might want to look at offering your own online training.

Your online training system needs are going to be different than companies looking to train employees. Rather than using the program to internally educate your employees, you’ll use it to consult your clients. So for you, online learning is a benefit you can add to your services.

Of course, you can and should continue in-person training and consulting, but recording your recommendations offers you the opportunity to monetize your knowledge without having to travel (saving time and money). This allows clients who wouldn’t normally be able to afford your training to access your education at a lower rate. It also allows you to become a national firm — no matter how locally you may be focused. You can offer your education to anyone, anywhere that has internet access. Below, we’ll highlight some of the resources you can use to get started offering your own online education and monetizing your knowledge.

Trade associations

Many large trade associations already offer online education to their members. But what if you’re a small trade association? You may not have the support or finances to purchase, operate, or maintain an online learning platform, but there are still great options for you, as we’ll highlight below. The benefit of getting into online learning as a small trade association is that you can effectively and efficiently train or educate all your members the exact same way. For example, let’s say that in order to be “accredited” in your association, a contractor must demonstrate a certain level of knowledge and be educated in certain techniques. Rather than hosting multiple in-house training sessions each year (costly in staffing and time) you can record your training, post it online, and (given the right training system) add quizzes and even certifications to your content. This will allow you to offer certification or education to your members year round, on-demand, as they need it.

Trade Event or Expo Speaker

If you’re an expo speaker, or someone who speaks at trade events, you’re looking at online training for one reason: turning your session or presentation into an online course.

You’ll be looking to find a online learning platform that allows you to capture payments from interested learners, and allows students to create user accounts. There are  benefits aplenty: a reduction in travel between events to speak, the ability to sell your training year-round, it’s not as big of a deal if you don’t get accepted into certain expos or events to speak, and, finally, the ability to preserve your training for all to see, rather than delivering it again and again.

Finally, with the advancement in camera technology and video-editing software, you no longer need anything more than a good cell phone camera, a Powerpoint presentation, and the right learning management system to start producing online learning courses from the comfort of your office. We’ll make some recommendations below on your best options.

Whether you’re a company owner looking to train your employees online or an industry professional who wants to educate a wider audience, online training can help you achieve your goal. Which leads to the point of this article: How do you get started? What software, websites, and gadgets do you need? Will you need to hire an in-house person to run your online learning platform? Is it expensive?

Don’t worry, I’ll give you an overview of your options below and make recommendations as to which option might be right for you.

Public vs Private Platforms

The first question you need to answer is, “Do you want the world to be able to see your online courses, or not?” Meaning, do you only want to train your own employees on proprietary or company-specific techniques that nobody else should see? Or, do you want to share your learning courses with a wide audience?

If you’re a commercial construction company training in compliance or proprietary information, you probably want a private, in-house platform. If you’re an industry educator or trainer, you’ll almost certainly want a public platform so you can sell your courses to as many people as want to learn. And if you’re a contractor with a small construction company who wants to have experts in their field train your employees, you’ll want to find a public platform where your team can learn the skills they need online, so you can stay focused on running your company.

“You Manage” vs “They Manage”

Next, you’ll need to decide if you want to take on the management and maintenance of the learning platform yourself, or if you want to choose a platform that is managed by another company. If you’re thinking about getting into online learning, here are a few of the components you need to either do yourself or have done for you:

• User support and customer support
• Security and updates
• Search engine optimization (so people can find you!)
• Communications (course description, title, wording of the website, etc.)
• E-Commerce (how will you take payments, issue refunds, capture credit card info securely, etc.)
• Hosting fees

As you can see, the list is pretty extensive, and while DIY is possible, I highly recommend using at least a partially “they-manage” system. Unless you’re trying to make online learning your full-time gig, most of us don’t have the time, money, or energy needed to handle all that maintenance and keep doing our day job.

When selecting a “they-manage” company, you’ll have to look into all that the company manages or takes care of for you and decide what you’re comfortable with. Not all learning platforms are the same, and some will take care of almost everything for you while others require more input and work from you.

Paid vs Free Online Learning Options

This one is probably obvious, but it’s important to note because there aren’t many learning platforms that are free (see below for those that are). If you want to get into online learning at no financial cost (apart from the time and energy devoted to creating your content), you’ll want to look for a free platform you can host on.

However, if you’re prepared to pay a monthly or yearly fee for your own online learning platform, you have a wide variety of options that we’ll detail below.

Closed vs Marketplace

Another factor to consider is whether you want to be part of an online marketplace for courses or whether you want to have a platform that is yours alone, featuring only your content on your website. Traditionally, educators in construction and trades industries have kept their education platforms to themselves, meaning that while they’ve offered their courses to anybody who wants to learn, you could only find their education on their website.

And while for the most part that’s still the case in the industry, there is an option we’ll outline below for a marketplace for online courses you can publish on. The benefit of publishing on a marketplace platform is that you get exposure to an audience you would never reach otherwise. For example, if a student comes to this platform to learn a roofing skill, they also might get exposure to your sales course and share it with their company or their friends in the industry who need to grow in sales skills.

Features You’ll Need

A final consideration is what features you’ll need your online learning for construction platform to have. Here’s a few you might take into consideration when you make a decision. Identify which features are most important to you to help you decide what platform to use:

• Quizzes for students
• Certification upon completion of the course
• A tally of how many students are in your course
• Course assignments for certain students
• Courses that grade or evaluate automatically and instantly
• Learning platforms that are SCORM compliant (if you don’t know what this means, you likely don’t need it!)
• The ability to offer free and paid courses
• Chapter functionality: students learn chapter by chapter rather than one long video
• Courses that remember where a student leaves off

As you look into different learning platform solutions individually, you’ll be able to read all the features they come with and add your own “must have” features to this list.

Online Learning For Construction Solutions Breakdown

Now that we’ve looked at who should be using online learning in the industry and what considerations to make when choosing a platform, we’ll end with a breakdown of some of the best online learning options available to help you get started.  

Construct-Ed

Full disclosure: I work at Construct-Ed.

