Streamlining Construction Materials Testing: BLE's Success with eFieldData
November 19, 2024
Executive Summary
Bunnell Lammons Engineering, Inc (BLE) needed an automated workflow solution to streamline and standardize their Construction Materials Testing process across the board. They wanted a solution to streamline operations swiftly, with minimal training costs. They found eFieldData to be the perfect match.
Business Challenge
BLE faced significant hurdles in generating and distributing reports to clients efficiently due to a fragmented workflow. One of the main challenges for BLE was their inability to track reports effectively from technicians in the field. Their existing system lacked integration, resulting in inefficiencies, compounded by unsuccessful experiences with previous software implementations. Despite technicians having access to Office 365 on their tablets and utilizing Excel spreadsheets for data entry, the cumbersome process of logging in and authenticating through separate apps caused delays in report submission and hindered accountability.
Also, the lack of seamless connectivity between the lab and field technicians exacerbated their difficulties. The manual transfer of lab data such as proctor results to designated folders for technicians to access created unnecessary bottlenecks. Even after switching to another software platform for Construction Materials Testing, which had years of industry experience, BLE found the transition unsuccessful due to the software's complexity and usability issues.
As such, there was a pressing need for a comprehensive system capable of streamlining their operations, fostering collaboration among field technicians, lab staff, and project managers, and enabling the delivery of exceptional client service in a cost-effective manner. BLE wanted to standardize processes across the company, particularly focusing on onboarding, training, and format of reports to enhance efficiency and consistency.
Solution
Capitalizing on Mobile Technology with Intuitive Design.
Leveraging mobile technology with an intuitive design, eFieldData provided seamless access to critical data for field technicians, lab technicians, and project managers, consolidating it within a unified system. Following a "zoom demo" and a trial period, BLE evaluated eFieldData over a few weeks. They decided to move forward with the Premium Version of eFieldData for their multiple branches as it met their requirements in terms of functionality and budget.
The BLE team selected the required reports for Construction Materials Testing and Inspections from eFieldData's extensive library of electronic forms that adhere to industry standards such as ASTM and AASHTO. Additionally, eFieldData created specific custom forms to suit BLE's unique needs.
The implementation process was seamless, with BLE swiftly transitioning to using eFieldData for field data collection and lab data entry. When a field technician receives a new work order on their mobile device (with the native mobile app readily available for download from the App Store or Google Play), all project details are automatically populated. This streamlined process allows technicians to input field data directly into the mobile app, enhancing efficiency and ensuring accuracy.
The intuitive design of the digital forms not only validates entered data against project specifications but also auto-calculates certain fields, minimizing transcription errors. Moreover, upon completion of lab work and entry of proctor values, technicians have immediate access to this information, enabling them to choose the right proctor. Furthermore, the technicians are empowered to provide status updates to contractors as needed in the field with the option to view the concrete break data through the mobile app. From a project management perspective, the dashboard provides a comprehensive overview of all projects, facilitating project tracking and identification of missing elements for project managers. Seamless collaboration between technicians and project managers, as well as between clients and project managers, is ensured, enhancing overall operational efficiency and client satisfaction.
According to Danny Marker III, Engineering Associate from BLE, “The user interface is very attractive and easy to navigate. The standard language with the tags in the mobile app streamlines the level of consistency across all branches. eFieldData’s customer service is amazing with a quick response time.”
Results
Streamlining and Standardizing the Construction Materials Testing Process Across the Board.
By transitioning to eFieldData's automated workflow solution, BLE effectively addressed their need for a streamlined workflow system and a timely reports distribution to clients without compromising on QA/QC standards. The intuitive nature of eFieldData facilitated swift onboarding for the BLE team, resulting in increased productivity and efficiency.
Overall, the time required for report review and distribution improved by up to 50%, much to the satisfaction of BLE. Both BLE's technicians and project managers experienced a sense of empowerment, while their clients appreciated the convenience of accessing and printing their reports 24/7 through the Client Portal.
Danny offers valuable advice to other engineering firms considering the transition to cloud-based automated workflow software for Construction Materials Testing: "If you require a system to streamline operations swiftly, with minimal training costs, don't hesitate. eFieldData's user-friendly interface makes it an intuitive choice."
About Bunnell Lammons Engineering, Inc.
Bunnell Lammons Engineering, Inc. (BLE) with headquarters in Greenville, South Carolina and branches in Columbia and Ashville, NC is a geotechnical, environmental, and construction materials engineering firm.
BLE’s multidisciplinary team of experts can assist through the entire lifecycle of a project, from due diligence and geotechnical exploration prior to construction, construction materials testing and inspections during construction, commissioning and post-construction services, and ongoing compliance once the project is complete.
About eFieldData
eFieldData, a subscription-based Software-as-a-Solution (SaaS) platform, developed by Vconnex Services, Inc is designed for geotechnical firms to automate the workflow process for construction materials testing and field inspections.
efieldDATA stands out as a unique solution for engineers seeking to automate project workflow and manage lab reports, field reports, timesheets, billing and analyze productivity via dashboards.