Using Paper is Costing Your Business Money

Why is it important to stop using paper to document your projects?  

Did you know?

• It costs an average of $20 per document to file it.

• The average search time for a document is 18 minutes.

• It costs $125 to for each document that is misfiled.

 • Each lost document costs $350 to $700.

• More than 70% of today’s businesses would fail within 3 weeks if they suffered a catastrophic loss of paper-based records due to fire or flood.

• 67% of data loss is directly related to user blunders, making them 30 times more menacing than viruses and the leading cause of data loss.

• At any given time, between 3 and 5 percent of an organization’s files are lost or misplaced.

• U.S. managers spend an average of 4 weeks a year searching for or waiting on misfiled, mislabeled, un-tracked, or ‘lost’ papers”

• Large organizations lose a document every 12 seconds.

Mobile Resource Management Software along with your smart phones, tablets or laptops can eliminate the need for paper and more accurately document every aspect of your project. 

Facts about Paper - The Paperless Project - Join the ... (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.thepaperlessproject.com/what-are-the-facts-about-paper/

A Picture is Worth a Thousand ...

Four out of five construction companies in legal disputes found they had insufficient or unavailable documentation of projects according to a survey done by Robert Kreuzer, VP of Travelers Insurance Co.  According to Kreuzer 80% of the time critical documents, photos, change orders, inspections and approvals of onsite work “are either not there or inaccurate.”    Now take into account that the average defect claim can take more than 7 years to go through litigation when proper documentation isn't available.   Suddenly the phrase a picture is worth a thousand words becomes a picture is worth a thousand dollars. 

It’s AboutTime to invest in a Mobile Resource Management Solution that can help you track and keep accurate documentation of all aspects of every project. 

Join an AboutTime Webcast to Learn More. 

Risk Management an Infographic

Companies who understand the need to manage risk, and learn how to manage risk effectively, thrive, while others join a growing list of companies that have come and gone.  Take a look at this infographic from AboutTime explaining Risk and how Mobile Resource Management can help your business manage it.  

"Protect Yourself"

Many years ago, I entered the world of helping companies - especially in construction - mitigate risk. At that time, I would often ask contractors if they utilized the new technology of digitally capturing Job site Photos. Some companies were forward thinking and already finding ways to harness this new technology while others...well, simply laughed at me!

As the years roll on, Job site Photos have become much more prevalent in day to day operations for companies exposing themselves to risk by building, restoring and servicing for others. However, documenting inspections, before & after, progress, accidents and change orders is usually a cumbersome task. When needed, digital photos may be on an employee’s smart device, company issued camera, an SD card, an external database or worse....WHO KNOWS WHERE!!

When utilizing a mobile time & attendance system equipped with project management pieces such as Job site Photos, Field Notes, Digital Forms, Voice Notes, Video, Digital Signature Capture, virtual real-time Budget feedback and GPS Verification, risk to a contractor is reduced like never before.

Recently, I was speaking to a customer who performs new construction, service, and warranty work on roofing systems. This particular company carefully documents as much of their impressive work as possible. Job site Photos is a critical piece of that documentation. One of their customers logged a complaint that there was a leak at the exact spot where work was performed over a year ago. Within seconds, our customer pulled up the electronic job file, clicked the Job site Photos tab, saved the information and dispatched a service representative. Upon inspection, it was immediately determined that there was a new leak on this pre-existing roof system and additional, billable service was required. When shown a date & time stamped photo and GPS verification of when and where the original work was performed, the contractors customer was more than happy to agree to a new service order rather than un-billable warranty work. Our customer told me that this is just one of the ways that their Mobile Resource Management System saves them hundreds of thousands of dollars year after year after year.

The power of documenting work performed is undeniable. However, the power of efficiently and accurately storing that data in one central electronic depository for immediate retrieval is beyond measure. Through all of my years of experience, if I was asked to sum up my advice to any company performing work for others in two words, it would have to be: PROTECT YOURSELF.

Guest Blogger

David Verl Perry, Vice President of Regional Sales

AboutTime Technologies LLC

Placing top focus on value, David has helped several hundred companies in the Construction and Related Services industry adopt practical approaches to streamlining business operations. Having begun his education & career in the trades, David understands the needs of construction companies who rely on field production performance to stay competitive. Applying over 20 years of real world experience combined with his passion for client success, David works hand in hand to help customers realize the benefits of technology, sharpening their competitive edge.  David now works as a senior executive at AboutTime Technologies connecting customers, product development, mobile solutions providers and service firms to deliver the promise of technology.