Construct-Ed is a new, online learning platform for construction and trades. It was designed for educators, associations, trainers, and companies who want to share their knowledge and publish online learning courses for the entire construction and trades industry. What’s unique about Construct-Ed is it builds the online courses for you, free of charge. So you send in your training or educational videos, along with any quizzing, documents for download, or certifications you want, and it will build you an online course free of charge.

Monetization: After Construct-Ed builds your course, it will publish it in its online public library and categorize it by subject (business management, sales/estimating, trade skills, etc.) and trade (roofing, flooring, concrete, etc.). You then set a price to take your course and get paid 70% revenue for each course you sell.

Public vs Private: Public, your course is added to the public course library. However, you are able to link directly to your course hosted on the platform, if you wish you “add” your course to your own website. Your users will then click over to your published course on Construct-Ed and bypass having to find it in the library.

Paid vs Free: Free to publish courses.

Closed vs Marketplace: Marketplace. You’re part of a community of industry educators and trainers and will get exposure to a wide variety of students.

You Manage vs They Manage: They manage everything. You send in your recorded content, Construct-Ed handles course building, security, customer support, e-commerce, search engine optimization, etc.

Features: The platform can add quizzes, custom certifications, and documents for users to download. Chapter by chapter course format that remembers where student left off. You have the ability to “message all students” and can see students course completion rates and how many students are in your class.

Pros:

1. Free to publish, and the company will build you a real online course complete with chapters, so you can offer online learning to your audience within 7-10 business days. It handles all hosting, customer support, and more.
2. Dedicated totally to the construction and trades industries, across all trades. You’ll get exposure to roofers, flooring pros, contractors, estimators, and more.
3. Get paid right away for each course sold.
4. Link directly to your course from your private website, and overnight you’re offering online learning courses to your audience.

Cons:

1. More involved than YouTube. You’ll need to sign a publishing contract, have a business Paypal account (that’s how it pays you for courses sold), and wait 5-10 days to have your course go live.
2. While Construct-Ed is growing, it’s very new to the industry and has lower website traffic. You may not see many purchases of your course immediately and will have to work to market your course if you want to see higher sales.
3. Construct-Ed takes 30% of each course sale. On the flip side, it’s totally free to publish and host your course there, and it would probably cost you more than 30% of each course to pay a web developer, invest time and money, and create your own online learning system.

Who should use it: Construct-Ed is good for anyone who wants to offer their training or education to the industry in a public format, without the investment of time or money into their own system. Construct-Ed takes the management, maintenance, and guesswork out of getting into online learning. Send the same videos you’d put up on YouTube, add any documents or quizzes, and it takes care of the rest. It’s working to be the online learning platform for all trades industries, so you could get great exposure to an audience you’re not already reaching.

YouTube

You might not have thought of YouTube as a public education or training platform, but it certainly can be. Using YouTube, any tradesman or construction professional can create training or educational videos, and host them for free.

Cost: Free (just your time and money to create your education).

Monetization: Through advertisements, if you set it up that way.

Pros:

1. YouTube boasts a wide audience of people searching for trade-specific or construction related content.
2. Free and easy to publish.
3. Easy to get started.
4. You can mark your videos “private” or hidden, and embed them only on your website and charge customers access to watch them – sort of creating your own learning platform. However, note that you’ll then be responsible for all the e-commerce maintenance discussed earlier.

Cons:

1. It’s easy to get lost in a sea of other content (lots of competitors)
2. No way to make money per view until you get (literally) thousands and thousands of views, and revenue is solely derived from advertising
3. No ability to create a real online course (chapters, downloadable documents, quizzes, certifications, etc.). You have to get creative and use YouTube along with your own website if you want to somehow offer quizzes, certifications, etc.

Who should use it: Use it if you don’t want to charge for content or make money, or if you’re willing to work hard to monetize by getting lots of video views. It’s also great if you want to hand out free information. Everyone on YouTube knows it’s free to watch there – so you may get a better reception.

Out of the Box Learning Management Software

“Out of the box” LMS solutions are just that: ready-made learning platforms that you can use to offer online education or training to your audience.

They’ll require a bit of setup to get started depending on the solution, and customization is limited, but you’ll be able to manage your own system this way. Because there are so many out of the box learning management platforms now, each differing from its competitors, it’s far beyond the scope of this article to begin to highlight them all. If, after reading the pros and cons of each one below, you feel that an out of the box solution is best for you, Capterra has an extensive review of learning management system software on their main site.

Monetization: Most allow you to charge for each course sold and handle all e-commerce and payment gateway security and setup. Some will take a percentage off the top of each course you sell.

Public vs Private: Either. You can find LMS solutions that allow you to keep everything private and in-house, or that allow you to sort of set up your own website and sell your courses to the public. For a good example of a public “out of the box” LMS, check out Capterra’s review of Digital Chalk.

Paid vs Free: Some are paid, some are free and/or open source. The exact amount depends on which LMS platform you choose, but most will either charge you a monthly fee as a flat rate or charge you a monthly fee with an added fee for each course you sell.

Closed vs Marketplace: Closed. This will feature your education only.

You Manage vs They Manage: A little of both. Typically, the LMS company you buy from will manage the technical (heavy lifting) stuff like security, updates, spam protection, and give you support if you run into any issues. This leaves you to handle the course creation (usually pretty intuitive and easy to do), quiz creation, and communications on your site.

Features: Most have endless features, including: quiz creation, certificates of completion, SCORM certification, tracking of students’ progress, assignment of courses to students, etc.

Pros:

1. No web design or coding knowledge needed. Most allow you to quickly get started and offering online courses to your audience.
2. Technical, heavy-lifting maintenance tasks are handled for you.
3. They are secure and well designed, often offering very robust options (far more than you could create yourself).
4. Most allow you to upload your own logo and brand yourself or your company online.

