Construction Cameras Help Contractors Differentiate Themselves and
Give Owners Peace of Mind
Contractors use construction cameras to give owners peace of
mind, differentiate themselves from the competition and serve as a
testament to the work they have done.
The change in construction materials cost in 2009 has been
significant, but the real bottom line change is resulting from increased
competition between contractors. Our clients who are owners openly
discuss the challenges they have related to the increasing complexity
and competition during the bid process. A few years ago a K-12 school
construction project had 3-5 bidders, today there are 30 firms competing
for the same project. The challenge for owners is to determine which
contractors are qualified. The ability for a contractor to demonstrate
experience and performance from past projects is crucial to satisfying
owners concerns and winning bids.
Perhaps one of the most compelling ways for a contractor to create
peace of mind for the owner, and to differentiate themselves from the
competition, is to offer them transparency and communication which is
guaranteed to be timely, accurate and compelling. Contractors who offer
construction camera systems are offering the owner additional service.
By demonstrating this level of transparency, efficiency and
accountability those contractors have one more way to connect with
owners needs which helps to build relationships and win work.
The president of an Atlanta construction company, explains how
construction cameras translate to real dollars for them: "Our firm has
been using construction cameras to monitor progress on all of our
jobsites. In order to keep everyone in the office up to date on each
site, we setup monitors to display live images from each project. It's
paid for itself several times over", says Atlanta construction company
president. "A new client who was expanding operations in the southeast
interviewed us as part of the bid process. When they awarded us the
contract they explained that it was the demonstration of proactive
management through the use of live images which was key in their
decision."
Why Implement a Construction Camera:
The old adage that everyone expects more for less rings loud in today's
construction marketplace. Owners who put their projects out to bid are
expecting lower prices, higher quality and better service from the
contractors that try to compete for their business. One more way to
separate yourself from the pack is to proactively include a construction
camera service in your bid in order to:
- Keep all team-members up to date on project
progress
- Confirm jobsite activities against other reporting
methods
- Review daily progress against schedules
- Monitor jobsite weather conditions
- Document as-built conditions
Need for Reliability:
Any system is only as good as the weakest link. For too many corporate
purchases, the weakest link can be the initial implementation, or lack
thereof. By selecting an easy turnkey solution, you will have a hassle
free implementation and carefree maintenance experience.
There are four key parts to a full construction camera system. The
camera hardware at the jobsite, the internet connection, the servers
where the images are stored and the software. A failure with anyone of
these parts creates a failure of the entire system and construction
sites are not the friendliest places for electronics. By using a full
service construction camera provider you maximize the client's
experience and ensure success while avoiding the problems associated
with running the system in house or using security equipment which only
has an image quality adequate for a small area.
Once you've chosen a full service provider, power is another issue to
consider when it comes to reliability. For camera locations without easy
access to power, or in urban areas with utility coordination headaches,
a well designed solar power stations can ensure reliability and ease of
setup. Additionally, implementing solar construction cameras qualifies
you for the 30% solar energy tax credits at the federal level as well as
other state and local tax credits where available.
Summary:
As you work on your next bid, or break ground on your next project,
consider offering the owner construction cameras as part of the package.
It's an opportunity to gain additional efficiency and show everyone what
goes into delivering the type of service and quality your firm offers.
As a marketing tool it can be a great differentiator so do your
research. Review examples of live construction cameras online. Find a
reputable provider who offers a turnkey solution and guarantees their
service. Then put the peace of mind that a good construction camera
experience provides to work for you.
