The key role: Responsibility and pressure for project managers in large projects
A project manager for large projects is the central figure who decides on success or failure. They are responsible for overall coordination, from budget and scheduling to managing construction supervision and final defect management. You must communicate not only with architects and specialist planners but also with authorities and subcontractors. This role requires more than just technical knowledge; it demands excellent management and organization at all levels. Complexity increases with each of the average 20 to 30 subcontractors involved in a medium-sized project. The biggest challenge is to ensure a seamless flow of information between all parties. Ein efficient project management is therefore not a luxury but a necessity. This enormous responsibility explains why the success of a project directly depends on the effectiveness of the project manager.
Understanding cost explosions: Why 73% of large projects fail
The statistics are sobering: Large projects in Germany exceed their planned costs by an average of 73%. For the Elbphilharmonie, the cost increase was even 324%, from an initially planned 186 million to 789 million euros. The reasons for this are multifaceted, ranging from planning optimism to strategically low-bid costs to even win the contract. Often, a detailed risk assessment is lacking before the project starts. Another factor is the political pressure that leads to unrealistic demands and timelines. These systemic problems lead to the project manager constantly having to put out fires instead of managing proactively. Ein a failing large project rarely has only one cause. However, poor planning and inadequate preparation are recurring patterns that lead to massive delays.
Communication chaos on the construction site: The biggest risk for budget and schedule
While complex planning errors are often the focus, daily communication is an even larger source of error. Information is shared through private WhatsApp groups, leading to misunderstandings and a lack of documentation. If an employee overlooks an important instruction in one of five different chat groups, it can lead to construction defects that are discovered only weeks later. The manual transfer of this information into a construction diary costs up to 2 hours a day. This chaos not only leads to mistakes but also prevents legally secure documentation. For successful project management in construction central, traceable communication is essential. Here are the most common problems that arise without a centralized system:
- Important decisions get lost in confusing chat histories.
- Photo material cannot be clearly assigned or dated.
- Language barriers lead to misunderstandings in international teams.
- There is no central place for all project documentation.
- Creating reports requires the tedious gathering of information from emails and chats.
This gap between fast communication on the construction site and structured documentation in the office is a constant risk.
Legal certainty as a foundation: The limits of Excel and WhatsApp
Many project managers attempt to tame the chaos with Excel spreadsheets and email distribution lists. However, these tools are unsuitable for the dynamic demands of a large project and provide no legal certainty. An instruction sent via WhatsApp is hardly provable in case of disputes. The Construction Contract Procedures (VOB/B) require comprehensive documentation, which is only achievable with high effort through traditional means. Without clean documentation of defects, delays, or additional services, companies lose an average of 10-15% of their claims for additional costs. Ein successful construction project manager must therefore rely on tools that ensure VOB-compliant documentation. Manually maintaining lists is not only time-consuming but also prone to errors and often leads to problems during audits.
The solution: Digital documentation as easy as a messenger
Imagine your entire construction site communication automatically and legally securely flowing into your construction diary. That’s exactly what Valoon achieves. We leverage the acceptance of WhatsApp and turn it into a powerful tool for project managers of large projects. Employees on the construction site communicate as usual via messenger without having to install a new app. All messages, photos, and documents are automatically stored centrally and legally securely. The manual effort for documentation is reduced by up to 80%. With Valoon, you bridge the gap between the construction site and the office. Here are the specific benefits for your daily work:
- Automatic daily construction reports: All relevant information flows into the daily report without manual input.
- Legally secure photo documentation: Every image is provided with a timestamp and location stamp and is immediately assigned.
- Live translation: Messages can be translated into over 20 languages, eliminating language barriers.
- Easy defect management: Defects are recorded via photo and can be directly assigned to a trade or responsible party.
- Digital time sheets: Time tracking is easily done via message and is processed automatically.
This simple handling ensures acceptance across the entire team and provides you with the structured data foundation you need for the controlling of large projects you need.
Conclusion: Your advantage with Valoon – Simple, efficient, and legally secure
As a project manager for large projects, you must master complexity. Valoon simplifies the complexity of construction documentation and provides you with a tool accepted by everyone. You gain full control and legal certainty, without burdening your teams with complicated software. The result is a time saving of up to 5 hours per week and a clean data foundation for all your decisions. Focus on managing your project while Valoon automates the documentation. Secure the success of your projects and avoid costly mistakes and misunderstandings. Book your free demo now and experience how easy professional construction documentation can be.
More Links
Hertie School offers a factsheet on large infrastructure projects in Germany that highlights the gap between ambitions and realities.
Statista provides an infographic that presents the largest cost increases in large projects.
ingenieur.de publishes an article about a study showing that public large projects are on average 73% more expensive than planned.
Hertie School offers a case study on the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, serving as an example of a German large project.
Bund der Steuerzahler presents its position on containing cost explosions, especially in public projects.
Wikipedia provides a comprehensive article on project management, explaining the basics and methods for planning and executing projects.
Bauingenieur24 reports in an article that large projects show an average cost overruns of 73 percent.
FAQ
Is Valoon complicated for employees on the construction site to use?
No, that’s precisely the biggest advantage. Employees on the site continue to use their familiar messenger like WhatsApp. They don’t have to install or learn a new app. The entire technical complexity is managed in the background for the office staff.
How is the legal certainty of the documentation ensured?
Every message, every image, and every document that goes through Valoon is provided with an immutable timestamp and stored centrally. This creates a complete, chronological, and verifiable documentation chain that holds in court.
Can Valoon be integrated into existing systems?
Yes, Valoon is designed to fit into your existing processes. We provide interfaces to easily export the collected data and reports into your project management or archiving software.
What languages does the translation feature support?
Our live translation feature supports over 20 common languages to effectively overcome the most common language barriers on international construction sites and ensure clear communication for everyone.
Are there any costs for employees on the construction site?
No, for the employees on the construction site who interact with the system through their messenger app, the use is completely free. Our pricing model is based on users in the office who manage and evaluate the data.
How quickly can Valoon be implemented in a project?
The implementation of Valoon is extremely quick and straightforward. Since no software rollout or training for site employees is required, you can typically start within a day and immediately benefit from better documentation.
