September 23, 2020
A common reason construction projects fail? A lack of organization, typically caused by miscommunication. Text messaging, or SMS can help open the lines of communication and streamline your project to success.
Not convinced texting and construction go hand in hand? Take a look at seven ways you can utilize SMS in your construction company.
The construction industry is no stranger to needing different contractors, workers, or specialists to complete a project. SMS can be a useful tool in hiring and onboarding these workers. Often, the type of employee you may be looking for will be in the field or on a job when you want to contact them. They may not answer a phone call, but they can look at a quick text over a break and reply in seconds.
You and your “interviewee” can go back and forth through text to answer questions, submit paperwork, and take the next steps in the hiring process. Once you’ve hired them, you can continue to allow them to text you while you onboard them. This can speed up the entire process and get them on your project quicker and with the right information.
Before you can start a project, you need to win a project. That involves construction firms answering RFPs with detailed proposals. SMS can help proposal managers in charge of creating these proposals by giving them access to the right people. They can text for information about resumes, timelines, experience, past wins, and more. All of this information needs to be gathered quickly, yet efficiently, for you to win a project.
No two days are the same in the construction industry. When you need to push out a notification ASAP, SMS is the best method. It’s instant and has a 98% open rate. Text messages can provide updates on important items, such as:
If you’re working on a specific client project, you can also keep them in the loop with SMS by sending them alerts about your budget, whether you’re on schedule, or anything else they may want to know.
Keeping to your project’s timeline means ensuring everyone who’s off-site or on-site has the correct information. Send text messages to alert your on-site crew of their tasks for the day, what needs to be done, where they need to go, and more.
Similarly, your crew can use SMS to alert managers of inventory needs before a shortage occurs. They can also send in any other information like weather mishaps, workplace hazards, or employee misconduct (hopefully, this will not happen!)
One of the most popular internal communication use cases of SMS for all industries are meeting reminders. When people are on-site, off-site, or moving around, there are higher chances of being late or missing a meeting entirely. That slows your project down. In worst-case scenarios, it derails it.
More likely than not, everyone in your team will have access to a cellphone. Using SMS, there’s no reason for them to miss a meeting ever again. You could also use texting software to send out workers’ schedules (with meetings included!).
Your internal team is not the only one who is impacted by a construction project. You should allow anyone from the public who’s interested to opt-in to your SMS communication strategy. You can then provide updates on things like traffic reroute, safety information, working hours, and completion dates.
SMS is a sure-fire way to get a message across to your employees instead of having to call them or pray they check their email often. From hiring to project updates and everything in between, you’ll be able to stay organized through constant communication. So, while SMS may seem like an odd choice for the construction industry, the benefits are plentiful.
If you need any help picking an SMS platform or coming up with a strategy, the team at SMSZap can help!