The Dilemma of Construction Site Communication in Numbers
On German construction sites, WhatsApp is by far the most popular communication tool; 55 percent of professionals use it on their work phones. However, this practice leads to an unstructured flow of information, where hundreds of messages, photos, and instructions are exchanged daily without project relevance. The consequence: Important decisions are not traceable and get lost in the chat history. Over 70% of communication thus occurs in a legal gray area. An efficient project management with Messenger must close this gap. Valoon addresses this directly by maintaining employees’ familiar WhatsApp usage, while automatically and legally structuring all data for the office in the background. This unnoticed organization in the background is the first step towards professionalization.
GDPR Compliance: A Must for Every Construction Company
The private use of WhatsApp on company phones is a clear violation of the GDPR, as the app accesses private contacts and processes data on US servers. This exposes companies to a risk of fines of up to €20 million or 4% of their global annual revenue. Many site managers spend up to 5 hours a week painstakingly extracting information from WhatsApp chats and documenting it manually. This manual transfer is not only inefficient, but also prone to errors. Valoon solves this problem by creating a GDPR-compliant bridge. All messages sent via Valoon are stored and processed on German servers, without accessing private contacts. This makes the WhatsApp use in construction finally legally secure. Thus, the foundation for clean documentation is laid.
From message to legally secure construction log in 60 seconds
Creating a VOB-compliant construction log is a central yet time-consuming task that can take up to 60 minutes daily. Information from WhatsApp groups must be manually transcribed and photos matched, which increases the error rate by up to 15%. A digital and legally secure construction documentation system is essential here. With Valoon, this process is automated. Here’s how the conversion from communication to documentation works:
- An employee sends a photo or voice message via WhatsApp to the project number.
- Valoon’s AI analyzes the content and automatically assigns it to the correct project and construction section.
- All relevant data such as weather, timestamps, and employees are automatically supplemented.
- The site manager reviews the entry in the Valoon web interface and approves it with a click.
- At the end of the day, the finished construction log is generated as a PDF with just one click.
This automation reduces administrative effort for site managers by up to 80%. The time gained can be directly invested in the active control of the construction site, thereby increasing productivity.
Increase efficiency in defect and measurement management
Faulty defect management and inaccurate measurement recording can increase project costs by up to 12%. A photo of a defect sent via WhatsApp without clear assignment and tracking is practically worthless and leads to delays. An average construction project has over 500 defects to manage. Valoon transforms this process. Employees can simply mark a photo or message with the words “#defect” or “#measurement.” The system captures this, creates a corresponding entry, and assigns it to the responsible subcontractor – including deadline setting and status tracking. This structured capture through a messenger app for construction ensures that no information is lost. Thus, the foundation for a smooth acceptance and billing process is established.
Eliminate language barriers as productivity killers
In Germany, the proportion of foreign workers on construction sites is almost 20%, and this trend is rising. Language barriers are one of the biggest obstacles to productivity and safety; misunderstandings can lead to errors requiring rework worth thousands of euros. Studies show that clear communication can improve project efficiency by over 25%. This is where Valoon’s live translation function comes into play. A message can be typed in German and read by the recipient in their native language – and vice versa. The system supports over 20 languages, ensuring smooth communication between office and construction site. This function not only breaks down barriers but also fosters a safer and more collaborative work environment for the entire team.
Conclusion: Your Advantage with Valoon
Professional WhatsApp project management is key to solving central challenges in construction. It’s not about eliminating proven communication tools but integrating them into company processes in a legally secure and efficient manner. Valoon demonstrably saves site managers more than 5 hours per week in administrative effort and ensures seamless, VOB-compliant documentation. The platform is completely free for on-site employees and requires no training effort as they remain in their familiar WhatsApp environment. Secure your projects legally, increase your efficiency, and create clear communication channels. Book your free demo now and experience how easy the transition to professional WhatsApp project management can be.
More Links
e-recht24.de discusses whether the use of WhatsApp on company phones is legally permissible under GDPR.
Datenschutzkanzlei.de addresses the question of whether WhatsApp is compatible with GDPR in companies.
Ratgeberrecht.eu discusses business communication via WhatsApp and the associated legal aspects.
Händlerbund explains the data protection legal aspects of WhatsApp, especially for traders.
Bolex describes the legal pitfalls of using WhatsApp in companies.
e-recht24.de deals with the use of WhatsApp for employee communication from a labor law perspective.
Ratgeberrecht.eu discusses the validity of contracts concluded via WhatsApp.
Wikipedia provides an overview of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
e-recht24.de describes the legal aspects of WhatsApp marketing.
FAQ
Do my employees need to install a new app?
No. That’s the decisive advantage of Valoon. Your construction site employees continue to communicate as usual via WhatsApp. All organization, structuring, and legally secure storage happens in the background.
Is Valoon GDPR-compliant?
Yes. Valoon was developed in Germany and places the highest priority on data protection. All data is stored and processed on German servers. Unlike standard WhatsApp, our system does not access your employees’ private contacts.
For which company sizes is Valoon suitable?
Valoon is scalable for construction companies, planning offices, and project developers of any size – from small craft businesses with 5 employees to large general contractors with over 500 employees.
How quickly can the software be implemented?
Implementation can occur within a day. Since employees on the construction site do not need to learn new software, the usual training effort is eliminated. Acceptance in the team is therefore nearly 100% from day one.
What does it cost for my employees on site to use it?
For employees on the construction site, the use is completely free. Our pricing model is based on users in the office (e.g., site managers, project managers) who benefit from the structured data analysis.
Can I test Valoon?
Yes, we offer a free and non-binding demo. In this, we will personally show you how Valoon can help you solve your specific challenges in project management and construction documentation.
