The Nuremberg hardware store in transition: Numbers and facts
The economic location Nuremberg maintains its strong position with 54 companies in the construction industry employing 3,151 employees. These figures highlight the importance of the industry for the region. Nevertheless, the market is tense; the real estate hype of the last decade is, according to local bank experts, over. Still, by the end of 2022, 82 percent of mid-Franconian craft businesses assessed their order situation as good or satisfactory. The critical factor for future success lies in operational efficiency. Every construction company in Nuremberg must find ways to increase productivity to remain competitive. The future of the construction industry depends on the adaptability of the companies. This necessity for efficiency improvement directly focuses on daily processes and the dormant potentials within them.
Stop communication chaos: The risks of WhatsApp on the construction site
On almost every construction site, quick discussions take place over WhatsApp – a tool designed for private chats, not for professional construction documentation. Important instructions, photo evidence, and defect reports get lost in countless messages. This unstructured communication leads to an estimated information loss of 5-10% per project. Even more critical is the lack of legal certainty in disputes. Comprehensive documentation is vital to fend off or enforce claims. GDPR compliance is also not guaranteed when using private messengers, which can lead to fines. The solution does not lie in introducing new, complex apps, but in steering the existing communication into organized, legally secure channels, as the right construction software enables. But not only communication; the manual creation of reports also consumes valuable resources.
Construction diary and more: Reducing manual documentation efforts
Creating a construction diary is a mandatory task for site managers in the HOAI service phase 8. The manual recording of weather data, attendance, equipment use, and construction progress costs up to 60 minutes daily per construction site. Spread over a year, this effort adds up to over 200 hours. Incomplete documentation opens the door to misunderstandings and expensive legal disputes. Here are the most common manual time wasters:
- Manually transferring photos from the smartphone to project folders.
- Daily looking up and entering weather data.
- Tedious collection of information for the construction diary.
- Lack of linking photos with specific events or defects.
- Time-consuming search for old agreements or approvals.
Digital tools can accelerate these processes by up to 75%. Die Digitalization of the construction industry provides simple and effective solutions for this. These tools not only automate data collection but also create a central and traceable data basis.
The solution: Automated and legally secure documentation with Valoon
Valoon targets exactly where your employees are already working: in WhatsApp. Instead of forcing a new app, we integrate into the familiar environment. Every message, photo, and document shared in the project group is automatically and legally securely archived. All data are timestamped and assigned to the correct project. This results in a seamless construction diary without additional effort. According to a PwC study, 81% of construction companies see great potential in cloud platforms. Valoon is such a platform, developed specifically for the needs of a modern construction company in Nuremberg. The advantages are obvious:
- Time savings: The automatic generation of construction diaries saves valuable working time each day.
- Legal certainty: All data are stored in an unalterable and GDPR-compliant manner, serving as evidence in disputes.
- Simplicity: There is no training required for employees on the construction site, as they continue to use their familiar WhatsApp.
- Structure: All information is centrally available in the Valoon portal, filterable, and searchable.
This simple adjustment of internal processes is a decisive step to not miss the current construction trends . This makes digital transformation tangible for every company.
Secure competitive advantages: Why efficiency decides the future
The German construction industry is lagging behind in digitalization, scoring only 53 out of 100 points in industry comparison. At the same time, 85% of companies feel increased cost pressure. This gap between necessity and reality is your chance. A construction company in Nuremberg that optimizes its processes through digital tools works not only faster but also more profitably. Reducing errors, avoiding costly rework, and minimizing legal risks have a direct impact on the operating result. Companies that use digital tools report an efficiency increase of up to 20%. With a solution like Valoon, which is completely free for the construction site, the barrier to entry for digitalization is significantly lowered. Thus, you can counter the skilled labor shortage, by making your existing teams more productive. The next logical step is the implementation of this simple yet effective technology.
Conclusion: Your advantage with Valoon
For a construction company in Nuremberg, optimizing communication and documentation is the fastest route to greater efficiency and safety. Valoon bridges the gap between the construction site and the office with a solution that is simple, practical, and legally secure. You save up to 60 minutes per project manager daily, reduce liability risks, and create an unbroken chain of evidence for all construction projects. Enhance your competitiveness with a system that your employees already know and use. Take the first step and see how easy the transition is.
Book your free demo
Experience for yourself how Valoon can revolutionize communication and documentation in your construction company in Nuremberg. In a personal 20-minute demo, we will show you how to create legally secure construction diaries effortlessly and manage your projects more efficiently. No risk, no complex installations. Click now and schedule your appointment.
More Links
Chamber of Crafts Dortmund offers information on a seminar about legally secure construction documentation.
Fraunhofer IESE presents a study on digitalization in the construction industry in a blog article.
Central Association of the German Construction Industry (ZDB) publishes a position paper on the topic of digitalization in the construction economy.
Fraunhofer IIS provides information on the digital construction site in the context of smart cities and 5G.
FAQ
Is the use of Valoon for employees on the construction site really free?
Yes, our pricing model is designed so that employees on the construction site, who only send information via the messenger, incur no costs. Costs only arise for users in the office who use the web portal for management, evaluation, and reporting.
How is the legal certainty of the documentation ensured?
All data sent via WhatsApp (texts, images, videos, documents) are provided with an unalterable timestamp and date stamp and stored on secure servers in Germany. This creates a seamless and tamper-proof documentation chain that meets the requirements of VOB and GDPR.
How long does it take to set up Valoon for our company?
The setup is straightforward and usually takes less than 30 minutes. You create a project, add your employees’ phone numbers, and can start immediately. No software installation is required on the employees’ devices.
Can I also create construction diaries with Valoon?
Yes, this is a core function. Valoon collects all relevant information of the day and generates a complete construction diary in PDF format at the push of a button. Weather data is automatically supplemented based on the construction site location.
Does Valoon also work if there is no internet reception on the construction site?
Yes. Since employees continue to use the native WhatsApp application, messages and images are cached during poor or no internet connection and sent once the device is back online. The data is not lost and is then automatically archived in Valoon.
For which company size is Valoon suitable?
Valoon is scalable for any construction company in Nuremberg and beyond, from small craft businesses with 2-3 employees to large general contractors with hundreds of employees on various construction sites. The project structure and user management can be flexibly adapted to your company size.