Cons:

1. You’re responsible for all course creation, quiz creation, etc.
2. You’re responsible for your own marketing, promotion, and search engine optimization, meaning you’ll have to drive all traffic to your site if you want to sell courses.
3. Higher costs: often a monthly fee and, depending on the LMS, potential fee for each course sold.
4. There’s a small learning curve and time commitment when it comes to creating your courses.

Who should use it: An “out of the box” LMS is a great solution for anyone who has an existing audience and wants to offer them online learning on a closed platform. If you have the time to devote to building and managing your own courses, and are solely looking to educate your own audience, this might be your best option.

Custom or Self-Created

Although it’s not the easiest or least painful method, I’m including a “self-created” platform because it may be a viable option for you, and you should know it’s been done successfully before.

A self-created or custom learning platform is basically a learning platform that you either have built for you or, more likely, you create yourself. I’ve seen one startup training company have a community college build them a learning platform, so they could have it completely customized. It’s definitely a large investment of time, money, and energy, but the payoff (if you can drive traffic to your website), is that you get to keep almost all the profit from any courses sold.

The downside is that any customer support, hosting, and e-commerce fees will also be your responsibility. You’ll have to choose for yourself, but I do want to issue a warning and piece of advice from seeing all the other technology available to you: unless you’re trying to start a large online learning company that serves as its own business, you probably don’t want to go down this road. There are just too many good, pre-built solutions out there that are far (and I mean FAR) cheaper and much less headache-inducing.

For example, the National Roofing Contractor’s Association offers online training, and is a national organization reaching thousands of contractors all the time with their education. For them, it makes sense to run a custom-designed platform. But for most of us in the industry, a marketplace like Construct-Ed or an “out of the box” LMS will be perfect.

Monetization: You keep 100% of each course sold (if you have it built to accept payments), minus the payment fees to PayPal, Stripe, or any other payment gateway you’re using.

Public vs Private: Whatever you need it to be. Since it’s custom, you can build it private if you’re a large in-house organization with special training needs, or you can have it created as open to the public.

Paid vs Free: Paid. The exact cost depends on what you’re looking to build, but a custom coded learning platform can be very expensive. Even if you work with a local community college to have it built at a great price, you’ll still need to pay for ongoing maintenance, bug fixes, etc.

Closed vs Marketplace: Again, whatever you want it to be.

You Manage vs They Manage: You manage. Everything. Every-thing. I warned you.

Features: Here is where the custom built platform shines, and, in my opinion, this is the only reason it may be worth it. If your company has very, very specific and unique feature requirements, then the sky’s the limit to the features you can have added.

Pros:

1. Very flexible, you can make it whatever you want it to be and make it as “feature rich” as you like.
2. Great for organizations or companies with specific training needs or that want to create a proprietary platform unique to them.

Cons:

1. Incredibly costly in money, time, and energy.
2. Ongoing maintenance: bug fixing, user support, updates, security issues, etc.

Who should use it: Use this type of platform if you are a large company, association, or organization, and there is no other platform or software that meets your needs. If money, and salaried positions to maintain the site are not issues and you have specific custom features you need in order to make your business successful, this is for you and can have great payoff.

What’s next

To get started, think through how or if you want to monetize your online courses, decide on public or private, paid or free, closed or marketplace, and whether you want to manage or use a service that manages it for you.

If you decide that an “out of the box” LMS solution is best for you, Capterra is the best around to help you find one that fits your needs and guide you through the potentially overwhelming process of deciding which platform is right for you. Best of all, they’ll help you for free!

Do you use online learning for your construction business? Was this guide helpful? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The Ultimate Guide to Online Learning For Construction and Trade Professionals appeared first on Capterra Blog.

from Capterra Blog » Construction Management http://blog.capterra.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-online-learning-for-construction-and-trade-professionals/
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What Construction Managers Should Know About Behavior-Based Safety

There is a misconception that construction is all about the hands. People go out, work with their hands, and build great things. In reality, every construction manager knows that construction is also about the head. You have to think and plan for every project, and behavior-based safety is proof of that.

Behavior-based safety is a type of behavioral psychology that helps construction managers identify behaviors in order to reduce injuries. With as many as 80 percent of injuries occurring because of changeable behaviors, behavior-based safety is a critical component of a construction company’s safety plan. Construction managers have to be knowledgeable of the various strategies in order to get the most out of behavior-based safety, though. There are several components involved in a good behavior-based safety plan.

Review Your Data

Data is the foundation of any new safety plan, and behavior-based safety plans are no exception. Start by reviewing your accident data so you can find out where you have the most issues. Then, you will know where you need to focus most of your time and energy.

While you could rely on your foremen to provide you with the data, it’s easier to use your construction management software. You can analyze your safety data from one jobsite to the next to see if you have a problem across the board, or if you have a crew-specific issue. This data is up-to-date and accurate, so you can get all of the information you need to understand where you have safety issues.

Then, you’ll be ready to learn your ABCs.

The ABCs of Behavior-Based Safety

If you’re going to excel at behavior-based safety, you have to know your ABCs. The ABCs are:

•         Activators
•         Behaviors
•         Consequences

The activator is the trigger. It is the person or thing that causes a behavior. It can be a goal or a policy, or it can be a training aid. It can even be something as basic as a ringing phone. Basically, if something causes someone to take an action, it is considered an activator.  

The behavior is the action taken because of the activator, while the consequence is what happens because of the action. Consequences can be positive or negative, and they can make the behavior better or worse.

Understand Consequences

When you learn the alphabet, all of your ABCs are just as important. The letter A is no more important than B, and so on. With behavior-based safety, though, the C in the ABCs is the most important letter. Your safety plan will only work if you know how to handle the consequences.

There are two types of consequences – those that increase behavior and those that decrease behavior. Because you want your employees to be safe, you need to understand both types of consequences.

Consequences that Increase Behavior

Consequences that increase behavior consist of positive and negative reinforcement. First, let’s look at positive reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement is a success-based consequence. It occurs when someone gets a reward for doing something positive. For instance, someone might report a hazard, and in doing so, prevent an injury. The employee does something that goes above and beyond, so he or she receives a reward.

