Software solutions

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Laing O’Rourke used Vico software provided by Synergy Software Systems on Al Raha Beach to control all aspects of the project including labour and resources.

How can software help construction firms beat the recession and improve their efficiency for future operations? Contributing editor Alison Luke investigates.

With the credit crunch now firmly biting those in the Middle East construction industry, firms are seeking new ways to maximise their efficiency. One solution being increasingly mooted is the use of software, with suppliers designing their systems and packages, specifically with those involved in construction, in mind.

Benefits claimed for such technology include the ability to efficiently assign resources as well as cost and time savings, so is now the right time to update or invest in new software?

Potential benefits

The benefits of implementing software can be numerous if it is fully utilised. Of particular benefit to the construction industry are solutions that combine several technologies in one system to give an overall view of a project and enable collaborative working.

“What is most important is that you can assimilate all of your assumptions together and see the impact on the budget, completion date and analyse what you want to do and how it can be done, plan the sequence of work and plan your resources,” stresses Collaboration, Management and Control Solutions’ (CMCS) CEO and founder Bassam Samman.

This assimilation of information also means that all members of the construction team can be sure they are working to the same criteria throughout, removing any potential build issues created by project revisions.

“Benefits include reduced costs associated with paper documents… saved time by team members having fast access to information; and more control of risks such as delays, disputes and quality issues,” explains Aconex general manager Middle East Peter Hedlund. “Just by managing information online rather than using paper documents, often around 1% to 2% of the entire construction value can be saved. Particularly on large-scale projects, this can represent massive savings.”

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