The problem: Why traditional methods won’t be sufficient by 2025
The construction industry is struggling with significant efficiency issues, often rooted in outdated processes. A study shows that 81% of companies see the lack of digital know-how among employees as the biggest obstacle. The consequences are costly mistakes, construction delays, and a high administrative workload of over 10 hours per week just for documentation. Unstructured communication through channels like WhatsApp leads to incomplete and legally insecure storage of important information. Without a central data source, up to 15% of relevant information is lost every day. This inefficient way of working jeopardizes not only the profitability of projects but also increases the risk in legal disputes. The need for a modern construction software is therefore greater than ever.
These gaps in documentation directly lead to problems with handovers and the enforcement of claims for additional costs. This makes proving defects or construction delays a challenge that can cost companies on average 5% of the contract value. The manual creation of construction day reports also consumes valuable time for site managers that could be used elsewhere. A digital solution is no longer a luxury, but an operational necessity for risk minimization.
The solution: Core functions of effective construction management software
Modern and effective construction management software addresses these problems at their root by providing central, easy-to-use tools. It serves as the sole source of information and ensures that all stakeholders are always on the same page. The key features include:
- Central construction documentation: All photos, messages, and documents are automatically and legally stored with timestamps and location data. This reduces the documentation effort by up to 70%.
- Automated construction day log: The software generates VOB-compliant construction day reports from daily reports with just one click. This saves site managers at least 30 minutes each day.
- Digital deficiency management: Deficiencies are recorded on-site via photo, assigned to a responsible party, and given a deadline. Follow-up is conducted transparently and comprehensively.
- Task and deadline management: All tasks are centrally assigned and their completion is documented in real-time, which improves the coordination of trades by 40%.
By bundling communication, misunderstandings are reduced by a proven 50%. These tools form the basis for transparent and efficient project execution.
Creating legal certainty: How to make your construction documentation VOB-compliant
Incomplete documentation poses the greatest risk for construction companies in disputes. Effective construction management software ensures that all relevant processes are permanently and chronologically stored. Every photo, every voice note, and every text message is automatically timestamped and assigned to the correct project. This tamper-proof storage is admissible as evidence in court and protects your payment claims. The VOB requires traceable documentation, which can be effortlessly fulfilled with such systems. This allows you to document construction delays or defect notifications at any time and successfully enforce claims. The digital construction file ensures maximum transparency for the client. The structured collection ensures that all legal requirements are met and reduces the risk of invoice reductions by up to 90%.
Team acceptance: Building the bridge between the construction site and the office
The best software is useless if it is not accepted by the team. The biggest challenge is often the low tech affinity of employees on the construction site. Valoon solves this problem because it is based directly on WhatsApp, a tool already used by over 95% of employees. No new app and no cumbersome login is required. Communication proceeds as usual, while Valoon documents everything legally compliant in the background. The following points are crucial for acceptance:
- No training effort: Employees use WhatsApp as before, which reduces the onboarding time to zero.
- Multilingual communication: An integrated live translation immediately removes language barriers in international teams.
- No cost for the construction site: Only the users in the office need a license, which lowers the entry barrier for the entire team.
- Direct added value: The simplification of processes such as time tracking or defect reporting is immediately perceived as a benefit.
This simplicity results in an acceptance rate of over 98% and makes the process optimization a self-runner.
Your advantage with Valoon: Efficiency and safety in practice
The use of well-thought-out and effective construction management software like Valoon leads to direct and measurable benefits. Companies report an average reduction in administrative effort of 8 hours per week and per project. The automated report generation and the central data storage eliminate time-consuming manual tasks. The error rate in information transfer decreases by over 60% as all data is available in real-time. This leads to an acceleration of project phases by up to 20%, as studies also show. The investment in such software often pays off within the first 3 months through saved time and avoided error costs. With a cloud-based solution you also have access to your project data from anywhere. Valoon offers a straightforward, practice-oriented solution specifically developed for the needs of site managers and executives.
In summary, the right software not only optimizes processes but transforms the entire way a construction company operates. It creates the necessary transparency for successful project control and secures the profitability of your projects. Book your free demo now and see for yourself how easy effective construction management can be.
More Links
Wikipedia provides a comprehensive overview of the BVBS (Federal Association of Software and Digitalization in Construction), a German association for software and digitization in the construction sector.
Der Main Association of the German Construction Industry illuminates various aspects of digitization in the construction industry on its topic page.
The ‘Guiding Principle of Digitization’ of the Main Association of the German Construction Industry describes the vision and goals of the industry regarding digitization.
Das Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP) presents its research activities in the field of digitization in construction.
Roland Berger provides an analysis of the challenges and opportunities of digitization for the construction industry.
Das Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) provides information and research results on digital planning and construction.
Der BVBS (Federal Association of Software and Digitalization in Construction) presents its activities in the field of digitization in the construction sector.
BIM Germany is the central platform for Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Germany.
FAQ
How quickly can the Valoon software be implemented in our company?
The implementation of Valoon is possible within a day. Since the solution is based on WhatsApp, there is no training effort required for employees on the construction site. They can continue working as usual while the software takes care of the documentation in the background.
Are the data captured with Valoon admissible in court?
Yes. All data captured via Valoon, including photos and messages, are timestamped and location-stamped in a tamper-proof manner and stored securely in the cloud. This form of documentation meets the requirements of the VOB and is recognized as evidence in legal disputes.
What does it cost to use Valoon for the construction team?
For employees on the construction site, use is completely free. Only users in the office who access the web portal to create reports or manage projects require a license. This pricing model lowers the entry barrier and promotes acceptance throughout the company.
Does Valoon also support multilingual teams?
Yes, Valoon has an integrated live translation feature. Messages can be delivered in the recipient’s native language, significantly simplifying communication in international teams and avoiding errors caused by language barriers.
What reports can I automatically create with the software?
With Valoon, you can create VOB-compliant construction day reports, defect logs, and photo documentation at the push of a button. The software automatically consolidates the information gathered throughout the day into a professional PDF document, saving you several hours of manual work each week.
Do I need special IT infrastructure?
No, Valoon is cloud-based software. You only need a computer with internet access for the office portal, while your employees use their existing smartphones with WhatsApp. No servers or complicated installations are required.