Because of that, he or she is more likely to repeat the behavior. The employee is likely to look for additional hazards and report them so he or she can receive more rewards. That will make your jobsite even safer. There won’t be any hazards because your employees will be on the lookout for them.

It is easy to see why this is a successful strategy. You want people to look for hazards around the construction site, and providing them with incentives is an easy way to do that. The key is to make sure they receive the incentives in a timely fashion. Don’t wait a week or a month to give them their rewards. They need to know when it is coming, and it needs to come quickly. Otherwise, they won’t have the incentive to do something good. They will put off reporting the hazard since they know you’ll put off giving them the reward.

Negative reinforcement is used to make people work to avoid something. Unlike positive reinforcement, which is reward-based, negative reinforcement is avoidance-based. If your main focus is on compliance, this can work really well. For instance, if you want to make people wear their eye protection, you can use the desire to avoid injury as a negative motivator. You can also make discipline a motivator with negative reinforcement.

Think of this as the hot stove approach. Most kids have never touched a hot stove, but they are afraid to do so because their parents have warned them over and over again that they will get burned. Parents have burned the image of burning skin into their minds. You can do the same with your employees.

Avoiding danger won’t make your employees seek out and report hazards, but it will make them comply with the current regulations. Of course, this type of approach only works on certain personality types. Some people are more prone to avoidance-based strategies than others are. You will quickly be able to pick out employees that don’t respond to negative reinforcement. You will need to try a different approach with those employees. Remember, this is a learning process, and everyone learns differently.

Consequences that Decrease Behavior

Punishment and extinction are the consequences that decrease behavior. Punishment is used to stop the undesired behavior. When an employee does something that you don’t want him or her to do, you punish that employee. You can’t predict what will happen when you punish the employee, but you can determine the punishment. For instance, if someone doesn’t wear his or her safety goggles, you can suspend that person. You do not know how the employee will react to the suspension, but you can remove the employee from the situation.

Extinction refers to the withdrawal of positive reinforcement. You will accomplish this by ignoring the employee’s performance altogether. If you use extinction, you will have apathy in your organization.

You do not want to use extinction in your workplace, but you might have to use punishment. However, you should rely on consequences that increase behavior as much as possible, and use punishment as a last resort. You will have to punish employees who refuse to comply, but hopefully you will be able to create a positive workplace with a high rate of compliance and a high safety rating.

Then, if employees fail to respond to consequences that increase behavior, you can dole out punishment as needed. Just like positive consequences, punishment should be given in a timely fashion so employees know what to expect. You can’t be unpredictable with consequences.

Remember That Change Starts at the Top

You have to think beyond consequences and remember that change starts at the top. As a construction manager, you will likely want to spend most of your energy on your hourly employees. Unfortunately, management plays an important role in behavior-based safety, so if you put all of your time and energy into your hourly employees, you won’t be able to create real change in your organization.

If you are serious about having a safe workforce, you have to start with management. Even if your management team doesn’t spend much time in the field, behavior-based safety requirements must start with them and trickle down.

You should use checklists with various points for your behavior-based safety training. Hand the checklists out to all of the construction managers, and then go down to hourly employees. This will show your hourly employees that this is a company-wide initiative and not just a way for the higher-ups to control them. When they see that it is a way to keep everyone safe and not just a method of control, they will be more willing to jump on board. You want everyone to see this is a positive change, and starting at the top will help.

Behavior-based safety is a great way to make your construction site a safer place. You can cut down on injuries and make your projects much more efficient. Implement these strategies to improve your behavior-based safety plan. Then, you can get your employees onboard and show them that you are serious about keeping them safe whenever they are on the job.

Have you had success with behavior-based safety at your business? Let me know how you handled things in the comments section below.

The post What Construction Managers Should Know About Behavior-Based Safety appeared first on Capterra Blog.

from Capterra Blog » Construction Management http://blog.capterra.com/what-construction-managers-should-know-about-behavior-based-safety/
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6 of the Best CAD Software For Mac

3 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Subcontractor Software

You’re probably thinking:

“It’s time. Time to make one of the most important decisions I’ll make for my company. Time to choose the software that will be at the foundation of all that we do.”

So what do most people do? They start searching the internet for “subcontractor software, construction management software, contractor software, and best contractor software.”

As you have probably discovered, trying to sift through the thousands of software companies in the world is confusing and complicated.

You’re probably now asking yourself, “Why on earth can’t this just be simple?”

Well, you’re now in the right spot. Use this guide to simplify the process and pick the software best suited for your needs. If your answers to these questions raise any mental red flags, it could be an indicator that you need to look for another subcontractor software brand.

1. Is the Software Simple to Use?

Time for a little history lesson about software.

Software used to be complicated, so complicated that most of it was custom built, not very user friendly, and usually too expensive for subcontractors to even consider as an option for their businesses.

Remember the old Microsoft operating systems and the “blue screen of death?”

Remember having to spend 4-5 hours with customer support only to find out that you lost everything?

Let’s fast forward to the present day.

Software doesn’t have to be complicated anymore. It can be user friendly, and it’s now a financially viable option for subcontractors. Unfortunately, many of the old-school software companies had a hard time making the switch to the current age of simple, cloud-based, easy to use, fast to set up, mobile software.

Here are some questions to ask yourself about the software you’re looking into to see if it will be easy to pick up and implement.

• Is this software specifically for my industry? Within the contracting world, there are different software options for general contractors, builders, service-oriented subcontractors, project-oriented subcontractors, and more. Pick the software that is most applicable to your subfield.
• Does the software company claim that the program can do everything? There are no software programs that do everything at an excellent level. The good ones will tell you exactly what they do excellently and exactly what they don’t do.
• Do you have to host it on a local server? If not, where is the server?
• When was the company founded? This will be a good indicator of if it’s a company that embraces modern practices.
• Does the user experience remind you of other  programs that you use? It should be as simple as setting up and using your Facebook account.  
• Could a 3rd grader use the software? We’re in a low-tech industry and it’s a waste of time to learn a complicated system.

