Construction projects often do not get completed on time. Sometimes they can be delayed by unforeseen costs or bad weather. The average project, according to McKinsey and Company, must deal with at least a 20-month delay and unexpected budget concerns.

Here are some essential tips to reduce construction delays to improve business relations.

Reasons for Project Delays

There are 28 common reasons for construction delays, according to the International Journal of Project Management. With that many possibilities, it's important for business owners investing in a project to understand all the available options that can help prevent construction delays. Here are some of the key reasons even major projects get stalled: • Unforeseen labor costs • Additional costs for materials and storage • Litigation over contract terms and performance • Client budgeting and cash flow shortfalls • Reputational damage Sometimes too much emphasis on administrative work or meetings can contribute to the slowdown of a construction project. Stakeholders expect this activity, which puts more pressure on both parties to spend excessive time in these areas. A move toward more digital communication, however, can reduce wasted time.

Solutions to Faster Construction

One of the most innovative ways to reduce construction delays is to invest in digital technology that naturally speeds up processes. Construction teams spend about 40 percent of their time checking updates, writing reports, or attending meetings. Writing reports is necessary to reduce the potential for court battles over misunderstood terms. Digital tools make projects more organized and easy to reference. Compiling all concerns of a project into a single digital report helps keep the project in order for meeting deadlines. Making this information available to team members through the cloud can reduce the need for so many in-person meetings. Storing your reports in a central location that project team members and stakeholders can access is vital for keeping the project moving on schedule. This concept keeps all players on the same page and reduces misunderstandings that can delay a project. Avoiding silos is another key to keeping the project moving forward. Team members should avoid using consumer tools for communication and stick with tools designed specifically for construction. Workers need reliable connectivity for real-time communication. Before investing in digital technology, construction companies need to standardize processes as much as possible. When workers are allowed to bring their own technology for communication, it creates inconsistencies. Falling into this pattern is the popular myth that every construction project is unique and requires out-of-the-box thinking. In reality, 80 percent of all construction follows a specific process. Even though each construction project has a unique result, the industry still adheres to conventional standards to get any given job done. Standardization helps deliver projects on time and reveals nuances along the way. By following industry standards, you'll experience less conflict if other parties are involved with the project.

Why Faster Communication Matters

Perhaps strong communication is the most crucial part of fine-tuning your construction plan. Every step of the way, you need experts to review the progress and compare it with the initial plan. Manual progress reports, however, can waste time, whereas digital reports save time. Traditionally, project managers have had to wait until the end of the day to get project updates and then spend hours relaying the information to crew members. Once again, digital technology and cloud computing are integral to speeding up this communication so that members can access updates in real-time. Starting a construction project requires thorough reviews of terms, performance, and revisions to the original plan. A major key to avoid project delays is for all players to adopt digital solutions specifically crafted for the construction industry. Contact Nikki Fox, Nikki@ParkwestGC.com, at Parkwest General Contractors to learn more about meeting your construction needs.