The preconstruction phase involves planning, analyzing, and establishing the needs of a construction project. All the efforts that constitute the preconstruction phase are focused on making a construction project financially viable.
However, the preconstruction phase is much more than basic estimates and cost analysis limited to a few people. Advanced preconstruction encompasses much more and involves project managers and superintendents in the early phase to determine how to save on time and costs as much as possible.
The success of any construction project depends on how the preconstruction phase is executed. This phase offers the opportunity to identify areas of work that may increase profit margins, and will be used to develop a clear roadmap.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to take your preconstruction planning to the next level.
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Enlist the help of digital tools
Digitalization can help you immensely during the preconstruction planning phase, helping to simplify complex construction projects. Different digital tools are available on the market to optimize preconstruction planning, with software automating many manual processes.
Automating work means you can reallocate labor to other important tasks, thus boosting productivity and saving valuable time. Data entry also becomes easier, with far less chance of error.
Look for planning and scheduling solutions that digitize core construction methods. Choosing ALICE for your preconstruction solution can be a good investment, as it lets you reduce risk as you plan, as well as bid and win more profitable projects.
Having a thorough evaluation of your estimates is an important part of preconstruction planning. Any errors with quantities or cost estimates can prove to be a major drawback for later project phases, so selecting software that provides you with accurate numbers is vital.
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Communicate with project owners
To ensure the project’s success, you’ll need to develop a thorough understanding of project requirements. You can do so through consistent communication with project owners and by putting yourself in their shoes, focusing on the purpose of the project and how to optimize construction processes in the best possible way to align with its goals. Always look to make the project a win-win proposition for both you and the owner.
Important elements that ensure you’re on the same page as the owner are:
- Comprehension of the owner’s requirements
- Analysis
- Problem-solving
If issues crop up or market changes occur during the preconstruction phase, such information should be conveyed to stakeholders as needed, as the overall project plan will likely need to be modified to adapt to the new circumstances.
In general, preconstruction planning ensures feasibility and confirms cost requirements. It’s only considered complete once all ideas are presented and discussed, with solutions to all possible problems prepared.
These days, meetings with owners have become much easier and more convenient with communication tools that allow for video conferencing, eliminating the need to be physically present in a meeting room. This lets you get quick feedback from owners for any new ideas you may want to incorporate or any changes you want to make in the preconstruction plan.
Always look to establish swift channels of communication with owners in the very initial phases of the partnership.
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Improve collaboration
If you want to run a project smoothly, establish swift communication systems at the very beginning of the project. Employing the best possible communication mechanisms in the preconstruction planning phase will bode well for the overall health of the project.
To accomplish streamlined construction in the preconstruction phase and beyond, consider using software that allows for smooth communications. Cloud-based digital platforms come with the added advantage of easy access, regardless of where stakeholders are located. Having access to project data in real-time enhances collaboration and improves efficiency.
A central digital platform that ties up all the different components of preconstruction planning can be highly beneficial, as it gives all stakeholders a unifying work field. Users can reap the benefits of collaboration, which manifests itself in the design process and cost modeling. It also simplifies the process of making and reviewing project alterations.
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Leverage data for preconstruction audits
After developing a thorough understanding of what the owner wants out of the project, you should conduct a review of your own processes. Doing an audit of your existing preconstruction mechanisms will help you identify areas of weakness.
Have a look at your previous project data and compare it to industry data to pinpoint areas where improvements are needed. There will always be room to optimize your work processes to further achieve better project implementation.
An important part of improving your processes is reviewing the data of your past projects. You should have systems in place that store project information in a more effective way to easily extract insights for future projects.
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Use drones
Drones are also now being employed to improve the preconstruction planning phase. These aerial devices can fly over and survey construction sites to gather useful data. They not only allow project managers a detailed view of construction sites, but also provide information about any potential problems with the job site.
Drones can also generate 3D survey models easily and rapidly, as opposed to human surveys, which take considerable effort and time.
Take preconstruction planning into the future with technology
Preconstruction planning is foundational in the success of construction projects.
The use of technology and digital tools, though slow, is steadily being adopted by the construction industry to improve preconstruction planning. Construction businesses that make use of these technologies are more likely to have a competitive edge.
Optimizing your preconstruction planning by making use of digital tools has cost and time benefits, helping to identify weak spots to improve your processes by leaps and bounds.