2. Is it Fast?

The subcontractor world is competitive.

Some would say it’s insanely competitive. For example, we once had a subcontractor customer losing build opportunities over a 1% price differential.

Your ability to do the job fast and without error is often what separates your company from the rest of the pack.

You should expect the same from the software company that you choose to work with. Someone will have to implement and set up the software, someone will add all your company data, someone will train your employees, and you will use it in the field. How fast can things be done without error?

Here are some additional questions to ask about speed:

• How fast can they get me live? Two weeks or less is a good target.
• Do they set up my software for me? If not, self setup takes up more of your time.
• Who inputs all the historical job data? This depends on how big of a company you are. For example, if you are importing eight years of historical data and rolling out to 200 employees, then you need to take time and labor costs into consideration.
• Who trains my employees, and how long will that take? It should only take 30 minutes maximum.
• How do you train an employee who is technologically averse? They should be able to give guidance on this common problem.
• How fast do you respond to customer service requests? This indicates the level of help you will get after being a customer.
• How easy is it to get ahold of customer support? Try it out. Ask to call the account manager that will be helping you once you’re a customer.
• How long does implementation and training take? If it’s more than 5-6 hours, ask why.
• What is the historical system down time? If the system goes down, you won’t have access to your company data.

3. Is it Mobile?

The definition of mobile is being “able to move or be moved freely or easily.”

Today, a good software program moves with you on the go and moves your data to other programs with ease.

You may have heard terms like “open API” (meaning the software can send your data to other software programs). The reason mobility is so important is because there is no software that can be everything to all people.

It’s in your best interest to know ahead of time what a software can or cannot do at an excellent level. If a software company doesn’t excel at something, they have an open API and usually an integration with a company that does that task at an excellent level.

On top of that, if you can’t access your software on your cell phone, that’s should be a deal breaker. People are constantly on the go and we need information at our fingertips.

Here are some additional questions about mobile:

• What integrations do they already have? If they don’t have any, they might be a company that thinks they can be all things to all people. If they do, its an indicator that they know exactly what they are good and not good at doing.
• Are there mobile applications? Ideally they should have Android and iPhone applications or have a mobile-responsive website.
• Is the mobile view, or mobile application, even simpler to use than the desktop version? Mobile should simply take you to the information you need on the go.

Hopefully this helps simplify the seemingly complicated path of choosing your subcontractor software.

Of course, you can always start with Capterra’s construction management software directory to help you slim down your choices.

What other features do you look for with construction management software? Do you think I missed something? Let us know in the comments below!

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The Top 17 Construction News Sites and Blogs

Update: 5/18/16: The construction industry has exploded with new blogs in the past year, leading to an update on this post. There are now 20 top construction news sites and blogs instead of the original 17.

Those who think the construction industry is stagnant haven’t been watching very closely. The industry is filled with drama—from 3D printing changing the way China builds houses to the battle for the best construction management software, construction as a whole is an exciting industry to be in.

With so many changes coming to the industry so quickly, it’s important for everyone involved in the construction industry to stay up on the latest trends.

Luckily, there are a surprising number of resources dedicated to keeping you informed.

These are the best.

AEC Business

Run by one-man army Aarni Heiskanen, this blog is a great resource for construction business owners looking to up their game with strategic insights. Filled with useful how-tos and a simple writing style, this blog is a must-read for construction managers wanting to stay “in the know.”

Best Practices Construction Law

Want to stay on top of the latest construction litigation? Enter Matthew Devries, an attorney for Burr & Forman, who comments on the latest news and trends on risk assessment, risk prevention, construction management, and construction best practices.

Building.co.uk

Building is an award-winning construction magazine that can trace its roots back to 1843. It offers construction news and analysis, and also focuses on sustainability and safety best practices.

Building Design + Construction

BD+C has long-been a staple in the construction news world. Offering the latest news for everyone in the construction business—from BIM engineers to foremen—no individual in construction can afford to forgo this resource.

Builder

Not to be confused with Building, Builder is Hanley Wood’s publication for residential construction. Subscribe to this magazine for the latest insights on design, process, and running your own business.

Capterra Construction Management Blog

We couldn’t resist including our own blog on this list. Looking for the latest trends in construction technology? Capterra’s blog makes business software recommendations and explains how innovations are changing the industry.

Commercial Construction & Renovation

While Commercial could function as a basic construction news site, its real strength comes from its job board. Subcontractors and contractors can use its list to bid on projects, all online.

Construction Data Company

As its name suggests, CDC News’s blog is all about construction data. Breaking down the latest research so that the layman can understand what’s happening in the industry, CDC’s blog is great for anyone in construction looking to garner understanding of the latest trends shaping the United States’ commercial construction industry.

Construction Dive

Construction Dive is like the Wall Street Journal of the construction industry. They keep track of industry stock prices and job trends, and publish commentary on where they see the future of the construction industry going. They also provide articles on current events with in-depth analysis.

Construction Enquirer

Construction Enquirer was founded by two British journalists hoping to provide quality editorials to the free construction news space. They have not missed the mark on their goal. Updated regularly and with quality prose, Construction Enquirer is one of the UK’s best magazines, period.

Construction Executive

Construction Executive is a magazine specifically for individuals in the higher rungs of construction management. They offer insights into the industry’s latest technology and trends, while also offering helpful tips for budgeting and building. The magazine also carefully tracks legislative issues relating to the construction business.

Construction Marketing Association Blog

The construction marketing business offers unfortunately few resources that are specific to its vertical… which is why the Construction Marketing Association began in 2009. Their blog covers best practices for construction marketing experts looking to make a bigger impact in their industry.

Construction News

Construction News is another UK-based magazine. With an emphasis on market intelligence, forecasting, and trend analysis, this resource is great for companies looking to figure out how to stay ahead of the curve.

Construction Week Online

Offering tailored construction news by region and by specialty (including facilities management and mechanical-electrical), Construction Week Online offers construction news and analysis for businesses in the Middle East. The readership of this magazine can use its resources to look up competitors, filter through events, and look for major projects within the region.

