With so much money involved in virtually every aspect of the construction process – from planning to completion – it is essential for sites and companies to utilise the stock they have to its fullest, to avoid unnecessary purchases and overspending.
According to an article featured on Multiproject.org, 69% of construction jobs go over budget by 10% or more – constituting tens of thousands of pounds of losses, if not worse.
However, by keeping track of expected deliveries with delivery management tools, and having a clear-cut view of stock that is expected to be delivered at precise times, companies can give themselves greater control over the stock that enters their sites and quell the amount of excess stock delivered.
How delivery management tools can help avoid excess orders
A clear view of expected items
Construction sites are unbelievably busy operations, with a lot of moving parts. If more than one individual on a site is able to order materials and tools when they’re needed, and there is no single platform where all expected deliveries can be viewed in real-time, this can lead to a disconnect between the team and potentially crossed wires. This will result in the ordering of unnecessary stock, or stock that won’t be usable for a long time, costing the project cash in the short term.
If this happens once or twice, the damage may not be too severe (depending on what has been ordered). But if it occurs on multiple occasions, the accrued excess stock will surely build in cost. In turn, this will cost the site time and productivity, with staff needing to leave their duties temporarily to deal with unnecessary deliveries, or deliveries that could have arrived at a more appropriate time.
However, with delivery management tools, both the individual placing the order and the company delivering the goods can have access to a clear, easy-to-understand schedule, which can be updated should anything need to be changed. Thanks to multiple people having access to this tool, if excess stock is spotted ahead of its delivery time, it can be promptly cancelled, saving the site unnecessary expenses.
Now, speaking of delivery times…
Order items for when they’re needed
It is natural, on any large-scale project, to “stock up” on items we feel will be needed later down the line. But, in the case of construction sites, where materials and tools are very expensive, stocking up on goods that may only potentially be needed in the future can lead to a lot of unnecessary spending.
However, with delivery management tools, those with access to the platform will always have a good view of not only upcoming orders but also past orders, which can be used to assist inventory management before new orders are placed with suppliers.
This information can help site managers, and others who are responsible, plan for orders accurately ahead of time, depending on how well the project is progressing and at what rate certain materials are being used. This way, items can be scheduled and delivered as and when they are needed, preventing excess stock sitting around construction sites, or spending months in storage.
Prevent accidental orders due to inaccurate delivery records
While the world has undoubtedly shifted in a digital direction over the past 20 years, there are those who still opt to use paper records and receipts as opposed to a digital alternative.
While these can be useful, they are prone to loss or tampering in a way that digital records are not – making digital records a far more reliable source of important delivery information.
For example, should a site still be operating using paper receipts, and one or more of these receipts suddenly vanishes, it may be assumed that the stock in question never arrived – leading to extra unnecessary orders.
However, with delivery management tools, digital delivery receipts are always stored safely in a single location on the platform – making them easily viewable to anyone who needs access to such info. With no lost receipts and a consistent digital record of all delivered items, companies can rest assured the items listed in their inventory are the ones they have in stock, with no missing pieces.
Onboard delivery management tools for your construction projects to better plan your deliveries
By utilising a delivery management platform for your construction site, not only will you gain a clearer picture of when items are expected, but you’ll also potentially save the project as a whole thousands in unnecessary purchases, among a host of other benefits.
