The digital reality: Why silo solutions dominate the construction everyday life
In many construction companies, the IT landscape has grown over the years and consists of numerous individual solutions. One software for accounting, a program for CAD planning, and various Excel spreadsheets for personnel planning are quite common. The result is a system where data for a single process must be manually transferred three to five times. This lack of integration is a main reason why the construction industry lags behind in digitalization compared to other sectors. The absence of a central data repository costs several hours per employee each week and increases the risk of costly errors. An efficient digitalization often fails due to this fragmentation. These separate systems prevent a real-time overview of project status and costs.
Core functions and benefits of a central ERP software for the construction industry
An ERP software (Enterprise Resource Planning) consolidates all commercial and administrative processes into a central database. For the construction industry, this means a massive improvement in management capabilities. According to a study, companies implementing ERP systems can reduce their operating costs by up to 20%. All departments, from purchasing to site management, access the same current data. This enables precise cost control in real time and optimized management of materials and personnel. The central construction software for companies is the foundation for transparent decisions. The main advantages include:
- Better cost control: A live overview of budgets and expenses prevents unpleasant surprises.
- Optimized resource planning: Machines, personnel, and materials are used more efficiently, reducing idle times by at least 15%.
- Centralized data storage: All project stakeholders work with a single, reliable source of information.
- Automated management: Processes such as payroll and invoicing are accelerated, and the manual error rate decreases by over 30%.
However, the introduction of such a system alone does not solve all problems, especially not those on the construction site itself.
The Achilles’ heel: Why traditional ERP systems fail on the construction site
Despite the benefits in the office, most ERP systems are not designed for the operational control of construction activities on site. Their complex operation and focus on commercial processes pose a significant hurdle for site managers and skilled workers. The acceptance of another complicated app is, based on experience, low among employees on the construction site. This leads to important information such as construction progress, defects, or recorded working hours still being collected through unstructured channels like WhatsApp or notes. This break in media undermines the purpose of the central ERP system, as the data is either outdated or incomplete. The critical information for project management in construction reaches the office only with delays.
Consequences of the data gap: Lack of legal certainty and inefficient management
The gap between the construction site and the office has serious consequences. Unstructured communication via WhatsApp is not legally secure and hardly admissible as evidence in case of disputes. Defects are reported quickly but not systematically recorded and tracked. This leads to delays and high rework costs, which can account for up to 15% of total construction costs. Furthermore, there is a lack of seamless documentation for daily construction reports and financial accounting. 85 percent of construction companies feel a high cost pressure, exacerbated by such inefficiencies. Without a comprehensive process optimization through software valuable potential remains untapped.
The bridge to the construction site: How Valoon intelligently extends your ERP system
Instead of trying to impose complex software on employees on site, Valoon takes the opposite approach. Valoon integrates into the already established workflow and uses WhatsApp as the user interface. Employees communicate as usual, but the data is automatically and legally securely structured in the background. No training effort is required, which increases acceptance to 100%. Valoon acts as an intelligent bridge, enabling simple data collection on the construction site and providing the office with structured, ERP-capable information. This simple connection to a cloud software for construction solves the interface problem. All relevant events are directly captured from the source.
Practical examples: Optimizing processes with Valoon and ERP integration
The data captured by Valoon can be easily exported and imported into your existing ERP system. This closes the gap between the construction site and administration. Here are some examples of how the ERP software in the construction industry benefits:
- Digital time sheets: Employees record their working hours via WhatsApp message. The data is automatically processed and can be directly transferred to the payroll in the ERP.
- Legally secure construction diary: All relevant events, photos, and weather data are automatically combined into a seamless construction diary that can be exported as a PDF.
- Seamless defect management: A photo of a defect with a brief description is sufficient. Valoon creates a ticket that is tracked and whose resolution is documented.
- Automated measurement capture: Measurements can be documented directly via voice input or photo and forwarded to the ERP system for quick invoicing.
This seamless integration ensures a continuous data chain and accelerates all downstream processes.
Conclusion: Your advantage with Valoon
A powerful ERP software is the backbone of every modern construction company, but its full potential is only realized when it is fed with real-time data from the construction site. Valoon closes precisely this critical gap. By using WhatsApp as an interface, 100% acceptance on the construction site is achieved without any training effort. You benefit from simplicity in application, efficiency through automated processes, and legal certainty through seamless documentation. Instead of inefficient silo solutions, you create a continuous flow of information that makes your projects more profitable. Take the next step towards complete digitalization of your construction processes. Book your free demo now and discover how easy it can be to connect your construction sites.
More Links
Fraunhofer IESE offers a blog post on the digitalization in the construction industry, based on a comprehensive study.
PwC illuminates in an article the pressure on the construction industry, particularly regarding risks, regulation, capital projects, and infrastructure.
Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides a PDF document on the digitalization potential in construction activity statistics.
Central Association of the German Construction Industry (ZDB) offers a position paper on the topic of digitalization in the construction sector.
RKW Competence Center publishes a summary of the results of a study on employment and digitalization in the construction industry.
de.digital (initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action) provides information on the digitalization index for Germany.
Fraunhofer IAO provides a white paper on artificial intelligence (AI) in the construction industry.
ZEW (Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research) and BBSR (Federal Institute for Construction, Urban, and Spatial Research) publish the final report of a study on the future of construction.
FAQ
Do I have to replace my existing ERP system to use Valoon?
No, Valoon is not an ERP system but a supplement. It is designed to close the gap between your construction site and your office. The structured data captured with Valoon can be easily exported and imported into your existing ERP system.
Is communication via Valoon and WhatsApp legally secure?
Yes. Although input is done through the familiar WhatsApp interface, all data (including photos, timestamps, and senders) is stored on a legally secure server in the background. This creates a seamless and legally binding documentation for all processes.
How complex is the introduction of Valoon in our company?
The introduction is extremely straightforward. For employees on the construction site, there is no training effort required, as they continue to use WhatsApp. Only project managers in the office need a brief introduction to the Valoon web interface, which usually takes less than an hour.
What data can be collected from the construction site and forwarded to the ERP system?
With Valoon, various types of data can be collected, including working hours, defect reports with photos, construction progress, delivery notes, and measurements. This data is structured and can be used for payroll, controlling, and invoicing in your ERP system.