Contract

More into commercial interior design and architecture? Contract features standout projects, products, and practices for people designing for hospitals, offices, schools, and more.

Engineering News-Record

ENR is a stand-by construction magazine that has been around since 1874. Always offering the latest construction industry data, analysis, news and commentary, it’s a must for all construction professionals—from contractors to suppliers to regulators.

Equipment World

Are you a supplier to the construction industry? Want to stay up on the latest equipment trends? Check out Equipment World, the industry gold standard publication on heavy equipment news.

Hard Hat Chat

Run through Englewood Construction Management, the Hard Hat Chat blog is an excellent resource for those interested in commercial construction, development, and management. While updated less-frequently than one would like, these blog posts offer original intuitions about niche construction sectors—like new restaurant building—that will, at the very least, make you think.

The Jobsite

The Jobsite is run by Procore, a leader in construction management software. They emphasize how technology can help businesses become more efficient, while also offering advice on how to best brand and market your construction company.

ScienceDaily: Construction

Interested in how the physical world is affecting the construction industry? ScienceDaily’s construction section is regularly updated to reflect the latest insights on how to leverage research to make your firm work smarter.

More?

There were lots of blogs and magazines that didn’t make it onto this list—what else should I have included? Where do you get your construction news? Leave your suggestions in the comments below!

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How to Better Advertise Your Construction Company Online

Owning a construction company isn’t like it used to be. In the past, you could rely on word of mouth or put an ad in the paper. People used the Yellow Pages, and things seemed much simpler. In 2016, those traditional platforms aren’t enough – online advertising is now crucial to a successful construction company.

There are many things you can do to better market your company. This includes establishing credibility, having a mobile-responsive website design, optimizing your Google business profile, utilizing social media, and outsourcing when you need help.

We’ve compiled a guide to help you advertise your construction company online. Follow these five steps and let us know how you do online marketing in the comments!

1. Establish Credibility

Integrity is important in any business, but especially in construction. We’ve all heard horror stories about dishonest contractors.

A great way to establish credibility with a prospective customer is to showcase your contractor license bond. Start by sharing a surety bond definition and educate your customers on what it means to them. You could even showcase a detailed contractor license bond guide explaining how these bonds work on behalf of your customer.

Being licensed and bonded is legally required for many contractors, but placing this information where it’s readily accessible on your website signals that you’re law-abiding and honest. In addition, display any special certifications you have from associations, manufacturers, or government agencies. Make sure your clients know that you’re insured and bonded and start your relationship off on the right foot.

2. Make Your Website Mobile Responsive

With every day that passes, mobile devices become a larger part of life for many Americans. If you want your website to show in searches, it’s important to have a mobile-responsive site. These days, Google penalizes sites that are not responsive – not to mention it makes for a poor user experience.

In 2015, more than half of searches were on a mobile device. This means that having a website that’s not mobile-friendly may turn potential customers away. Not having one also means you risk not showing up on the first page of the search results.

You don’t have to be a web designer to design a great site that’s mobile responsive. WordPress and other popular content management systems offer inexpensive or free responsive templates and plugins. Plenty of construction management software also integrates with website design. If you haven’t upgraded your website, this is the year to do it.

3. Optimize for Local SEO

If you don’t have a Google My Business profile, you’re missing out on free advertising. When you have a profile, you show up on the map, in searches and on Google+. If you already have a Google My Business profile, you should optimize it (and don’t forget about Adwords campaigns!).

Start with the introduction. The length of the intro text should be at least 250 words. List the five closest cities to your listing and your top seven services or products. Next, use images taken at your verified location on a mobile phone. Make sure your phone’s location settings are turned on, so that Google will detect you.

Google My Business is just one aspect of local SEO. Place your name, address, and phone number on every page of your site and verify that it’s consistent in all of your profiles.

4. Use Social Media

Social media isn’t just a thing kids do. It’s an important part of business and marketing. You can opt for paid advertising on social media, but there are other ways to employ social media to your advantage.

First of all, it’s a good idea to develop your social profiles. The content of these profiles will allow you to appear several times in the search engine results. Taking up more of the top spots means that your competitors will appear lower in the results – which is good news for your business.

LinkedIn can be particularly good for some industries, including construction. Both residential and commercial patrons like seeing details about your company. Twitter and Facebook can be both personal and professional, but LinkedIn is a professional network, which increases credibility.

5. Enlist Some Help

Not every construction company is able to take care of all of its advertising itself. Sometimes, hiring individuals for marketing roles can be costly. Outsourcing can be the more affordable and effective way to take care of marketing. There are plenty of options, from hiring an agency to posting a freelance position on Upwork. Freelancers or agencies can take care of tasks like optimizing your website, creating graphics, and managing pay-per-click campaigns.

Advertising in today’s world may not be what you’re used to, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be successful at it.

Remember these easy steps to take to improve your advertising efforts. Use your construction bond to establish credibility, upgrade your website if you don’t already have a mobile responsive site, and optimize your local SEO. Stay active on social media – and know when to ask for help.

What’s helped you in advertising your construction business online? Share your experiences in the comments below.

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6 Ways Construction Technology Has Transformed the Industry

From using your smartphone at work to aerial drones mapping and surveying the job site, the construction industry is exploding into new realms with the technology of today.

Digital blueprint apps and cutting-edge software manage every facet of a project without having to lay a brick, while 3D imaging and gadgets have lent a whole new perspective to the design and building of a project, not to mention the likely advent of robots taking on a larger role.

 

We have revolutionized one of the biggest industries in the U.S, and indeed around the globe, turning it from one of the slowest-growing sectors (compared to say, the manufacturing industry) into one of the most exciting, with a steady onslaught of technological wizardry.

1. The Internet

We can’t talk technological growth without paying homage to the Internet. It has completely transformed how we design, build, and monitor construction projects, and has proved to be a basic foundation for many of today’s innovations.

