GEO-Engineering Empowers their Employees with Intuitive User Experience (UX) from eFieldData
March 01, 2022
Executive Summary
GEO-Engineering LLC a HUBZone, DBE DTOP and MBE certified consulting geotechnical engineering serving Puerto Rico and the Caribbean wanted a modern, intuitive solution to streamline their workflow from disparate systems to a single system that could provide high quality deliverables to their clients. They selected eFieldData, a comprehensive Software as a Service (SaaS) solution for Construction Materials Testing (CMT) and Inspections that not only improved operational efficiency but also streamlined their workflow from scheduling to field data collection to lab data management and reporting.
Business Challenge
Duplicate data entry across multiple systems resulting in errors and slow turnaround time for reports to clients
GEO-Engineering had a set of disparate systems that let to unnecessary time spent ensuring report accuracy and non-uniformity in terms of time-line for deliverables to clients. They were using hand-written field sheets that had to be manually transcribed several times to spreadsheets and programs such as material testing software. Therefore, getting reports to clients was both time consuming and frustrating.
GEO-Engineering wanted a system that required them to enter data only once in order for the reports to be generated automatically in a timely manner. As most of their projects relied heavily on photographs, having the ability to seamlessly attach site photographs without additional steps was also a key criterion.
Solution
A comprehensive cloud-based SaaS workflow automation software that had an intuitive user interface.
Carlos Rodriguez, MS, PE, MBA, Vice President at GEO-Engineering who is not only an engineer but also has had vast experience in the business world before taking over a leadership role in GEO-Engineering understood the importance of user experience (UX). Carlos Rodrigues explains: “We wanted a UX that was in-line with the current trend and more importantly, the underlying technology has to match the modern interface.” Prior to eFiedData, that they had tried a couple of other systems that appeared to have a modern UX but were actually built on legacy systems. The implementations failed, and the users reverted back to paper forms as they did not like the interface despite several training sessions.
GEO-Engineering came across eFieldData while looking for an alternative solution that would provide a seamless integration to their existing ForneyVault’s concrete materials testing platform.
"With eFieldData, we were able to have the full experience during the trial period – we went all the way to preparing an invoice as we wanted to make sure that every single piece of the program worked for us," says Carlos. And, they were able to get the buy-in from their staff before committing to eFieldData.
He further added that the user interface was so intuitive that they didn’t have to interact much with the eFieldData team in terms of training. Overall, GEO-Engineering was very happy with the smooth implementation and the quick turnaround time to questions and change requests that they had.
- With eFieldData, we were able to have the full experience during the trial period – we went all the way to preparing an invoice as we wanted to make sure that every single piece of the program worked for us, says Carlos.
Results
eFieldData’s workflow automation software empowered GEO-Engineering to not only increase employee productivity but also increase employee satisfaction and client satisfaction. With eFieldData, GEO-Engineering was able to send reports/test results to clients either on the same day or the next day compared to almost 5 days before eFieldData. Their clients love the quick turnaround time, the email distribution lists and the high resolution of the photographs attached to the reports.
"The user experience has been so good. Our staff like it - they feel that it’s intuitive and nothing is complex, everything is just a few clicks away,” says Carlos. “We not only did not have to hire an additional administrative staff to handle the increasing volume of paperwork, we also managed to cut down the processing time for our current staff by 40%.”
- We not only did not have to hire an additional administrative staff to handle the increasing volume of paperwork, we also managed to cut down the processing time for our current staff by 40%. - Carlos Felipe Rodríguez Jiménez, MS, PE, MBA, Vice President, GEO-Engineering
About GEO-Engineering LLC
With headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico, GEO-Engineering LLC is a HUBZone, DBE DTOP and MBE certified consulting geotechnical engineering firm trusted by many of the world's leading engineering design firms. The firm's experience spans over 1200 projects in the Aviation, Transportation and General Building sectors in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. GEO-Engineering’s quality accreditations include AASHTO Accredited Program (AAP) and US Army Corps of Engineers Materials Testing Center (MTC) Validated.
About eFieldData
eFieldData, a powerful cloud-based automated workflow solution from Vconnex Services, Inc increases productivity and profits for civil engineering companies. Its intuitive, easy to use interface facilitates quick on-boarding, and empowers your team to get the job done in real-time with on-the-go field data collection, lab management, and industry standard reporting. A big picture dashboard, allows you to keep track of who is doing what job when and where. The eFieldData Mobile App for field staff runs on both iOS and Android. Learn more about eFieldData.