Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/247741
38 Tu e sd a y, Fe b ru a ry 4 , 2 0 1 4 LINKING JOB SITE AND OFFICE USING MOBILE TECHNOLOGY By Dennis Stejskal, Vice President of Product Management, Sage Construction and Real Estate It's no longer necessary to limit your connection to the job site to web-enabled laptops only. Handheld mobile devices are now commonplace on the jobsite and provide the ability to more conveniently access, share and submit information anytime and anywhere. As a home builder or remodeler, you may not have to retool your current financial software system in order to take advantage of cloud applications that will improve your connection to the field. Some of these software-as-a-service (SaaS) applications will link to your current system, offering new capabilities that can be accessed using a standard desktop, laptop or mobile device. Here are a few things cloud-based mobile applications can help you do: Supply data to the field. Today's construction software makes data readily available – if you are in the office. That same data has not always been as accessible in the field where many of the decisions are made. The result? Project managers in the field make frequent phone calls back to the office to get the information needed, or, if they can't get the data, then a decision is made that could negatively impact the job. Cloud-based mobile applications give field managers immediate access to customer data, drawings and plans, schedules, job costs and other project information. Get data from the field. Improving the timeliness and quality of field reports is another area where many builders and remodelers seek technology solutions. Field reporting tools are available for mobile devices that can make it LOWE'S PROSERVICES: GREAT SAVINGS IN 2014 2014 is here and expect to see some great savings for the Pro customer! Did you know that Lowe's offers five percent off every day when you use your Lowe's Business Credit? Stop by booth #C4520 and get more details. Lowes values its relationship with the Pro customer and has worked to ease your wallet and time with Contractor Packs™. Contractor Packs are quick, convenient, discounted bundles of the items you use most. They allow you and your company to gain a bulk discount by purchasing a minimum amount of the same product or buying in pre-packaged bulk quantities. To learn more about Contractor Packs, contact a knowledgeable ProServices Specialist at your local Lowe's, or look for the yellow-and-black Contractor Packs label on thousands of in-stock products and materials. Want to save more time and money? WHY A WAUPACA ELEVATOR IS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR A RESIDENTIAL ELEVATOR Waupaca Elevator offers residential elevator models to fit virtually every budget, with a broad range of styles and accessories designed to blend perfectly into any home décor. A Waupaca elevator delivers a smooth, quiet ride. A home elevator can eliminate multi-level home accessibility issues while dramatically enhancing a homeowner's quality of life. A residential elevator provides the homeowner with the ability to remain in the home they love for as long as they would like. A home elevator makes activities such as moving bulky objects from floor to floor safer, much easier and more convenient. HIGH PERFORMANCE SOUND CONTROL SOLUTIONS FROM MAXXON Maxxon Corporation is constantly striving to meet the evolving floor challenges facing the construction industry and is continuing this pursuit with the launch of three innovative new sound control mats. Maxxon is excited to introduce the Acousti-MaT® HP Series of high performance sound control mats. AcoustiMat II HP, Enkasonic HP and AcoustiMat 3 HP provide upgraded sound control through the addition of a high performance acoustical fabric that is laminated to the bottom of the mat's entan- gled mesh core. Topped with a high-strength Maxxon Underlayment, Acousti-Mat II HP increases the acoustical performance of a wood floor/ceiling assembly by up to 16 IIC points and up to 20 points over concrete construction. Requiring only a 1-inch topping, Acousti-Mat II HP adds sound control without adding to the overall floor height. Enkasonic HP requires only a 1-1/2inch topping yet adds significant impact sound control. Enkasonic HP increases the C o n stru c tio n Ma rke tp la c e easier to capture work completed, materials delivered and other onsite observations. Pictures can also be taken with the mobile device and attached to field reports, adding clarification and key documentation (particularly if a jobsite issue arises that could lead to litigation). Capture and approve time work. The majority of a job's financial risk comes from labor. Cloud-based mobile time tracking applications can link field time capture and approval to your company's payroll and job cost accounting systems, making it easier to submit and review timecards daily and allowing project managers in the field to spot overages immediately. Obtaining the right technology is only one part of the equation when trying to connect the field and office; it's also important to determine the best way to successfully introduce the technology into your business. Start by identifying employees who are key to the new technology's success and get them involved in the planning process from the outset to help solidify The ProServices desk will also help with tool rentals. Many projects require powerful tools you only need for a week, a day or even a few hours. With Lowe's tool rental program, you can save time and money by simply renting the tools you need from Lowe's, doing the job yourself and returning the tools when you're done. Lowe's offers dozens of rental tools for common improvement projects, including those for flooring, cleaning, painting, lawn and garden and general construction jobs. Just identify A Waupaca residential elevator is an excellent investment. An elevator can dramatically increase a home's resale value and expand its marketability to a wider range of prospective buyers. Waupaca residential elevators are installed and serviced by trained elevator specialists, and are backed by more than 50 years of industry expertise. An investment in a Waupaca residential elevator is secure, with a full twoyear limited parts warranty – one of the IIC levels of the floor/ceiling assembly by up to 18 points over wood frame construction and up to 25 points over concrete construction. Acousti-Mat 3 HP increases the IIC levels of the floor/ceiling assembly by up to 22 points over wood frame construction and up to 30 in concrete construction (vs no mat). At a height of 0.75 inch and requiring only a 1-1⁄2-inch reinforced topping, Acousti-Mat 3 HP provides ultimate sound control without significantly increasing the overall floor height. The Acousti-Mat HP Series of sound control solutions is always manufactured with 40 percent pre-consumer recycled content. They are considered "green" their long-term buy-in. In construction, money is made and lost in the field. Finding ways to extend your information technology to the job site will streamline processes, improve decision making and lead to high profits. About the Author: Dennis Stejskal has over 30 years of experience developing, supporting and selling software and technology to construction and real estate companies. His comprehensive product knowledge and understanding of customer and market needs propelled him into his current role as Vice President of Product Management for Sage Construction and Real Estate. Dennis has been a member and co-chair on the CFMA Technology Committee and often speaks at industry events, including CFMA, AGC and NAHB meetings and conferences. For more information, call 800-6286583, email productinfo.cre@sage.com or stop by booth #C2256. the tools you need, visit the ProServices Desk, rent the tool and get to work! Check out takes just a few minutes – and you can rent tools from Lowe's for as little as four hours or as long as a week. These are only a few of the offerings to the Pro customer – stop by the booth and hear all of the other great money- and time-saving deals! For more information, stop by booth #C4520. many reasons why more architects and builders specify Waupaca Elevator with confidence. Waupaca Elevator Company is a family owned and operated business, dedicated to providing the performance and value you would expect and deserve with your choice in a residential elevator. For more information, visit WaupacaElevator.com or stop by booth #C7913. building materials and may help contribute points to LEED® project certification. Maxxon Corporation is the leading provider of floor underlayments and floor sound deadening systems. Maxxon products are used in new construction and renovation projects of commercial, retail and industrial facilities as well as single family and multifamily housing. They are available through authorized dealers located throughout North America. For additional information, please contact Nicole Hills at 763-478-9600 or email Nicole at nicole@maxxon.com. Also visit www.maxxoncorporation.com or stop by booth #C7126.