Construction management software, GPS, laser-based survey equipment, and laser-guided excavation and tunneling equipment have meant better precision in foundations, perimeters, and corners. The automation of a previously very manual activity has meant there is far less room for error, having a domino effect on time, resources, and, ultimately, money.

This technology further manages risk, as well. By using available software solutions to design and analyze structures before construction even begins, engineers and contractors can pinpoint areas of high risk for worker injury, improve maintenance access, and maintain a safer job site.

2. Construction Management Software

Today’s task management software is designed to increase productivity and keep everything on schedule, proving an invaluable resource to construction companies to monitor progress and keep all members of the project fully informed, in real time, of actual progress versus scheduled goals.

Budgeting, billing processes, and time management tools streamline the entire process from start to finish. Companies offer top-of the range, constantly evolving software to match the ever changing and demanding needs of this sector.

Building Information Management, or BIM, contains most of these solutions and more to provide the ability to create a 3D building plan and combine it with a construction schedule. Such all-encompassing software is thoroughly integrated and can pave the way for prefabrication. With part of construction taking place in a manufacturing environment, fewer workers are needed at the jobsite. Safety is also enhanced with less work needed at height and less manual handling of supplies.

3. Computer Aided Design  

CAD has enabled construction to begin before the design is fully complete, allowing for fast-track construction and reduced interferences. It improves procurement and performance systems, allowing a host of possible issues to be tackled before physical work begins, significantly reducing the risk of errors and thus reducing the risk of going off-budget or off-schedule.

CAD has resulted in several major changes in construction technology, such as the move toward engineering workstations that are dedicated to the CAD process. CAD systems can store large numbers of civil, structural, and electrical schematics. Furthermore, compatible solutions to integrate into CAD software have emerged and continue to be updated.

4. Blueprint Apps  

Gone are the days of offices on site overflowing with documents – now, the main player is the application-ridden tablet. A device as useable in the field as in the office, these planning apps have given us the ability to oversee plans and make changes digitally.

Possible obstacles can be accounted for and tweaked before beginning physical work and then having to change them (usually at great cost) due to an oversight. These apps allow for direct communication, in real time, between the owner, project managers, and other staff, so everyone is kept in the loop, 24 hours a day.

5. Drones

The introduction of drones in the past decade has changed the face of the construction industry, and is likely to continue its trajectory into the next one.

• In surveying and mapping out the specified area, their value lies in being able to go where humans and heavy machinery can’t, monitoring progress in real time and the ability to make changes to the plan according to the drone footage. This footage can then be compared to blueprint plans and deviations noted and dealt with accordingly, saving time, money, and resources.
• Companies using them have reported increased efficiency, helped in part by more accurate maps and data, allowing for a highly quantitative means of measuring progress versus schedule. These remotely controlled devices enable the surveillance of large-scale projects from remote locations – so project managers/owners do not have to physically be on site to control operations, thus making them a valuable investment for large-scale, high dollar projects.
• Legal Issues: Although the legality of larger drones is currently tricky, it’s likely only a matter of time before the use of drones on site is a common occurrence.

6. Health and Safety

The importance of the health and safety of workers has grown exponentially and now safety on site is of paramount importance, helped in part by the legal regulations that have sprouted up around every industry.

• Headsets, halo lights, safety glasses, and responsive clothing are but a few of the safety gadgets having undergone modernization, turning outdated and often un-adhered-to health and safety regulations into routine, standard on-site precautions.
• Drones can also play a role in the monitoring and promoting of safety practices, as the surveillance shows whether best practice regulations are being adhered to, regardless of whether a health and safety official is on site. And as drones can reach places that may be unsuitable for humans, they are soon to be the project manager’s best friend. They also help defer on-site theft – there’s nothing like being on camera to deter robbery, after all.

There is no doubt about it: the future is bright, and the future is mobile. Technology has brought the industry speeding into the 21st century.

More?

All of these construction technology innovations lead me to one question: with this phenomenal growth trajectory, set alight by technological ingenuity growing by the day, where could we be and what could we create in the next 100 years?

What do you think will happen? Did I miss something? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

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Everything You Need to Know about Bid Bonds for Construction Projects

Are you preparing to put a bid in for the next project you want to work on? In many cases, especially if the project is a public one, you will be required to post a bid bond. A bid bond is a type of surety bond guarantee protecting the project owner.

If you are new to the concept of surety bonds and bid bonds in particular, a clear understanding of  what bid bonds are is essential. We will also delve into more details, such as what responsibility bid bonds carry and how they can be obtained most easily.

What is a bid bond?

To understand bid bonds, you first need to know what surety bonds are. Simply put, surety bonds are a three party agreement between a principal, an obligee, and a surety. In this case, the principal is the contractor, the obligee is the project owner, and the surety is the bonding company which backs the agreement.

In accordance with the Miller Act, a bid bond needs to be in place when a contractor submits a project bid. The purpose is to make sure the contractor will take on the job in case they are awarded the bid. It also guarantees that they will accept to do it at the price they put in the bid and not try to increase it. Finally, a bid bond is effectively a promise that the contractor will procure a performance bond before starting work on the project. A performance bond is another type of surety bond, which safeguards the project in case of contractor default or breach of contract.

Keep in mind that many private project owners may choose to require the submission of a bid bond, as well.

How does a bid bond work?

So how exactly do bid bonds protect projects owners? As with every surety agreement, there is a total bond amount up to which a contractor can be liable in case they violate the agreement. In this case the violation may be that you refused to take on the project or that you asked for a higher price.

When a violation is present, the project owner can file a claim against your bid bond. If the claim is valid, the principal (i.e. the contractor) and the surety are jointly responsible for paying it. Since signing an indemnity agreement between the principal and the surety is an industry standard, the contractor will ultimately be responsible for reimbursing the surety. Most often, the penal sum of the claim will amount to between 10% and 20% of the bid amount.

How to get a bid bond

To get a bid bond, you need to apply with a surety bond agency, as bonding companies typically don’t work directly with the public. It’s important to work with an agency that issues bonds by A-rated and T-listed surety bond companies.

