Inspection apps are raising expectations for what general contractors, homebuilders, and specialty contractors can accomplish with their quality and safety processes.
These mobile inspection apps, including property inspection apps, are designed to leverage the benefits of mobile devices in important ways. They allow property managers and users to provide real-time feedback, capture field pictures, and update inspection checklists with new check points. These apps also help property managers recognize recurring issues and ensure consistent inspections across the jobsite.
These are all things that you either cannot do with old paper and data entry methods, or that are just much easier to do with apps.
What is a Construction Inspection App?
Jobsite management is no easy task. That is why using an inspection app has proven be the best step forward for construction businesses.
A construction inspection app is a powerful tool that facilitates mobile inspections, allowing you to collect inspection data both online and offline. With this app, you can conveniently record and submit inspections, capture photos, and obtain signatures directly on-site, even without an internet connection. It also supports the utilization of property inspection apps and empowers the generation of professional home inspection reports.
Benefits of apps vs. paper and data entry methods
There are countless benefits inspection apps can bring to your business; here are just a few that can make your processes easier and more efficient:
Take and mark up pictures from the jobsite. Many apps allow you to use the camera on your tablet or phone to take pictures while you are inspecting. This is useful for documenting completed work and illustrating deficiencies you observe.
Compile and distribute on-demand inspection reports. You can use next generation inspection apps to compile reports on-demand so you can measure quality performance in real-time.
Be sure your inspection software includes the reports you need and that they are actionable, practical, insightful, and professional.
Apps should also give you the ability to automatically email reports to stakeholders so you can distribute information to save your time and decrease delayed feedback.
Reference standards, pictures, and drawings are available from the checklist while inspecting. Some apps allow you to attach reference pictures and documents to your checklists.
This can be a useful because you can show inspectors where to focus their attention, emphasize new installation methods, and highlight details on high-priority issues.
Update checklists in real-time. The best apps come with a library of checklists and the ability to quickly add new check points as critical items come up. You will find that having a library of checklists and the ability to easily copy and modify them makes your job much easier.
Read How Inspection Apps Improve Oil & Gas Equipment Reporting
How to get started using Inspection apps
Introducing a property management or home inspection app to your company may initially seem intimidating. However, any inconvenience you encounter during the initial setup should be short-lived. By taking the correct approach to property inspections and utilizing the app, you can feel confident that the process will go smoothly, ultimately benefiting your bottom line.
Do your research. Make sure you evaluate all your options and that the software you pick has everything you need. You might watch videos, visit websites, see demos, or use a trial. You might find features you want to implement that you did not even know existed.
Make sure you are thorough. You do not want to find out later that there are problems with the software that you cannot overlook. Or, that the processes in the software are awkward or will not work for your business. The software should surprise you with all you can do and the information you can track.
Predict how your people will use the software. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the people that will use your software. For example, a superintendent might use the software’s checklists, add to-do items, and mock up images for corrective actions. A subcontractor might use the system to respond to feedback and send pictures of corrected work.
You should also think about how management will inspect, measure results, and use the data to manage quality.
Use a phased approach to implementing your software. You might want to implement your software in phases so you can reap benefits sooner. By using a phased-in approach, you can build on what you have learned and fine tune your ideas of what you want to do next.
For instance, after you set up and customize your software, you might have a phase where you select team members to test it, a phase where you adjust your setup based on feedback from the testing stage, and another phase where you transition your entire team to use the software.
It is important to let the results from each phase help you decide how and when to introduce the next phase. This can also give you an idea of how to modify the ways you use the software to give you the best results.
Conclusion
The next generation of inspection apps, including the property inspection app and home inspection apps, can provide you and your team with real-time feedback and detailed information. These apps help you manage quality, safety, and vendor performance, enhancing your awareness of project progress.
The FTQ inspection app will provide you a real time inspection report with its easy to use interface. Whether you use a desktop or a mobile device, we've got you covered.
If you want to learn how the FTQ360 Inspection App can benefit your inspection process, sign up for a free trial. You'll see the difference between the old paper and data entry methods and the next generation of quality management.
