Market analysis: Cost pressure and labor shortages in Swiss civil engineering
Public civil engineering in Switzerland is gaining momentum, but the framework conditions remain tense. The construction price index has risen by about 15% in the last three years, which puts pressure on the margins for many civil engineering companies in Switzerland at risk. At the same time, demographic changes are intensifying the shortage of skilled labor: By 2040, the construction industry could lack 5,600 qualified professionals. This combination of high cost pressure and limited personnel resources forces companies to radically optimize their internal processes. Many businesses are looking for ways to increase productivity without putting additional strain on staff. The future of the construction industry depends on smart digital solutions. However, the efficiency gains must not be undermined by complicated software. The challenge is to find technologies that are accepted and used by all employees – from the excavator operator to the managing director.
Stop communication chaos: The 5% cost risk from unstructured chats
Almost every construction site uses WhatsApp groups, but the unstructured flood of messages, photos, and instructions quickly leads to problems. Important information gets lost, resulting in misunderstandings and costly errors. Misinformation can cause rework that accounts for up to 5% of the total project costs. Valoon solves this problem by directing the familiar WhatsApp communication into structured and legally secure channels. Each project receives its own clear communication structure, without requiring site staff to install or learn a new app. Instructions, photos, and defect reports are automatically assigned and documented to the correct project.
The consequences of unorganized communication are manifold:
- Delays in material orders due to unclear agreements.
- Missing or untraceable photo documentation for defects.
- Misunderstandings regarding plan changes, leading to costly corrections.
- Legal gray areas, as agreements are not documented in a verifiable manner.
By targeted process optimization with software this risk can be minimized. This lack of structure poses a significant business risk: non-compliant and incomplete construction documentation.
Legal certainty as a competitive advantage: Automate construction documentation
In Switzerland, there is no general legal obligation for a construction log, but in disputes, thorough documentation is crucial. Missing evidence can lead to claims losses of over 20%. The requirements of the GeBüV (Commercial Books Regulation) demand immutable and traceable archiving of all tax-relevant documents for at least 10 years. Valoon automatically transforms everyday communication via WhatsApp into legally secure construction documentation. Every message, photo, and voice note is timestamped, tagged with the project number and employee information, and stored in an immutable PDF report. This automatic logging meets the requirements for the creation of audit-proof audit documents. So you are always on the safe side with warranty claims or legal disputes, without additional effort. Beyond just legal certainty, this also results in significant time savings.
Time is money: Reduce administrative efforts by up to 80%
Construction and project managers often spend up to two hours each day manually creating construction day reports and assigning photos. This time is lacking for the actual management of the construction site. With Valoon, this process is almost fully automated. The automatic assignment of photos, notes, and documents to the respective construction projects saves each employee at least 30 minutes daily. For a team of 10 people, that adds up to over 100 hours per month. The digital capture of working hours and measurements directly from WhatsApp reduces office administrative effort by up to 80%.
Here’s how automatic reporting with Valoon works:
- An employee sends a photo or a voice message about the construction progress via WhatsApp.
- Valoon automatically captures time, location, weather data, and the sender.
- The information is assigned to the correct digital construction log.
- The project manager can check the entry in the web dashboard and approve it with one click.
This efficiency increase applies not only to the construction and civil engineering, but to all areas of the construction industry. Efficiency arises not only in the office but also by overcoming barriers directly on the construction site.
Overcome language barriers and ensure acceptance on the construction site
On Swiss construction sites, people from many nations work together. Almost a third of the workforce in the main construction industry, for instance, comes from Portugal. Language barriers are a common challenge here and a frequent cause of costly misunderstandings. An instruction that is not correctly understood can lead to construction defects, the rectification of which can cost thousands of francs. Valoon integrates a live translation function directly into WhatsApp. Instructions can be sent in German and immediately read by the recipient in their mother tongue. This function overcomes language hurdles in over 20 languages and ensures clear and unambiguous communication. As employees remain in their familiar app, there are no acceptance issues – a crucial advantage for the success of any construction company. But how can you as a company benefit from these advantages?
Conclusion: Your advantage with Valoon for Swiss civil engineering
For civil engineering companies in Switzerland process optimization is key to staying competitive. Valoon offers a practical solution that tackles problems where they arise: in daily communication. The main benefits are simplicity through the use of WhatsApp, efficiency through automation of documentation, and legal certainty through comprehensive logging. Reduce your administrative effort, minimize sources of error, and create clean, verifiable documentation for all your construction projects. Start now with the digitalization of your construction site the easy way. Book your free demo now and learn how Valoon can revolutionize communication in your civil engineering company in just 15 minutes.
More Links
Die Fraunhofer Society describes its research activities in the field of construction on this page.
Der Main Association of the German Construction Industry addresses digitalization in the construction industry on this page.
Das Federal Office for Statistics (BFS) of Switzerland provides statistics on construction and housing on this page.
Der Chair of Construction Informatics at TU Munich describes its research activities in the field of construction informatics on this page.
FAQ
Do my employees have to install a new app?
No. Your site employees continue to communicate as usual via WhatsApp. Only project managers and office staff use the Valoon web dashboard for management and evaluation.
Is documentation with Valoon really legally secure?
Yes. All communication data running through Valoon is stored immutably and time-stamped in a secure system. The PDF reports generated from this are admissible as evidence in court and meet the requirements of the Swiss Commercial Books Regulation (GeBüV).
How does live translation work?
You write your message in German. The recipient receives the message in WhatsApp and can translate it into their preferred language with one click. The system supports over 20 languages and facilitates collaboration in multinational teams.
What size companies is Valoon suitable for?
Valoon is suitable for civil engineering companies of all sizes, from small craft businesses to large construction firms for major projects. The platform is scalable and adapts to your needs.
What does Valoon cost for employees on the construction site?
For employees on the construction site, use is completely free. Costs are only incurred for users in the office who use the web dashboard for project management. This lowers the barrier to entry and ensures maximum acceptance.
How quickly can I get started with Valoon?
Setting up Valoon is straightforward and usually takes less than a working day. After a brief introduction, you can immediately start managing your construction projects more efficiently and legally securely.