This is especially true if you work on a federal project. A-rated means that the bonding company has an “A” score given by the A.M. Best Company, the best-reputed rating agency in the U.S. A rating of “A” guarantees that the surety underwriter is dependable, meaning the obligee will always accept a bid bond provided by it. You may also need to look for a T-listed surety, meaning that it is approved by the Department of Treasury to underwrite bonds for federal contracts.

When you submit your application, the surety bond company will do a thorough evaluation of your credit score and financials to determine a bond premium you need to pay to get the bid bond. Normally, bid bonds cost between 5% and 10% of the total bond amount required.

How to avoid bid bond claims

It’s important to take a moment and emphasize the importance of avoiding surety bond claims. Bond claims can severely hurt your reputation and make it less likely that you can get bonded the next time you want to bid on a project. They can also be quite costly.

Naturally, the safest way to avoid claims is to not submit false bids. But mistakes in bid calculations do happen and sometimes they are not within your control. If you manage to prove this was the case, you can fend off a claim, but it’s best to make sure your bid is always correct. The use of a reliable construction estimating software can greatly reduce the risk when placing bids.

As a construction contractor, have you had to post a bid bond before? Tell us your experience of the process by leaving a comment below the article.

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The Community Impact of New Construction

Construction projects are about more than building homes, roads, and commercial buildings. Anyone who has woken up at 6AM to the sound of a jackhammer or has had to take a detour because a road is closed for repair knows that construction, indisputably, impacts community.

As with most things in life, that impact isn’t merely black and white. It sits in the gray area, meaning it has both a positive and negative impact on the community as a whole.

Assessing the impact is the first step in moving forward with a construction project. Once you do that, you can incorporate strategies to create a positive impact on the entire community.

Positive Economic Benefits

Economics play an important role in most decisions, including construction. Builders often claim that new construction creates an economic boom, but is that true?

It is, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

In a recent report, the Association stated that the one-year economic impact of building 100 single-family homes with an average price of $378,000 is astronomical. Those 100 homes generate an estimated $28.7 million in local income, $3.6 million in revenue for the local government, and 394 jobs for the local community.

Local economies also enjoy recurring income after building those  homes. They can expect to bring in $4.1 million in local income and $1 million in government revenue each year, along with 69 new jobs for the local community.

The economic benefits don’t stop there. Business owners make more money, so there is more money for local wages and salaries.

While the study was based on 100 single-family homes, the benefits are also true for apartments. Also, you don’t need to build 100 pieces of property to enjoy the economic benefits. They will be on a smaller scale, but the local community will still appreciate them.

Road Construction

New roads also boost a community’s economy. Improving transportation networks provides economic benefits to nearby properties. By reducing the time it takes to travel, people in local communities can reduce fuel costs and vehicle depreciation. Using basic urban economic theory, these cost savings benefit local property values. In other words, property values increase when you build up the surrounding infrastructure.

Commercial Real Estate Construction

Commercial real estate has an economic impact on local communities, as well. In a study conducted by the NAIOP Research Foundation, it was determined that pre-construction, construction, and post-construction all have a significant economic benefit when related to commercial real estate. While pre-construction and construction mainly have national benefits, post-construction benefits the local community.

The local community benefits from maintenance and repair, cleaning services, utilities, and management, which  includes leasing, marketing, security, financial services, and more. As long as the building is in use, the local community continues to bring money in for these services.

Environmental Impact

It is also important to consider the environmental impact before taking on a construction project. Construction doesn’t just cause high emissions that harm the environment on a global scale, it also impacts the local community. In fact, construction can cause soil erosion and problems with water quality and flow.

Soil Erosion

Soil erosion impacts downstream hydrology and can cause an increase in flooding, which can harm the environment. Soil erosion doesn’t just occur at the construction site. It also occurs downstream, which can have a serious impact on the community.

Water Quality

Construction also impacts the community’s water quality. During the construction phase, pollutants can end up in the water supply. Once construction is over, the water quality can still be a problem due to an increased demand for water, as well as increased pollution due to additional residents.

Groundwater Hydrology

Soil erosion isn’t the only reason construction impacts the flow of water. Parking lots and buildings alter the flow, which can destroy habitats and increase pollutants. It can also increase flooding.

The environmental impact of new construction might sound frightening, but it can be lessened by incorporating some strategies when taking on these projects.

Proper Planning

Proper planning is one of the best ways to limit your environmental impact. Use construction management software to keep the project running smoothly. The fewer mistakes you make on the job, the less time it will take to complete. That will help limit your emissions.

Additionally, you should follow all of the guidelines set forth by the EPA. Make sure you follow them to the letter in order to have the smallest impact possible.

Erosion Controls

First, you need to design and install erosion controls when completing a new construction project. When properly installed, these controls will limit the exposed soil during the project.

Stabilize the Soil

You also need to take measures to stabilize the soil during the construction process. While soil stabilization is only required for certain projects, it is a good idea to do it for any project that requires excavation work.

Lower Pollution

It’s essential that you discharge all pollutants properly in order to minimize their impact on the environment and on construction workers.

For instance, don’t let paint runoff end up in the groundwater, and dispose of fuel in an environmentally responsible way.

Following the EPA’s guidelines will help you limit your environmental impact, but you can take it a step further by using green building materials, controlling the site’s long-term environmental impact.

Green Construction

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, green construction is growing and is now a $120 billion to $145 billion opportunity. Green commercial and residential properties reduce emissions and other environmental problems that occur over the life of a building. Using LEED-certified guidelines is a good way to reduce your environmental impact while still meeting the demands of the customer.

While the community impact of new construction is both good and bad, you can tip the dial to the good side by implementing a smart strategy for your projects. Start with project management software, implement the EPA guidelines, and use the right materials to get the job done.

More?

Despite the poor reputation the construction industry has on community impact, the overall effects are beneficial to the community at large.

Did I fail to mention anything? What has your experience been with the community? Let me know in the comments below!

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